TMCnet News
My Tips for Stress-Free Packing(Corporate Meetings & Incentives Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Packing for a trip can be a time-consuming and stressful task. Many people see it as one of the worst parts of a trip. As travelers worry about complying with airline guidelines and taking everything that they might need, they often put off packing off until the last minute, which takes focus away from planning other important aspects of a trip. Fortunately, if you follow some easy and practical tips, packing can become second nature. Whether you are traveling for leisure, meetings, sales calls, tradeshows, or conferences, these tips will help you be more effective when you pack your luggage. Using my system, I can pack for a one-day trip or a 10-day trip in under five minutes. The old rule of thumb still applies—half the clothing, twice the cash—but my additional tips will help you be more effective: 1. Carry on your luggage whenever possible. I refuse to check any luggage. Part of the reason is that I do not want to spend the money needed in order to check a bag now (even though I am platinum with my airline of choice and it is complimentary). But the primary reason is that I want to save time when I get to my destination. As often as I travel, I estimate that simply by carrying on my bags, I saved two or three days at the baggage claim area in the last year alone. In addition, having my luggage in hand at all times makes standing by for earlier flights much easier. Most airlines now charge $25 to $50 for checking a bag. (Southwest Airlines is a notable exception in that bags still fly free with them.) These fees are often waived for preferred members of the frequent-flier clubs that most airlines have. But almost every airline allows you to carry on a moderate-sized bag for no charge, plus one personal bag. American Airlines allows roll-aboard bags 22 inches long by 14 inches wide to be carried on at no charge, plus one personal item like a laptop bag, purse, or briefcase. So with this as my guide, I set out to maximize the space that I have for every trip I take, which segues nicely into point two.2. Choose the right luggage. The size and selection of your suitcase is paramount. I have a roll-aboard bag that complies with every single airline’s size requirement to allow it to be carried onto planes. The best part of this bag is that it has four wheels, all of which spin independent of one another. This makes rolling it down the aisle of the plane (since it can roll lengthwise, instead of sideways) or navigating through a crowded airport a breeze. For the personal item (which I only use on longer trips), I have a small collapsible duffle bag that has a ton of space, but can fit into a just about any space. I keep all of my electronics (iPad, headphones, camera, etc.) in this bag, plus reading material. I usually keep some nonperishable food in this bag as well. My toiletry bag goes on top, next to my laptop computer or netbook, so both can easily be retrieved at security checkpoints (in international locations where you do not, sadly, get pre-check security clearance).3. Consider your toiletry bag a vital component of your packing. I have a durable and sturdy transparent polyurethane bag, and this is packed with everything I could possibly need for a trip: full-size deodorant, travel shaving cream, two toothbrushes, two travel toothpastes, three razors, comb, cotton swabs, sewing kit, travel sunscreen, bug spray, two airline bottles of Tito’s vodka, empty Altoids tin with cold pills, sleeping pills, aspirin, and any other over-the-counter pills needed, matches, memory card for my camera, the adapter for my memory card and my iPad, flash drive, moisturizing lotion, shampoo, conditioner, toothpicks, sleep mask, Tide stain removers, individual hand wipes, tissues, ear plugs, lip balm, and a few other odds and ends. Nothing in here is used at my house, and when I exhaust an item while on the road, I bring the used item home and replace it before throwing away the empty bottle. This bag is about the size of a thick paperback book, and is so very helpful because I never have to try and remember an item that is in this handy bag.4. Develop a packing routine that you follow for every trip. Three days before departure: • I drop off clothes to the dry cleaners, which will give me ample time to get them back before I leave. One day before departure: • I make sure all my electronics are fully charged. • I begin laying out every item I need to take. I have a long flat desk that is perfect for laying out things like my passport, important papers (maps, travel insurance, international driver’s license, boarding