Packing Tips

Author Message   Alan H. Sherman Member Username: Racewalker Post Number: 23 Registered: 06-2007 Posted From: 24.0.177.53 Posted on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 - 06:52 pm:    Packing light is an absolute necessity especially when you travel by train and you have to change from one track to another in little time. My wife is terrified to go down escalators with the luggage and so we take the elevators in the large train stations. That eats into the time. So I have had to go down with the luggage and run up the stairs and take hers down hoping that no one rips us off. So far so good. When I have to pitch her the bags on the platform it really takes it out of me. This year we bought lighter luggage and it should make it easier. When you need some help they are never around. We buy a lot of wash and wears to limit the amount of clothing and now only carry the bare necessities. It helps. The one rule of thumb we follow is never...never...send your clothes out from the hotel, they charge an arm and a leg to clean. We got burned in Rome on that years ago. I hope these little tips might help the novice traveler.   David E. Feiring Member Username: Flash Post Number: 13 Registered: 03-2004 Posted From: 4.184.254.65 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 11:00 pm:    Another reason to pack light: simulate that your spouse suffers an injury and you have to carry all the bags. Whoops! Another reason to pack light, "tossing" the heavy bag up and onto the overhead train storage rack could ruin your vacation. Common sense applies.   Hale Lait Senior Member Username: Norwich50 Post Number: 874 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 70.232.167.209 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 05:57 pm:    We have an agreed upon packing rule - pack all and whatever you want because you will carry the bag. At first it presented some difficulties but over the years it has been a lifesaver. When travelling with the ANG you will likely end up in a que passing luggage on and off the a/c. And, if you travel in Europe by train, Red Caps are not always available and checking luggage is a rare possibility. That means, you hoist the bag from the platform to the car and then into a luggage rack. There is also the challenge of changing trains that are on different tracks.   ed williamson Advanced Member Username: Regnav Post Number: 206 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 76.114.109.206 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 01:03 pm:    Packing Light: Ten Ways to Fit it All in a Personal Item http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/packing-light-ten-ways-to-fit-it-all- in-personal-item.html?id=4909868&source=dealalert&value=2010-05-30+00%3A00%3A00& u=A7F27BA901   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2736 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 99.57.145.27 Posted on Sunday, May 30, 2010 - 04:01 am:    I just got back from a 3 day convention trip to Houston. Five of us went, 3 of us travel a good bit, the other two didn't. Boy they took so ,much stuff!! One of them had her water pick, electric cullers, curling iron, she had enough stuff to be gone 3 weeks. The other one had twice as much clothes as she need more food than anyone needs to take on a 5 hour car tirp to a convention you are going to eating at. I was so glad I knew how to pack light. It makes such a big difference when you are loading up the car to get home.   rinaldo Senior Member Username: Rinaldo Post Number: 1076 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 08:41 pm:    Pack what you think you might need, do your space a trip or whatever. Then when you come back home take the items you use and put at the top of the bed, and what you did not use at the bottom, then the next time you take a trip you will know what to take.   Roger T. Evans Intermediate Member Username: Rogerev Post Number: 55 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 112.205.165.106 Posted on Friday, May 28, 2010 - 02:13 pm:    Pack all the clothes that you think you really need. Then get rid of half of them before you close the luggage.   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 397 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.130.168 Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 04:38 pm:    I look at carrying "widow makers" as the price of not SPATing solo.   Joe Joyce Advanced Member Username: Joejoyce Post Number: 157 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 199.224.21.254 Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 12:48 pm:    Rebecca, your "negotiating" reminds me of what goes on when my wife and I are readying for a trip. Somehow there's always something that doesn't fit in her bag (which I call "The Widow-maker"). I resist as best I can. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2735 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 99.57.145.27 Posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 - 12:29 am:    Will do PR, and I think I order the tops with the Palm tree's and gliter, it will be soooo you   PR Senior Member Username: Pretzlaff Post Number: 1676 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 67.190.52.82 Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 07:16 pm:    Phyllis-- Put me down for a pair of 12EEEE.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2733 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 99.57.145.27 Posted on Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 05:48 pm:    I'm going to post this info here, about the shoes I have. I have had some private e mail about them and this way I can answer all of them at once. They are called Leexes. I have had mine about 3 years, they were about $60 a pair when they first came out, much cheaper now. If you have a Tuesday Mornning store near you look there. They have had them and the tops the last few times I was in the one here in Texas. I think if you do a search on the internet you might find them. My friend, in the whole sale business, has just a few pairs left, size 9, if interested e mail.