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Tuesday Travelogue--Special Edition Packing Tips For Travelling!

By
Real Estate Agent with John L Scott Market Center 700512026

Welcome to the ongoing series called Tuesday Travelogue. We are in our 144th week!

Each week, some ActiveRain bloggers are spotlighted to take us somewhere we may not have been on some kind of virtual travel (and it doesn't cost a dime!). Here is the purpose:

  

 to enjoy the ride"

"take a trip without even leaving the farm"

"expand your horizons"

"see through someone else's eyes"

  and hopefully much more!

 

Since I already did my travelogue for this week, I thought I'd pass on an extra tip for those of you travelling this holiday season. 

Thanks to Trip Advisor (of which I am a contributor--so I get these tidbits e-mailed to me periodically), I thought I'd pass along packing tips!

Here you go:

Travellers' Top Tips to Pack Smart

We reached out to Top Contributors in our traveller community and asked for their best-ever packing tips. Here’s what they had to say:

  • Pack light to travel light. If you can manage with a carry-on, do it. Try taking half of the things you need and twice the money. You can make buying a few new items a fun part of the adventure.
  • Pack a sleep mask and ear plugs. These can come in handy on a plane, train or in your hotel room.
  • Capitalise on empty suitcase space. Roll your clothes, instead of folding them. Stuff socks, underwear, and accessories inside of shoes. Leave no space unused.
  • Keep a sarong or pashmina in your carry-on. They can be used as a blanket on the plane, a scarf if it’s cold or a shawl on an evening out.
  • Bag it. Kitchen sandwich bags can be used to hold your accessories, vacuum pack bags can be space savers, and bin bags have multiple uses (laundry bag, shoe covers).
  • Skip airport snacks and bring your own. You can save yourself a bit of money and keep your hunger at bay in case you have a delayed flight.
  • Create compartments. Two words: packing cube. If you are visiting more than one city during your trip, packing cubes will keep your suitcase organised and save you from having to pack and unpack.
  • Share your packing space. Travelling as a couple? Split your clothes between two suitcases on the off chance one of them gets lost during the flight.
  • Bring a multi-socket extension cord. Although newer hotels have USB ports in rooms, it’s best to have an extra outlet to charge all of your electronics at once.
  • Make photocopies before leaving home. If you’re travelling out of the country, make two photocopies of your passport. Use your smartphone to take pictures of your car in the airport’s car park and do the same for your luggage and its contents in case it gets lost.
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  • "Wear old t-shirts, pants, underwear, and socks and throw them away on the trip after you wear them. That way your luggage is lighter and you have room to purchase items on your trip" .

Enjoy and safe! Happy Trails to you...

Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

These are great tips, Gayle. Makes we want to travel...guess I had better plan our 2018 trip to Maui.

We always seem to take more than necessary, although somehow when going to Europe we take less since we are usually on the go and who wants to lug around a bunch of suitcases?! I rarely ever wear everything I take, even on business trips!!

Jeff

Dec 19, 2017 07:56 PM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate, I never thought of the very last tip you gave, LOVE it! I usually pack very light so I could shop. 

Dec 19, 2017 09:04 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Gayle, love your advice, I used to always travel light, and where I arrived I would buy new underwear, new shirts etc.... Diane was the other way there was a suitcase for her face:)) another suitcase for her shoes and the list goes on and on I used to give her a hard time about it... now she has learned...BTW I will be contributing soon to this series:))Endsre

Dec 19, 2017 10:23 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I love these ideas. I am a huge fan of traveling light. A week away? A carry on is plenty. I don't ever bring a hair dryer (if there isn't one, air drying is fine). I wear one pair of shoes and bring one. I bring a very small container for shampoo and one for conditioner - just enough for the time away. And I laughed at the last statement, because I have on occasion purposely brought something old that I wasn't going to bring home. 

Dec 20, 2017 03:26 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Such a relaxing view in your picture, I could certainly handle that.  Great tips my friend!

Dec 20, 2017 05:51 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

I have a client who wrote  a book called The Packing Queen. She has a system of packing a carry on where you can live comfortably for 3 weeks with what works out to be a large combination of outfits. I have never taken a suitcase since. Nothing like it.

Dec 20, 2017 01:02 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I like that idea of rolling your clothese before packing, and also packing a multi-socket extension cord.

Dec 21, 2017 05:46 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I use many of your tips. My husband rolls his clothes and I neatly fold. I also use large ziplock bags too for dirties and for packing newly purchased items to keep them separate.

Dec 26, 2017 08:29 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate - These are all good tips! May you enjoy life on the lake and continue to bring joy to others. 

Dec 29, 2017 04:25 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Oh, what wonderful tips, Gayle! I am a 'kitchen-sink-packer' and need to really try hard our next trip to be more lean with my packing! I always worry about needing layers - and who really cares if it's chilly and I have to wear the same sweater each day? No one! I just need to get over myself! LOL

Dec 30, 2017 02:51 PM