When you pack a bag for a short trip of 3 days to a week long, it’s important that you don’t bring too much or too little. The following will give you an idea of what is important to have with you and what isn’t.
A stellar vacation almost always starts with a plan. And one of the most important steps in planning a vacation is thinking about what to pack. It’s never a good idea to leave packing to the last minute. In your excitement and rush you’re bound to forget something important – a bathing suit, sunglasses, or medications that you simply cannot be without. If you prepare ahead of time you have less of a chance of leaving something behind.
A Packing List
The first thing involved in fail-proof packing is drawing up a packing list. This can be done weeks in advance. The advantage to this is that as you get closer to your departure date, you can modify the list so that you’re sure to include absolutely everything you need – and nothing more. A major key to packing is to bring only the essentials. You don’t want to be weighed down by ungainly luggage that you can barely lift. Remember – you pack it, you carry it!
A packing list is most important if you are traveling to some place new. Keep in mind that you may not be able to pick up items you need in a foreign country, or you simply may not have time. And if you are camping or planning on roughing it away from modern conveniences, it’s a good idea to double or even triple check your packing list in case you are leaving something out. (A sample packing list is included at the end of this article.)
Once you’ve filled your suitcase(s), slip a copy of your packing list in your carry-on bag. If the unthinkable happens and your suitcase is lost, you’ll have a record of what is missing. This will come in handy when you are replacing the items or (god forbid) filing an insurance claim for lost property.
Carry-On Luggage
This brings us to the carry-on luggage. If you are traveling by plane, make sure you know what size bag the airline will permit and how many pieces of carry-on luggage a passenger may have. If you wind up having to check a bag you intended to carry with you that will defeat your purpose.
Make sure you hand carry anything that is irreplaceable so that you won’t have to worry about being without it. Here are some examples of carry-on items:
The best packing is simple packing. You don’t have a whole lot of space to deal with, so ask yourself “do I really need this?” before you add it to your suitcase. When in doubt, leave it out.
Unless you are going on an extended vacation, most travelers get by with two small bags or one 24-inch suitcase. While this may seem impossible to some, there are several tricks to make the most of your packing.
How To Choose A Suitcase
While luggage is considered an accessory, be smart about the bags you choose to take on your vacation. That means, the best looking bag isn’t necessarily the most practical. And what works for your traveling companion may not be right for you.
Make sure you can lift your bag if you need to carry it down some steps or store it in an overhead compartment on a train or a plane. Rule of thumb: if you can’t lift the suitcase when it’s empty, you certainly won’t be able to pick it up once it’s filled with your clothes.
Choose a bag with wheels. Almost all kinds come on rollers nowadays, even garment bags. While it’s still a good idea to be able to lift your luggage in a pinch, there’s no reason to break your back trying to carry it all the time.
Before leaving the house, make sure your personal information is on your bag on a luggage tag as well as inside your bag someplace. If your luggage looks a lot like the bags other travelers are carrying, you might want to tie a colorful ribbon onto the handle so you’ll have an easier time spotting it at baggage claim.
Before You Pack
Before you lay out your clothing, research your destination and check out the weather forecast for the period of time you’ll be away. Make sure to include raincoat if you’re going to England and don’t forget the sun hat if your headed to a warm climate. Being aware of your surroundings before you arrive will save you time, money, and upset when you reach your destination.
Consult your travel partners and know what type of clothes you’ll need. For example, will you be expected to dress for dinner? If so, put dresses and sports jackets in garment bags separated by plastic or tissue paper in an effort to avoid wrinkles. It’s also a good idea to call ahead to your accommodations to find out if there are irons available for last minute touch-ups (same goes for hairdryers). Or maybe you’ll learn that the tropical island you’ll be staying on gets chilly at night, so you’ll want at least one light jacket or wrap on hand.
How To Pack A Suitcase
Think of packing in terms of layers. It’s an easy concept: the heavy, bulky items go on the bottom, then the non-wrinkle items (bathing suits, underwear), and then outerwear and more delicate clothing on top.
When choosing your travel outfit, plan on wearing your heaviest shoes and outerwear. That way you won’t have to make room for them in your bag.
Here are some added tips to get the most out of your suitcase:
Use your shoes as compartments – fill them with small items, rolled socks, or stockings.
Roll smaller garments so they won’t wrinkle and they’ll take up less space.
Make sure your travel wardrobe is mix-and-match and that every top matches every skirt or pants. Same goes for the shoes.
Although you may not do this at home, plan on wearing each item of clothing at least twice.
Pack a travel-size bottle of laundry detergent so you can rinse things out in a sink or tub.
Leave your family size toiletries behind. Buy travel-size items or transfer toiletries into smaller containers. Seal in a Ziploc bag to protect against leaks and spills.
Over Packing
If you are planning on breezing through dozens of books during your beach getaway, think about sending your reading material ahead of you to your hotel. Or if you want to bring sporting equipment but don’t think you have enough room in your suitcase, send that ahead as well. Just be sure to get a confirmation number from the post office so you can follow up to be sure the package arrives at your destination.
When it comes time to head back home, you may find that the souvenirs you’ve bought just won’t fit in your overflowing suitcase! Don’t worry. If that’s the case, remove some of your clothing and send them home through the mail (via UPS, FedEx, or another mail carrier). Pack the more breakable items in your suitcase, bolstering them with soft items like socks and t-shirts.
Finally, here is a list of items that most travelers bring with them. This may be helpful when you are creating your own packing list:
Camera and film
Foreign language dictionary (if applicable) or travel guide