Posted on: Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Pack light, breezy for summer travels
By Terri Sapienza
Washington Post
Summer vacations are upon us. Whether it's a few days at the beach or an extended holiday, the last thing you want is your luggage to weigh you down. We consulted the experts, including Judith Gilford, author of "The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-On Traveler," who offered some tricks of the traveling-light trade.
Get it on paper: To avoid over- or under-packing, make a list to help you visualize and edit your clothing choices. Keep the list in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost. When you return home, circle what you used all the time, cross out what you never wore and add what you wish you'd had. Store the list in your suitcase for your next trip.
Just the basics: Remember that hotels provide many amenities, and you can purchase things while away if you need to. Keep handy well-stocked, pre-packed toiletry kits to expedite packing. If you think the markup on travel-size toiletries is too high, buy them once and refill.
Extras to bring: Resealable food bags in two or three sizes can store nearly a week's worth of underwear, a damp bathing suit and accessories. Squeezing the air out of them saves lots of space. Dry cleaner bags or tissue paper can help reduce wrinkles when wrapped around folded clothing. For serious shoppers, a smaller suitcase packed inside a larger one can carry back vacation purchases.
More extras: Neck pillows, compact umbrellas, a spare laptop cord and voltage converters are among the items many people now consider travel necessities.
What goes where: Line belts around the perimeter of the case. Wrap ties around a pair of socks. Wear your heaviest shoes on the way to your destination. To minimize wrinkles, roll rather than fold lighter shirts, skirts and knits. To save space, tuck women's shoes inside of men's shoes.
Obvious, but important: Never pack valuables, such as passports, cash, credit cards, traveler's checks, documents or prescriptions in checked luggage.
