The No Nonsense Guide to Better Packing
by Carla J. Hanson

When I took a trip with my mother and two sisters last year, I took one small stewardess bag and had everything I needed for our short trip. As a result, I ended up helping both of my sisters with their multiple bags. Thank you, Colleen and Carolyn, both for the workout and for the inspiration for this article.

Most people travel at least occasionally, yet few ever learn how to pack well. I learned mostly by trial and error. I spent my senior year in high school as an exchange student in Milan, Italy. Due to overseas luggage restrictions, I had to pack everything I needed for a year into two suitcases and a couple of carry-ons. Much to my surprise, I really had everything I needed and then some (though I probably did look a bit silly carrying my winter coat from airplane to airplane in August). The hard part was getting from the luggage carousel to my host family's car with all that stuff.

From that time forward, I vowed that each time I took a trip, I would take fewer things than the last time (Who knows? Maybe some day I'll end up in Rio with no luggage at all.). My next major trip was to Rome for one semester as a college Sophomore. This time, I managed to take only one suitcase and a backpack.

Those are my credentials, but enough about me. Now it's your turn to see if you need my five-minute course in Packing 101:

The Test

1. When getting ready to travel, do you pack

a) a day or two ahead of the trip?

b) late at night the day before going?

c) the same day you leave while looking at the clock and hoping you don't miss your flight?

2. Do you

a) set things in stacks on your bed and coordinate your outfits before putting them in the suitcase?

b) put as many outfits in your suitcase as there are days in the trip?

c) throw a lot of things in the suitcase and hope to have enough matching outfits when you get there?

3. When choosing luggage for the trip do you

a) try to take only carry-on?

b) take the smallest and/or fewest bags necessary for the trip?

c) just grab whatever suitcase comes to mind?

4. When packing your make-up bag do you

a) bring only the few essentials that you must have every day?

b) pour most of your make-up into a plastic bag or make-up case?

c) pour all of your make-up into your suitcase?

5. When you arrive at the airport do you

a) deftly carry your bag to the luggage counter or, better still, take it on the airplane with you?

b) assure that you have an airport luggage cart before you make a move?

c) hire someone to carry all of your stuff because you can't possibly do it?

The scoring is simple. If you got all or mostly A's, then I'm preaching to the choir. You can stop reading now, unless you want to feel that nice warm smug feeling that comes from knowing you've got it made. If you got all or mostly B's you could use some help. If you got all or mostly C's, then you are in definite need of Packing 101, so read on.

Packing 101

Step 1--Planning Ahead

Pack your suitcase when you're fresh. Plan to have your laundry done the day before. Don't try to pack late at night when you're too tired to care or, worse still, while your rushing out the door to make your plane. Figure out how many days you'll be gone, not counting the day that you leave. Think about what kind of trip you'll be taking. Will you need mostly suits, business casual, or shorts and jeans? Do you need any eveningwear?

Step 2--Choosing Your Clothes

After you have figured these things out, on your bed or another large flat surface, set out one shirt. Now find two pairs of pants or skirts to match it. That's two days' outfits. Now take each of those skirts or pants and find two tops to match each. You get the idea. Do this until you have a matched set for each day that you'll be traveling. For one week, you can take just 4 pants or skirts and the same number of tops by mixing and matching and wearing each item twice. If you're going somewhere hot, or expect to get dirty, then you should probably take a shirt for each day; however, you should still be able to get away with wearing each pair of pants twice without anyone knowing it. The fewer colors you take, the easier this becomes. I like to take black and white clothes plus a couple of scarves to add color when I travel. It makes packing a breeze. Also, try to choose clothing that doesn't wrinkle, if possible. Next, pack the eveningwear and matching jewelry that you want, if needed. One or maybe two evening outfits will be enough. By taking only a few colors, you can take even fewer items and still have a different ensemble each day. I like to take black and white clothes plus a couple of scarves to add color when I travel. It makes packing a breeze. Don't forget the essentials like a nightgown and underwear.

