Packing For A Vacation

1. If you are traveling with someone, pack half your clothes in his bag, and carry half his in your luggage. Then if one bag gets lost, you at least have half your things.

2. Wear or carry your bulky clothes on the flight if possible, rather than packing them, to create extra space in your bag.

3. Make a list of items you are taking and check them off as each item is packed.

4. Insert your name and address inside your baggage.

5. Put liquids in plastic containers, not glass. They aren't as heavy and are not as likely to break. And then place those containers inside plastic zipper bags.

6. For fewest wrinkles, I have found it best to lay clothing out on bed in layers, one on top of the other, and fold to fit in bag. At the folds, place stockings, underwear, whatever, to prevent a crease at that point. I like to fold all blouses in one bundle and slip in a plastic bag. Then, fold all pants and slip them in another plastic bag. Do the same with any other items you want kept wrinkle-free. For some reason, the plastic bags keep my clothes more wrinkle-free than any other method I have tried.

Personally, I do not find rolling my clothes a satisfactory way of packing.

7. Put small things in the toes and heels of your shoes.

8. Place shoes at the bottom of the case where the hinges are. They will stay in place and not shift clothing around by their weight. In fact, all heavy items should be placed there.

9. Don't roll belts; place them just inside walls of your bags, running around the circumference. They will take less room this way.

10. Less room is used if cosmetics, medications, etc., are placed in a zipper plastic bag and then transferred to regular cosmetic bag (which you have folded and placed in the bag) after you arrive at your destination.

11. Shoes should be packed in shoe mittens or an old pair of socks to protect other clothes from being soiled.