I’m a bit of a planning maniac and a fairly seasoned traveler. There are those that say plan for the best case scenario. Not me, my motto “Always have a back-up plan!”. On a recent overseas trip, my plan “B” turned a potential trip blowing upset into a couple of days of inconvenience. We arrived early and our room was not yet ready. As we often do, we left our bags with the hotel staff to wander while we waited for our check-in time. Upon returning to the hotel, we were shocked to discover that two of our bags had disappeared. These were the bags we carried on the plane for safekeeping and contained our iPad, camera, prescription medications, car keys, travel information, chargers, etc. Our excitement with our trip rapidly decayed into shock and hysteria. So, now what?
Our first task was to make a list of what was missing and it’s value. This is where emailing yourself information becomes vital. A copy of your packing list is a great way to wake up your jet-lagged brain and remember what was in those bags. Now it’s time to take an unplanned tour of the local police station to file a report. A police report is essential for filing an insurance claim. Next, determine what you need now and what can wait until you get home. For us, prescription medications were at the top of the list. We took a picture of our prescription bottles and emailed ourselves before leaving home. This photo, combined with the police report, enabled us to replace our medications at the local pharmacy. An afternoon at the hotel’s computer allowed me to reprint all of our travel information that I had emailed myself. Are you starting to see a pattern here? Easy access to your pertinent information truly can save the day and your vacation!
PACKING LIGHT – TWO WEEKS…ONE CARRY-ON AND A PERSONAL ITEM!
Packing light is has become a mainstay for me in traveling for a few reasons. First, it’s just really nice to not have a ton of stuff to haul around and keep up with. Second, after two spine surgeries, not having a ton of stuff to haul around is just kinder to my body. Lastly, it allows for you to travel more like a local easily utilizing public transit and navigating sometimes bumpy paths.
The best way to approach packing light is to make a list. Anyone who knows me, knows I have multiple packing lists depending on when and where I might be traveling. I find that, especially in the early days of practicing “packing light”, it helps to be really specific with your list. Here are my top tips:
- Pack items that coordinate in the same color family for mix and match convenience.
- Pack layers (short sleeve, long sleeve, sweater)
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- Cashmere is a thin and wonderful insulating layer
- Always include a wind/rain layer
- Packing Cubes are great, they organize and compress to maximize space. They also make it really easy to unpack when you get where you are going.
- Use a shoe bag or a large Ziploc (you don’t want dirt from shoes blending with your clothes)
- Limit yourself to 2 pairs of foot wear (make sure both are good for lots of walking, I generally think in terms of one more casual and one I can dress up a bit, wear one, pack one)
- Think about items that will maximize your comfort (for me, it’s a small washcloth and reusable placticware for picnics which can keep costs down when traveling)
- When trying to decide between items, pick the lightest one (I have been known to pull out a kitchen scale, ounces add up).
- Pack with purpose, plan on items that can go from casual to more dressy, if needed.
- Weigh your bag! I keep a small travel scale in the front pocket of my carry-on.
- Plan to wear your bulkiest items on the plane (if you need a heavy coat and boots, wear them, your coat can double as a pillow or blanket)
- Pack a large Ziploc bag with a few smaller Ziploc bags in your suitcase. They always seem to come in handy, whether for a wet swimsuit or leftovers from a picnic.
- Take pictures of your medication bottles and documents (in case you need to replace something)
- Email yourself your travel documents
Lastly, keep in mind, that unless you are headed to somewhere really exotic, chances are you can always pick up anything you may have forgotten. Going into a pharmacy in Italy to get toothpaste can make for a fun adventure!
Happy Travels! ~Karen
Travel broadens your perspective…
