Packing Tips For Travelers

There are two kinds of travelers: those who pack lightly and those who pack their whole house. Use these tips to pack in between and take with you the things you really need.

Choose your luggage wisely. Pick light suitcases so you can pack more weight. Make sure there is a unique design on your suitcases. It makes it easier for you to find them at luggage claim and makes it less likely to be picked up by somebody else by accident.

Take samples of your personal items. Don’t carry a 35 oz bottle of shampoo for a three day trip when you can buy a 2 oz sample. If a sample size is not available, purchase travel bottles and fill them with the necessary products. Make sure that you put them in a plastic bag to ensure your bottles are spill proof.

Flights are unpredictable. Make sure you have enough medication and clothing for several days worth of travel, even if your flight is supposed to be a 3 hour one. Weather, security issues or mechanical breakdowns can turn a short flight into a long ordeal.

Check the climate and the weather at your destination. Make sure you have some clothes for all possible weather situations, but mostly carry clothes for the weather you expect. Remember: airlines charge for over-packed, oversized and too heavy luggage. It is probably cheaper to leave your wardrobe at home and buy an item or two, than to pay hundreds of dollars in airline fees.

Don’t forget to pack your medications. Make sure you have enough for a period of time longer than your planned trip. You never know what happens and getting a prescription or refilling an existing one can be difficult away from home or in a foreign country.

Find a safe place for your travel documents. Leave a copy of your passport and ID card at home or with a friend that you or the authorities can reach. Carry your documents with you all the time, so even if your luggage is damaged or stolen, your personal documents are still available.

Make sure you don’t pack too much liquid. The US Department of Homeland Security, Canada and the European Union imposed strict restrictions of transporting liquids. Be sure to know and follow these rules.

Learn to fold your clothes. Most of the garments can be folded several ways. T-shirts, skirts, jeans and sport coats can be folded in a tight fitting manner and can be placed into a duffel bag or into the corners of the suitcase. The interlock method, when two pieces of clothes are overlapped flat and folded into each other, can help to eliminate wrinkles. Make sure you pack tight. Loose packing wastes space and makes the suitcase more likely to collapse.

Packing lightly, but following common sense can help to make the trip a pleasant and enjoyable experience. On the other hand, last minute packing can turn into a disaster. Most of the items won’t fit in the suitcase and you will forget a lot of important articles. Use the tips above to turn yourself into a smart traveler.