travel tips

Having gone to college two states away from home, I have done a lot of flying. Not to mention the two times I have been to Europe: once as part of a study tour and once with my mom, sister, and sister's friend.

I am not exactly a light packer by anyone's standards, though I have been getting better as of late. Watching TV, a self-prescribed expert packer gave some really good tips:

• bring only 3 pairs of shoes

• pack your toiletries in a hanging toiletries bag

• pack belts around the outside of your suitcase

• don't pack very many pairs of socks or underwear; bring a small clothesline and wash them mid-way through the trip instead

• pack the shoes, toiletries and belts on the bottom of the bag, put in a cardboard divider, then place clothes on top

  • place pants with waistbands alternating sides, leave the legs hanging out

  • place shirts, dresses, and blazers (in non-printed drycleaner's bags) centered on top of the pants

  • place rolled knits on top of the clothing in the bags

  • fold ends of pants and items in drycleaning bags over the knits, carefully tucking into the sides (keeps them from getting wrinkled)