Travel luggage

Travel Luggage - The whole story

 

One of the first challenges you encounter when preparing for a trip is deciding what to bring and what kind of luggage you should carry. Should you economise and try to fit your travel clothes and gear in one carry-on bag or haul out the steamer trunk? Here are a few tips that should simplify the decision-making process.

 

What to Bring:

 

First, sit down with the itinerary for your trip.

 

  • Consider how many days you will be gone, the climate of your destination, and the types of activities in which you will participate (for example, sightseeing, swimming, hiking, dinner at a nice restaurant, etc).
  • Then choose the clothes appropriate for these activities and begin to prepare a packing list.

That was simple, right?  Now comes the hard part.

 

  • Look at your packing list again and start cutting.
  • We can practically guarantee that you will not wear everything you are planning to pack for the trip.

 

There are many ways to hone your packing list.

 

  •  First, consider whether you can consolidate your wardrobe by mixing and matching  outfits.
  • Do you need a fresh new outfit every day, or can you wear something more than once?
  • Do you want to wash your items or, perhaps, have them professionally cleaned?
  • And, just how many pairs of shoes do you really need?

 

Make sure you have your tickets, passport and other important documents, plus medication, car keys, valuable items and money in your hand baggage  

 

We recommend the following tactics to help prevent over packing:

  • Double your clothes use
  • Pack wrinkle-resistant clothes of compatible colors, mix and match, wear things more than once.
  • Bring only two pairs of shoes
  • One for dress and a comfortable pair for casual activities
  • Wear one pair and pack the other.
  • Have your clothes laundered at your destination, or hand wash what you can in the hotel sink or tub
  • Be sure to carry a traveler’s clothesline, available in most travel accessory stores.
  • Hats, umbrellas and other travel paraphernalia can be purchased inexpensively at your destination They make great travel souvenirs.
  • Don’t try to pack for every travel emergency.
  • Most places have well-stocked stores with anything you will need.
  • Use sample-size toiletries
  •  Pack them in sealed plastic bags to prevent leakage.

How to pack efficiently

 

Here are some space-saving packing tricks that we have picked up along our travels:

 

            Underwear, t-shirts

  • Roll these little devils into a tube shape.
  • Stick some inside the shoes you’re packing.
  • Place the rest around the edges of the suitcase.

            Socks

  • Ball them and stick wherever they fit

            Casual Shirts and blouses

  • neatly fold and then roll into tube shape

            Dress clothes

  • Fold neatly and place between layers of plastic to prevent wrinkling.
  • Plastic sweater bags or dry-cleaning bags work great

            Toiletries

  • Place in plastic zip-loc bags to contain spills if they should happen

            Sweaters

  • Fold and roll

           Jackets

  • These take an enormous amount of space. Fold and roll the best way you can, but if you are going to an area with mild climate, try to find a lightweight (nylon) jacket that can be rolled in a small carrying bag. These jackets serve as great windbreakers, and when worn over a sweater keep you toasty on those unseasonably cold summer nights.

             Sports coat/blazer

  • Wear them on the plane.
  • Take them off after boarding and hang or fold gently. Whatever you do, do not wear them while seated in the plane, as this will result in the blazer needing another trip to the dry cleaner, as it now will be “shapeless”

             Shoes

  • As mentioned previously, stuff them with balled socks or  rolled underwear.

 

Remember - if you are the one who will carry your luggage from location to location, you might note that your outlook will greatly improve if you have only one bag to handle. Conversely, if you are going on a vacation where you will never handle your bags (we have not found one of these yet) or will handle them only infrequently, then get the biggest steamer trunk and luggage collection that you can, if that will make you happy. Most mortals, however, handle their luggage numerous times on holiday and will regret over-packing! 

 

Here are some useful links:

 

essentials4travel.com ltd   Good preparation is key to relieving the potential stress of travel and leaves you free to enjoy your trip. We aim to help you prepare by providing you with everything you’ll need for your next trip—except the ticket! And, because we know you’re busy, we help you do it all from the convenience of your own home or office.

http://www.essentials4travel.com/mall/departmentpage.cfm/e4t

 

 

Bagsdirect are a family-owned and run business originating back to the early 1970’s, with over 35 years experience in the business luggage and accessories market. Bagsdirect have always been proactive in moving with the times, and keeping up with latest trends.

http://www.bagsdirect.com/

 

 

Mark & Spencer.  They sell a wide range of travel luggage. They also sell travel insurance and foreign exchange

http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/43955030

 

 

Maxwell Scott represents a proud tradition of style, quality and craftsmanship. Their eye-catching range of handmade handbags, luxury luggage, travel bags, brown holdalls, ladies shoulder bags and briefcases are designed to suit your demanding needs. Blending the finest Italian leather with over 200 years of traditional tanning methods, Maxwell Scott bags are handcrafted in Italy to original designs and exude an inimitable quality and elegance recognised throughout the world.  

http://www.maxwellscottbags.com/

 

 

Tripp is a UK based luggage retailer with over 20 years experience in the luggage industry. They are the exclusive luggage retailer for Debenhams, with 114 locations across the UK and Ireland. Their travel goods include hard, soft, expandable, lightweight, 2 & 4 wheel luggage, plus an extensive range of travel bags and onboard travel pieces. They offer a wide range of colours, fabrics and prints, always great quality and great value.

http://www.tripp.co.uk/index.php

 

 

TK Maxx.  Bag some swish luggage for your spring travels at TK Maxx. In store now are leather weekenders, chic carry-ons, suitcases in sleek black and pretty pink and wheelie bags in duffle, casual and business styles. With prices starting at just £19.99 (sold elsewhere from £40.00 RRP), you'll be sure to have loads left over for trinkets. New designer luggage lands every day at TK Maxx, so stop by before you jet off.

http://www.tkmaxx.com/accessories/luggage.php