Well, reader, you are in luck! Not to brag, but I am truly a master-packer. How did I obtain such a lofty status you may ask? I have traveled a tremendous amount for both work and excitement and have packing for a full week in a carry-on down to a science. Let me share some tips and tricks so you can attain my status.
Of course I have a packing checklist! I started a list in Excel 15 years ago, with columns by category and tabs by type of trip; from shoes to chargers, and beach to golf trips. The list has grown over the years and is really rather robust at this point. A year ago, I upgraded to an app, PACK – Packing List Checklist, and for a few bucks, I don’t have to print out my Excel checklist every trip. They have some base lists built and it is easy to add and customize. As you build your list, go through your day, add everything you touch. You may not need to pack it, but at least you have the chance to decide.
What really makes me a master-packer is the plus sign method of packing. If you search for packing tips, the standard tip is to roll your clothes or squeeze everything into packing cubes. While I may do this at the end of the trip with my dirties, I certainly am not pre-wrinkling all of my clothes to guarantee everyone knows I am an out-of-towner.
The plus sign method is a way of layering clothes to ensure as few creases as possible. Start with the longest apparel (dress or slacks) and lay them long. The next piece you lay perpendicular on top (usually my suit coat) so as to create the plus sign +. Keep layering all of your clothes on the plus sign until the smallest stuff is on top. Now, in the center of the plus, place either shoes or toiletries or the bulky stuff that has to go in the middle of the suitcase. Fold the plus sign in & up and then drop it in the suitcase and there will be no hard fold lines. If you really need your clothes to look un-weathered, place either tissue paper or a dry-cleaning bag in between each piece.
My last tip is to find wash ‘n Fold in the location you are visiting for extended trips. While all major hotels have laundry service, I am not spending a mortgage payment to have my gym clothes washed. What I have started to use the last 2 years is wash-n-fold services that pick up at the hotel, wash and fold my clothes, then drop them back off the next day. I used this type of service when I lived in NYC for just regular laundry. Now most major cities around the world offer this luxury. In Dublin, I paid Yaundry €30 to have all my clothes washed so I could pack for 2 weeks in a carry-on. When checked luggage costs $50-$75 each, this is a bargain.
If Only Bonus ideas:
- Download Google Maps and Translate offline versions. Not everywhere has perfect internet connections.
- Take a picture of your travel documents and attach them to a draft email.
- If you are going to check luggage, consider dropping a bluetooth tracker in your suitcase. An Apple AirTag, Cube Pro Tracker, or Tile Tracker can give you peace of mind about where in the world your stuff is even when the service agent can’t find it in the system.
And if you do accidentally pack an illegal object, check out my post: If Only I hadn’t packed that… • If Only (if-only.net)
Happy Travels!