August is here, and half the summer has gone by... perhaps you've already taken a trip this summer, or maybe it's fast approaching... I prefer to travel during low season, which is usually in the fall, so my own vacation is still 8.5 weeks off (*sigh*)
No matter what kind of a vacation you decide to take, where ever you decide to go, and however long you're away, one of the universal challenges of a traveler is how to pack efficiently. There is no correct answer to this, everyone has their own preference and items of necessity/comfort. I think the most important thing is to organize and analyze.
There are different ways to approach this, but in all instances, it's still better to pack a few days to a week in advance to avoid forgetting things. If you have an upcoming trip, why not take a look at this site for some packing tips to start? The Independent Traveler site gives you the rundown with packing tips, most common problems, and an interactive customizable packing list.
There's a few personal practices I adhere to when it comes to packing (and avoiding extra baggage fees)...
1. Dress in layers
Check your destination weather as much as you like, there will always be a margin of error for what the actual temps will when you get there. Not to mention if you're traveling to a destination that has a different climate than your own, you still need to arrive to the airport and get home later in the proper attire. To avoid having to pack for 2 different climates, try to layer. This will also theoretically give you more wardrobe combination while on the road. Also, extra hoodies can be rolled up and double for pillows.
2. Wear your heaviest clothing items onto the plane
Heaviest can be in reference to weight or warmth. These will usually be the parkas/ski jackets/pea coats... they either weigh a lot, take up a lot of room in your suitcase, or both. Packed in a bag or suitcase their dimensions/weight will work against you, maybe even resulting in extra baggage fees. But airlines cannot penalize you for your body mass, whether you weight 90 Ibs or 250 Ibs, the price for you to get on the plane remains the same. Stuff a reusable shopping bag in your carry-on, once you're onboard, fold the jacket up, put it in the bag, and sling it into the overhead compartment. Sure you might look like a moron boarding a flight to Hawaii in a wool coat, but it's worth it knowing you've just legally and cost-effectively increased your carry-on allowance. (Note: wearing an unusually large coat is a visual cue for spotting terrorists, so don't do this unless you're originating or destination city is actually cold enough to require such a jacket)
3. Pack a PJ t-shirt that you wouldn't be embarrassed to wear to the mall
Sometimes even with the best planning and prep, things go wrong. You might be short a change of clothes or have an exploding liquid mishap that ruins some of your shirts. Most travel destinations will have somewhere you can go to pick up a new shirt, but for whatever reason you might not want to (ie. you're low on funds) This is why when selecting pj's for travel my rule of thumb is to opt for slightly loose-fitting t-shirts that I would be willing to wear out if need be, so that in a pinch I can wear them for a day of sight-seeing without feeling awkward.
4. Pack a change of underwear and a thin clean t-shirt in your carry-on
Also a good idea in case of unexpected mishaps, or lost luggage. The change of undies and shirt will give you an extra day while you wait for your luggage to arrive and/or to go out and buy some new clothes.
In all my meticulous preparations and list-making, I can sometimes err in the other direction and wind up packing too much. I'm well-prepared, but then I usually wind up having to visit a massage therapist for my back the day after I return. In anticipation of my fall trip, I'm going to try the following to reduce the weight of my luggage, hopefully this will give my back a break (or allow me buy more souvenirs...either way...)
-cut down on the number of books I bring by using my ebook reader on my iphone and just bring a couple of magazines for take-off and landing that I can then trade with my mom or discard.
-take advantage of my longer stopovers to do a bit of laundry. A little bit of hand-washing clothes in the bathroom sink never killed anyone, takes a little longer to dry so I'll just have to remember to get those socks washed the first day I arrive in the city, but this way I won't have to pack 14 of everything. I've rented private flats in a couple of my destinations so my clothes can be hung up undisturbed by housekeeping.
-use phone camera instead of bringing another point and shoot. I have a Canon SX30IS for scenic photography, in addition I usually bring a pocket camera to take around when I'm not expecting spectacular scenery or "just in case". With the advanced technology of phone cameras these days I'm just going to rely on my iphone for these instances, so that will be one less device to worry about.
-try to do without my hair straightener. Don't underestimate vanity...but I also shouldn't underestimate my ability to deal with my hair either. I didn't own a straightener for most of my life and still got my hair to behave when I needed it to, it's not a trip that requires me to dress up a lot, so if all else fails I can resort to a ponytail.
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