I belong to a few online travel groups. A couple of the most often asked questions are, what’s the weather like and what to pack for a trip. Many people have extensive packing lists for all types of travel and weather. And then there’s also suggestions on how to pack your luggage. Questions about when and where to put the luggage tags. How strict are the airlines with baggage weight? What you need to pack and what you can leave home. What do I do if I have to take medicine? This is yet another huge minefield, full of information and personal preferences among travelers. I’m just going to put tons of information here for you to sort through for what is relevant to you and your travel needs.
Weather – Something that I’ve done for the past several years, is track the weather the previous year – of course this only works if you’ve planned a trip a year in advance! Otherwise I search the internet for the average temperatures for that particular area. Of course we all want perfect weather for our much anticipated vacation, but unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate!
Clothing – See Weather above. Depending on the time of year and destination of travel, you should be able to pack what you will need to enjoy your vacation. First and foremost, I recommend good walking shoes with non-slip soles. Next, try mixing and matching various outfits to help reduce the amount of clothing needed. If you are heading to Australia in December-February, that’s their summer, so leave the heavy clothing behind and bring a sun hat instead. If it’s the rainy season, a water-resistant jacket with a hood is a good idea. Umbrellas – not so much.
Luggage – Base the size of your luggage on what you need. A weekend trip? A carry-on bag should suffice. A longer trip? Well, that depends! If you are going for a longer period of time, there’s a few options. 1) Pack for a week and take a break for some laundry. Some hotels and ships have self-service laundry areas. 2) Wash out underwear in the shower or bathroom sink. Most rooms have a retractible clothesline in the shower. 3) Use the hotel or ship laundry service. Some ships have a laundry special that it quite reasonable. But, if you must pack 6+ pairs of shoes and lots of clothing for every possible scenario, be prepared to pay extra for that heavy suitcase if you are flying! Here’s a tip: Your luggage fits under the bed on the ship so you have more room in the closet!
Liquids, Medicine & First Aid – Know the TSA rules for these items, especially if packed in your carry-on luggage. If you don’t know, ask! Better to ask than be denied an item at the security check point. Travel size items are just the right size! Zip lock bags are great for transporting just about everything. If you have prescription medicine, be sure to bring a copy of your prescription with you. You never know when this may come in handy. Or here’s a tip: Ask your pharmacy to put a label on a small bottle for each prescription. I always travel with band-aids, antibiotic cream, tweezers, nail clippers, nail polish remover, antiseptic wipes, OTC pain relievers, safety pins, sewing kit and more. Some things are not always readily accessible when you need them from shops in town or on the ship.
Tip #1 – If you are a frequent traveler, consider creating a special drawer or area for items that you always need when you travel. This makes it easy to grab your travel essentials from one spot, instead of running all over the house to collect them. I have such a drawer.
Tip #2 – Some travelers swear by rolling their clothes to pack. Others fold. I like using the packing cubes. It helps me keep my clothing organized, as well as fitting it all in my luggage.
Tip #3 – Create a packing list. This can be trip-specific or a general list of items that you always pack, with room to add trip-specific items, such as binoculars or suntan lotion.
See It’s Time to Pack – Part 2 for more valuable tips and information!
“Hope for the best, plan for the worst.”
– Jack Reacher
Twenty Steps at a Time 