Comments on: How to Avoid Overpacking

on 8/28/2008 absolutely disgusting...turn your underwear inside out...no wonder the airports, trains etc stink. If you can afford a trip you can afford the space for a few pairs of CLEAN underwear and socks. Bring your oldest, clean undies and socks that you can wear once and throw away rather than wash, and then you won't have to smell and you will have room to pack your souvenirs.

on 8/8/2006 Before you go, buy some small plastic bottles, (available in bigger chemists & some supermarkets) and decant your shampoo, conditioner, shower-gel, cleanser etc into them. This drastically reduces both the size and weight of your toiletries. You could also look in advance for mini size versions of your usual brands and take these instead. Look well in advance though. Don't leave it until the last minute as not everything comes in a mini version and you may need to do some decanting after all.

on 8/8/2006 Buy a big bottle of Suave - or some other cheap and gentle shampoo - and use it as shampoo and shower gel. Cheap and effective. When I go on weekend trips, I put some in a much smaller bottle.

on 6/30/2006 I used to buy clothing or something breakable, and had the problem of packing it in a full suitcase to get it home. Now I buy a piece of jewelry and wear it home. Even if you have to pack it, it doesn't take up much room. And I've got some beautiful silver jewelry from my trips.

on 2/2/2006 If you really want to save space, don't bring any luggage. You'll never lose anything in the airport and your arms will never tire from the weight. Just wear multiple layers of many different types of clothing. For the legs, a 12-day trip for me comprises 6 pairs of undies - you can flip each one over once - under bathing suit bottoms, under miniskirt, under kimono, under sweat pants, under dress pant, under cargo pants, under ski pants, under extra-large windbreaker pants. For the top, three bras - each one size larger than the last - under two tank tops - one black, one white - under bathing suit top, under a T-shirt, under a polo shirt, under a V-neck sweater, under a vest, under a woolen pullover (for warmth), under a large windbreaker. You may wish to carry your money in the windbreaker pocket. This helps you avoid carrying a purse and you won't have as hard a time retrieving it as if you had stuffed it in your bra. Shoes are a little more difficult, but I have perfected the tactic: pantyhose under four pair of toe socks, under a pair of flip flops, under slippers, under running shoes (I prefer to wear my husband's as his are much larger than my own), under winter boots.

Also, if you get too warm, you can pull out a lightweight grocery bag and start pulling off layers. This tends not to be too heavy to drag around as suitcases are totally inefficient in this manner.

I hope it works for you as it has for me for so many years. Bon Voyage!

on 2/2/2006 When traveling, I find it easier to bring a few key items with coordinating colors and styles that can be easily re-worn. My three main colors are teal, mauve, and orange. I have a teal windbreaker which I use a lot, as it doesn't need washing (has armpit vents) and goes with my other clothing. Also, I prefer to bring about half the socks and underwear needed for a given trip; just turn them inside out!

on 11/22/2005 Shops like Sephora allow you to pick three sample sized products with each order. Use them once (maybe twice) then throw them away. Not all hotels have conditioner!

Also, sample sized moisturizers and perfumes, keep it simple. Use Ziplock bags for all potential spills or leaks from airline pressure changes!

on 11/22/2005 Buy small screw top bottles (Nalgene makes great ones) to put shampoo, body wash and conditioners in. They are reusable, don't leak and conserve space. Before a long trip, measure how much shampoo, soap, conditioner or moisturizer you use normally and buy accordingly.
As a guide, over two weeks you normally use 4 ounces of shampoo, buy a 4 or 5 ounce Nalgene bottle and you're set. You can measure your use by marking the shampoo bottle with a Sharpee at the top level of liquid. Make another mark after a week. The space between the two marks represents how much stuff you use over a week.

on 11/22/2005 Always bring fresh batteries on your trip. Nothing worse than having an alarm clock battery dead when you'll need it the most. Not all hotel wake-up calls work! Also, in this day and age of multi-electrical devices, cell phones, iPods, computer, bring two or three adapters so you can plug in all those devices at once to re-charge them.

on 11/22/2005 Pack underwear you're going to throw away anyway. You can get two or three days use out of each panties if you use new pantie liners each day.

on 11/22/2005 Use the plastic zippered bags that new linens come in to pack your shoes. They come in various sizes based on the linens you purchased and are a great way to keep shoes away from the rest of your clothing.

on 11/22/2005 Wear the clothes that you are getting ready to donate or throw away. At the end of your trip just leave them there or throw them away. This will make room for those must-have items you've just purchased!

pack clothes in dry cleaner plastic pants. Your clothes WILL NOT wrinkle.

on 11/22/2005 1. Take one pair of shoes, loose comfortable ones without laces, dark brown is best. Unless you really need that second pair, you can make do with these and some cheap sandals.
2. Invest in some packing cubes, they drastically reduce the amount of room you need in your bag and you know you'll have the same amount of room coming back as you left with.
3. Stick to one decent sized bag, if you've gone over this - you're taking too much.
4. Buy swim shorts with pretty designs or in nice fabrics - you don't just have to swim in them, they're good for day trips too.
5. Take a sarong with you - men or women. It's a headscarf, skirt, beach blanket, makeshift bag - and it packs down to nothing.

on 11/22/2005 This probably works best when visiting family for an extended period of time and not so good if you are going to a resort, since the prices may be higher. I never bring toiletries. I just pick up the travel size when I get to my destination. That way, my luggage isn't full with soap, razors, shampoo, etc.

on 11/22/2005 Fold up and put an empty tote duffel bag in your luggage. It will be a big help if your belongings grow while you're away.