When it comes to travelling—people usually fall into one of
two categories-underpackers and overpackers.
Whether for business or leisure, short or long hauls, plane or car
travel, the stress of getting ready and feeling disorganized on the road
sometimes makes traveling hardly seem worthwhile.
Your goal is to take everything
you need, without feeling anxious that you’ve left something behind, or annoyed
with yourself for taking too much. To
attain your travel- light goals, either imitate Mick Jagger, and take roadies,
or follow these well-travelled words of wisdom.
TWO-DAYS BEFORE
Minimize pre-trip pressure and
poor last-minute decisions by getting a jump-start. If you have a packing
checklist, review it now. Ideally,
create and edit your lists while traveling—when what you need becomes most
obvious. Store lists by type (e.g. 2 day
business, 1 week island) in your suitcase, easy to find when
needed.
The secret to precision packing is
deciding in advance what you’re going to wear each day and night. Is your spontaneous side
hyperventilating? Weigh the options of
possibly being sick of your clothes, or cranky schlepping 50 lbs of
luggage. Open your suitcase (on a chair
or luggage rack) and begin laying out clothing options. (Include 1-2 extra tops--which take less
space than bottoms) for variety or in case of a spill.
Choose luggage. Figure out your system for plane travel (by
far the most challenging) and use the same system for trains and cars. Select at least 4 pieces: 1)main suitcase (20-22” rollerboards, work
for up to a week if smartly packed); 2)carry-on tote or briefcase; and 3) small handbag that slips inside
(accommodating the stricter 2 bag airline limit).
4) Add a packable leather business
envelope and/or a crushable, flat handbag or backpack for lighter movement at
your destination.
PACKING DAY
Bring
everything you need while stretching space in your bags with the following
techniques:
- Use travel-sized containers for toiletries
and cosmetics. Worth
every minute spent transferring from large bottles. Label to remember
what’s what, and keep pre-stocked
in a portable toiletry kit.
- Select a simple, neutral color theme (blacks, whites, browns, beiges)
so everything works together and can be re-used. Use colorful accessories
for drama and variety.
- Choose
thin, wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Cashmere,
silks and rayons pack in ¼ of the space of your favorite cable-knit
sweater, stretching your possibilities. Companies like Magellans and Travelsmith have specialized
travel garb worth checking out.
- Limit your shoes. Ah, there’s the rub. Choose versatility over excessive
fashion. As a general rule, pack your most malleable and wear the
bulkiest pair. Planning to exercise?
Find crushable running shoes (Nike Presto) or consider swimming
instead.
- Subdivide bag interiors. Fabric mesh packing cubes and
see through packing sacks (Eagle Creek, Magellan, Tumi) help you find what
you need and make it easy for security to quickly go through your
stuff. Shoe bags protect clothes
without taking up extra space.
- Don’t overstuff your carry-on. Place ticket, passport and ID
in a special case or designated pocket to avoid feeling disgruntled every
time you get to a security checkpoint. If you have room leftover
for a water bottle, amidst reading material, laptop, gum and wallet,
you’re in good shape. Pack prescription medication and spare
underwear in case luggage is lost.
WHILE YOU ARE THERE
Make yourself instantly at home in
your hotel or guest room by immediately setting up shop. Hang up clothes and toss packing cubes and
sacks directly into dresser drawers.
Unzip and hang toiletry bag, place your toothbrush in a glass, and your
novel on the nightstand. Establish a
work station for meeting materials or travel brochures and plug in your laptop
and cell phone.
Lighten your load as you go by
tossing magazines, and weeding literature you collect, taking home only the
most useful. Arrange to have heavy
purchases shipped directly home. Bring
along UPS or FedEx forms and ship back dirty laundry, clothes and shoes you no
longer need.
EASING RE-ENTRY
No matter how tired you are, make
it your personal rule to completely empty your suitcase, briefcase, and refill
your toiletry kit—before sitting down to relax, or starting your catch up
routine. Nothing weighs more heavily on
your head than sorting through the pile of accumulated mail and messages with
an as-yet unpacked suitcase waiting for you.
The more often you travel, the
better you get at this packing and unpacking thing. So, take a deep breath, and enjoy your next
trip…… Bon Voyage!
