Travel Tips: Packing : How to Pack

• Multi-Pocketed Travel Vest new - I always take a multi-pocketed travel vest on a trip. Right now I have in mine ... a Swiss army knife, a thin day planner/notebook. 3 pens, a digital camera, a compass, a mini thermometer, sunglasses, buisness cards, cigarettes, a lighter, a comb, a GPS receiver, car keys, a map, and a water bottle.
  11-Feb-2006 David Cou ID89
  
  
• A New Packing Method - Try the 'Interweaving Method' of packing on your next trip. Drape longer garments (pants and dresses) across the suitcase, with the ends hanging over the sides. Then, fold smaller items like jackets, shirts, and blouses around the longer garments. The clothes will cushion each other, and by placing a piece of tissue paper in between each layer of clothing, it will prevent wrinkling.
  
  Avoid packing any travel documents and medication in luggage you plan to check. These items, along with any camera film, should be placed in your carry-on luggage, easily accessable to you.
  LuggagePros.com
  18-Dec-2003 LuggagePros.com ID1652
  
  
• Another Use for Cardboard - For those using any size suitcase: (1) put your luggage over a large piece of cardboard, trace the outline then cut (2) first pack shoes, toiletries, hard items, anything except clothing (3) layer on the cardboard divider (4)lay your clothes FLAT on the cardboard. This way you can LIFT the divider+clothes neatly away to pack/unpack additional things, and you can present your belongings for airport inspection without hassle.
  20-Apr-2001 Winnie Roque del Castillo ID21
  
  
• Another Use for Dryer Sheets - Pack a box of dryer sheets in your bags - because if you are outside alot where there are a lot of bugs, rub one of the sheets on your skin and it will repel the critters.
  6-Jun-2004 Student EDHS ID1629
  
  
• Another Use for Sheet Set Zipper Bags - I save the plastic zipper bags my sheet sets come in. They are handy for keeping all my zip-loc bags together, and the small ones hold Pjs, socks, underwear, etc. very well.
  18-Jun-2002 M.N. ID521
  
  
• Another Use for Zip-Lock Bags - When packing your important documents - eg., passport, birth certificate, etc., pack them in a zip-lock bag. It keeps them clean and all together!
  1-Jan-2000 Brigitte Knoche ID771
  
  
• Backpack Tips - When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way. Also, remember to place the important things on top.
  1-Jan-2000 Clarice Chua ID777
  
  
• Bags Within Bags - Bags within bags are a worthwhile trick. Use big duffels, but also pack smaller empty duffels inside for use as boat bags for clothing and other necessities.
  4-Aug-2005 A Wilderness Guest Ranch, Moab, Utah ID793
  
  
• Beach Bag - When packing to head to the beach and you know you're going to have a little extra room, instead of stuffing your bathing suit, towel, sunscreen and all that other stuff needed just for the beach, lake, etc. into your regular suitcase, pack these items into their own beach bag. This way, you won't have to dig into your big bag to look for your two-piece! And it makes preparing for the sun a little more exciting when you already have it all together. This is a good tip when travelling with children, too who are anxious to jump in the water or sand!
  1-Jan-2000 Toviah Morris ID781
  
  
• Bulky Towels - Sick of bulky towels filling up your suitcase Try this fabulous method for compacting large towels! First, lay your towel out flat on the floor, and smooth out wrinkles. On one of the shorter sides, fold 3-4 inches of the towel under the edge. Then, fold both long sides of the towel into the middle. From the other short side, start rolling the towel. Smooth out any bulges as they come, and roll tightly. Once you have rolled up all the way, wrap the pocket created by the excess you folded over around the roll to secure it. As a bonus, you can roll up swimsuits and other shower/beach items within the towel for simple access and packing!
  19-Jun-2004 Diane Leigh ID1675
  
  
• Combination Lock - Small, sturdy, combination locks are best for quick access to your luggage. Keys get lost; a simple combination number that you set is quick and easy, no fumbling for key, etc.
  1-Jan-2000 Richard Stegemeier ID761
  
  
• Diaper Bag - If you must take valuables like cameras etc. (especially when flying), then pack them in a diaper bag. It's less likely to be stolen and many of them have outer pockets that you can slip other things into like your itinerary, snacks, change, etc. The bottle holders are great for bottled water. Some of these bags are better designed for organization than some expensive luggage I've seen.
  1-Jan-2000 Kathy Frolian ID787
  
  
• Doing Laundry While You Travel - When traveling to areas where you may not have access to a washing machine or laundry service, it is important that you bring with you some kind of either shampoo or liquid laundry detergent (you'll only use about 4 ounces in a month in most cases), along with a clothes line and clothes pins. This saves money and time spent trying to find facilities.
  27-Sep-2001 Melinda McGucken ID353
  
  
• Don't Bother Wrapping Gifts - Do not pre-wrap gifts to be carried on board aircraft.
  4-Aug-2005 A Wilderness Guest Ranch, Moab, Utah ID794
  
  
• Dry Cleaner Bags - Hang/place individual items of clothing in dry cleaners' plastic bags. Your clothes will NOT wrinkle. Sounds too easy but it really works!
  1-Jan-2000 Carol Woo ID785