Step 3-Packing Your Make-up Case

Next, you'll need to pack your make-up and hair bag. I like to use a small bag made for that purpose, but a ziploc bag works fine too. In fact, I recommend using a ziploc bag for hairspray, shampoo and other things that could leak and make a mess of your clothes. Where makeup is concerned, pretend you're going to a deserted island and could only take three to five items. What would you take? OK, now you know what you can't live without. For me, it's lipstick, eye shadow and eyeliner. If I'm feeling brave, I just take a lipstick and leave the rest at home. Don't forget those other essentials, like your toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, etc. Since you're not leaving until tomorrow, just leave your neatly packed bag on the bathroom counter to pack as soon as you have completed your maquillage the next day.

Step 4-Choosing Your Baggage

Look at the amount of clothing on your bed, and choose a suitcase to match. This takes some practice to do accurately. In my opinion, the best type of suitcase to take for a trip of 10 days or less for one person is a stewardess case--the little black soft-sided suitcase with two wheels and a handle that pulls up. Think about it--who in the world would know how to pack better than a stewardess, and that's the kind they use. They're small enough to carry, have good wheels, and you can carry it on the airplane with you. This means two things: first, you don't have to wait twenty minutes for your suitcase at the carousel, and second, you don't risk having your luggage sent to Southeast Asia when you're flying to California. If you cannot fit all of your stuff in one of those, try eliminating everything you can and getting by with less. Not the Spartan type? If you absolutely must, take a bigger suitcase. Just be sure it has wheels. If you're packing for a family trip, on the other hand, consider taking one big suitcase for every two people.

Never take more than one suitcase if you can avoid it. First of all, if you're going to be gone that long, you can have your laundry done while you're traveling. Second of all, it's one more thing to get lost. Third of all, it's too much to carry, and unless you have more money or time than you need, there's no point in having someone else carry your luggage.

Step 5-Packing Your Luggage

Pack your shoes in the bottom, in bags if you like. Pack the outfit that you plan to wear on the last day of your trip first, so that it's in the bottom of the suitcase. Pack the items you'll need first last so that they are most easily accessible. If you roll your clothes instead of folding them, they'll be less wrinkled. Pack your underwear and socks in the little spaces left between other items. The last thing you'll be packing is your make-up bag, so be sure to leave enough room. If you discover you don't have enough space for everything you've decided to bring, then you have two options. Take less stuff, or take a bigger suitcase. You know which one I'd choose. Also, if you expect to bring back more than you've taken, you can pack a soft-sided nylon bag inside of your suitcase. They take up almost no space empty, and hold a lot when they are full.

Step 6-Your Carry-On Bag

If you are checking your suitcase (in spite of the author's recommendations), you should take a small carry-on. It can be a big purse or a small piece of luggage. In it, take a couple pairs of underwear just in case your suitcase ends up in Kenya and a book or magazine to read on the airplane (or a Walkman and tapes or CDs). If you're traveling overseas, you might want to pack your make-up bag in the carry-on. After 9 or more hours of flying, you'll probably want to freshen up. Ideally, you would put your purse inside of the carry-on so that you only have one bag to keep track of. Also, if you're traveling overseas, I highly recommend a chest pouch that fits under your clothing for your passport and most of your traveler's cheques. You definitely don't want to risk losing these.

After this trip, you'll discover how little you can get by on. Who knows, maybe this will inspire you to clean out that closet when you get home. Maybe not. Either way, you too will be able to travel free from the backaches and headaches that come from too much stuff. That means enjoying your trip more. Then you, too, can vow to take less stuff every time you travel.

Carla J. Hanson is a full-time wife and mother of three who runs Aquinas Homeschool Books and writes in the wee hours of the night. She is also the webmaster for CanticleMagazine.com.

Contact Carla J. Hanson at cabert@prodigy.net