Sixteen Packing Tips

Sixteen Packing Tips to Take YOu Anywhere ...
except the NOrth POle

I absolutely love to travel. I’ve been to such wide-ranging places as Tibet and the Amazon. I’ve traveled with kids and without, been on cruises and land tours, traveled independently by car and train, even rented homes and stayed in one spot for a while. So, you’d think that after all that experience, I’d come home after at least one trip and say, “I packed just what I needed for that adventure.” But no! Invariably I forget something I could have used and/or I come home with a stack of clothing that I lugged all over the place but that never saw the light of day.

So before going on a cruise to Scandinavia later this month, I decided to check out several packing videos and blogs to see what advice I could glean. I realized I do most things right, but there’s still a few more tricks to learn. So, here’s what I know, and what I’ve recently discovered:

From Me:

1) Try to pack everything you need in an expandable carry-on (that you haven’t expanded) plus an oversized tote or backpack that’ll fit under your seat. That way you won’t suffer the fate of a woman I met at a week-long Italian cooking school who lost her luggage and didn’t get it back until the week was almost over!

2) Include a compact duffle with a luggage tag and lock that you can fill and carry back home while checking your (by now) expanded carry-on. Make sure the duffle is sturdy enough to handle breakable souvenirs and can be checked, if necessary. Don’t put anything in your checked bag that you can’t live without for a while in case it gets lost. At least you’ll be home and it won’t matter if you’re missing some dirty clothes for a week!

3) Coming or going, if you’re really stuck with too many clothes, wear layers on board that you can stuff in the overhead bin once the plane takes off. Yes, you’ll look like the Michelin Man, but who cares! A caveat, though: make sure the layer closest to your body is made of fabric that breathes. If you’re flying to Europe or beyond, you could be in transit for twenty-four hours or more, and you won’t be “fresh as a daisy” after sitting for hours in a sweaty top!

4) If you can’t avoid checking some of your luggage on the outbound leg, make sure you include a change of clothing and the bare necessities in your carry-on. Because of inclement weather and scheduling snafus, I’ve been stuck at an airport overnight (slept on a bench at Subway), and even stuck on a plane (parked on a remote airstrip) all night. Fresh underwear and a toothbrush would have been nice…

5) Neck pillows are okay but can be bulky and a pain to carry around, even though you can usually snap them onto your backpack or purse strap. Look for one you can inflate and then easily pack away. I don’t bother with them for domestic flights, and I haven’t used them that much on overseas flights, either. Ask yourself, “Am I really going to sleep, or am I going to binge watch all those movies/series I’ve been meaning to?” The same applies to travel blankets. On the other hand, if you take “sleep aids” (liquid or otherwise), by all means, snuggle up!

6) This from my hubby: wear your bulkiest shoes (like hiking boots) to travel, but if you can, bring a pair of comfortable slip-on walking shoes onboard that you can change into for long flights. And from me: if there’s no room for slip-ons, bring a pair of “slipper socks” with the little grips on the bottom. Not sure why, but wearing those seems more hygienic than just wearing socks on the plane. I know – it’s all in my head (or is it my feet?).

7) You don’t need as many pants as you think, assuming they’re a neutral color, because they usually stay pretty clean (you’re wearing underwear, right?!). For my two-week cruise, I’m packing two to three pairs, along with some black slinky pants for fancy dinners, plus the comfy jeans I’ll be traveling in. For one week, I’d drop to two packed pairs. This will hold you even without laundry facilities, unless you’re doing some iffy-weather hiking or full battle gear mud wrestling.

8) In addition to your outerwear (raincoat, etc.) bring one lightweight, non-wrinkly sweater or jacket that will go with several patterned tops and neutral pants. Mine is royal blue and goes with just about every top I’m taking. It’s great to have even in warm weather in case the air conditioning (if it’s available) is cranked up too high. I’ll bring one or two very thin shawl-type covers for the cruise that will go with my black slinky pants, but if your trip has no “formal” nights, fuhgeddaboudit. And don’t worry if fellow travelers see you in the same “look” more than once. Ask yourself: “Do I really need to impress these people?” The answer should be a resounding “No!”

9) Depending on what you like to sleep in, pajamas can be bulky, so I bring thin sleep pants and wear camisoles or t-shirts that I’ve already worn but are good to go one more time before hitting the dirty laundry bag. If you’re like my husband, this is one packing problem you don’t have.

