HOW TO TRAVEL TWICE AS LONG WITH FEWER HASSLES AND HALF THE LUGGAGE
By Judith Albright
A travel specialist and world traveler whose career in the industry has spanned more than 30 years, Judith Albright is a professional writer and president of Notebook Publications, a company that publishes books and directories to help travelers get the most from their trips. Over the years she has authored and published numerous informative articles, books and directories. The tips are the result of her numerous travel experiences and those of her friends, co-workers and clients.
When packing for a trip, it is easy to fall into the “You never know when I might need this so I’ll throw it in just in case, trap” Believe it or not, for most trips, even those lasting up to a month, both men and women can easily manage with one checked bag and one carry-on bag. The key to traveling light is having the right thing at the right time, in the right amount.
Not only do lighter luggage and fewer bags mean less effort on your part, your hassles over storage space on planes and trains will be limited. Fewer suitcases also mean shorter waits at baggage claim, easier customs inspections, and less need for porters (which means fewer tips!).
Plan in advance and select the right luggage before you go. Even one suitcase can be a nightmare if it is too large, too small, too unwieldy to handle, or too fragile to withstand the rigors of airline baggage systems.
The Right Luggage
Take the right type of luggage with you. The right bag is one that is:
a. Sturdy enough to withstand being dropped off conveyer belts or stacked with a heavy load on top.
b. Lightweight, roomy and easy to manage.
c. Meets airline size restrictions and limitations.
Purchasing New Luggage
If you are buying new luggage, what should you consider? Select luggage with wheels or use a baggage caddy. This will help make trips through airports, bus terminals or train stations easier, especially when porters are not available.
Pick suitcases with large, wide wheels that are less likely to twist sideways, become unbalanced and tip over, a problem common to older styles of wheeled
luggage
Purchase luggage according to your tastes and preferences, but bear in mind that hard side cases tend to fare better over time.
Make certain that any soft side luggage you are considering is constructed of tightly woven, sturdy material that will not easily sag, catch or rip as it moves along airline conveyor belts.
Choose hard side luggage with built-in combination locks instead of keys. Locks are necessary to keep the case closed, but you cannot not rely on locks
with keys to provide much security.
Experience proves that a key from one suitcase can often be used to open another made by the same manufacturer.
How Much Luggage Are You Allowed to Take?
Remember that domestic and international baggage allowances are different. Regulations vary by carrier.
Domestic Baggage Allowance
Within the continental
a. One piece weighing up to 50 lbs., the combined dimensions of which cannot exceed 62” (length + width + height)
b. One piece weighing up to 50 lbs., the total combined dimensions of which cannot exceed 55 inches (length + width + height)
Check with the airline if you will be traveling with skis, golf clubs, 8 bicycles or other sports equipment. Although you will pay extra for these items, many airlines will provide containers free of charge.
Limit your carry-on to one bag and one other item. Carry-on bags are restricted by most airlines to two bags per person. Briefcases and laptops generally count as one of the two, but airlines normally allow purses, umbrellas, diaper bags and cameras without charge.
International Baggage Allowance Between two international destinations (i.e. intra-Europe), baggage allowance is determined by weight. Overseas baggage allowance is only 20 kilos total, or 44 lbs.
Limit the weight of your luggage to 44 lbs. to avoid expensive excess baggage charges outside the U.S. Too late you may discover that even though
your luggage
is within appropriate weight limitations within the
other countries.
Check any bag that is too large to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. Boarding with oversized bags and/or large items may result in removal of
the item.
If this happens, you risk having your possessions sent to your destination on a different flight, and perhaps having to make a separate trip to the airport
to claim them.
Preparing for Your Trip
Plan to take no more than one checked bag and one carry-on bag.
Check the condition of the cases you will be taking if you are not purchasing new luggage. Airlines can refuse to accept fragile or damaged luggage
because of liability.
Replace the locks that come with zippered soft side bags with sturdier key or combination locks to deter would-be pilferers. (However, thieves commonly slash
this type of luggage to gain entry.)
Make sure the locks on all bags are in good working order and that your hinges are not sprung.
Repair or replace a bag if either locks or hinges are not in good working order.
Test the weight of older suitcases. If they are too heavy empty, you may encounter difficulty when the case is packed because of airline baggage limitations.
The less your suitcase weighs, the heavier the contents can be.
