Packing Tips

Nile

Hello gundo

I wonder if your comments (pathetic tip) are in reference to the last posting I made about shower gel? If you think I meant travel exclusively to the USA you're mistaken.

If you've ever travelled to Tanzania for example, you'll know how difficult it is to buy toiletries........even soap. So the tip about taking shower gel might prove useful for some other travellers.

Travelqueen

I'm sure he/she was referring to his own tip, although personally I always do both of them - actually, for the really space constrained, shampoo can be an effective body wash for your first day or so, and I also have a nice collection of mini-shampoos etc from the posh hotels I go to for work (when I pay for myself it's bug infested rooms all the way! )

As for not packing too much... fine on the way out, but I can't restrain myself when I'm there... 1m diameter plate from Acapulco anyone...

My tip - buy what you want... but don't moan about it when you have to lug it home!

Happy hols!

nearlyrich

I travel a lot for business and I now keep a permanently packed case with dressing gown, hairdryer, toiletries etc so I don't forget stuff.

I just put in undies tops & shoes as appropriate to where I am going length of stay etc and put suits in a carrier and away I go, takes 10 mins tops to get ready for a trip. Yes I am female!!

I have noticed over the years:

1 You never wear all the clothes that you pack so take some out!

2 Small packs of toiletries last the holiday and if you ditch the almost empty containers there is more room /weight allowance for gifts coming back.

Boots offers again!!

gundo

Hello gundo

I wonder if your comments (pathetic tip) are in reference to the last posting I made about shower gel?  If you think I meant travel exclusively to the USA you're mistaken.

If you've ever travelled to Tanzania for example, you'll know how difficult it is to buy toiletries........even soap.  So the tip about taking shower gel might prove useful for some other travellers.

Sincere apologies if I wasn't clear. I meant my own tip
was a bit pathetic.

:-[

Your tip was an excellent one.

I thought of a more useful one. Shoes can be useful containers for fragile items when packing.

Best Wishes - Gundo

PS I'm not doing well for a newbie am I? :-/

spender

if you are travelling with virgin I would suggest contacting customer services re 0870 990 8350 regarding your young son, my child suffers from autism and virgin were excellent.

I can understand the excitement you are experiencing regarding your first "foreign" trip, for us it was last year. Only made possible by me giving up the fags. (still miss them though)

SarahBrown_3

My tip for small bottles of shampoos & shower gels. Get the original source freebies:

https://www.originalsource.co.uk

only takes a few minutes to register, then you get 3 free bottles of original source.

I used all mine up, but kept the bottles and am now re-filling them ready for my hols.

Sarah

Peter-Pan_5

Thanks Nile,especially the tip about the bubble wrap.

Nile

This isn't exactly a packing tip, it's more of an airport shopping tip.

If you buy sweets/magazines/drinks at the airport and the staff put them in a carrier bag, take the items out of the carrier, turn it inside out then put the items back inside.

I've ended up with red and blue stains on my hands and clothes from these carrier bags. It'll save you from looking like shabby.

Lucie_2

Always pack your suncream etc in plastic bags to stop it leaking all over your clothes.

Do you need beach towels? Hotels usually provide them - last year we ended up bring 4 clean beach towels home cos the hotel ones were so good. Takes up valuable luggage space.

Email your travel insurance details/travellers cheque numbers to a hotmail (or similar) account so that you can always access them from anywhere.

Coming home we always split the luggage collection & car pick up. He goes off to get the car while I wait for the luggage. It saves AGES & usually is timed perfectly - I am just coming out of the terminal with the trolley as he pulls up outside. Perfect.

Savvy_Sue

Thanks for all the tips everyone.  Does anyone know if the travel sickness bands work?  My two boys have both been known to get a bit queasy.

They work up to a point, but on a long flight they can become very uncomfortable. My own tip is sticking plaster behind the ears - micropore is good.

I did start a post here which explains where to put the plaster and there are other tips too.

(My goodness! I've worked out how to do the clever thing!)