Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
by CK May is the month of flowers not just in the Philippines but also here in Calgary. A lot of my neighbors have done their spring cleaning and unfortunately I cannot cope up with them. I remember that during this time of the year my husband, Hank gets busier day by day. He takes care [...]
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TRAVELAERO TIPS: NOVEMBER

PACKING 101: HOW TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP

Planning for a vacation can be fun and exciting. On the other hand packing is often challenging. Distinguishing between what we want to bring from what we need to bring can be a struggle. To help you avoid this situation, read through our short but vital list of packing tips, designed for all types of vacations.

Plan ahead and do your homework
Be aware of restrictions on the size and number of bags you may bring onto your flight. Many airlines now charge a fee for every checked bag or have lowered the maximum permitted weight limits for checked luggage. For a clear overview of what the airlines are charging for checked bags these days, and how large and heavy your luggage is allowed to be.
Look into your hotel’s services and basic amenities. Do they have a hairdryer, iron and ironing board, etc? Try to avoid bringing anything bulky that the hotel might already offer.

Make a list
I strongly suggest to make a packing list and pick a 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. As well as allows you to stay organized, and hopefully prevent you from packing items that you don’t need on vacation or are too heavy to carry.

When writing out your own packing list remember this motto: Gather together everything you think you’ll need and get rid of half of it. Do not bring things just because they might come in handy.
Before you actually pack your suitcase, pile everything you plan to bring on your bed or dresser. This is your opportunity to eye your clothes and pull a few more items. Packing directly into your suitcase will tempt you to throw in a few extra items. Once you’ve made the final edit, pack only what’s in front of you.

Check the weather
Before leaving for any destination, check the weather and if the forecast calls for rain – throw in a travel-size umbrella or a lightweight raincoat. The kind that packs into its own pouch is best.

Don’t pack your whole wardrobe
Make sure that every piece of clothing that goes into your carry-on does double duty meaning you can wear it more than once.

Rolling your clothes is a great space-saving and wrinkle-reducing choice for pants, skirts and sports shirts. So here’s how you do it: Lay the item face down, fold back the sleeves and then roll from the bottom up. And you can cover each piece of clothing with a dry cleaner bag – your clothes will be wrinkle free when you reach your destination.

Tissue Paper
For delicate items, try tissue paper. Lay the item face down and place tissue paper on top. Fold it up with the tissue paper inside. Use additional layers of paper as you fold the garment so it is completely wrapped in and around paper. This is easy enough the first time you pack, but becomes a pain if you have to keep repacking. We only use this approach for evening clothes that we don’t want to crush.

Another Use for Zip-Lock Bags
When packing for kids, you can pack outfits in large Ziploc bags including socks and underwear. That way they can just grab a bag each day and get themselves dressed.

You can also stow your delicates in here. An added bonus: if your bag is inspected, no one need touch your underwear since an inspector will be able to see into the bag.

Ziploc can also be use for dirty shoes, shampoo bottles, or anything else you want to isolate from your good clothes.
Downsize toiletries

You may not pack liquid or gel substances in your carry-on unless they are in individual three-ounce containers, enclosed in one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag per passenger. Any larger containers of liquids and gels must be packed in your checked luggage.

Pick up travel-size versions of your favorite products whenever you see them. If you can’t find miniatures, buy small plastic bottles and decant from larger products. A ready to go cosmetic bag that includes hair products, makeup, toothbrush, hairbrush, hair dryer, etc.

Do not overpack your bag. Screeners will have a difficult time closing your luggage if selected for inspection, which will only lead to wrinkles and the potential for lost articles.
Do not stack books and other documents on top of each other; instead, spread them out throughout your bag.

You may also want to put an odor absorber, scented drawer sachet or dryer sheets inside of your luggage to keep your clothes smelling fresh. Let’s face it, it is not always easy to to find time to wash your clothes. These natural scent pouches absorb odors, not just mask them. It uses natural volcanic minerals to absorb and neutralize strong odors like cigarette smoke. Place inside of your backpack or suitcase to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
Stuff shoes
Pack shoes in a color that will go with everything – red or copper are good choices that can be placed inside an airtight plastic bag or Ziploc.

Leave a Little Room
Lastly, leave some space in your bag for souvenirs.
And one more thing, do not lock your checked bags except with TSA approved locks otherwise, if your bag is selected for random screening, agents will have to break the lock to get inside.

I hope that this topic can help you get organized and become a better and happier traveller.

TRAVELAERO TIPS: NOVEMBER

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