10) Miscellany: Always pack a few extra baggies, large and small (you’ll invent uses for them), and the aforementioned laundry bag. Bring plastic cutlery that includes a serrated knife in case you shop for picnic goodies. Don’t forget a few napkins or paper towels and bring a small foldable shopping bag to carry those groceries. Alternatively, bring a small foldable backpack to use for shopping and day trips (e.g., excursions from your cruise ship). In transit, carry not only your prescription meds, but everyday pills like antacids and pain relievers. You never know when a noisy or obnoxious airline passenger is going to give you a headache! Stick a small, empty water bottle in your carry-on and fill it once you get past security, so you’ll have water at all times, in flight or on the ground. If you bring an insulated water bottle, make doubly sure it’s empty or they may confiscate it, and those can be expensive!

Since airlines tell you “One carry-on and one personal item,” I tend to stick my purse inside my tote/backpack combo (which I stow under my seat) until I’m on board. But I’ve seen lots of travelers lugging large purses, shopping bags, totes AND carry ons and get away with it. Yes, I grouse under my breath, but I’m no snitch. Just be ready to combine the two (or more) items into one in case your gatekeeper is a stickler for rules.

Finally, especially on a cruise, pack a mini crossbody bag that keeps your essentials (phone, room key, lip gloss, etc.) on you at all times. No need to lug a regular-size purse or backpack around the ship.

SIX NEW PACKING TIPS I LEARNED

11) Instead of carrying full or travel-sized grooming aids, use contact lens cases and put your (for example) face lotion or make-up foundation in the little compartments. You need much less than you think you do, and it reduces bulk.

12) Use weekly pill boxes for pills, yes, but also the aforementioned antacid or headache tablets, and even jewelry!

13) Avoid “just in case” outfits (that’s been my downfall). Chances are you can create an appropriate extra outfit from the basics you’ve brought. Maybe add a scarf to jazz things up. If you’re visiting churches during the heat of summer, you could use the same scarf to cover your bare shoulders, if modesty rules apply. When traveling in Europe, there’s no need to dress up, but don’t be a slob, either. In general, Europeans have a more refined sense of style than Americans, and you don’t want to stand out (by wearing, for example, University sweatshirts or zip-off pants) because pick pockets are always on the lookout for tourists who tend to be easier marks.

14) The side of the suitcase housing the “spine” of the adjustable handle has space beneath the spine. Fill it with socks, underwear, scarf or other flat, compressible items.

15) Re-think the number of socks you bring. Merino wool socks resist odor, so you can get more than one day out of them.

16) According to travel bloggers Nick and Allie (Check them out HERE), if you’re traveling around Europe, the best size carry on is 22” x 9” x 14.” And while international carriers might not have weight limits on those carry-ons, smaller airlines do (e.g., Ryan Air, which flies from Dublin to, say, London, has a weight restriction of 22 pounds). Just be aware and plan accordingly.

Fold or Roll – is it Falderal?

There are two distinct camps on the critical question of whether to fold or roll one’s clothes when packing. I’m ambivalent, mainly because I’m not disciplined enough to do one or the other, but I wish I were. The idea of folding properly so that the clothing “stands up” and you can see it, makes a lot of sense.

Rolling accomplishes the same thing but appears to use less space. It looks like rolling takes a bit longer, but may be worth it, especially since I learned that by turning the hem of your clothing up during the rolling process, you can use it as a lip to secure the rolled-up article in place. The “Army Roll” is pretty nifty, and you can check it out HERE. To learn how to fold your clothing instead, check this VIDEO by travel blogger Tiffany. It’s a good idea to bring along a small bottle of wrinkle releaser (Downey makes one) just in case, because in my experience, neither method eliminates all wrinkles.

To Cube or not to Cube – That is the Question

Whether you’re a roller or a folder, most travel packing experts love packing cubes. You can separate your clothing by function and know right where to find it. I have tried them, and it feels like they’re more of a hassle than they’re worth, however, after watching a few videos extolling their virtues, I may try them one more time. One traveler I came across said that rather than putting all pants in one cube and all tops in another, she puts a complete outfit in one cube so there’s no thinking involved. I dunno about that, but if it works, why not?

Cubes can be pricey, so one viewer who commented on a packing cube segment mentioned that she uses the bags that sheets or pillows come in; I assume it’s because they often have zippers that you can force air out of to compress the contents. In other words, improvise with bags at hand and see if packing with them works for you. If so, they’ll be worth the investment.