A Brief Guide to Packing for a Trip
Before you carry that overloaded suitcase to the car, imagine how much heavier it is going to feel when you have to lug it through the airport terminal. Straining your back just so you can have three or four extra dress shirts to choose from is not worth the pain. Odds are that the majority of travelers who have difficulty with their luggage have over packed.
The lines to get through security and to the baggage claim are long enough. The effort to move your luggage across the airport as well as the additional stress of worrying if the oversized, over packed bag will make the flight and meet you at your destination can not be justified.
Be sure to inspect your bags on order to make sure that you are not bringing anything along that you do not need. If you find an item that you could live without for this trip, take it out. That extra pair of shoes will be in your closet waiting for you when you return. You will most likely still have to check your baggage when you arrive at the airport, but at least it will not be as heavy as it was and you can rest easier knowing that everything in your bags is essential.
Going with as small and as light a bag as possible, is the best place to start when packing for a trip. The ease of carrying a small, lightweight bag through the airport, up and down hotel stairs, or to and from your rental car is a great example of the benefits of being thrifty with your luggage.
On an airplane you can put a small bag under your seat in some cases (each airline has its own policies on whether bags can be stored underneath your seta or not). However, even if you cannot store your bag under your seat, it can be stored in the overhead compartment above your seat or aisle. Having the assurance of knowing your bag is onboard with you eliminates worries over baggage being lost by baggage handlers. This is another reason to use a smaller bag, if possible, to store your belongings.
Still, the question remains: How do you travel lighter in order to take advantage of these benefits and not arrive at your destination without needed items? The simplest answer is to plan your packing with as much attention to detail as when you plan the rest of your trip.
Begin by packing the most important items, such as prescription medication. However, it's a good idea to buy a small pill dispenser and place your medication in them for the days you will be on your trip, plus an extra day just in case you are delayed by a day in returning home. This takes up much less room in a bag than full bottles of medication or vitamins. If you are unexpectedly delayed at your destination for a longer than anticipated period of time, you can always call your doctor and request that he or she call in a prescription to a pharmacy close to where you are staying.
Par down how much clothing you are taking with you as these are bulky, heavy items. 3 pairs of jeans, or pants, one skirt or shorts, 3 shirts, 1 set of pajamas, 3 pairs of socks and 4 pairs of underwear will last you 7 days and you can wash your clothes if you will be staying away longer. Wear a pair of jeans that day and air them out that night and wear them again the next day. Rotating your shirts will give you a new look every day. Socks and underwear can be worn inside and out for two days of wear. Shorts could be worn for outdoor recreation to save your jeans for dining and attending indoor events. A skirt could work in the same way or be worn home the last day of your trip.
Hygiene products such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, denture brush, denture cleaner, hairbrush, and soap bars. And items like curling irons and hair dryers can take up a lot of room in your bag when you take them in their full-sized versions. You can scale hygiene products down in size by putting them in travel size containers. Many hotels provide free shampoo, conditioner, and soap for their guests, so you may not need to take much of these products with you. Consider too that many mid-priced, and higher priced hotels provide hair dryers in-room for guests to use. Ask about this when you make your reservations and you might find that you can leave your bulky hair dryer at home. If you must take items such a these because the hotel doesn't provide them, buy them the travel size versions of them to keep them from overloading your bag.
Taking excess money and valuable jewelry with you is never recommended. Hop online and find other tips for traveling lighter.
Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning travel and vacation planning including Discount Travel | Cheap Flight
Related Articles:
JellyBasket order Palmalito guava jelly by the case or gift basket!
Palmetto Canning Co., Inc. - Contract Packaging in glass or plastic for sauces, marinades, and other food products
CareMetix, Inc. - Contract Packaging for tube filling, form fill and seal, wet or dry chemical products including polyvinyl packaging.
Grandmas Peach Canning Recipe
Grandma loved to bake peach pies or top pancakes with peaches instead of syrup. During the summer months, she would buy baskets of seconds and freeze them.
Is the Food and Beverage Industry on the Leading Edge of the US Recession?
A recent survey conducted by The American Liquor License Exchange (AMLEX), a California based food and beverage industry consulting firm, reveals that troubles inundating the banking sector have arrived on the shores of the restaurant industry.
Make Packing A Pleasure, Not A Chore
Packing aids were made to save your sanity. How many times have you gotten to the hotel and had to shower and dress immediately for a meeting? How frustrating was it when you couldn't find your socks, and your tie is somewhere else, oh and where are the shoes? It can be a nightmare especially if you are experiencing jet leg or had any motion sickness. There are products that can help you organize your suitcase more efficiently where you will have a place for everything and everything in its place.
Seastone Gift Card Packaging Sales Increase by 250 Percent in 2007: Consumers Dress Up the Number One Holiday Gift with Innovative
Seastone, the market leader in specialty gift card packages and gift card promotional programs, today announced that sales have increased by 250 percent year over year. In 2006, Seastone delivered approximately 40 million gift card package units, which increased to more than 100 million units in 2007. Large retailers across the nation are successfully marketing gift card packages made by Seastone, including Kohl's, Albertson's, Home Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and many others.
NuSil Technology Introduces One-Part Glop-Top for Electronic Packaging Applications
NuSil Technology -- a cutting-edge manufacturer of silicone-based materials for healthcare, aerospace, electronics and photonics -- announces the addition of EPM-2411-2, a low outgassing, one-part, silicone glop-top, to its line of electronic packaging materials (EPMs).
Cosmetic Dentistry in Cincinnati: Increase Seen in Mercury Filling Removal Requests
More patients are inquiring about having their mercury fillings removed.
Single Girl's Summer Guide: Packing For A Summer Vacation
Summer is the time for sun and fun Probably water play too
General Packer Co., Ltd. Appoints PTI Packaging as Premier Agent for the Americas Pouch Packaging Equipment Solutions
General Packer Co. Ltd. has appointed PTI Packaging Systems as agent in the Americas for their line of packaging machinery. General Packer is renowned for their technological edge, quality and strong, robust machine design. Their pouch filling & sealing machines for milled products and various dry goods have captured the top leading industry position.
Integrated Solutions for Form-Fill-Seal and Pre-Made Packaging at Pack Expo Las Vegas
PTI Packaging Systems will present integrated solutions for form-fill-seal, pre-made packaging and secondary packaging systems at the Pack Expo Show running October 15 - 17, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, PTI Booth S-5150.
Salazar Packaging, Inc. to Exhibit in NMSDC Opportunity Fair
The Opportunity Fair, hosted by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), is the focal point of the nation's most important conference on minority business development. Salazar Packaging's exhibit will feature the latest in flexible packaging products and systems.