A Note From Paul: Plan Ahead!
Packing for travel is an art... and a science! It’s so aggravating – you arrive at your vacation destination and find you forgot your toothpaste, or those good walking shoes.
Just as maddening? Hauling thirty pounds of stuff that you don’t need and shouldn’t have brought. Hey, you can always buy toothpaste, but what to do with your good cashmere sweater when you’re surprised by 90 degree temps in Alaska?
So what’s the key to avoiding both scenarios? Smart packing!
Read on!
First, the most basic advice I can offer:
Do not wait until the last minute to pack! You'll end up throwing in everything you think you might need, just in case you need it.
(Yes, I'm talking to you, Mrs. Iacono!)
Start by making a list of the things you want to take, then pare it down, be realistic. Odds are you don't need a different dress or a different sport coat for every night. You'll be in a different restaurant, being seen by different people!
Now, the essentials:
There are certain items you should always carry on. What if your luggage is lost? Or your luggage is found – a thousand miles away! Either way, you don’t want to be without:
Moving on to... Personal Items:
These are things that you may want to carry with you, or you may want to pack. Either way, it's a good idea to have them handy:
But what about your luggage?
Not the contents, the container? First of all, consider the possibility that -- unless you're traveling with a personal valet on your own jet -- at some point you may have to carry it yourself.
Limit your baggage, make sure it's lightweight. And be sure your baggage is clearly labeled. Remove old destination labels and put your name, address (and tour group, if appropriate) on the outside and inside of each piece of luggage. For safety, the outside tag should show only your name, but print your address on the reverse (concealed) side. And enclose a copy of your itinerary in each bag.
But let’s get serious:
Most of your packing mistakes will come with your clothes. You pack too little, you pack too much. You're walking a fine line, and either way lies a miserable vacation. So plan ahead!
First, think versatility. Pack only items that mix and match and provide the kind of heating or cooling you expect to need. If you're layering for changing weather, make sure your outer layer fits easily over any inner layers without
binding.
And pay attention to fabrics: Cotton can be fine in warm weather, but
if it gets wet, it drains your body heat; lightweight wool can keep you
warm in cooler weather, and be just as cool as cotton when the heat
hits.
Next, coordinate your wardrobe around a single color or a simple color combination. You'll automatically eliminate many items of clothing. Stick to 1 or 2 colors that mix and match well. And remember, dark colors look cleaner longer than light colors.
When you're ready, lay out everything you think you'll need for the trip. Now pack half the items and return the balance to your closet. If you're still not convinced, try this simple exercise: pack everything, and walk around with your bags for a few minutes. If they feel too heavy, take out unnecessary items!
And don't forget to use every spare inch of the luggage space. Stuff hosiery into your shoes. Roll up sweaters and underwear to fit into corners.
And for 1 week or longer trips, plan on doing laundry rather than packing additional clothes. Take it from one who knows, a few minutes over the sink can save you years of rehab for back problems!
And one last consideration:
For those of you who fancy yourselves arteeests -- photographic equipment!
You may be tempted to take a half-dozen lenses, a tripod, both your digital cam and your film camera... Don't!
Unless you're a professional photographer and you're on the job, your
photos probably won't be any better, and you'll only regret the extra
weight.
So there you go... My tips for packing smart for your "Journey Beyond the Ordinary", or any journey, for that matter. Have more ideas? Send them to me! I'll publish them in a later post.
Until next week!
“When
preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then
take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Heller
Packing for travel is an art... and a science! It’s so aggravating – you arrive at your vacation destination and find you forgot your toothpaste, or those good walking shoes.
Just as maddening? Hauling thirty pounds of stuff that you don’t need and shouldn’t have brought. Hey, you can always buy toothpaste, but what to do with your good cashmere sweater when you’re surprised by 90 degree temps in Alaska?
So what’s the key to avoiding both scenarios? Smart packing!
Read on!
P.S. -- There's nothing worth more than your recommendation! Please forward this to friends and associates who might be interested.
