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Write down the number of days you will be away. Break these into activities, such as: sporting events, city shopping, evening entertainment (dinners, parties around the pool, barbecues, etc).
Examine your wardrobe and work out what you'll wear for each occasion. See which of these outfits can be worn for more the one event. Try on the clothes you plan to take. Even if your clothes are cleaned or laundered regularly, it's a good idea to check each item. Sometimes a button is missing, a hem is loose, or the ourfit is inappropriate.
This step will enable you to co-ordinate individual items, eliminate unnecessary weight and make packing easier. After you've checked your holiday clothes, hand them separately.
Since porters are a dissappearing breed and luggage carts are often unavailable, plan accordingly. Nothing is worse than standing with three suitcases at an airport, not knowing how to get to the taxi stand or bus stop. Try to keep your luggage down to what you can carry without too much effort - one large suitcase, one smaller one and a shoulder bag. You may not be very comfortable, but atleast you won't feel helpless or immobilised.
Your suitcase is part of your image, don't neglect it. Many derogatory comments are made about worn or mismatched luggage. There are many good quality, reasonably priced suitcases on the market.
Of course, the luggage must also be practical. Very soft bags are undesirable as they wont protect
your clothes. Choose a type that can withstand being kicked and thrown; this is,
unfortunately, what often happens. The best suitcases have hard frames and sides.
As far as quantity is concerned you will be prepared for most trips with the following: one large suitcase and one bag with shoulder
straps. With this luggage you will be prepared to go on a long trip (by taking all three) or a short one (using the small-to-medium
one). The shoulder bag, of course, can be used or not, depending on what you need.
Unless you go away for longer then a month, these
three pieces will be sufficient. If not, you have picked out too many clothes.
When you take all three bags with you, the medium one should be reserved for shoes (packed in plastic bags), sweaters,
handbags, underwear, and hirdryers. The large suitcase will then be reserved for clothes, which will not be crushed by shoes or other heavy items.
In the shoulder bag, which you can take with you on board a plane or train, put your cosmetic
bag, camera, jewllery, the book you want to read while travelling - in other words, all odds and ends you need.
Having put the heavier, bulkier items in the smaller suitcase, you are
now ready to pack your clothes in the large one. Start with you raincoat, pants and jackets. Place them flat in the suitcase to fill out as much surface as
possible without folding them. Whatever hangs over must be folded into the case. Pants are put lengthwise, folded in once.
With a jacket, dress or blouse, put the
top part in first, horizontally, next fold in the sleeves and then f
old over the bottom part. This system allows you to put the maximum in the suitcase without wrinkling clothes. Delicarte blouses and dresses
should go in last. Belts should not be rolled up and tucked in a corner,
but placed around the edge of the case, to prevent them snagging on other items.
Put your shoes in first, opposite the handle (this way they won't shift and crush everything else when the case is carried or standing). To save space, tuck soft, small things - hose, lingerie - inside the shoes.
Next to the shoes, place handbags, sweaterew, t-shirts and robes, making the surface as flat as possible. Then put the rest of your clothes on top.
Don't pack you bags too tightly. Put individual items under plastic covers. You can also use tissue paper, but it's not quite as effective. All items with buttons should be closed. And since the old trick of hanging clothes in a steamy bathroom doesn't always work, take along a travel iron.
To safe-guard against forgetting your faborite eyeshadow, or lipstick, pack your cosmetic bag a few days before going on your trip. Then, while you are still at home, do your make-up using only items out of that bag, and replace them immediately afterwards.
In other words, pretend to be on your trip already. This way you will know for sure what is missing before you leave. Lotions, perfumes and creams should be put in plastic containers. Be sure to squeeze out the air before closing them, to allow for air expansion.
If you're travelling by air, put items like hairspray or spray deodorant in a closed plastic bag, because they sometimes explode or open in transit and the result can be messy.
Also be selective about what you carry in it. Choose a colour that either matches your outfit or luggage.
Raincoat; bathers;scissors; soap, shower cap; a folding umbrella; alarm clock; small sewing kit; scotch tape; one or two folding coat-hangers; seberal plastic bags - handy for packing a wet swimsuit, lingerie that is not quite dry, or soiled items; en extra folding bag for carrying awkward parcels on the way home.
With your name on the outside - and inside of your luggage. It's not a good idea to include the address. In any case, if your suitcase is lost, you will be giving your address to the airline.
Have a pleasant trip.
