I did a search, and while I find it difficult to believe this hasn’t been done before, it doesn’t look like it.
Anyways, I’m going on vacation next week, and it’s getting close to packing time. So I’m wondering what kind of advice the Teeming Millions have accrued in their multitude of past trips.
Is it better to roll or fold? How often can you re-wear stuff? Do you have a packing system? Stuff like that. Or anything else that comes to mind.
A little more information please, as this might affect what you would/would not bring, and how to pack.
Driving, train, cruise, or flying?
Limited to the amount of baggage?
Are there laundry facilities where you are going?
Are you going somewhere with the same people for the whole week (Aunt Martha’s cabin in the woods for a family reunion) or somewhere you will never see these people again (DisneyWorld or a mega-cruise ship with 3,000 people on board)?
A couple of basics til we can get some more info:
Save space - roll socks and underwear into your shoes. Helps keep them from getting crushed.
Unscrew the caps of any bottles containing liquids/gooey substances (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, toothpaste, etc.). Place a good-sized piece of plastic wrap (Saran wrap, not waxed paper) over the mouth, then replace the caps. Put each into a Zip-lock bag. Trust me, this will help keep the luggage clean if your luggage gets tossed around like salad fixin’s. (No guarantee, but it helped me.
Mix and match as many outfits as possible - stick to one or two basic color scheme(s). Dark pants or skirt can go with both a light or dark top.
3A) Will you be casual the whole week? Will you need one dressy/formal outfit (say for a fancy restaurant or the theatre)?
Do NOT wear brand new shoes or sneakers on vacation. Break them in a week or so ahead of time - trust me on this one. No matter where you are going, hurting feet can ruin everything.
If you have to check baggage, or even if traveling by car, put the following into a separate carry-on bag, NOT in the luggage (where it can get buried in the car trunk, as well):[ul]
[li]Medicines in their original packages (including asprin)[/li][li]Eyeglasses (and extra prescription if they break or get lost)[/li][li]Traveler’s checks (keep several lists of the check numbers in case of loss or theft)[/li][li]Travel-sized personal hygiene stuff (surprising how badly you might want a toothbrush or comb or deodorant at any one time)[/li][li]Any emergency phone numbers back home - family, neighbor watching the house, police department/burglar alarm company[/li][/ul]
More as I think of them.
And I roll my clothes - make sure they are spread flat and get all creases out before rolling.
If you want maximum storage you should stuff the clothing rather than fold or roll.
Of course, your clothes will look like you jumped on a wrinkle grenade…
Good tips screech-owl. Thanks.
It’s a standard spend a week in England trip. No formal wear required, alas.
Whaddya mean, “alas”!?! Take something formal/dressy and make a night on the town - go to a nice restaurant, take in a show. Heck it’s YOUR vacation!
One other tip: if you are planning on visiting any cathredals or houses of worship (whether as a tourist or for your own faith), do wear something a little more conservative, out of respect for someone else’s tradition. No shorts, no ‘Budweiser’ t-shirts, no sandals.
'Nuther tip: socks and underwear can always be hand-washed in the sink (preferably not the catherdrals).
Cathedral
Cathedral
Cathedral
Big ol’ church
My tips relate to what to pack, not how to fill the bag.
I never wear or take jeans or bulky sweaters or sweatshirts when I travel–they’re too inflexible and take up too much space. I like my thinner cotton pants, silk (or silk-like) shirts and thin knit shirts because they have so little bulk and fold easily into small spaces. I usually take a longer thin-knit unstructured cardigan/blazer that I wear on the plane with my short khaki raincoat (wearing, not packing, the two biggest items). Only one pair of shoes if I can manage (which I wear unless I’ve seriously screwed up).
Also, I try hard not to overpack. I count the number of days I’ll be gone, and take only one outfit for each day (plus one jammie for the whole trip); then, I eliminate a few items by figuring out which pants and two-layer items can be used more than once. I would rather re-wear an item on the trip home than overpack.
Have fun!
Why ever not? I always handwash my cathedrals in the sink – nothing like a toothbrush for getting in between the gargoyles.
My only additional advice is to take clothing that can be layered, and don’t forget your umbrella (transparent plastic camping ponchos are not a suitable substitute, as I discovered during my first English downpour). And re-wear as much as possible – you’re traveling, nobody is going to care.