15 Ways to Packing PerfectionTravel like a pro with our easy tips for packing efficiently By Kris Wetherbee Posted August 20, 2008 from WomansDay.com 15 Ways to Packing Perfection

15 Ways to Packing PerfectionTravel like a pro with our easy tips for packing efficientlyBy Kris Wetherbee Posted August 20, 2008 fromWomansDay.com

15 Ways to Packing Perfection

If looming baggage costs and strongerairport security measures have you ina tizzy, you're not alone. Things weonce took for granted when flying,such as complimentary beverages andchecking in luggage, are fading fast.Most U.S. airlines now charge $25 forchecking a second bag—but there'sno need to panic. Learning how topack efficiently is the key to lighteningyour load (but not your wallet.) Here,our travel experts share their tips tostreamline your packing for astress-free vacation.Photo: © Comstock

Plan ahead

Avoid packing pitfalls by only bringingitems that have an 80% minimumchance of being used—but be sure toplan before you pack. "Lay outeverything that you think you want topack on your bed and take a goodhard look," suggests SamanthaBrown, host of the Travel Channel’sPassport series (travelchannel.com).That way you can avoid packing, say,three floral tops when you only needone. "It's only when you lay your entireensemble in front of you that you seewhere you've made mistakes and canmake the appropriate cuts."Photo: © Comstock

Put your clothes on a diet

"Choosing thin clothing that packs flatover thicker, more bulky items makesa huge difference in how much youcan fit in your suitcase," says SusanFoster, author of Smart Packing forToday’s Traveler (smartpacking.com).Instead of packing a heavy sweaterand jeans, try more travel-friendlyoptions, such as Patagonia's Inter-Continental Pants and micro-fleecepullover. Diana Lane, an associatewith Geiger & Associates(geigerpr.com), a Florida-baseddestination marketing firm, loves theversatility of lightweight sarongs, whichcan be worn as skirts, various styles ofdresses, shawls, swimsuit coverups,shoulder bags or even used as ablanket. “There aren’t many items thatgive us quite this much bang for thebuck,” she says.Photo: © Comstock

Wear it on

Can’t bear to part with that lucky skisweater or full-length overcoat duringthe trip? When traveling with bulkyclothing items is unavoidable, make ita rule to wear the most room-eatinggarments on the plane. After all, whocan’t use a little extra protection fromthe blasting on-flight air conditioning?Photo: © Comstock

Be a material girl

The secret to looking great once youdisembark has as much to do with thetype of clothing you pack as with howmuch shut-eye you get on the plane.Your best bet? Choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics that dry quickly, suchas washable silk, nylon and micro-fibers. Cotton is generally lessforgiving, as it wrinkles easily andtakes longer to dry—especially denim.However, if you love cotton, BrooksBrothers (brooksbrothers.com) hasstylish lightweight cotton blousesspecially designed to withstandwrinkling.Photo: © Comstock

Go for spray tactics

If you arrive at your destinationstress-free but some of your clothesaren’t as lucky, try this trick: Hang theitem in the bathroom while you take ashower and let the steam work out thewrinkles. If that doesn’t work, tryBrown’s secret weapon—a spray-onde-wrinkler. Brown swears by DownyWrinkle Release, which is often sold atnewsstand stores inside the airport.Photo: © Comstock

Pack for compatibility

"Let go of the idea that you have totake a different outfit for each day,"advises Foster. "The key to packinglight is selecting versatile andinterchangeable pieces." Fosterchooses her clothes by focusing onone basic color, such as black, white,brown or khaki, then adds variety withadditional tops and accessories thathave more color and personality. Thisapproach allows you to pare down thenumber of garments you need whilemaking it easy to change up your lookwith creative mixing and matching.Photo: © Comstock

Do a double take

Increase your packing options withexpandable or convertible luggage,such as Eagle Creek's Take 2 ORVTrunk. In the event that your addedgifts and souvenirs leave you facinghefty overweight charges (Think $30and up) at the check-in counter, youcan simply unzip the gear bag from thebin and check in two separate bags.

