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Vacation Packing List

The ultimate A-Z packing list for travelers heading for vacation

Every successful vacation starts with a packing list and luggage that's right for the trip. By drawing up a packing list, you can prepare ahead of time and have the confidence of knowing you are unlikely to leave anything important behind. Having a vacation packing list will allow you to stay organized, and hopefully prevent you from packing items that you don't need on vacation or are too heavy to carry.

I recommend that couples divide their vacation packing list into three categories: His, Hers, and Ours. If you're going on a trip of any length, you may find that having three suitcases - his, hers, and ours - and a carry-on with mutual valuables - is the way to go.

Top Tips for Packing - What to Take

Clothing

- Choose clothes appropriate for the climate. If you are going somewhere warm and leaving a cold climate consider leaving a set of warm clothes in the car if you are leaving it at the airport, or with friends if you are being collected.

- Stick with one basic colour scheme preferably a dark one which won't show marks and wrinkles so much.

- Make clothing items do double duty, men's shorts can be double as swimming trunks, a woman's tankini top can be an evening top. A shirt can layer over a dress in place of a jacket.

- Take multiple thinner items which can be layered instead of one bulky heavier piece. Thermal underwear is fantastic for cooler climates.

- A sarong can be the most useful item you take doubling as a skirt, dress, shawl, beach towel, top sheet and a tablecloth. You can even use it as a bag in a pinch!

- Shoes are always difficult: heavy and bulky. Try to wear your heaviest/bulkiest pair on the plane. I try to limit myself to 3 pairs: a pair comfortable for walking extended distances, a pair of sandals or flip flops and a dresser pair for evening!

Other Items

- A travel alarm if you don't have the function on a watch or cellphone that you are taking with you.

- Prescription medicines and a copy of the prescription in case you loose your bags. If you need glasses to see make sure you have a back up: an old pair, contacts or prescription sunglasses.

- Toiletries: take a minimum. If you are only going on a short trip take sample sizes or buy small containers and decant some to take with you. If, however, you are traveling for a long time then don't take 6 months supply - you can buy almost anything anywhere these days.

- Liquid soap and shampoo can be used interchangeably - you don't need both. You can buy solid shave soap which is lot more compact than carrying a shaving foam aerosol.

- If flying don't take brand new bottles of liquid - the liquid will expand slightly as the lower pressures on the plane and leak - use each bottle once to avoid this problem. Creams and aerosols are OK.

- Make sure your toiletries bag is actually waterproof - a surprising number aren't and bottles do break.

- Credit cards -preferably two in case one is lost or broken or eaten by the ATM.

- Details of your insurance policy. Important phone numbers or email addresses of medical specialists, family, work, anyone you may need to contact if something occurs to delay your return.

What Not to Pack!

- Anything you are taking "just in case". If you happen to get a last minute invite to the Queen's Garden Party in England ladies will need a hat - take the opportunity to go shopping!

- A cellphone unless you know it work at your destination and you know what the roaming charges are.

- Anything electronic unless you are sure you can plug them in / charge them at your destination.

- Anything you are sentimentally attached to or is particularly jewellery - you may have it stolen but far more likely you may just misplace it or leave it behind.

How to Pack your Bags

- Before you start lay everything out on a spare bed or other space so that you can see it all. Now might be a good time to reassess what you actually need to take!

- Start collecting items a few days early - particularly if you are taking out of season clothing this is easy to do. If you are taking items you are regularly wearing it will remind you to add them to the pile as you launder them and to stop you accidentally wearing them before departure! Remember that what you are wearing on departure day is included in the pile too!

Tips for Packing a Backpack

- To get the correct weight distribution heavier items should be near your back and higher in the pack.

- Use plastic bags or packing cubes to keep similar items together.

- Pack electronic and breakables near the centre padding them with clothing. Putting small items inside socks can work.

Packing a suitcase

- Place heaviest items at the bottom, especially for pull along bags this adds stability.

- Pack fragile items towards the centre.

- Fold similar clothes together e.g. all trousers, all shirts folded together to minimise creasing and pack efficiently

What to Carry on the Aircraft

- Check what is provided by the airline before taking a lot of stuff on board. Many international airlines, particularly Asian carriers, provide an enormous number of TV channels, movies and audio options, even in coach class. There is no point bringing the DVD player or Ipod on board with them! Others typically American carriers and budget airlines provide nothing, but entertainment can be hired for a reasonable fee -which might save you carrying a DVD player all trip just to entertain the kids for the return flight!

- Also check for food and drinks service - same applies - its struggle not to over-eat on airlines such as Singapore Air, Cathy Pacific and Thai

- Be cautious of bringing food on flights into Australia and New Zealand, there are substantial fines for importing banned items, even inadvertently, they take their agriculture industry seriously there.

- Carry on sufficient clothing in case your luggage goes AWOL for 24 hours. If you are going to a beach location or a hotel with a pool you might want to include your swimsuit as well

- Carry on essential prescription medicines and their prescriptions, spare glasses if you need them. A book or two in case of delays.

- If you are taking a laptop you will need to carry it on Also make sure that you can power it up if you are requested to do by security. If you have a camera or video I carry those on two just to protect them from damage or theft

Other Tips before Leaving Home

- Arrange for mail to be held or collected by neighbours. Let your neighbours know if you are going to be away.

