Travel Luggage Tips

Be Organized 
Organize your wardrobe around one or two color schemes. This way you don't have to pack as much and you can mix-and-match outfits each day!

Always Be Ready
For those who travel often and have little time to pack, keep a cosmetic bag or drop-kit with dry goods (cotton balls, Q-tips, nail clippers, scissors, bandaids, etc.) and medications (i.e., aspirin, Dramamine, etc.), and another with small bottles of personal items such as shampoo, soaps, lotions, razors, etc. This way you have everything you need always, and the only thing you need to do before a trip is restock if low.

Avoid the Aerosol Cans
When traveling overseas on international flights, replace any aerosol cans of hairspray, deodorant, and insect repellent with non-aerosol versions. Many are available as travel size or in smaller containers. Customs agents and airline employees will be less likely to hassle you if they need to search your luggage.

Be Comfortable - Be Safe
When I fly, I replace the shoelaces on my travelling shoes with 1/4-inch braided elastic to ease the pain of swollen feet - works well with walking footwear. Also, I carry my important ID in a separate holder. And, I have a 'phony' wallet for the pickpocket. I also use 'bicycle' cable locks for my luggage when long waits are expected.

Address Book Just For Travel
Don't take your normal address book - get a little one and add the people you'll want to send postcards to. You can also add all your new friends as you travel. If you lose the book, it won't mean loosing all your contacts.

A Degree of Anonymity
When travelling, it is WISE to never put your name AND address on your suitcase or carry-on luggage. Perps hang out in lines at airports, look at luggage tags, and know you are going away. It is an easy burglary. Just put Name and Phone Number, grab a few extra airline tags, and change it once you are on the ground again.

Checklist to Carry With You
Make a list of everything you pack and keep it with you. If your luggage is lost, you will have a complete checklist of all of your belongings for the airline.

Clothing Diary
If your itinerary is reasonably firm, make a clothing diary. Prepare a list of clothing items you think you want to bring on your trip. Insert outfits into each day of travel based on where you might be visiting. Try to get several wearings out of each piece of clothing. If you find that an item is only worn once, or if you aren't wearing most of your clothing items several times, perhaps those articles of clothing should be left at home. Bring 'Shout' wipes or a similar product for those accidental stains.

Electrician Ties (Nylon Cable Ties)
Rather than using flimsy locks on your baggage that can be opened with a bobby pin, why not use electrician ties. They are extremely tough. (Larger ones are even used instead of handcuffs by many police forces!) They can be purchased at home improvement stores, will hold the zippers shut and if they have been cut off you know that someone has riffled your bags. They are also available in various colors that will help in bag identification - while making it less possible for airport personnel to have spares in their pockets to replace any tie that they cut off

Emergency Latrine
Pack a couple of freezer weight large zip-lock bags if you are going to be camping and some distance from the latrine. Fill bag half-full of sand. In the middle of the night you can use the bag to tinkle in, like a cat in a sand box. The next morning it can be disposed of.

Emergency Numbers
Paperclip inside the back of your passport an emergency contact list and include the telephone number of your insurance people, credit card issuer, and home numbers in case of emergency.

Forget the Wallet
Never carry a wallet with you on a trip. Your bank can give you free sleeves for your bank card/credit card/license - simply use one or two of these. Also, keep these items in your front pants pocket - or in a security pouch inside your pants.

Hanging Shoe Holder
If staying in the same location for the duration of your trip, for example a cruise, pack a hanging shoe holder. The holder is the type that has rectangular shoebox size openings. It will Velcro around the closet rod. It works great for socks/hose, belts, underwear, and of course, shoes.