Packing for your Vacation

When preparing for a vacation, packing is a dreaded word for some of us, and when you have a family, well, this becomes more complicated. Here are some packing tips to help you make the process easier for your next trip.

•  Always check out the forecast for anywhere you travel to. We recommend the 10-day because news flash, the meteorologist are sometimes, scratch that, usually can't be depended upon, but a 10-day will give you the most likely scenario for the trip.

• No matter where you go there should always be a few “just in case” items. These things you don’t bring because you’re sure you won’t need, yet inevitably you do. Socks, shorts, extra underwear, comfortable close toed shoe option, bathing suit and sweater or light jacket. These items will leave you prepared for everything short of extreme weather. You won’t need everything each time, but you’ll need something off this list, we have done this enough to have learned the hard way.  

• It’s always a good idea to put clothes in multiple bags when you taking multiple pieces of luggage. You won’t be left in a lurch should one of those bags be lost or delayed. The Air Travel Consumer Report  produced by the U.S. Department of Transportation documented that more than 3.1 million baggage reports were filed in 2008 and 4.4 million were filed in 2007. That’s just in the United States. Need we say more?

• When flying with many items of luggage keep in mind that the United States allows 64kg or (2) 32kg bags, unlike the rest of the world which only allows 20kg.

• “The Roll Method”. We have found this is the best way to pack your bag when you need to maximize your packing space. You simply roll individual pieces of clothing into bundles and place your items side by side in rows. You will find this a much more efficient use of space.

• It is a good idea to always keep your toiletries and shoes in a plastic bag that seals to protect your clothing and other important items.

• The best way to pack a back-pack is by putting the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier at the top. You will notice the bag will feel better with less weight on your lower back.