Mark your luggage for easier identification and visibility. Colored tape, ribbon, yarn or stickers work well. Since too many bags look alike, make your
luggage distinctive.
Place a colorful, tightly buckled strap around your closed bag when you have finished packing. Not only can you identify your luggage more easily, you
may save yourself the embarrassment of having your personal belongings scattered all over the baggage area if your suitcase is damaged enroute.
Remove protruding handles, hangers, shoulder straps or anything that might snag and damage your bag. Place them in your carry-on bag and
re-attach them on arrival.
What Should You Take Along?
Start by making a list of every item you will actually need.
Discard immediately any item that is questionable or that you think you might not need.
Take into consideration the climate, the purpose of your trip, your planned activities, and your length of stay at each destination.
Think of how many times you will need to change clothes for different activities (business appointments, evenings out, sports activities, etc.).
Check seasonal weather conditions at each of your destinations.
Include a raincoat, umbrella and warm clothing as needed.
Consider what articles you anticipate purchasing during your trip and plan to accommodate them.
Take along a collapsible nylon tote bag that will easily fit into your suitcase. The bag can accommodate new purchases and other articles that seem
to expand with re-packing.
Clothing Selection
Build your wardrobe around one or two basic colors such as black, beige or navy. Dark colors show less dirt and wrinkles.
Choose subsequent pieces that can be mixed and matched with the first. Add color with accessories.
Avoid taking too many outfits by organizing your selections to be interchangeable. If you come home with unworn clothes, you packed too much.
Plan to wear your basic slacks and/or skirts at least twice, (possibly three times) with different shirts, blouses or jackets to vary your outfit.
Get over the idea that you can’t be seen in the same outfit twice. Few will notice and none will care.
Avoid pure linens and cottons. Synthetics and cotton blends tend to pack best and wrinkle less.
Choose clothing made of nylon, Tencel or other new types of fabrics that can be washed and dried overnight. Even though natural fibers may be
more comfortable to wear, it can take days to dry them thoroughly, especially in humid climates.
Plan to send your laundry out if you will be in one place two or three days. Hotels commonly offer laundry service or can advise you where it is available.
Limit your shoes to no more than 3 pairs, including the pair you are wearing (unless you are taking cloth slippers or other types of shoes that can be
folded flat).
Everyday Necessities
Common everyday items easily found in the
prohibitively expensive.
Buy paperback books, toiletries, over-the-counter medications, pre-packaged laundry soap, artificial sweeteners and film before you leave.
Buy a set of adapter plugs if you don’t already own one and are planning to use electrical appliances (razor, curling iron, or hair dryer) in foreign countries.
Call ahead to hotels (if possible) to ask if they provide irons and hair dryers. If they do, leave yours at home.
Basic Rules for Packing
Position the heaviest items where they will be on the bottom when your suitcase is standing upright.
Enclose shoes in ziplock bags to avoid soiling your clothes. Place them along the sides or bottom of the bag.
Wear your biggest and bulkiest pair of shoes when traveling from place to place to save room and weight in your bag. Chances are they will be the most comfortable as well.
Pack nightwear folded on top for easy access.
Separate dirty laundry from your clean clothes. A plastic trash bag works well.
Use small plastic bottles for your toiletries or purchase travel-size containers. Large containers take up too much room and are heavy.
Place liquids only in your carry-on, sealed inside plastic ziplock bags.
Fill containers only ¾ full. If you are flying, changes in air pressure can cause the contents of bottles to expand and leak.
Avoid packing liquids inside your suitcase. Expansion can cause them to leak onto your clean clothing.
Carry your passport, money, jewelry, toiletries, prescriptions and medications, extra glasses, tickets, address book, camera, electronics and a change
of clothes in your carry-on luggage. If the airline loses your luggage, you will still have the most necessary items with you.
Place nothing of value in the unlocked outside pockets of your luggage. Thieves always check these first.
Pack clothes in the order in which you plan to wear them, particularly if you will not be unpacking at your first destination.
Button and zip all clothing. Clothes that slide around wrinkle worse.
Use the interweave method of packing, a technique that enables each item to cushion another, significantly reducing wrinkles.
Fill the suitcase to keep everything in place, but don’t overload it or compress your clothing. Both over-packing and under-packing (which
allows clothes to shift) produce wrinkles.
Start with underwear and lingerie. Fold each item flat and place it in a single layer on the bottom of the suitcase.