* * *
Do not wait until the last minute to pack! You'll end up throwing in everything you think you might need, just in case you need it.
(Yes, I'm talking to you, Mrs. Iacono!)
Start by making a list of the things you want to take, then pare it down, be realistic. Odds are you don't need a different dress or a different sport coat for every night. You'll be in a different restaurant, being seen by different people!
Now, the essentials:
There are certain items you should always carry on. What if your luggage is lost? Or your luggage is found – a thousand miles away! Either way, you don’t want to be without:
- Your passport (if you’re traveling overseas)
- Medications (you can pack the low-dose aspirin. But those heart
meds? Carry ‘em! And your medical records too!)
- Money (do I really need to explain?)
- Eyewear (without my glasses, I don’t know if I have my passport. Or
my meds. Or my money.)
- And hey, a change of clothing is a great idea too. Your traveling
companions will thank you.
These are things that you may want to carry with you, or you may want to pack. Either way, it's a good idea to have them handy:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Lip balm
- A small first-aid kit.
- A small flashlight with extra batteries (trust me, it's a good idea)
- A bottle opener and/or corkscrew (again... trust me)
- A knife for room snacks (just don't carry the knife on the plane!)
- An alarm clock (most smart phones serve this purpose perfectly!)
- A sewing kit (yeah, you think it's silly, until the whole restaurant gets
treated to a view of your wobbly bits!)
- Moist towelettes (more uses than you want to imagine.)
- A language dictionary and phrase book. (only applies if you're traveling
overseas. Or, you know... to Canada.)
- Duct Tape (Yeah, seriously. Trust me. Never leave home without duct
tape.)
But what about your luggage? Not the contents, the container? First of all, consider the possibility that -- unless you're traveling with a personal valet on your own jet -- at some point you may have to carry it yourself.
Limit your baggage, make sure it's lightweight. And be sure your baggage is clearly labeled. Remove old destination labels and put your name, address (and tour group, if appropriate) on the outside and inside of each piece of luggage. For safety, the outside tag should show only your name, but print your address on the reverse (concealed) side. And enclose a copy of your itinerary in each bag.
But let’s get serious:
Most of your packing mistakes will come with your clothes. You pack too little, you pack too much. You're walking a fine line, and either way lies a miserable vacation. So plan ahead!
First, think versatility. Pack only items that mix and match and provide the kind of heating or cooling you expect to need. If you're layering for changing weather, make sure your outer layer fits easily over any inner layers without
binding.
And pay attention to fabrics: Cotton can be fine in warm weather, but
if it gets wet, it drains your body heat; lightweight wool can keep you
warm in cooler weather, and be just as cool as cotton when the heat
hits.Next, coordinate your wardrobe around a single color or a simple color combination. You'll automatically eliminate many items of clothing. Stick to 1 or 2 colors that mix and match well. And remember, dark colors look cleaner longer than light colors.
When you're ready, lay out everything you think you'll need for the trip. Now pack half the items and return the balance to your closet. If you're still not convinced, try this simple exercise: pack everything, and walk around with your bags for a few minutes. If they feel too heavy, take out unnecessary items!
And don't forget to use every spare inch of the luggage space. Stuff hosiery into your shoes. Roll up sweaters and underwear to fit into corners.
And for 1 week or longer trips, plan on doing laundry rather than packing additional clothes. Take it from one who knows, a few minutes over the sink can save you years of rehab for back problems!
And one last consideration:
For those of you who fancy yourselves arteeests -- photographic equipment!
You may be tempted to take a half-dozen lenses, a tripod, both your digital cam and your film camera... Don't!
Unless you're a professional photographer and you're on the job, your
photos probably won't be any better, and you'll only regret the extra
weight.
* * *
So there you go... My tips for packing smart for your "Journey Beyond the Ordinary", or any journey, for that matter. Have more ideas? Send them to me! I'll publish them in a later post.
Until next week!
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