Top 7 Travel Packing Tips

“What should I pack?” is one of the most frequent questions I hear from people and truthfully sometimes mutter myself. I try to stick with a strategy of packing neutral colors with a few pieces of color to step it up a notch. This leaves me flexible, stylish and ready to go. My goal is to maximize what I take and minimize what I carry.

Here are my top 7 tips for travel packing:

1. Buy mix and match collections. Somewhere in the shopping evolution women decided to buy separates. When you pack, instead of laying out the shirts with the shirts and the pants with the pants, lay out your clothes in combinations that can be worn together. Each piece of clothing can (and should) be part of more than one outfit. Try to pack only  enough clothes to get you through each day of your trip.

2. Pack items you can wear at least twice. If you can’t get more than one wear from a piece of clothing, it should not go into your suitcase. Ask yourself, “Is this comfortable and durable enough to wear twice?” and “Can I use it to make at least two different outfits?” After asking these questions, I think you’ll find it easier and easier to pack appropriately.

3. Launder clothes. I know I can hear you saying “No way, not me!” If you are planning a 2 week or longer vacation, I would recommend laundering clothes instead of packing more items. A small zip-loc or old prescription bottle of your choice powder detergent will free up space for you to go on more shopping sprees.

4. Wear the clothes you buy on vacation. There is no need to “save” them until you return home. How fun is it to wear the sundress you bought in Rome when you are actually in Rome? Plus, when you get home and wear the sundress, it will bring back wonderful memories of your vacation.

5. Pack only 3 pairs of shoes. Aim for packing two casual pairs and one dressy. If you are anything like me, you love shoes but remember shoes take up a lot of room and are heavy. Wear one pair and pack the other 2 pairs. Besides if you have a need (ok a strong want) what better excuse to buy new shoes?!

6. Roll and layer. Pack your suitcase in such a way that maximizes the space available and minimizes wrinkling. Start with shoes and any heavier items go towards the bottom or wheels of suitcase to minimize wrinkles. Stuff your shoes with sleepwear, undergarments, etc – this will help keep the shoe’s shape and utilize space. Make use of all the inside and outside pockets. Roll your clothes and layer with dry cleaning bags to decrease friction and wrinkles.

7. Pack without emotion. It never fails. As you are zipping up your suitcase, a small voice whispers “you might need that extra dress” or “you’ll regret not packing the red cardigan sweater “. Don’t listen!  If you’ve packed a mix and match collection, trust me, you will be good to go.

Share with us what some of your travel packing tips?

How Safe Is Your Checked Luggage

Long ago, we simply locked our luggage to attempt to deter theft.  While using a lock may not prevent theft from your bags, it can’t hurt and will make your bag less likely to be a target.  With 9/11 and heighten security, locking your bags became difficult until the TSA approved locks were introduced. Now you can find a fair number of people who do lock their luggage as opposed to those who don’t especially for international flights. We all know if a thief wants to steal from your bag they will, regardless of any lock or preventative measure. The rule of thumb remains to never to pack any valuables in your checked bags regardless of a lock or not.

Any one who travels internationally should know their TSA approved locks might work passing through US airports when the agents have the keys but once you leave the country, no guarantees. It is not always likely that all agents overseas will have the keys for the TSA locks.

In the spirit of saving money and being prepared, I recently learned some countries actually require you to have your bags locked before they will check you in for your return flight home. Of course, the locks for sale in the airport are at an extremely high price. So if you are someone who always travels with your bags locked, then you should be set. If you are someone who does not normally lock your bags or uses zip ties, unless you want to pay upwards of $40.00 or more  for 2 locks, you may want to have spare locks. You can see where this could add up quickly and that you may want to consider always carrying locks with you just in case. Zip-ties are a popular option since they are inexpensive and easy to put on and take off, however some airport security checks may require more than a zip-tie for a lock.

Finally, always check the limits of the insurance coverage for your checked bags. If the standard coverage amount airlines provide is too low for your tastes, additional travel insurance may be something to consider. A good practice is to have name tags on your bags plus a unique identifying feature like a handle wrap or ribbon.  All those black bags can look the same coming around on the carousel.

How do you adjust to the changing luggage security requirements when you travel?

What Is On Your Bucket List?

One of my favorite movies is The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The characters, Carter and Edward, are two terminally ill men that escape from a cancer ward to head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they “kick the bucket”.  A big part of this list is to travel to destinations like Egypt to see the pyramids, go on safari in Africa, ride a motorcycle on the Great Wall of China, dine high in the hills on the Cote d’Azur, explore the Taj Mahal in India and climb the Himalayas.

You don’t have to be sick or dying or even to make your bucket list but you need to have a plan! If you have a list then you can prioritize it or better yet, be on the look out for a great value.

Have you made your bucket list? Dreaming is free and limitless. Don’t worry about the “how” just yet – focus on the fun, the joy of the idea of going to the places you dream to visit. Start with where ever you are most comfortable and build your trips from there. Where is the one place you really dream to visit? Make that the number one on your list. One of my friends recently told me “when there is a will to travel,  people find a way” and I agree. Life is a journey and it is meant to be fun.

What are some of the destinations on your Bucket List?