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2730 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 99.96.228.23 Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2010 - 01:30 am:    Becky, you need the ones like I have, they don't take up much room. So where aree you and Mike headed?   Rebecca Johnson Senior Member Username: Rjohnson Post Number: 595 Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 98.214.91.19 Posted on Saturday, May 22, 2010 - 12:59 am:    Cherry and Martha ... I am hopeless, too, when it comes to shoes. My husband and I are planning a Space-A trip next month, and I'm already negotiating with him on whether or not I can put a pair of sandals in his bag!   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 2729 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 99.106.228.48 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 07:51 pm:    Cherry & Martha I should be more like you, but just can't do the one pair of shoes. I have the next best thing. They are black slieds with a wedge heal. Now it get's fun, the top snaps off and I have about 8 different tops to use. I have print one stripes one black one and so on. I always take them. Now I just have to cut back on jewlery.   Martha Fralia Advanced Member Username: Mjfralia Post Number: 378 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 75.141.137.233 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 03:46 pm:    This woman also takes just one pair of shoes....the ones she is wearing.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6710 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 12:43 pm:    For spacea trips, "Pack Light" and you will be more agile,less tired,quicker to respond to opportunities,able to take advantage of flights on small aircraft,and more mobile.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6374 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 11:48 am:    I am a woman who does NOT find it impossible to travel with only the shoes I am wearing on the plane. They are black leather, lace-up "Hush Puppy" walking shoes with nice thick foam soles. I wear black pants and vary my blouses from sporty to dressy, depending on the occasion. Being black, the shoes blend in just fine -- I have never had anyone even "look" at them and sniff. If they get wet, I dry them overnight and use a hair dryer in the morning if necessary to finish the job. After two ankle surgeries and therefore deciding not to wear high heels ever again, I am finally a truly liberated woman! (Even on a cruise, with more baggage than on space-a trips, I wear only low shoes [sometimes albeit others than the sturdy Hush Puppy pair noted above] and dress slacks for everything, including 'formal nights.')   Alan H. Sherman Member Username: Racewalker Post Number: 22 Registered: 06-2007 Posted From: 24.0.177.53 Posted on Friday, May 21, 2010 - 08:29 am:    Another tip I learned years ago is that you can buy relatively inexpensive tee shirts and briefs at Costco and other discounters so I keep the older sets for travel and toss them out as we go along thereby lightening the suitcase. We also bring some bubble wrap in case we purchase fragile items at a flea market etc....and repack them in the room. Some people will also bring a fold up tote bag and use that to put gifts in.   Richard T. Brown Intermediate Member Username: Dick Post Number: 138 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.242.179.68 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 11:02 am:    I find that not only rolling clothing saves space but also placing like items (tee shirts, briefs, socks, etc.) in zip lock bags (gallon or larger sizes) make accessing items much easier and a neater suitcase. I fold trousers in thirds and place on top of all other items. I also wear but one pair of comfortable shoes. I know this impossible for women but it works for me. I am usually around 30 lbs. I use a carry on (duffel type)for a 35 mm SLR (digital) and lens, GPS, meds, a sweater, leather coat plus reading material. I also carry the wash/dry towels for laundry.   Martin V Smith Advanced Member Username: Mvsusaf Post Number: 277 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 72.76.38.134 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 10:20 am:    Wow! I knew about rolling clothes but never thought about the order it went in to a bag nor the idea of folding trousers/pants over the way she does. This is a must see for all of us.   John D. Moderator Username: John_d Post Number: 4451 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 95.208.80.143 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 03:44 am:    Thanks John, I added the slideshow to the Space-A travel links!   Jim D Member Username: Amdjmd Post Number: 21 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 68.4.72.148 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 03:15 am:    The slide show was especially helpful.   John W. Hardink Intermediate Member Username: Honge46 Post Number: 65 Registered: 06-2007 Posted From: 67.186.170.72 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 12:20 am:    It always helps to refine packing techniques-these articles reinforce some time tested pointers: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/business/06PACK.html http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/06/business/businessspecial/20100506-pa ck-ss.html?src=me&ref=business Now to make sure to stay under 30 lbs.