Packing and Traveling Tips

Packing Advice For The Frequent (or not so frequent) Traveler

 

So you’re packing up to head out on your next adventure.  Maybe it’s the trip of a lifetime stomping through the Australian Outback, or then again, maybe it’s just a weekend trip to the in-laws where you’ll be in their backyard stomping through all the weeds and gardening they’ve been begging you to help out with for the last three months. 

 

No matter where you are going, or for how long, you still have the same question:  “What should I pack?”  Well, being the “Master Packer” people ask me questions on this topic all the time.  So I decided to come up with a list of tips and accessories to help out the disheveled traveler.

 

First of all, decide what you will packet all of your belongings in.  Are you traveling by car?  Train?  Plane?  Boat?  Are you roughing it or going first class?  Do you want wheels or straps?  Where are you going and what will the weather be like when you get there?  Try to limit yourself to just one bag, no matter how long you will be away.  If this thought makes you panic, remember, it’s always fun to shop and if you are missing anything, no matter what corner of the globe you are in, you are bound to find what you are in looking for. 

 

Because shopping seems to be so much more fun when you are out of your own environment, I’ll share with you a little secret of mine.  When I go to a distant land where I know I’ll want to shop for ethnic wares, I always bring my Travelon suitcase set.  I only pack my belongings in the smaller suitcase and nestle it inside the larger one for travel to my destination.  Once there, as I start to accumulate gifts and other purchases, I’ll be able to get everything home in the 2 bags, instead of having to buy one at top prices while I’m away. 

 

Now, any time I can get more than one use out of something, that’s the way I go.  If I’m going on a backpacking trip, or even a quick weekend trip, one of my favorite bags is High Sierra Sport Company’s AT 205 Carry-On Wheeled Backpack with removeable day pack.  I have friends drooling with envy over this bag.  It fits perfectly in the overhead so you can use it like a wheeled suitcase but you can also throw it on your back when you get to your destination  for hands free travel.  Plus, there is a removable daypack that makes a great camera bag/purse on the days I want to leave my luggage in the hotel (or tent….my recommendation is Northpole‘s Walmart Ozark Trail First-up tent.  It takes me only 2 minutes to set it up all by myself).  High Sierra Sport Company is one of those companies that once you discover them you don’t know how you ever lived without them.  They have all sorts of multi-purpose bags at great prices.   

 

Another little trick to the trade is to bring an extra little empty tote bag with you.  (And yes, I did say only bring one bag with you….maybe I should reiterate that and say one FULL bag….my motto is:  bring home as much as you can carry.)  Kiva Designs makes these fabulous little tote bags that zip up to the size of a change purse.  A space saver going there and extra space coming home.  Now, if you’re just jumping in the car for a quick weekend wedding trip, The Auto Valet makes deluxe garment bags and shoe bags that hang from the headrest of your car.  You can pull up to the church after a 3 hour drive and make a quick change into your wrinkle-free outfit.

 

 

So, you know what you’ll be packing IN….now what?

 

Really try to limit yourself to about 5 outfits.  I know that sounds like an impossible feat but if you pick the right clothes you can mix and match and those 5 outfits will go a long way.  Again, anything that serves more than just one purpose is your friend.  Try to pick one central color that you can base your wardrobe around, like a red or a blue.  Keep all colors in that same tone and accent everything with black. 

 

 

Two of my absolute favorite places to get my travel clothes (and incredible shoes and accessories) are Magellan’s and Sierra Trading Post.  Magellan’s has this wonderful outfit that comes with pants, skirt, shirt and jacket that are all reversible.  You know I love that!  You can wear the pants and the shirt in black, the skirt, shirt and jacket in gray, the pants and jacket in black and gray, the skirt….you get the picture.  And guess what?  Even though you have countless wearable options, that only counts as ONE of your outfits.  Sierra Trading Post is a brand overstock and closeouts warehouse that carries a large assortment of Ex Officio travel clothing.  The items they make are lightweight, breathable, anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, sun-blocking, wrinkle-resisting, all-around-great-traveling clothes.  Another space saver is Dress-In-A-Bag, the only dress you‘ll ever have to carry.  They have long-sleeve, short-sleeve and tank dresses that roll up to the size of a grapefruit and come in a matching little pouch.  Very convenient. 

 

So, you’re set for clothes.  Now shoes are always my dilemma.  I don’t like carrying them around because they take up way too much space.  But I need to be able to walk around all day long in comfort and yet still have something stylish for the evening.  Well, I recently discovered Soft Walk and they are probably the most comfortable sandal I have ever had on my foot.  You know how shoe companies always tell you you’ll feel like you are walking on a cloud?  Well, with this company they’re not foolin’.  This design is so new that the patent is still pending.  They have very pretty styles that are comfortable and casual enough that you can walk around all day long in them and go out to dinner and dancing at night.  What a find!  Ecco makes a great walking sandal that I wear all day everyday when I’m traveling in warm climates.  They also make terrific sneakers, hiking and dress shoes.

 

Now, don’t put anything in your bag just yet.  Make piles of everything you’ll be packing so that you can get a good overview of everything before you just start shoving it into your suitcase. 

 

What toiletries do you want to bring?  I travel so much that I like to keep a small Designers Guild cosmetics bag always packed and ready to go with a travel toothbrush, shampoo, face wash, and cream.  If I’m going on a plane I carry a Sally Spicer bag filled with my little tricks to air travel like Deep Steep’s shea oil aromatherapy stick for my dry hands, Aqua Drops’ re-hydrating  mints for my puckered mouth, Sprayology’s TravelEase, to combat tiredness and dehydration, Aquaphor Healing Ointment for my cracked lips and Little Things’ Jet Setter Travel Mist with lavender to revive before I land.  I’ll also pop a chewable Fiber Choice before I board, which helps a lot with one of my more challenging travel problems.  If it’s a red-eye flight, I don’t care how nerdy I look, I’ll never forget my neck pillow.  Magellan’s carries a small blow up, but if you really want to treat yourself try Frontgate’s Neck Cushion Relaxer.  It has soothing sounds, heated massage, and magnetic therapy….now that’s traveling first class. 

