Don’t live in the dark; packing is an art form. There are those who arrive at their destination lacking the appropriate attire and have to compensate, and those who tread through long, crowded terminals toting four pieces of luggage. The happy medium lies in packing light, but efficiently. How is this state achieved?

Develop a plan
Comparable to composing the blueprints for an architectural masterpiece, is the need to develop a packing list. This aids in packing your luggage at the onset of the trip, and reloading your bags at the tail end of the journey.

Think of all possible events that may arise on your trip: dinners, dancing, swimming, hiking, etc. Do you have the appropriate clothing for each event? Are there any articles of clothing that can be utilized for two or more occasions?

Have you checked the weather forecast for your intended destination? You may not need to pack your hooded sweatshirt in your leather luggage for a mid-summer Florida visitation. Do you know the customs where you are going? There may be limitations to how much skin you can show in certain places.

Take it or leave it
Put your clothes on display. Examine all articles with a keen eye. Do you definitely need everything you are bringing? Is it necessary to bring five pairs of jeans for a two-day stay?

You can contact your hotel or lodgings ahead of time. Will they accommodate you with shampoo, towels, hair dryers, ironing board, etc.?

Jewelry is aesthetically pleasing- especially to thieves. Do not take anything you would not want to lose or will give you extra attention you would not want. Smelling great is always pleasurable for those around you, but you are bringing a plethora of scented lotions, so you may not need the five bottles of perfume too.

Purchase a traveling kit. This will give you the option and receptacles to bring all of your toiletries. A good insight is to try to economize on the amount of all things you are bringing. Is it possible to take a certain number of Q-tips rather than the whole box?

The fine art of packing
You are sure what you want to bring, so now it is on to the next phase. Iron everything before you place it in your wheeled luggage. Button all buttons and zip-up all zippers. Taking special care of your clothes before they are placed in your suitcase will ensure they come out the same once you get to your destination.

Become a folding aficionado. The better you become at the practice, the better your clothes will be maintained through the travel experience. Articles such as jeans, t-shirts, skirts, and sports coats can be rolled rather than traditionally folded to save space.

Overlap two articles of clothing. One article will be used as a cushion for the other to be placed on. This will help in avoiding wrinkles. Placing tissue paper in between articles of clothing will also help preserve the clothing and save them from wrinkles.

Think ahead. Put clothes on the top of your hardside luggage that you will be wearing first. This way, you will not have to disrupt other articles while searching through for specific items.

Eliminate empty space. Empty, loose space promotes wrinkles and the need for more bags on your journey. For instance, place socks in shoes rather than placing them in separately.

Unpack your luggage as soon as possible upon arrival to prevent wrinkling. Most people experience a problem when repacking their luggage. This is because used items are to be washed, so they are not repacked with care. Repack worn items in the same fashion as employed before your trip. This will ensure that you have the same amount of room returning as arriving.

Labels: travel