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Follow 5 Simple Steps to Smart Packing |
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Today, Packing Smart Means Packing Light Follow 5 Simple Steps to Smart Packing PORTLAND, OR, April 21, 2008 —Today’s airways are fraught with problems. We hear every day about: • Flight cancellations: hundreds of cancelled flights — due to weather, mechanical problems, inspection issues, etc. — resulting in thousands of stranded passengers; • Airline failures: four airlines stopped flying recently and another declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy — this also stranded thousands of passengers, some for days; • Baggage restrictions: most airlines will now allow only one checked bag for free, forcing travelers to pack less or pay the price. Yet even with these grim headlines, we choose to fly for business and for vacations to save time and/or money (given current and projected gas prices). What air travelers need is a good plan so they won’t be too inconvenienced by unforeseen problems and delays. Packing expert Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler, suggests a good first step is to “pack light – fly with a carry-on bag only so rebooking options are completely open.” Packing light in one carry-on bag gives air travelers the freedom to change flights quickly, to be the passenger who gets the last seat on the next flight without checked luggage hassles. Foster sees at least one positive result of recent travel nightmares. “Packing light eliminates sore backs and offers freedom,” she points out. “With less to worry about, less to unpack and repack at each stop, less to lift and lug, travelers will benefit with more flexibility to cope with the various stresses of travel.” Foster’s tried-and-true advice for packing light is to follow 5 simple Smart Packing steps: 1. Plan 2. Select 3. Edit 4. Pack 5. Go 1. As you plan your trip, think about what clothes you’ll need for the weather and your scheduled activities, then create a packing list (see ready-made lists at www.smartpacking.com.) Without a list, you are sure to forget an important item either at home or along the way. 2. Select items to pack, placing them out in an undisturbed area. This is best done several days before departure. Check the destination weather again to make sure you’ve chosen the right things to be comfortable. Smart travelers know the amount of clothing packed has nothing to do with the length of the trip. There is little difference between packing for a week and packing for a month, you simply wear and clean the same things more times. 3. Edit your selections to fit into a small suitcase. The larger the bag, the more you will pack and the more it will weigh. A 22” rolling bag, the largest legal carry-on size, should serve most travelers for most trips. How? Just take less! • Choose versatile pieces that can work in different combinations; expect to wear each item more than once. Take fewer things and plan for laundry, either hand washing, a stop at a coin operated laundry, or using hotel service. For example, pack only three pair of quick-drying underwear that can be washed out and dried overnight: one to wear, one to wash, and a spare. • Resist the impulse to add in ”but what if I need…” items. • Three pairs of shoes are absolutely the maximum, one to wear and two pair to pack. Make sure these shoes are comfortable; you won’t have fun if your feet hurt. • Take only 3 ounces of essential cosmetics and toiletries. Buy sample/travel sizes, or transfer the amount needed into small containers. Remember you are only allowed 3- ounce containers of liquids and gels; place them in a one-quart zip-top baggie for easy airport security inspection. Think you need more? Search out “non-liquid/gel” alternatives: stick deodorant in place of roll-on; powder makeup in place of liquid. Also remember unless you are going to a remote locale, you can buy sample-size items at your destination, and discard them before flying home. 4. Pack at least a day before travel to allow plenty of time to edit and repack if necessary. Use the most efficient packing techniques and aids to minimize wrinkling and speed the process. • Interfold large items by alternating layers so they will cushion each other in the suitcase; adding plastic cleaners bags between layers minimizes wrinkles. • Group small items (socks, underwear, rolled tee-shirts) into packing cubes or zip-top bags to organize and speed packing and repacking. • Tuck small items into shoes to make use of every inch of space. 5. Go. Travel light to any destination and be comfortable, well dressed, and happy. It’s that easy! Going by car or train or bus? Don’t use that as an excuse to pack a lot more. If you use these same tips, you will have less to schlep around and less to keep track of. Happy traveling. These simple steps can mean the difference between total frustration and just minor inconvenience the next time you fly. For other smart packing and travel tips, visit www.smartpacking.com. To request a review copy of Smart Packing, to arrange an interview with Susan Foster, or for any additional information, please contact Kate Bandos at KSB Promotions at 800-304-3269 or 616-676-0758 • kate@ksbpromotions.com For other useful packing tips and helpful articles visit www.smartpacking.com. Smart Packing For Today’s Traveler, Third Edition by Susan Foster • 248 pages • 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" • 400 line illustrations • Resources Bibliography • Detailed Index • ISBN-13: 978-0-9702196-7-1 • $19.95 trade paperback • Published April 2008 Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler is distributed nationwide by Midpoint Trade Books. It is available in bookstores, libraries, and travel stores, from online bookstores, by calling 503-452-9384, or by visiting www.smartpacking.com. Published by Smart Travel Press. Please send copies of any review or mention to kate@ksbpromotions.com or Smart Travel Press, Box 25514, Portland, OR 97298-0514 |