- Inform your insurance company you are going to be away - you can void your policy if you leave the house unoccupied without telling them.

- Think about any bills that may come due while you are away and make arrangements - you don' want to come home to discover the power has been cut off!

- Check the fridge / kitchen for perishables and dispose of them. Take the garbage out!

- Clean- there is nothing worse that coming back to a dirty house - especially if you are already depressed about coming home! Even better arrange for cleaning service while you are away!

- Arrange for suspension of services you are paying for but won't be using: pay-TV, broadband Internet and the 2 obvious ones.

- Consider your home's security - consider a timer to turn lights on/off, ask neighbors to park their car in your drive, use your washing line. Arrange for a security patrol. Inform your security monitoring company that you will be away. Leave an emergency contact number with key people.

Media

- Cellphone and charger (compare prices)
- Digital camera (compare prices), batteries, memory cards, manual
- iPod (compare prices) /MP3 player and headphones, batteries, mini-speakers
- Camera case
- Foreign-language dictionary or phrase book
- Journal/notebook and pen
- Maps and directions
- Mini-DVD player or DVD-capable laptop and DVDs
- Reading material
- Travel guide(s)
- Underwater camera (compare prices)
- Medical

Antibiotic cream

- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Band-Aids
- Birth control
- Bug repellent
- Cortisone 1% anti-itch cream
- Extra pair of eyeglasses
- For cruisers: Sea-sickness bands or pills (compare prices)
- Lubricant (compare prices)
- Pain reliever
- Prescription medicines

Money & Documents

- Addresses for sending postcards/e-mail
- Auto insurance card
- Business cards
- Cash
- Copy of marriage license
- Copy of medical history, if necessary
- Copy of vacation packing list
- Driver's license/international driver's license
- Emergency numbers and embassy address
- Frequent flyer/frequent guest cards
- Paper airline tickets or e-ticket confirmation
- Passports and visas, if necessary
- Photo ID
- Pre-paid phone card
- Travelers checks and receipt (keep separate)
- Vaccination certificates, if required
- Vouchers/coupons/tickets
- Your itinerary
- Miscellaneous/Extras

Anti-bacterial wipes
- Bubble bath
- Binoculars
- Currency converter
- Duct tape
- Keys
- Krazy Glue
- Lint roller
- Luggage locks approved by TSA (compare prices)
- Massage oil
- Plastic Zip-Loc bags
- Playing cards
- Q-Tips
- Sports gear (tennis racquets, golf clubs, swim goggles)
- Sunscreen/SPF
- Sunglasses
- Travel alarm clock
- Travel candles
- Umbrella
- Zip ties (vendor's site)

Menswear

- Athletic shoes (vendor's site)
- Belts
- Boxers / Briefs
- Casual shirts
- Dress shoes
- Hat
- Oxford shirts
- Pants
- Pajamas / Robe
- Sandals
- Shirts
- Shorts
- Sports jacket
- Swim wear
- Tie
- T-shirts / Undershirts
- Workout clothes
- Men's Toiletries
- Comb / Brush
- Deodorant
- Floss
- Lip balm
- Rogaine (compare prices) , if necessary
- Shaving kit / Shaving Cream
- Shampoo / Conditioner / Styling Products
- Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash

Women's Clothing and Accessories

- Bathing suit
- Bras
- Panties and/or thongs
- Lingerie
- Costume jewelry -- earrings, necklace, bracelets
- Fake diamond engagement ring (leave the real one in a safety-deposit box till you return)
- Dress
- Heels
- Pareo/sarong/big scarf
- Robe
- Sandals
- Shorts/Capris
- Skirt
- Slacks
- Slip/Bodyslimmer/Spanx (compare prices)
- Sneakers (vendor's site) or walking shoes
- Socks
- Stylish shirt
- Sweater
- Straw/wide-brimmed hat
- Tank/halter/sleeveless tops
- Workout clothes
- Sundries
- Baby powder
- Blow dryer/straightening iron
- Comb/Brush
- Cosmetic case/makeup bag
- Deodorant
- Depilatory
- Eye Shadow
- Lipsticks
- Blush
- Mascara
- Makeup remover
- Facial cleanser
- Moisturizer/SPF
- Tampons
- Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash
- Dental floss
- Shampoo/conditioner/styling products
- Scrunchies
- Tweezers

A vacation packing list is especially important when you're traveling to a new place for the first time.

While most items left behind can be secured elsewhere, you may not have the time or budget to shop for them on your vacation.

It's unlikely you'll need everything on this A-to-Z packing list, but I've tried to make it as comprehensive as possible to help you get organized. Obviously, the same vacation destination may not call for both a bathing suit and gloves or mittens...but you never know. It may occur to you that I've left jeans off the list. In tropical climates, they're too hot to wear. In Europe, they're too informal. But if you're going to some place casual, pack a pair. Good luck, and happy packing.

In the worst-case scenario, your luggage disappears. Forever. But if you have a copy of your vacation packing list on you - or leave a packing list with a trusted friend or family member while on vacation, you'll have a complete record of any loss.

Article Source: http://www.travelarticles.org

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