
First thing’s first! Packing for dummies!
Packing for a vacation is every-one's nightmare, although many of us love to travel, very few of us love to pack! Packing usually comes at a bad day too - people often finish work one day and fly the next, or even later that night! Packing is squeezed into the time between, when you tend to be at your most stressed. As with most things - if you have a plan things will be easier and less-stressed - I'm sorry I can't promise stress free! Efficient packing should ideally mean that you return from holiday having used everything you took more than once! So lets start with what to take.
So here R some useful tips:
• Choose clothes appropriate for the climate. If you are going somewhere warm and leaving a cold climate consider leaving a set of warm clothes in the car if you are leaving it at the airport, or with friends if you are being collected.
• Stick with one basic colour scheme preferably a dark one which won't show marks and wrinkles so much.
• Make clothing items do double duty, men's shorts can be double as swimming trunks, a woman's tankini top can be an evening top. A shirt can layer over a dress in place of a jacket.
• Take multiple thinner items which can be layered instead of one bulky heavier piece. Thermal underwear is fantastic for cooler climates.
• A sarong can be the most useful item you take doubling as a skirt, dress, shawl, beach towel, top sheet and a tablecloth. You can even use it as a bag in a pinch!
• Shoes are always difficult: heavy and bulky. Try to wear your heaviest/bulkiest pair on the plane. I try to limit myself to 3 pairs: a pair comfortable for walking extended distances, a pair of sandals or flip flops and a dresser pair for evening!
Other items one finds particulary useful:
• A travel alarm if you don't have the function on a watch or cellphone that you are taking with you.
• Prescription medicines and a copy of the prescription in case you loose your bags. If you need glasses to see make sure you have a back up: an old pair, contacts or prescription sunglasses.
• Toiletries: take a minimum. If you are only going on a short trip take sample sizes or buy small containers and decant some to take with you. If, however, you are traveling for a long time then don't take 6 months supply - you can buy almost anything anywhere these days.
• Liquid soap and shampoo can be used interchangeably - you don't need both. You can buy solid shave soap which is lot more compact than carrying a shaving foam aerosol.
• If flying don't take brand new bottles of liquid - the liquid will expand slightly as the lower pressures on the plane and leak - use each bottle once to avoid this problem. Creams and aerosols are OK.
• Make sure your toiletries bag is actually waterproof - a surprising number aren't and bottles do break.
• Credit cards -preferably two in case one is lost or broken or eaten by the ATM.
• Details of your insurance policy. Important phone numbers or email addresses of medical specialists, family, work, anyone you may need to contact if something occurs to delay your return.
What NOT TO PACK!
• Anything you are taking "just in case". If you happen to get a last minute invite to the Queen's Garden Party in England ladies will need a hat - take the opportunity to go shopping!
• A cellphone unless you know it work at your destination and you know what the roaming charges are.
• Anything electronic unless you are sure you can plug them in / charge them at your destination.
• Anything you are sentimentally attached to or is particularly jewellery - you may have it stolen but far more likely you may just misplace it or leave it behind.
And as a quick BONUS U get a free download og National Geographic’ß travel guide! ENJOY!
Discover a wealth of vacation ideas for the U.S., Canada, and overseas destinations. Each issue of National Geographic Traveler features superb photography, lively stories and features and a wide range of practical travel advice. This award-winning bimonthly publication has everything you need to plan the perfect trip.
http://uploading.com/files/cc2b9c9d/National_Geographic_Traveler-2010-01-02.pdf/