 

Now, last but not least, if you didn’t already know, I’m a tech geek when it comes to gadgets that make my life easier.  But when you’re on the road it’s such a pain in the traveling tush to figure out what actually makes your life easier and what can cause you lots of headaches.  Being a writer and photographer I always have to carry my laptop around with me.  Now, I’ve only had my laptop for less than a year, but in the electronics world, that’s ancient history.  When I’m sitting alone in a hotel room I wish for the latest and greatest computer so that I can watch my DVDs and listen to my CDs.  I can’t do that with my extinct model.  But Apricorn makes an EZ Writer that plugs right into my USB port and, not only reads CDs and DVDs, but burns them as well.  And, it’s so small and sleek, it’s ultra-portable.  Now, I am a traveling entertainment center.

 

My last business trip was a quick one and I wanted to try to just bring my pocket PC but, what was I going to do, write everything with my graffiti stick?  Luckily, I discovered Think Outside’s Fellowes Stowaway Portable PDA Keyboard.  When I want to work on my article I just attach my Palm to the cradle like I’m hot syncing and when I am done it folds up to half the size of my pocket PC.  Ingenious. 

 

As for my cameras, I’m a big fan of Canon, especially their new Digital Rebel.  But if you are just looking for something to tuck into your pocket, the Elph s400 produces incredible pictures that blow up to 8x10s so beautifully, you’d never know they were digital.  They also make palm-sized camcorders, like the ZR series, Eluras and Opturas, that take remarkable still pictures as well. You can even hook their cameras up directly to a printer to see your photos instantly.  Goodbye Polaroids.  If you’ll be out in nature sightseeing, Celestron makes binoculars that are also a digital camera.  Never again will you miss getting the shot of that distant Blue-footed Boobie.  E-Memories will even help you custom build a photo and video website so that you can share your adventures with your family and friends.

 

If I’m going to a foreign country and don’t speak the language I take along my Franklin Communicator.  This pager-sized translator not only displays a word or sentence in 5 languages, it even speaks it for me.  This has been the answer to my prayers since I have terrible pronunciation.  Another communicator I love are XACT’s walkie talkies.  Strap them to your wrist like a watch and you’ll never lose your snowboarding buddy on the slopes again.  If you’re an even bigger “James Bond-wanna-be” than I, check out I Want One Of Those website.  They have the coolest, smallest, high-tech , secret agent electronics out there.  Beam me up Scottie.

 

OK, now depending on where you are traveling, getting all these gadgets to work can sometimes be a challenge.  Well, Phihong makes international power adapters that can juice up PDAs, digital cameras, cell phones, laptops, etc., all through a USB cable, and comes with interchangeable clips for various countries.  If you need batteries, Rayovac makes a 15 minute rechargeable battery system that insures you will never be without power in a pinch.

 

It may be non-tech, but another major necessity is a great travel guide book.  When I go backpacking I always make sure I have a copy of Let’s Go on me.  It’s been my favorite for years.  Also, Tour Guide USA puts out driving maps and audio adventures on CD.  It’s lots of fun to hear about the places you will be driving to.

 

You’re done!  Sounds like a lot to fit in one bag.  Well, one of the most amazing inventions is Space Saver’s Travel Space Bags.  Especially if you are traveling to cold weather, you can put all of your sweaters in the bag, roll the air out and zip it up….no vacuum needed.  Incredibly, your stack of clothes will take up less than a forth of the original space.  Another condenser is Eagle Creek’s packing system of mesh zipped bags that section all of your belongings for easy access.  Great for keeping underwear, socks and shoes all in their own compartments.

 

Now you’re all ready for take off.  Have a great trip!

 

 

 

 

Travelon (www.travelonbags.com)

High Sierra Sport Company (www.highsierrasport.com)

Northpole Tents  (www.walmart.com)

Kiva Designs (www.kivadesigns.com)

The Auto Valet (www.theautovalet.com)

Magellan’s (www.magellans.com)

Sierra Trading Post (www.sierratradingpost.com)

Ex Officio (www.exofficio.com)

Dress-In-A-Bag (www.dressinabag.com)

Soft Walk (www.phoenixfootwear.com)

Ecco (www.ecco.com)

Designers Guild (www.designersguild.com)

Sally Spicer (www.sallyspicer.com)

Deep Steep (www.deepsteep.com)

Aqua Drops  (www.aqua-drops.com)

Sprayology’s (www.sprayology.com)

Aquaphor (www.aquaphorhealing.com)

Little Things’  (www.funlittlethings.com)

Fiber Choice (www.fiberchoice.com)

Frontgate (www.frontgate.com)

Think Outside (www.thinkoutside.com)

Apricorn  (www.Apricorn.com)

Canon  (www.canon.com)

Celestron  (www.celestron.com)

E-Memories  (www.myphotowebsite.com)

Franklin Electronic Publishers  (www.franklin.com)

XACT  (www.getxact.com)

I Want One Of Those  (www.iwantoneofthose.com)

Phihong  (www.phihongusa.com)

Rayovac  (www.rayovac.com)

Let’s Go  (www.letsgo.com)

Tour Guide USA (www.tourguideusa.com)

Space Savers  (www.spacesavers.com)

Eagle Creek  (www.eaglecreek.com)