Packing Tips

Savvy_Sue

My tip: do NOT pack the return tickets at the bottom of the suitcase, especially not the one which goes into the car boot first. ;D

Clearly you're not going to do this on the way out, but you might put the return tickets in a safe place while you are away enjoying yourself. And then forget they are there and assume they are still in your handbag or otherwise convenient place. Until that awful moment at the ferry when they ask to see them. And then the car the rest of the family are in will be waved through and could even drive onto the ferry if they didn't realise they weren't being followed.

It wasn't me, by the way. I was in the 'other' car which nearly drove onto the ferry until I realised I wasn't being followed.

Pink.

You're doing just fine Gundo...........don't forget we were all newbies once.

Pink

Nile

This tip is for any chocoholics (like Judi ) out there.

Are you going on holiday somewhere hot or exotic? Think you'll need a chocolate fix but not be able to buy the brand you like abroad?

Pack some Minstrels, M&M's or Smarties in your case. They'll survive the hot temperature without melting, unlike a bar of chocolate.

debbiet

Hi
My packing tip is to buy some of those zippy freezer bags from the supermarket. They're great for:
packing suncreams etc
putting wet swimsuits in at the end of a day at the beach/water park
keeps your things dry in your bag if you go on those water rides at disney etc.

debs

Savvy_Sue

I guess this is not so much of a packing tip as a luggage buying tip. We've just bought a new trolley suitcase, £8.99 from Morrisons, which is probably going to be OK for what we want it for, but the 'handles' intrude on the internal space. So it doesn't have a flat base for packing onto. And I was a bit worried about the souvenir London phone box teapot which I was packing into it: I think it survived but it's gone to its final destination without me seeing it again. That bubble wrap would have been a help.

Just thought of a tip, if you are bringing breakable things back, then remember there may be more risk of breaking them through crushing than through dropping. So surround them with clothes, etc, but don't ram them in too well! If you can get them in a box, do.

Nile

I bought a cheap clear plastic pencil case to hold essential items for during the flight. Mine holds things like tablets, nasal spray, eye mask, ear plugs and chewing gum. It fits easily into the seat back pocket.

Becles

Freeze some cartons of juice, then put them in your handbaggage before you go to the airport.

After you've battled your way through passport control, customs, got your cases back, found the rep or ongoing transport, you'll be all hot and bothered. Not to worry, as you'll have a nice cool juice drink to sip on your way so you arrive at your hotel more refreshed.

Velvet_Waters

Head shoulders sample bottles are great for short trips, but keep the empty ones and fill with body wash or what ever, reduces ur baggage weight a fraction ;^)
Velvet waters

BLACKHURSTM

I have got to agree with lucy,but add scan your documents and email the images to your hotmail account you can then print the image on hols when needed.driving liscense,and passport scanned images are better than giving someone the details.

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

For bringing back goodys you need more suitcase space.If you put a case in case you add the weight of the case (say a large case 4kg med 3kg a small 2kg) you will be carrying more sets of wheels so the bigger the bags the less weight per luggage space.if this makes sence.So ideally you need to take the largest bag possible to reduce the amount of wheels.

I always pack a light weight lilo.Sounds a bit sad but the lilo is for all the reasons you don't normally use it for.It will fill up the vacant space in the oversized bag.blow it up to fill the bag on the outward journey,use on the balcony,and deflate for the return.This will also reduce the creasing of your clothes.

Also when come home don't throw all your small containers away,bring some back,there empty small and not heavy, but leave them in your suitcase and they are there ready for the next trip.

SallyD

I use two medium GAP bags. One for tops, one for bottoms. I roll trousers and get four pairs into one bag and pull the draw-strings. You can normally get at least six tops in the other. I lay them at the bottom of my bag.It keeps the clothes compact and they do not slide about. I put shoes in the bags as well. Washing stuff,hairdryer fits nicely across the top, zip up and away you go. Other bags will do just as good except you will have to cellotape them closed. Give it a go, you will not be dissappointed.