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Today’s topic: How to best pack for your travels.
A compilation of the best packing tips as featured on The Travel Insider
Wherever you’re traveling, however you’re getting there, and whatever you’re doing upon arrival, the information in this series will help make your travels simpler and better. There’s nothing worse than the sick feeling you get, seconds after it has become too late, as you remember something vital you forgot to pack in your luggage. Following these strategies and checklists will reduce the otherwise ever present stress as you prepare for your future travels.
About your Luggage and Suitcases in General
1. Check your suitcases before going on a trip to make sure they don’t have any actual or incipient rips or tears or broken parts that might interfere with their reliable operation on the journeys ahead. Replace or repair anything that looks suspect.
2.1 Should you buy cheap or expensive luggage? The hassle factor of something like a zip breaking or a wheel falling off is vastly greater than the money you saved by buying an inferior bag to start with. Buy good quality luggage – it will be cheaper in the long run.
2.2 But don’t buy ‘showy’ luggage that marks you and your luggage as a valuable target. Fancy leather finish, gold fittings, prominent brand names - these are all tempting signals to a luggage thief. See [The Travel Insider] series and reviews on luggage for much more information.
When traveling, make luggage distinctive
3.1 Make your suitcases visually distinctive by adding something brightly colored to them, such as the MyTag bag tags. This not only makes it easier for you to spot them when they arrive on the carousel, but it also prevents other people from either accidentally taking your bag by mistake or deliberately taking your bag on purpose. If your bag is visually distinctive and unique, other people won’t confuse it with their bag, and thieves won’t take it because they are more likely to be spotted with your bag and can’t then claim it was an innocent mistake.
3.2 Distinctively marked suitcases are also easier for a luggage agent to find if they go missing, or need to be pulled off a flight (perhaps you changed your travel plans).
4.1 Know your weight allowances (typically 50lbs per bag, and two bags per passenger) and weigh your own bags before leaving home. Because US airlines have an allowance per bag, if you’re traveling with one bag that is overweight, split the contents and take two bags. This means more hassle for the airline, but it keeps you safely clear of having to pay an excess baggage charge.
4.2 If you’re buying an airline ticket for travel that doesn’t originate or terminate in the US, your baggage limit may be only 44 lbs (20kg) per person (not per bag, but in total, per person!). Some airlines (notably Aeroflot) include the weight of your carry-on luggage into that entitlement, too. Excess baggage costs can quickly become very pricey.
4.3 Some European low fare airlines have even lower limits - as little as 33 lbs/person. Be sure to know your baggage allowances.
5.1 Keep sufficient ID prominently in place in your suitcases so if they get lost, they can easily be matched up with you. Consider also including a copy of your itinerary so if the bag is lost at the beginning of a trip, it will be easy for the airline to know where to find you.
5.2 Some people recommend keeping passport and other ID copies in your bag, but be careful of exposing yourself to potential identity theft.
6.1 Anticipate the TSA choosing to open and search through your bags. Anything you can do to make it easier for them to look through the contents of your bag, and then put everything neatly back, is a good idea. Packing items into clear organizers is a good idea.
6.2 If you’re traveling with anything fragile, there is a risk the TSA may not fully repackage it. You increase the chance of this if it is packed inside an obvious and appropriate container rather than just wrapped up inside a sweater.
More tips to follow. Coming soon.. Packing tips!
