Insider Packing Tips

For many travelers, packing is one of the worst parts about the trip.  But it doesn’t have to be that way: with a little foresight and planning, your packing can be done in a pinch!

Here are a few trips from seasoned travelers:

Limit the number of clothes you have to pack by using your hotel’s laundering and dry cleaning services if your trip is a week or more.  Most hotels have same day service.  Note that while these services are expensive, most companies will reimburse you for this expense if you are out of town for at least four days on business.  As a bonus, your clothes will be well pressed instead of suitcase-sorry. Can't afford these high-priced services? Look for a do-it-yourself laundry facility, which is common at many family-oriented hotels.

Washable silk clothing is very practical for space, comfort and appearance. Even for men, silk shirts are great clothes for traveling. There are other man-made fabrics that do not wrinkle. Buy smart!  Travel outfitters like L.L. Bean and TravelSmith offer wonderful washable, yet wrinkle-free options. Just rinse them out in the sink or tub with a gentle detergent (even most shampoos will do in a pinch), hang them to dry, and you're good to go!

Be a color coordinator! Pack around one or two basic colors, like black, beige or navy. Mix and match several shirts with one pair of pants/one skirt. This saves on shoes, belts, and other accessories, as well.  Go one step further like one globe-trotting executive we know who buys his suits with an extra pair of pants (especially easy to do at most made-to-measure places).  Suit jackets typically get less wear than the pants (most men take them off except during business presentations) and he can easily go a week with one jacket by rotating the pants.

Pack for your destination, rather than for your location.  For example, if you are leaving NYC in the heart of winter for a trip to sunny Bermuda, leave your heavy overcoat at home.  Wear a wool blazer or lightweight jacket with a sweater underneath, plus gloves and a scarf to protect you from the cold as you go back and forth from the airport.  You’ll avoid the hassle of dragging around a bulky coat and the few minutes you have in the cold won’t kill you.

Keep your luggage light by using an luggage delivery service to ship all but your carry-on items directly to your hotel.  We've also find that these services are generally more reliable than trusting the airlines to handle your bags. Traveling to a trade show? You should also consider shipping all the literature and giveaways you’ve collected at the show back to your office.

If you travel frequently, keep your toiletry bag stocked with duplicates of all the items you need (remembering to refresh items like Tylenol as you use them), so  you don’t have that last minute rush around the bathroom just before it is time to leave to catch your plane.

You’ve heard it before, but it can’t be said enough: leave your valuables at home.  Even if you will be attending a gala event, don’t be tempted to tote your best jewelry along on your trip.  The hassles of keeping it safe from thieves and misfortune far outweigh the boost it gives to your evening attire.

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