Nine packing mistakes

Thanks for the article Lee. My wife is the classic over packer and she waits until the night before we leave to pack.

I also saw several occurrences of slide #4 on a recent trip to Washington DC. What amazed me the most when this happened was the passenger(s) arguing with the flight attendant(s).

Hmmm. Most of these are symptoms of the root cause problem with the exception of #5 and #10.

These are good basic tips. With regard to overpacking, I learned the hard way and now stick to a list which I update for each trip, depending on the weather, any new medications I'm taking, etc.

I think your advice about packing to a list is the crux. I know I read that, probably from you, when I first started reading this forum and it has allowed me to go down to a 20" roller. I will never pack as lightly as you do though, Lee!

Packing Mistake #10--Carrying any suitcase larger than 21" and 10 kg. (22 lbs.)

If you cannot carry your bag 2 miles, don't bring it. Big Daddy doesn't carry any luggage for any body, and you've got to be able to deal with your own bag at all times.

Nowadays, I roll my suitcase since it's a spinner, even the 2 wheeler was wetter than a hand held suitcase of yesteryear. I pack more for two months in Europe than I would for two weeks in Europe. but 30 lbs is max.

30 lbs is max

Is that 30 lb of stuff, not counting the carrier, or 24 lb of stuff in a 6 lb roller?

It is 30 lbs when the spinner is weighed at check-in at SFO.

About the liquid issue, how many times have I forgotten about the pressure changes when I open one of those containers on arrival and a spurt of shampoo shoots out. The worst is the hand cream tube while I'm on the plane. One occurrance about every 4-5 flights. You'd think I'd remember!

I too use a list from trip to trip. I now have different lists for winter and summer and another version just for the U.S. My first stop on landing is usually Target ☺And I do most of my packing well in advance. Even if I don't actually put stuff in the bag, I have 3 piles - checked bag (sorry, my carry on limit is 8 kg and I neither can nor want to do that), carry-on bag and what I'm wearing/in my pockets/purse.

And about those shoes - don't people have plastic bags from shopping or trash bags? D'oh. And dirty laundry - what hotel doesn't have a plastic laundry bag in the cupboard?

Now, I use shower caps to cover my shoes, but several years ago I used a bag that had advertising on it. Never again. One of my liquid bottles spilled, and the ads imprinted onto my blouse. I was not able to get the stain removed. When I use bags now, they are only clear ones. I am much more careful with liquids, too. Saran wrap over the opening, and double bagged.

Shower caps are great for protecting cameras if it starts to rain. Keep one in your day bag.

I always make a list before packing, and check each item.

I always make a list before packing, and check each item.

I really want to emphasize the checking each item. Earlier I didn't think it was necessary. I have a really short list. But in 2007, I was on the bus to the airport when I realized I had left my pocket German-English dictionary at home. That was confidence! They've made some changes to the spelling rules since I bought the original dictionary, so I really needed a new one anyway, so I stopped in the bookstore at Munich Hbf and bought a current one. I never used it on the entire trip.

Now, I make a list and check it twice. That way I know who's naughty or nice.....

Wait a minute, I might have too many lists.

My packing lists are a source of amusement for friends and family but I don't forget stuff.

I keep all my packing lists in Google drive, making a new one for each trip. That way I can easily see what I packed for that London trip in March, and copy it for a similar trip.

My lists are in a spreadsheet, with items grouped by category. I include a Gathered column and a Packed column, so as each item is gathered or packed I check it off the list.

OCD? Maybe a little. But when I don't use a list do I forget things!

I use the Packing Pro app on my iPhone. You can clear all the check marks and use it over and over again. You can also export your baseline list and creates special lists for special trips.
You can also create special categories such as "last minute" things, work things, etc.
The app takes an hour or so to set up but once you have it you can use it whenever you pack.

I do have a homemade packing list that I modify for each trip. What I really need to make is a Pre-Trip prep. list that includes things like get the dog's shots up to date, find a cat sitter, place a stop mail order, etc. These things are really important to get done!

I think first order of business is to decide whether to do laundry during the trip. For a 17-night last year to 4 European venues, we found a lavenderia in Florence on the 7th day in, and it was a hoot. I had known it was down the street from our apartment near Piazza Santa Maria Novella, and when we got there the woman owner really wanted to do our laundry herself (rather than us doing it for less cost) and kept lowering the price until we agreed! My wife was a little freaked at a 'stranger' handling all our clothes, but I assured her that she wasn't going to run off with our underwear and JC Penney shirts. We came back after 3 hours and ended up folding the last bit ourselves, but it was a funny experience we talk about to this day.

In late February, we are doing 6 nights at an apartment in Rome, and then 5 nights at a B&B in Sorrento, so I think we're going to do laundry the last full day in Rome. In theory, that means we should be able to pack less, but we'll see!

Ha! We've got that packing stuff down pat. I am definitely OCD about all of those tips. I used to keep a spreadsheet with all the airlines' (that we were likely to use) carry-on limits and weights. My packing lists are highly detailed, and I keep them (spreadsheets) from one trip to the next, with comments after our return. As soon as we start planning a trip (our next one is October 2017), I immediately start with a copy/pasted packing list and get it started. Often it's a matter of thinking, "oh, we should take such and such next time", and I can open the file, jot it in there, and then forget about it until we're ready to seriously start packing.

I also have "to do" lists, such as closing the house routines, etc. I don't think I've ever forgotten anything I had intended to take. Except once I left home, and we got 15 minutes down the road and I realized I was wearing my "house shoes", and hadn't changed them before leaving. We had to turn back to change. Luckily, we had left plenty of time to get to the airport!

Vivian

Vivian:
Many years ago we took our family of four to Hawaii on a two week soccer tournament plus vacation. We all loaded up carry-ons and personal items in to the car and took off for the airport. About four blocks away from the house my daughter realized she had forgotten her sunglasses. We u-turned back to the house to get the sunglasses and found the front door wide open. In the confusion of getting loaded up no one realized they were the last one out.

I think I will add "shut and lock the front door after you leave" to my Pre-Trip check list!

-Nancy

Between work and pleasure, I've packed so many times while learning along the way. No need for lists or tips...such are embedded in my brain. The article provides decent advice.

oh Nancy, that is hilarious!! Thank goodness your daughter forgot her sunglasses!