Travel Advice
Choose the right suitcase
Your suitcase is part of your
image, don't neglect it. Many derogatory comments are made
about worn or mismatched luggage. There are many good
quality, reasonably priced suitcases on the market. Of
course, luggage must also be practicle. Very soft bags are
undesirable as they wont protect your clothes. Choose a type
that can withstand being kicked and thrown; this is,
unfortunately what often happens. The best suitcase have
hard frames and sides.
As far as quality is concerned, you will be prepared for
most trips with
the following: one large suitcase, one medium suitcase and
one bag with
shoulder straps. With this luggage you will be prepared to
go on a long trip (by taking all three) or a short one
(using the small-to-medium one). The shoulder bag, of
course, can be used or not, depending on what you need.
Unless you go away for longer then a month, these three
pieces will be sufficient. If not, you have picked out to
many clothes.
Packing your clothes. When you take all three bags with you,
the medium one should be reserved for shoes (packed in
plastic bags), sweaters, handbags, underwear, and hair
dryers. The large suitcase will then be reserved for
clothes, which will not be crushed by shoes or other heavy
items. In the shoulder bag, which you can take with you on
board a plane or train, put you cosmetic bag, camera,
jewellery, the book you want to read while traveling - in
other words, all the odds and ends you need. Having to put
the heavier, bulkier items in the smaller suitcase, you are
now ready to pack your clothes in the large one.
Start with your raincoat, pants and jackets. Place them flat
in the suit case to fill out as much surface as possible
without folding them. Whatever hangs over must be folded
into the case. Pants are put in length wise, folded in once.
With a jacket, dress or blouse, put the top part in first,
horizontally, next fold in the sleeves and then fold over
the bottom part. This system allows you to put the maximum
in a suit cast without wrinkling clothes. Delicate blouses
and dresses should go in last. Belts should not be rolled up
and shoved in a corner, but placed around the edge of the
case, to prevent them for snagging on other items.
If you are going on a short trip, take only the small
suitcase. Put your shoes in first, opposite the handles.
(this why they wont shift and cover everything else when the
case is carried or standing up.) to save space, tuck soft,
small things - hose, lingerie - inside the shoes. Next to
the shoes place handbags, sweaters, t-shirts and robes,
making the surface as flat as possible. Then put the rest of
your clothes on top.
How to avoid wrinkled clothes. Don't pack you bags to
tightly. Put individual items under plastic covers. You can
also use tissue paper, but it's not quite as effective. All
items with buttons should be closed. And since the old trick
of hanging clothes in a steamy bathroom doesn't always work,
take along a travel iron.
How to pack make-up. To safe-guard against forgetting your
favorite eyeshadow or lipstick, pack you cosmetic bag a few
days before going on your trip. Then, while your still at
home, do your make-up using only things out of that bag, and
replace them immediately afterwards. In other words pretend
to be on your trip already. This way you will know for sure
what is missing before you leave. Lotions, perfumes and
creams should be put in plastic containers, be sure to
squeeze out the air before finally closing them, to allow
for air expansion. If your traveling by air, put things like
hair spray and spray deodorant in a closed plastic bag,
because they sometimes explode or open in transit and the
result can be messy.
Choose a spacious and practical handbag. Also be selective
about what you carry in it. Choose a color that either
matches your outfit or your luggage. Items that might become
handy: raincoat; bathers; scissors; soap; shower cap; a
folding umbrella; alarm clock; small sewing kit; scotch
tape; one or two folding coat-hangers; several plastic bags-
handy for packing a wet swimsuit, lingerie that is not quite
dry, or soiled items; an extra folding bag for carrying
awkward parcels on the way home.
Attach labels, with your name on the outside - and inside of
your luggage. It's not a good idea to include the address.
In any case, if your suitcase is lost you will be giving
your address to the airline. Have a pleasant trip!!