Think bling

Spice up a basic outfit with compactaccessories, such as belts, jewelryand scarves. These suitcase space-savers add instant color and can easilytake an outfit from day to night. KellyVrtis, an organizational travelspokeswoman for The Container Store(containerstore.com) relies on alightweight Pashmina shawl as hergo-to accessory while traveling. “Youcan use it over the shoulder, aroundyour elbows or even wear it as ascarf.”Photo: © Comstock

Scale back on shoes

One easy way to gain more luggagespace? Reduce the number of shoesyou bring along. Brown only packs onepair of flats and one pair of heels forevery trip. “Both can be used to makepants, shorts or a dress casual ordressy,” she says. When packing,place shoes toe-to-heel in the bottomof your luggage along the edge, andmake the most of the empty spacesinside your footwear by filling themwith fragile items wrapped in socks.Photo: © Comstock

Ensure clothes stay put

Specialized packing systems can keepclothes from shifting and rubbingtogether in your suitcase, reducing thechance of wrinkling. There’s a varietyof available products thataccommodate everything from socksto sports coats—The Container Storeoffers the Eagle Creek Pack-It line,which features a great collection oforganizer tubes, cubes and folders.Flight 001 (flight001.com), a store thatspecializes in innovative travelproducts, also carries anorganizational packing system calledSpacePak. Most of these systemshave mesh panels or see-throughsides so you (and security) can easilysee what’s inside. “Packing envelopesand cubes are extremely efficient andhave allowed me to actually add moreto my luggage,” Brown says.

Take a vacation from your toiletries

Here’s a novel idea: Leave some ofyour toiletries behind and use thesoaps and lotions provided by thehotel. “I love to try the new shampoosand conditioners when I travel,” saysKelly Vrtis, packing expert and travelspokesperson for The Container Store.“My hair enjoys the break from theusual routine.” Besides, addsChristopher Elliott (elliott.org),ombudsman for National GeographicTraveler and columnist forMSNBC.com, “the one thing peopletend to forget is that there are storeswhere you’re going and you canalways buy those items once you getthere.”Photo: © Comstock

Make your carry-on count

For ease of travel, choose sturdy,lightweight luggage that’s easy tomaneuver and has built-incompartments and collapsible shelvesfor easy packing. Elliott’s favorite bagis made by Helen Rae(helenraeluggage.com). “It hasshelves on the inside, the pouches areperfect for your electronics and there’seven room for your laptop,” heexplains.

Condense your clothes

Space-saving compression bags likeSpace Bag (spacebag.com) let youpack up to double the amount ofgear—no jumping, sitting or lying onsuitcase required! Available at TheContainer Store and Walmart(walmart.com), these oversize plasticbags are equipped with one-waypressure valves along one edge thatrelease excess air and keep it out.Compression bags work best for bulkyitems, such as sweaters, coats, downjackets, pillows, beach towels andeven wet garments.

Buy travel-size goods

Remember the 3-1-1 rule—liquids andgels that you carry on the plane mustbe in containers of 3 ounces or lessand all fit in one 1-quart clearresealable plastic bag—and swap yourregular toiletries for ones that come intravel-size containers. “Sephora.comoffers a whole section on their websitededicated to Airplane ApprovedBeauty,” notes frequent traveler KristinGrilli with Green Earth Media Group(greenearthmediagroup.com). Have afavorite full-size beauty product thatyou just can’t live without? Transfer itinto a reusable travel-size toiletrycontainer. We love Nalgene’s line oflightweight, unbreakablepolypropylene travel-size containers,which are absolutely guaranteed not toleak (nalgene-outdoor.com).Photo: © Comstock

Lighten your load

Choosing lightweight suitcases notonly makes it easier for you to getabout, it also often gives you morespace to pack. At 8.8 pounds, EagleCreek’s Hovercraft 25 features anexpandable main compartment thatadds an extra 15% capacity. If you’replanning on doing lots of shoppingduring your trip, pack an extra traveltote or daypack that folds flat in yourluggage—it can even double as aplace to carry essentials on dayoutings and bring back your traveltreasures on the flight back. Patagoniaoffers an extra-lightweight travel totethat you can hand-carry or wear as abackpack, then stuff into its ownpocket when it’s no longer needed.