pass, directions, site visit schedules, etc.), charged electronics, books, cash, sunglasses, and any non-clothing items. All of these go into my smaller carry-on bag or will be carried on my person at all times.5. Multi-use clothing is a must. I have wrinkle-resistant gray slacks that match every single shirt I own. These are a staple of every trip, as they can be casual enough to wear with a polo shirt, or dressy enough to wear with a shirt and tie. I adore my black slip-on Rockport shoes, because I can truly wear them in any situation, whether I’m spending long hours on a tradeshow floor, attending an awards dinner, or sightseeing. They are comfortable and wonderful for traveling or long walks. Many times, these have been the only shoes I have taken on a trip, as they have many uses.6. Wear your bulkier items on the plane. If you can wear things on the plane that take up a lot of room in your suitcase, you can pack more effectively. Wearing a suit for a short trip will often eliminate the need to pack one. In the winter, wearing a coat (with scarf, hat, and gloves in the pockets) will also save a lot of suitcase space. How Not to Take Everything You Own7. Don’t take everything you own on a trip. If you are not going to use it, do not take it. This cannot be overstated, and is often the biggest reason why people have to check their luggage and pay the extra fees. Chances are very good you will not need 12 pairs of shoes, five suits, 13 shirts, nine skirts, and a half-dozen belts. You are also very probably going to be in a location where you can purchase an item you might have forgotten. On a recent trip, I realized I forgot a belt, and stopped in at the airport gift shop and purchased one for $10. As an aside to this, don’t pack anything that is likely to be found at the hotel you are going to. I know people who pack irons and hair dryers, which to me a waste of space, since even two-star hotels are likely to have these items. If you really love your shampoo or conditioner, put a small amount in a travel-sized bottle, do not try to bring the entire bottle with you.8. Pack clothes that are easy to take care of on the road. When I am going to a trade show or on a business trip, I count the days I will be gone, and lay out one dry-cleaned shirt and one necktie for each day I am gone. The shirts are then folded in the suitcase, the ties are stored in my carrying case, which will go on top of the shirts. I start with dry-cleaned shirts, as they are so easy to hit quickly with an iron at the hotel, and they look like new once you do. I can also freshen up a suit with an iron in just a few minutes. I avoid heavy fabrics, as these are difficult to make presentable with only an iron.9. Pack in the right order. Once you get everything laid out on a bed and your desk, begin packing from the bottom of the suitcase, starting at the end with the wheels. Place any heavy items here like an extra pair of shoes, computer chargers, books, and so on. This way they will not crush your clothes, making it easier to iron them when you arrive at your destination. Once you have the heavy items packed, move on to shirts, skirts, and/or pants. I fold mine in squares that each measure about one foot, and lay these on top of each other. On top of these, put workout clothes, t-shirts, and undergarments. Socks can be laid around the edges of the suitcase, and my tie case goes on top. Maximize your space by filling any shoes you pack with smaller items. Think of your suitcase as the playing field of Tetris, and each item you are packing as a falling piece. By rotating each item, you can fit more items into your suitcase in a compact manner.10. Unpacking is an art as well. Once at the hotel, unpack only what you need from your suitcase. As soon as I arrive, I take 10-15 minutes to iron and hang my clothes. I never put anything in drawers, as these can often be forgotten. When packing for my return trip, I do everything in reverse, and can repack quickly and efficiently.11. Don’t ever fully unpack at home. Leave things in your suitcase that you will need for every trip. I always leave my toiletry bag in my suitcase. I have an awesome Tumi power converter that works anywhere in the world, and this never leaves my suitcase. Other nice things to leave in the suitcase (if not already in your toiletry kit) are a wad of one-dollar bills, Chapstick, a small LED flashlight, sunglasses, an extra cell-phone charger, Q-tips, business cards, a pad of paper, and some pens. Always having these in your suitcase will really help you in case you forget one of them on a future trip. What are your tried-and-true packing tips? Please share them by leaving a comment below. © 2014 Penton Media |