? of the Week --Packing tips!!

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

What are some of the things that you pack that you would feel lost if you forgot them. Or things that just make life a little easier once you get there?

I always pack small sample condiments, but my one thing I can't forget is my fold up and store extra bag for bringing home all my souveniers and extras. I also have a cooler on wheels (vinyl) I discovered it was great to pack my wet bathing suit and beach towels, water shoes, etc. shaggy

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Of coarse my cigars.
Honestly we lost our Qtips on the last trip. That was prety bad since we are used to cleaning our ears daily.

[Sandcrab Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sandcrab]

I first pack my medications, then a second pair of glasses, and then some rum to tied me over until I can purchase re-inforcements...more medications I guess. Next I pack a bathing suit and flip flops. Anything after that is a luxury and can live without. The wife on the otherhand could feed and clothe the island for three days.

[SOS8260456 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close SOS8260456]

I always make sure I being ziplock bags. I find them handy for so many things when traveling.

I also take brand new bottles/packages of all health and beauty stuff, so that I don't have to be packing this stuff at the last minute and when we get home, I don't need to unpack the stuff immediately to wash my hair or brush my teeth.

Lisa

[Jimster Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jimster]

adapters

When going to Europe don't forget the electrical and phone adapters.

[JoAnn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JoAnn]

Because we drive to most destinations, or take 2 week organized tours, I have my own 'system'. For driving, we both pack small suitcases with just enough to get us to where ever we are going, but in the large suitcase is the rest of our 'stuff'. Meds and toiletries are in the small ones that come out of the car every night.

As for the tours: the small, overnighters, carry toiletries, & meds. Large cases the rest. But in packing MY suitcase, I put all my underwear in a zip-lock bag, socks in another bag, I roll all my clothes tightly, putting all T shirts/tops in one are, pants in one area, shorts in one area, shoes around the sides (I don't take that many shoes..only what is necessary), any dresses,or skirts, I lay on top. This way I do not have to rummage through the whole bag...I can see what is available and grab what I want. I find rolling doesn't wrinkle the clothes any worse than 'just packing'. Pack mix and match clothes. I have done this on three tours and it works well for me. It also worked very well when we combined our tours with T/S trips too. And I always have a large mesh bag for dirty clothes...which can fit in where ever it can, as I empty out my large suitcase.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

After years of packing things that I never wear or don't fit. I now try everything on before it goes in the suitcase. Anything that can leak always goes in a ziplock bag.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

We always pack our address book. My wife likes to send postcards, she must send 40-50 each trip. Our older relatives and friends love to get them and always comment on them when we visit.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

That too, I always bring a phone and address sheet. I have a second one with Timeshare contacts that I forgot to bring on last fall's trip to Florida where I hoped to get together with some TS4Mers and old friends. I even have a check list for various types of trips that not only lists what to take, but when and what to do before leaving for a trip.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Coffee

we always bring coffee and both types of filters, those little boxes of cereal, a box of Parmalat milk ( that doesn't require refrigeration ) and condiments with us. It makes for an easy first morning in our "home for the week" and we needn't worry about arriving too late for the stores or being too tired and covered with road dust to even go to the stores if they are open.

I'm not a very pleasant person without that first cup of java.

Also a scotchbrite sponge and a few zip lock bags of detergent as well as a couple bars of our soap. We have allergies to most soap/detergent products so it is piece of mind to bring the brands we can comfortably use as sometimes you can't buy the same brands as you would at home.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

When we travel as a family, I usually have a carry on bag of just toiletries. We all have our special brands of stuff, and hate having to go to some second rate pharmacy to try and find suitable substitutes .
My teenage daughter usually fills half the bag with her hair stuff alone.

I need my own makeup. Once I forgot my makeup bag at home, and needed to replace everything. It was such a nightmare trying to find appropriate things, that I gave up and wore big sungalsses the entire trip.......

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I won a free gift when I sent this packing tip in once to one of my HOA tips guides. Pack a suitcase inside the suitcase this way you now have room for your souvenirs or liquor bottles that you may buy.

[jericap Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close jericap]

Depending where I go, I may pack an extra suitcase (inside another suitcase) for souvenirs. I always pack ziplock bags and coffee.
Another thing I bring is a couple of votive candles. I've used them for power outages in Italy, romantic evenings, and to alleviate odors in a room (especially at a beach)

[marcmuff Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close marcmuff]

I save the "almost empty" toothpaste tubes with just enough in them for the vacation - then discard them there. Doesn't take as much space as a large tube. Sometimes I have to rescue them from the trash since my husband tends to throw them away when they are that empty. LOL.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

"Space Bags"

What is the general feeling on the "Space Bags"