> > by Holidays for Couples
The tickets are booked and the holiday of a lifetime beckons. If you’re travelling overseas, intelligent packing can mean the difference between having everything you need (plus room for a few extras) - or having nothing to wear, an excess baggage bill ... and the need for a chiropractor!
Take heed of the age-old travel adage: ‘Take half as many clothes and twice as much money’. Whatever your destination, there are very few things that you will not be able to pick up along the way should your packing require a little augmentation. Don’t feel you have to take clothing and equipment for every single activity that you may or may not undertake. Lugging around scuba diving or skiing gear for an outing which may or may not happen on your holiday is just not practical ... and such equipment can easily be hired.The key is to decide what you really need and resist the temptation to take non-essentials. For example, think to yourself: “Do I really need my lap top computer?’ If you’re taking it to do work, then you’re completely missing the point of a holiday; and if it’s to keep in touch with family and friends back home, there are enough internet cafes around the world to satisfy this need and save you the hassle of transporting, worrying about and insuring such an item. Try your hardest to travel light - have you ever heard anyone claim they’d actually take more on their next trip?!
Before you embark on your getaway, gather together everything you think you’ll need, and then literally halve it ... you’ll discover you’ll still have more than you need. Where you’re going will obviously determine the contents of your suitcase, but the following tips should help:
Travel Must-Haves
Valuables
• Passport • Visas • Cash & travellers cheques, credit & ATM cards • Travel documents (eg airline tickets, rail & bus passes, hotel details and reservations etc) • International driver’s license • Vaccination certificates • Health insurance information • Copies of all important documents (keep these separate from originals) • Hint: keep all important documents and money in a security pouch on your person, not in a handbag, wallet, flight bag or backpack.
Miscellaneous
• General toiletries (toothbrush & toothpaste, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, comb, razor & shaving cream etc - travel sized items in plastic containers if possible) • Cosmetics of your choice • Moisturiser and lip balm (air travel, sun, wind & hotel air conditioning make these an absolute must) • Torch • Mirror • Sunglasses & case, spectacles & case, contact lenses, copy of prescription or spare set of glasses/lenses • Multipurpose tool (Swiss Army knife) or collapsible scissors/knife • Sewing kit (including needle, thread, spare buttons, safety pins, rubber bands etc) • Ziplock plastic bags (for wet clothing, laundry etc) • Personal address book • Extra passport photos (this will save you a lot of running around and hassle should you need to replace your passport or organise a visa in a hurry) • Maps, guidebooks, phrase books (take the required sections rather than the entire book) • Video camera, camera & equipment (film, tapes, batteries, lenses, flash, tripod) • Calculator/money changer • Electric plug adaptors • Batteries, charger.
Clothing
• Centre your holiday wardrobe around one or two basic colours. This way, most things will mix and match, giving you a “bigger” wardrobe, and reducing the number of shoes and accessories you’ll need to take.
• Choose fabrics carefully. Natural fibres ‘breathe’ and are generally cooler, however they can also wrinkle more easily, and are often heavier and slower to dry than synthetics. Washable silk is a good option - it has the same warm/cool qualities as cotton, dries overnight and takes up virtually no room. Whatever your preferences, always look for quick drying, wrinkle-free clothing.
• Take as few clothes as possible - plan on laundering. If you choose your clothes wisely, this will not be as arduous at it sounds - wringing out a silk shirt and a few undergarments in the sink of your hotel or B&B at bedtime will become as routine and simple as brushing your teeth ... and save you heaps of room in your suitcase, and time and money wasted at a laundromat. The old trick of rolling wet clothes in a towel and wringing it tightly will help the drying process considerably.
• Be sensitive to the culture and traditions of the country you’re visiting. While midriff tops and hot pants may seem like a good idea, they’re just not appropriate for some nations and could invite trouble (not to mention sunburn). If you find you’ve missed the mark, purchase some clothing locally - it’ll also make for a good souvenir.
• Choose undergarments carefully, particularly on longer trips. Don’t underestimate the effect they can have on your comfort! Again, look for fast drying fabrics, and avoid nylon (which doesn’t breathe), especially if you’re going to the tropics. Opt for acrylic rather than cotton socks - and don’t go for white if you’re planning anything adventurous and a bit grubby!
• Unless you can’t live without them, leave your jeans at home - they’re heavy, bulky, take up lots of room and take forever to dry.
• Loose, light, long-sleeved shirts will keep you cooler than t-shirts, and are also more appropriate attire in many countries. Not for nothing did Laurence of Arabia wear flowing robes of white.
• Use a layering technique to combat cold. A set of thermal underwear is much more weight and bulk efficient than a heavy coat.
• NEVER break in new shoes on a trip - you’re asking for trouble.
Hints for Perfect Packing
• While one school of thought recommends layering clothes separated by sheets of tissue paper, this is slightly too ‘high-maintenance’ for most of us! A simple, space-saving method is to roll your clothes. This not only ensures easy access (all your shirts in one group, pants in another etc), but also fewer hard creases.
• Pack shoes in shoe bags or in individual socks to protect clothing.
• Make use of the insides of your shoes - place small items, socks or underwear in these nooks and crannies for maximum space usage.
• Don’t roll belts - they will take up less room if you run them around the circumference of the inner wall of your suitcase.
• If you’re taking any bulky clothes, create extra space in your suitcase by wearing them on the plane instead of packing them.
• Pack a folded, lightweight, durable bag in the bottom of your suitcase. This will take up hardly any room, but could come in very handy on your return trip if you plan to shop ‘til you drop.
• Pack smart - place half of your clothes in your partner’s case and vice versa. This way, if one goes missing, you will each have clothes to carry on with. If both should go missing, get cracking with the credit card!
• By the same token, make sure you each carry different credit cards, or individual cards which access the same accounts - if one of your cards is lost, stolen or damaged, your partner can come to the rescue.
• Leave valuable jewellery at home. If you’re on your honeymoon and plan to catch up with family and friends who didn’t make it to the wedding, it will be difficult to resist wearing your engagement and new wedding ring ... TRY!
• Make sure you lock your luggage and keep the key with you.
Medical
• Definitely take the following items: analgesics, insect repellent, sunblock, bandaids & bandages, anti nausea, diarrhoea & malaria tablets, vitamins.
• Don’t forget feminine protection & contraceptive supplies (if you don’t speak the language, you don’t want to have to play charades to get what you need!)
• If you require prescription drugs, come prepared - pack more than you expect to need, especially if your destination does not boast Western medical standards. Take a copy of the prescription just in case you need to replenish your supply, or if you have to verify your need for the drug in a country where it’s illegal (ensure it includes the dosage and is listed by both brand and generic name). If you have a serious condition, a letter from your doctor (translated in the local language) is a wise precaution.
Case closed
Finally, have a practice run before you leave. A day or two before you’re due to depart, pack your chosen bag with everything you plan to take just to see that it all fits ... and don’t forget to leave a little room for any souvenirs you pick up long the way!