Planning a Trip Posted by Suzy Guese on 04th, May 2012 Packed up and Ready to Go! Five Steps Toward Becoming a Packing Pro Since I was old enough to tote around a backpack on Family Vacation s, I have loved to pack. The thrill of figuring out my trip clothes and the purchasing of travel sized products never ceased to stir up my travel excitement. However, I realize not every traveler enjoys this task. Packing is more of a chore for many, especially when time can be an issue. If someone handed me a plane ticket set to take off in 4 hours, I could be packed and ready in 15 minutes and so could you. Whether you frequently find yourself packing last minute or spend days packing and need to free up some time, here are a few tips to speed up the packing process.
Planning a Trip | Stuff to Pack for a Trip Go Over The Layers of Dress: I always begin with the bottom layer of clothes and build out when I begin packing. Starting with underwear and ending with jackets, this system has allowed me to not only pack quicker by honing in on one area at a time, but I also tend to be less forgetful. Packing can seem overwhelming, especially when you take into consideration all of the different layers of dress you have to pack. One at a time makes the process less consuming.
Packing For a Trip | How to Pack light for a Trip Assemble A Pre-Packed Travel Toiletry Kit: The hardest part of packing can sometimes be the little things, specifically the toiletries. I used to spend hours, combing through cosmetic cases in search of all of the proper toiletries. You can cut down this search by having a toiletry bag all set to go, complete with all of your everyday essentials in travel size. On a lazy Saturday when you are pining for your next vacation, put together your travel toiletry kit, shopping for those travel sized toothbrushes and soaps. When you have to pack in a bind, you can just throw the kit into your bag. Round up Neutrals, Then Add Color: When you go over the layers of dress while packing, round up your neutral essentials first. A classic trench coat or those basic black and white T-shirts should go in the bag first. Of course, a suitcase with all neutrals would be a boring suitcase. After laying out all of your neutrals, you can then add one or two main colors that will go with everything. Packing goes by much quicker when you are on the lookout for only blues and greens rather than deciding between favorite dresses and sweaters. Selecting one to two set colors for a two-week vacation is far easier to manage than digging through all of one’s closet. Begin A Packing Stash A Week Before Travel: Each day, the week before you travel, set out one area of clothing or accessories. For example, Monday can be for shoes. Tuesday can be for pants. This method helps those who tend to pack last minute and never have it right on vacation. By focusing in on one area for each day before you travel, you can see what you need to pick up or eliminate and you still have the time to make changes. There’s an app for that, of course: If packing is your worst nightmare, you can always leave it up to a smartphone app. Many of these will formulate lists for you so you never forget your toothbrush. Some popular packing apps include uPackingList and Pack & Go. What are your packing secrets? Planning a Trip | Packing For a Trip | How to Pack light for a Trip | Stuff to Pack for a Trip