What should I consider when shopping
for new luggage?
- If you¡¯re looking to buy new luggage, you should
consider luggage with these features:
- Retractable rollers, rollers will make it easier
to make it through the airport. You¡¯ll also want retractable
rollers, so the rollers won¡¯t be pulled off.
- Removable straps. Straps make luggage easier to
carry, but they can get caught on conveyor belts and
either break or damage your luggage.
- A lock, preferably one that doesn¡¯t dangle off
the luggage too much.
- Carry-on luggage in a size that will be allowed
under the recent more restrictive carry-on size limits.
How can I find out about my Airline's
luggage restrictions and limits?
Check out their web site for information and limits.
Go To: Airlines
links
What should I pack in my carry-on
luggage?
- A passport, for all travel outside,identification
purposes.
- Wallet
- Driver's License and/or other proper photo identification
required for domestic travel.
- Insurance cards for both your medical and automobile
insurance
- Credit cards
- Travelers checks
- Coupons
- Airline, Cruise or Train tickets
- Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses
and phone numbers of where you'll be staying
- Travel brochures and maps
- Lots of crisp one-dollar bills for all those tipping
opportunities
- A small amount of local currency for immediate
use to hold you over until you can make it to a currency
exchange, if you're planning foreign travel.
What is the best way to carry
my medications?
- Carry them in your carry-on since it will be less
likely to be lost than your checked luggage. Your
carry-on will also do less harm to temperature-sensitive
medication.
- Carry your medication in their original bottles
to help avoid security questions.
- Bring along the generic names of your medications
since brand names can vary.
- If you have any questionable drugs or particularly
large supplies, you might want to bring a letter from
your doctor stating you have a legal right to use
these drugs.
- If you are traveling outside, check to see what
you can take with you. Something legal here might
be illegal elsewhere. It could get dumped, or you
could get dumped in jail.
How should I pack the liquids
I bring with me?
So your clothes aren¡¯t covered in the liquids, use
plastic bottles in your packing. Only fill the bottles
to the ?mark incase they are crushed or the contents
freeze and expand. You also might want to pack them
in plastic freezer bags just in case.
How can I avoid damaging my film?
- High-speed film is the most susceptible to damage,
but all your film is at risk.
- Carrying your film in your checked bags used to
be a safer bet, but with stronger bomb detection devices,
your film is now more likely to get fried.
- Buy special carrying cases designed for protecting
film.
- You can ask for a manual inspection in your country
and some foreign airports to avoid the x-rays if you
place your film in your carry-on bag.
- The walkthrough and hand wand security devices
shouldn¡¯t affect your film.
- The safest bet for film is to buy it after you
arrive and develop it before you go. This may not
be the cheapest route, but it is the best guarantee
to keep your memories safe.
What should I do with my valuables?
- Leave them at home in a safe place if you can.
- If your luggage has locks, you should use them.
- Shrink wrapping your luggage will not only protect
the outside of your bags, but also the contents inside.
- Do not carry valuables in your checked luggage;
they will be safer in your carry-on bags.
- If you do place any valuables in your luggage,
hide them in the lower sections of the bags so a quick
look inside won¡¯t reveal them.
How can I keep my items neat
in my luggage?
- Pack your liquid items in less than full plastic
bottles, they might freeze and expand if you¡¯re traveling
by plane or putting them in a trunk and traveling
through cold weather. Place the bottles in freezer
bags with a seal to further protect your items.
- Bring along a plastic trash bag to keep your dirty
items separate from your other clothes.
- Pack your shoes in shoe bags or old socks to keep
their dirty soles from touching your clean clothes.
- Pack carefully to avoid wrinkles.
How can I avoid wrinkles?
- Don't over pack your bags.
- Travel with clothing that is less likely to wrinkle.
- Roll up T-shirts or underwear and wrap your items
around them at a fold line. This will help keep a
crease from forming.
- Take the proper size luggage for your trip. Too
big a bag will allow your items to move around and
make damage and wrinkles more likely.
- Button the buttons on shirts so items will hang
properly.
- Use plastic dry cleaner bags between items. Make
sure the dry cleaner bags do not have any advertising
printed on them. The ink can rub off and end up on
your clothes.
- Unpack as soon as possible.
- Hang wrinkled items in the bathroom while you shower
to help steam out the wrinkles.
How can I avoid losses on my
trip?
- Don¡¯t pack valuable, perishable, and fragile or
items sensitive to the heat and cold in your checked
baggage. Try to avoid these items altogether, but
if you must take them, they will be safer in your
carry-on bag.
- Never leave your luggage unattended or take your
eyes off your bags.
- Learn your destination's airport code and make
sure the correct one gets put on your bag.
- Avoid taking luggage with flashy brand names, as
it will make them more attractive to thieves.
- Avoid carrying your laptop in a bag that lets everyone
know you are carrying expensive electronics.
- Use the locks on your luggage.
- Clearly label your luggage on both the inside and
outside of your bags.
- Remove any items that are hanging off your luggage
and could get caught on conveyor belts.
- Place a trip itinerary in your luggage so your
bags can easily be returned to you.
- Place a unique bright marking on your luggage so
you can easily identify it. This way others will recognize
that their similar looking bag did not have the markings
and leave yours alone.
- Switch some of your items with those of a traveling
companion. That way if your bags go missing, you¡¯ll
still have some items with you.
- Cover your hands when you are entering ATM or phone
card numbers so others can¡¯t copy them down and use
them.
- If an airline loses your items make a claim before
you leave the airport; some Airlines will not honor
claims made after you have left the airport.
- Carry a list of all your items in your carry-on
and leave one at home, to help you make a complete
claim form if your items go missing. Carry a copy
of the final list in your carry-on bags, you¡¯ll be
able to use it to fill out claim forms with the airline
if they lose your luggage.
- Consider purchasing trip insurance that offers
protection for your property.
How can I pack light and still
have everything I need?
- The more you travel, the more you know that traveling
with the smallest possible amount of luggage is the
best way to go. But, how can you cut down on your
luggage burden?
- Call ahead to the hotel to see if they offer any
laundry services. See if they include items in your
room such as, robes and toiletries that will reduce
your packing needs.
- Coordinate your outfits around a central color
so you¡¯ll be able to mix and match.
- Check the weather, so you can bring the most appropriate
items. Remember to account for seasonal and daily
temperature fluctuations and also keep in mind that
increases in altitude will decrease temperature.
- Plan your outfits so you can layer instead of bringing
lots of coats.
- Take a solid color sweater that will match any
outfit to use to keep you warm
- List all the items you are taking and check to
see if you really need each item, in other words,
is there something else you could take to kill two
birds with one stone.
- Take small sample sizes of toiletries that will
last just long enough instead of huge bottles.
- Don¡¯t waste an inch of your luggage space, pack
underwear and socks inside your shoes. This will also
help your shoes keep their shape. Pack your belts
around the edge of the luggage.
- Take some old clothes with only one last wear in
them. You can then toss them out and use the room
for the souvenirs you¡¯ll want to bring home.
Things to Carry on Your Person
- A passport, for all travel outside country and
identification purposes
- Wallet
- Driver¡¯s License
- Insurance cards for both your medical and automobile
insurance
- Credit cards
- Travelers checks
- Coupons
- Airline, Cruise or Train tickets
- Itinerary with confirmation numbers and addresses
and phone numbers of where you¡¯ll be staying
- Travel brochures and maps
- Lots of crisp one-dollar bills for all those tipping
opportunities
- A small amount of local currency for immediate
use to hold you over until you can make it to a currency
exchange, if you're planning foreign travel.
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