This Wednesday: Tips for packing I learned the hard way.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.
This Wednesday...Tips for packing.

It's been a long time since I've packed to travel outside the U.S. -- or really, packed to go anywhere except Kansas City, where I can borrow anything I forget to bring. Here are some lessons I learned the hard way.

1. Don't assume that you couldn't possibly forget to pack an essential item -- like socks.

2. Always bring a full bottle of Advil.

3. If you have a long flight, have breath mints handy.

4. If you bring an electrical converter, check to see whether it can accept three-pronged as well as two-pronged appliances. Obviously, the converter will do you no good if you can't plug your three-pronged computer cord into its two-pronged base.

5. Squirrel away some snacks in your luggage.

6. Remember to bring your phone charger.

7. Bring far too many books, both on the plane and in your suitcase. You may run through your reading stash far more quickly than you predicted if you: a) decide you don't like a book and won't finish it, b) leave a book behind in the airport waiting lounge, c) finish a book more quickly than you anticipated, due to a delayed flight, or d) all of the above.

Comments

[Monica Ricci]

Gretchen, these are great tips! I blogged about a packing tool that I bought a few months ago, called the Pack-It Folder. Very cool. It allows you to pack your clothes in such a way that they won't move all over your luggage and get wrinkled in transit. ~Monica

[Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross]

Great ideas. How about these? Invest in a video iPod. When you get tired of reading you can listen to music, podcasts or videos. If you have a laptop and are flying a great distance, invest in a battery with a longer charge. (This may eliminate the need for an iPod.) Take stationery with you and catch up on your letter writing. "I'm writing to you from 35,000 feet headed to Austrailia..."

And of course, if you have a child in diapers, take 3 times as many as you think you'll need. Trust me.

Your blog makes me happy:-)

[Ruth]

How about this one: roll clothes instead of folding them; they won't wrinkle. I've learned that when I travel I wear half of what I bring so I've started to pack essentials,instead of creating clutter with packing fashion-options-just-in-case. Remember to get your new baby his/her passport. I've just reminded myself to do that by writing this!

[Jude]

I've had an all-purpose packing list since I was in my early 20s. It has a subdivision for camping trips, my favorite kind of trip. Since I started substitute teaching, I made a packing list for that as well.

[alex]

I travel a lot for work all over the US and long haul flights to Asia. consder packing cubes you can get at a lot of luggage stores nowadays--different sizes for different types of clothes. some hotels give out free 'disposable' slippers. snag a couple for future use since you never know how dirty the next hotel carpet will be no matter the star rating. I agree with you on breath mints. I've often wanted to offer some to neighbors. haha... lastly, have a small zippered pouch for all you 'essentials' like breath mints, ipod, ear plugs, and advil, etc., so they're handy and fit in the seat pocket. keep you feet area clear of bags to stretch your legs more.

[Susan]

I keep a list for going to a particular place I go to twice a year. I also have a little notebook for all info I need for that trip. And I keep some things (eg travel size toiletries) in a zip lock bag in my carry on case. I never pack without a list as I have in the past (1) arrived without any extra underwear (2) arrived without any deodorant and (3) arrived without my dress shoes. Also I've found zip-lock bags beat any cosmetic cases.

[2Celebsoops]

Hi all! :)

[BxCapricorn]

I'm jealous. Your blog gets lots of action, and yet my blog gets none. The strange part is that those that frequent my site make thousands of dollars in the stock market, which is why I started the blog. For friends and family to prosper from what I've learned and continue to find out.

You say you test drive ideas. Here's one. Go to my post on 9/20 and read the "I Will Make It As Easy As Pi" post. Test drive my idea of tracking the SEC Form 4 stock picks of the country's ultra-rich.

As you can see, I have no advertising or more than 20 readers per day, but I personally know those people, and they have been empowered by my knowledge. All I ask is that you not tell anyone but those close to you. Take care.

BxCapricorn

[sld]

Here's another one -- keep your toiletries packed in a travel bag and stored in a closet. I just refill the little shampoo and body wash bottles before each trip. That way I never have to wonder if I've forgotten the above mentioned aspirin, breath mints, as well as hair clips, sewing needle, etc. I just never unpack them! I also keep my little suitcase padlocks in there so I always know where they are, and I switched to combination locks so I never have to lose the key (or worry about losing the key).

[Viv]

Thanks for all your tips.
Additional comment re rolling clothes instead of folding. I use a cardboard tube from gift wrap (the width of the suitcase) to roll my skirts up in. This way you never get those crease lines across the middle.
I also always have a very small ziploc with a few elastic bands, paper clips, string and a small roll of sellotape. This has come in useful time and time again.
And, of course, lots of spare ziploc bags !

[Joy]

I learned the hard way to pack toiletries in heavy duty ziploc bags. I used to travel 16-20 hours by flight (to Asia from the US, Ireland, and the UK). I also used to buy really expensive, heavy duty luggage, only to have them squashed, lost, or irrepairably damaged from loading and reloading and other only-imaginable tortures. So when I'm in Asia, I do what a lot of the Asians do: use good-quality cardboard boxes. I either pack my luggage in these boxes, or forgo the luggage and just use the boxes (reinforced with packing tape with my name, contact numbers, and itinerary clearly visible on all sides and on a piece of paper inside the box.) I have yet to lose a box, or have to replace my luggage inside in the past 15 years!