| The vacation packing tips that follow are | | | | 5. When packing shampoo, perfume, skin cream |
| based on experience - both good and bad. My | | | | and other liquids, be careful. The cargo |
| wife and I have done enough things right, and | | | | areas of planes are not pressurized fully, so |
| enough wrong to have something to teach about | | | | the tops can pop off of bottles and other |
| travel. The last time we traveled together to | | | | containers. To really be safe, pack such |
| Ecuador, we went with carry-on luggage only - | | | | items in a sealed ziplock bag. |
| a ten-pound pack each. This was one of the | | | | |
| things we did right, and is tip number one. | | | | 6. Don't pack things too tight. Your luggage |
| | | | may be opened and inspected, and the security |
| 1. Go light. It is simpler, especially if you | | | | officials may not know how to fit it all back |
| are traveling by air and you can keep it to | | | | in. |
| just carry-on. A few weeks ago we spent | | | | |
| almost two hours waiting for a relative's | | | | 7. Important documents, like passports and |
| suitcase to show up on the Luggage carousel | | | | identification, should never be packed in |
| at Denver International Airport. At least it | | | | your luggage. Carry them on your person, |
| finally showed up, but if you can do just | | | | preferably in a hidden pocket or security |
| carry-on, you leave all problems of late or | | | | pouch under your shirt. |
| lost luggage behind, and travel more easily. | | | | |
| | | | 8. Have a good packing routine. For example, |
| 2. Have all you essentials in your carry-on | | | | start by making a list of items you'll need |
| bag. If your other luggage is lost, you | | | | based on every circumstance you may be in |
| should have what you need to stay clean and | | | | during your vacation. Then consider each |
| comfortable with you. | | | | item, and remove any that aren't likely to be |
| | | | used - especially if they can be easily |
| 3. Budget a little extra and buy things as | | | | obtained at your destination. |
| you go. Don't carry 20 extra things for the | | | | |
| five that you'll end up using. You'll find | | | | 9. Check the weather forecast for your |
| that this is more practical and relaxing than | | | | vacation destination before packing. You |
| over-planning a vacation and over-weighting | | | | might need a raincoat, or a down coat, or |
| the luggage. | | | | (even better) shorts or a swimsuit. It is |
| | | | easy to get a forecast online now for |
| 4. Valuables like jewelry are almost never | | | | anywhere in the world. |
| covered by the luggage insurance the airline | | | | |
| provides. Be sure to pack these items in your | | | | 10. Write these tips and others down, and |
| carry-on bag. We learned this one the hard | | | | keep the list handy for each time you take a |
| way. | | | | vacation. |
| | | | |