How to pack:                                                     Back

This may seem like a stupid section, however there are some things we (Unless we travel a lot) may not think about when we pack. So I'll list a few things I've found to be important or helpful.

1. If flying keep a list of your itinerary along with your home address in a obvious place inside your suitcase/bags (All of them.) If they get misplaced by the airline they may be able to trace you through them.

2. Do not pack cash/travelers checks/or credit cards in side of luggage that will be out of reach. Keep all valuables on your person or in your carry on luggage.

3. Pack to unpack. At home, while packing we have a lot of time (Never rush when packing.) but when we reach our destination we're usually tired from our trip and want to go out to dinner/get into the pool, etc. in a hurry and nothing can be as big a pain as having to unpack. Many times, I've just emptied the contents of my suitcase on the bed, got what I needed at the time and left to do whatever it was I wanted to do only to come back to the unwelcome task of either putting every thing away or repacking before I could use the bed.

I don't wear pajamas but if you do & plan on getting to your hotel late, you may want to pack them on top, so all you have to do is pop your suitcase grab them, close your suitcase & go to bed. The same applies if your planning to go out to eat. Go on the beach or in the hotel pool, maybe you plan to hit the slopes. Whatever your planning to do when you first get to your destination, place what you'll need on top.

4. Keep things you'll want during your trip in your carry on luggage. (When flying into Hong Kong, on my last departure from Bali, there was a gorgeous sunset and during our approach I had the opportunity to take a beautiful Photo of this sunset over the city. My camera was in my main luggage in the cargo hold.

5. Pack jointly: When traveling with a friend/spouse etc. try to put at least enough of your cloths in each others bags for one or two days. That way if one of your bags gets misplaced you'll both have cloths till you can get more, or your bags catch up with you. This also goes for same sex traveling partners of different sizes.

6. Do not use expensive looking luggage (It will be more attractive to thieves.) Also use any locks that the luggage my come with & if possible use a padlock.

7. Mark your bags so they will be easy to see & not be easy to be mistaken for similar bags. Everybody is in a hurry to get out of the airport & mistakes happen.

8. Pack for customs: Keep things you'll have to declare readily available and even more important keep a list of the items your going to declare on your person. You'll be filling out your customs papers on the plane and unless you can remember everything you bought & the exact price you paid for the items you better have that list. (This includes receipts for items you bought at home before you went on your vacation/business trip. i.e. cameras, etc. Without these you may have to pay import tax on things you took with you.)

9. Pack only what you'll need. See what to take.

9a. Unless you'll be staying in one place (Hotel/cruise ship, etc.) you may have to carry your luggage quite a bit, so keep it light.

10. Make two lists of all items you pack. Take one with you & leave one at home. If your luggage is lost by the airlines. You'll know what is missing for the claim forms. Please remember: This list goes in your carry on. It won't do you any good it's in the lost bag.