Skip to main content

Ready . . . Set . . . Pack!

Growing up, I usually traveled by car. Several times every year, my parents loaded me, my siblings, and the occasional cousin into the car. We would set off for a variety of points around the country to visit family and friends. This led to occasionally close quarters. . . and the need for careful packing. With at least five people in the car, luggage overload was a real possibility.

Today, I do a fair amount of travel by airplane. I find the luggage restrictions to be much like they were during my childhood travels. Between cramped airplanes and overloaded cars, smart packing is a definite must.

There are four simple points to remember when packing for a trip. The first is to consider your destination. Pack those items that are necessary for the time and place to which you are traveling. If you are visiting Maine in January, chances are slim that you will need beachwear. Likewise, if you visit Las Vegas at the same time of year, a heavy coat would be a wasted addition to your luggage. If you can leave it at home, please do.

Next, one should make exclusions. Is there anything that you do not absolutely need? This is a good rule for those people traveling with another person. Are there any items that can be shared? For instance, there is no reason to bring multiple hair dryers if the travelers will be staying - and using the appliance - at the same place. Also consider decreasing the quantity of clothing. If packing for a long weekend trip, is it really necessary to bring one dozen pairs of pants?

Third, one should look ahead to the end of the trip. Often, with the purchase of souvenirs and other mementos, travelers return with more items than they left. This is especially true for air travelers. Given the strict luggage rules and fees, without careful packing, one’s return trip could be costly.

Finally, to borrow the well-known scouting mantra, be prepared. In addition to packing clothing, include a few potential extra items. These include rain gear and bags to transport laundry. It is almost impossible to predict what situations might arise.

In short, be smart when packing. Consider the whole trip, not just the beginning of it. Pack what you know you will need. But, be ready for unexpected events.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Catch A Cab

We had been walking for about forty-five minutes, making our way from Manhattan’s South Street Seaport to the Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street. When we were within fifteen blocks of our destination, some of my companions decided that we should complete our journey by cab. Despite my attempts to convince them to keep walking, they were insistent. The trip that ensued was a true New York experience. After a few minutes of trying, one of my companions was able to hail a cab. However, we wanted to go north. The cab that stopped was going south. It did not seem to matter, though, as my companions still got in the cab. One person sat in the front while I slipped into the backseat, between the other two. Hardly before the doors could close, the driver had fought his way into Manhattan traffic. Without warning, he took a sharp right turn onto a side street and began to head north, steadily increasing his speed. Within seconds, the cab was weaving a...
1 comment
Read more

Looking At My Luggage

More than twenty four hours had passed since I had arrived in Washington, D.C. My luggage was still nowhere to be found. Despite the promises of the airline’s agents, my missing suitcase had not yet been delivered. With no other alternative, I had spent the day touring Washington in the clothes that I had worn a day earlier. Clothes that I was still wearing. A full day had passed. My friend and I had returned to her house from dinner to find that my belongings remained missing. I promptly began calling the airline, trying to track down my baggage. The agent assured me that my luggage had been located and dropped off at my friend’s home by a delivery service the previous evening. I assured her that it had not been delivered. After more than fifteen minutes of her continued assurances, I was transferred to the delivery service. As with the airline, the delivery service assured me that my luggage had been dropped off, going so far as to give me a specific time at which i...
1 comment
Read more

Pictures From the Ledge

          It was a photo opportunity that could not be missed. Why else would I be doing this? Typically, I was a very cautious person. But, there I was, with a friend, standing in a short line waiting to have our photo taken in this precarious-looking spot. I looked around me. The view was simply stunning. I could see why this was a popular photo spot.           I was nearing the front of the line. When the people ahead of me reached the front of the line, they gave me their camera, took a few steps forward and posed. I took their picture and returned their camera to them as they passed me by. Then, it was my turn. My friend and I passed our cameras to the people behind us and took our places a few steps ahead. Separately but quickly, our photos were taken and it was the next person’s turn. Before I left, though, I could not resist taking a look at where I had been standing. I...
1 comment
Read more