Fold suits, jackets, dresses, slacks, blouses and shirts along natural creases. *If you are unfamiliar with this method of packing, check Samsonite's Web
site at www.samsonite.com for additional instructions and an illustration.
Place each piece of clothing flat inside the suitcase (starting with collars and waistbands) and leave the remainder hanging out over the side. Fold sleeves
over each garment, pulling them smooth, then add another item.
Continue packing, alternating from side to side and front to back, until everything is placed in the suitcase. When you are finished you should have clothes
hanging out on all four sides. Start on one side of the suitcase, and alternating from all four sides, fold the part that is hanging out, one item over another.
The principle of this technique is that no garment is folded against itself, thus sharp creases are avoided.
Fold T-shirts flat, smoothing all wrinkles, then roll them tightly. Place them in the gaps created by the folding, which will add additional cushioning
between layers.
Roll neckties and socks and place them inside shoes or in empty spaces in corners. (Ties can also be packed flat between layers.) Belts can be inserted flat
around the inside circumference of the suitcase. Make the most of the space by stuffing small things in every gap and corner.
Close the suitcase but do not force it shut by squashing your clothes. This can spring your hinges and damage your suitcase.
Rearrange or remove items if you can’t get the case closed. You probably packed more than is necessary. Re-evaluate what you are taking or move some
items to another bag.
How Can You Get Your Purchases Home?
Place small or fragile items in the nylon bag you brought in your suitcase. You can hand carry it on board as one of your 2 allowed pieces. If you have
too many carry on items; place some of them in the bag as well to reduce your total number of items (i.e. purse, camera).
Remove some of the larger items you previously packed in your carry-on and re-pack them in your checked luggage. This will make extra room for newly
acquired purchases.
Pack clothing more tightly. Wrinkles are less of a concern when you are going home.
Plan to check anything unusual or oversized. If the item can be boxed or crated, it can likely be checked along with your luggage. If in doubt, ask
airline personnel for assistance. You may be able to bring these items on board. just don’t try to wrestle them into an overhead bin.
Be prepared to pay excess baggage charges if your additional items are heavy or exceed the number of pieces you are allowed to check.
Ship your purchases home whenever possible. Stores in the U.S and most reputable shops in other countries will ship merchandise to you. However,
you must claim foreign shipments at the nearest U.S. Customs Office when you return and pay any applicable duty.
Contact the airline airfreight department if, for whatever reason, shipping is not an option. They can assist you in getting large items packed, crated
and shipped home, but be prepared to pay.
Useful Items
Anti-bacterial hand cleaners - opportunities to wash your hands may be few and far between.
Artificial sweetener packages - (if you use them). They are virtually unavailable in other countries.
Copies of prescriptions/medical records - are these are invaluable in the event of a medical emergency.
Earplugs - you may need these to sleep if your hotel is located in a noisy area.
Facial tissue - in some countries are non-existent.
First aid kit - your basic kit should include Band-Aids, sunscreen, insect repellent antiseptic, gauze, tape, burn cream, digestive aids, diarrhea medicine, antihistamines, pain relievers,
motion sickness tablets, anti-itch cream, laxatives and moleskin (for blisters).
Flat drain stopper - so you can do laundry or bathe in bathrooms with missing stoppers.
Insect repellent - mosquitoes and other stinging insects are pests the world over.
Masking tape - very useful for sealing leaky containers and removing lint from clothes.
Packets or small plastic bottles of laundry soap - for quick rinses overnight.
Paper clips - for organizing loose papers or currency
Plastic bags. Garbage bags - work well for storing wet items or clothes to be laundered.
Pocket calculator - great for quick figuring of exchange rates.
Sewing kit - be sure to include safety pins, extra buttons and small scissors.
Small flashlight - power outages can occur anywhere and many buildings and sightseeing attractions are dark inside.
Spot remover - dry cleaning can be very expensive or unavailable on short notice.
Swiss army knife - for opening cans and wine bottles, tightening screws, cutting, slicing, or other creative uses (do not pack in carry on)
Toilet paper. in under-developed countries it may not be provided, or it can be crude, non-absorbent and of coarse quality.
Washcloths - many overseas hotels do not provide them.
Ziplock bags - for easily lost small items or anything that might spill.
Most important of all - take along your sense of humor, your spirit of adventure and an open mind.