Packing Secrets

[nporush]

So I am new to this forum but think it has wondrous possibilities to learn from veteran travelers. There is one common theme that always frustrates my wife & myself. That is the ritual of packing for a trip. Invariably we constantly overpack, have wrinkled clothesonce arriving & never have enough space to come back in (sometimes we even have to buy a small piece of luggage to return with everything). So can you experienecd travelers please advise us how we may pack better - i.e. what are your packing secrets

[omegaet]

advcolor....perhaps you find this board of assistance:

http://community.luxurylink.com/luxurylink/board/message?board.id=board-general&message.id=293&view=by_date_ascending&page =1

[CMDAVILACLI]

Hi Advcolor,

Definitely look at the link noted in the previous response... very good suggestions. I would add the following:

Now with the advent of luggage being rifled through by the TSA, use the stretchy belts that are in your suitcase to really tighten down your clothing. Along with putting your articles in plastic bags and on hangers when possible, the ties really prevent the TSA from scrunching up your clothing. Also one of the most basic tricks I left out for years was remembering to put all my heavy articles ie: shoes, books etc down at the end of the suitcase where the wheels are... so when you tip your suitcase upright to roll them, the heavy articles are already at the bottom.

Also, after 30 years of traveling, I have learned to CUT BACK on the clothes I bring! If, for some reason, I really find I am short something, I go out and buy it on my trip, and my new clothes also become a reminder of my trip.

Happy packing...

Cathy

[fredhashway]

Two tips...despite the weight difference, if unwrinkled clothes are important to you, go with hard-sided luggage over the soft-siders. They do a much better job of keeping the clothes from being crushed.

And for dress clothes, men's cotton dress shirts, etc., slip a plastic drycleaners bag over each individual article. It takes up no extra room, but causes the clothes to slide against each other rather than bunch up. It really works to keep wrinkles away.

[kyshel]

fredhashway;
Sometimes it helps top start a new thread on same subject. Searching can be a pain. I forgot about the old dry-cleaner bag trick because I now get rid of them out as soon as I pick up. (they go back to the cleaner w/the hangers "no more wire hangers!!" IF anyone recognizes the quote, you get extra credit!)
I think I'll save a few next time. They can be used on the return trip to wrap delicate articles you've purchased. That's assuming your clothes are now wrinkled!!
I always kept a sheet of bubble wrap in the bottom for that purp[ose, but I think I used it for Christmas gift packing.
Thanks for the reminder.

[claassenam]

Mommy Dearest!

(That's for Kyshel...)

[royalprincess]

I have always packed in my suit case another soft foldable bag with a zipper. When coming home I use it for extra purchases or dirty laundry.

[cruisinred]

If you need extra space for purchases when flying back home, consider buying a small collapsible duffel to tuck into your larger bag. They are fairly easy to find....

[travel2fun]

advcolor, I mentioned this in the other thread regarding packing tips:



PACKING LIST
Make upUnderwear, if it is comfortable2 pair of comfortable shoes
Buy everything else along the way and arrive back home with new additions to your wardrobe!

[Syrene-1]

Really? do you seriously do this? That has actually always been a fantasy of mine - going someplace with amazing shopping like Milan or Singapore and just buying as I go.



You don't really do this, do you? If so, you may be my new hero.