First
of all, start early. A last minute rush
can lead to shoving clothes in a suitcase and arriving without everything you
need and with a wrinkled mess to boot.
Making a list of the number of days, nights, and coordinating clothing
needed for each facet of the trip allows you to check things off as you put items
in the suitcase. For toiletries, make a
master list of everything you use, print it on cardstock or laminate it, and store
that in your suitcase. When packing up
bathroom items, you won’t miss a step that way.
For
hard case suitcases that have a zipped-off compartment on the “lid” that takes
up half of the suitcase’s interior, I have learned a packing trick for women in
particular. Pack shoes, purses, jewelry
bags, hair styling equipment, and cosmetic cases and bags in the main area of
the suitcase, and pack the clothing in the top portion that will be zipped
closed and folded over on the base to close the suitcase. The inclination to start packing the clothes
first leaves the bulkier items in the lid, and this can make the suitcase
harder to close, while smashing your clothing.
When packing, put as many things as possible inside smaller bags within your luggage. This makes airport security more private should your bag be opened, and it makes unpacking in a hotel room or guest room more organized. Pack undergarments and socks inside small zipper bags. Wrap nice necklaces inside tissue paper, and place each inside a jewelry bag to avoid tangles. Put shoes inside drawstring shoe bags to keep them off your other items. To avoid wrinkles, roll up shirts and pants instead of folding them, which reinforces creases.
For the savvy traveler, consider the extras
you can take along to make your stay more comfortable. If you are staying with family, you may want
to bring a digital alarm clock for a familiar wakeup and the ability to see the
time display during the night. If you
are staying in a hotel, bringing a small sound machine can help buffer hallway
and elevator ding sounds with white noise to give you a more solid night’s
sleep. For an airplane ride, pack
comfort essentials in your carry-on like your own small travel blanket, neck
pillow, tissues, hand wipes, and snacks.
Taking a tote bag carry-on you can leave under the seat in front of you
instead of the overhead compartment keeps everything within reach the entire
flight.
Plan,
pack, and make progress for fun, relaxed, ultra-prepared travel this holiday
season!
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star November 18th.
