I love to travel, but I hate the "modern" airport security-related hysteria. I'm sure most of you share this feeling.
Nowadays, traveling by air is stressful and airports are indeed unpleasant places where they do full body x-rays and make you strip down in front of hundreds of people. Plus, long haul flights are a pain in the butt.
Nowadays, traveling by air is stressful and airports are indeed unpleasant places where they do full body x-rays and make you strip down in front of hundreds of people. Plus, long haul flights are a pain in the butt.
Not that I'm a superfrequent flier or any sort of authority on the matter, but I have done my share of airports and airplanes. To better manage the stress levels, I try to follow a few rules that I have picked up from cool people and some not-always-pleasant self experience.
They could be summarized as "3P" - packing, preparation and peace of mind.
I originally planned on doing one single post, but it quickly turned into a loooooooooong ramble. Instead of shortening it, I just decided to split it into three distinct posts. So you have more of my awesome with a couple of breaks in between for beer and popcorn. And may I remind you that all this "wisdom" comes from a girl. Please consider that.
… PACKING…
Packing is definitely not my favourite part of preparing for a trip. Some people find it exciting, I just don't. It's a piece of necessary roughness that precedes a whole lot of goodies.
After years of doing it, I now manage to keep my compulsive-overpacker-disorder in control and pack rather efficiently. Plus, carriers keep on enforcing more and more stringent rules on weight and dimensions of both checked and carry-on luggage. So I always triple check the rules and keep those rules in mind when planning what to pack.
After years of doing it, I now manage to keep my compulsive-overpacker-disorder in control and pack rather efficiently. Plus, carriers keep on enforcing more and more stringent rules on weight and dimensions of both checked and carry-on luggage. So I always triple check the rules and keep those rules in mind when planning what to pack.
1. Clothes:
I plan outfits ahead and chose items that can be combined in several ways, so I can remix like a pro. Also, I choose a specific (travel-friendly) color scheme for the most versatility, but don't be boring (all beige, anyone?). Also, skip on items that are too wrinkle-prone, delicate or very much loved. Traveling can get messy and a favorite sweater can easily get ruined.
Summer packing is obviously always easier than winter or, even worse, transition-season packing. Shorts, tees, dresses, a sweater just in case and sandals. End. Winter packing is inevitably heavier, but doable. Again, depending on the reason for the trip, I try to stick to pants and tops that can be layered for added warmth and versatility. I try to stay away from superthick sweaters and opt for pieces made of thinner materials, but that are still warm, especially if worn one on top of the other.
If I'm going on a longer trip, say, more than 10 days, I definitely scale down the number of outfits, since stuff can be easily washed at laundromats. I also pack a small piece of laundry bar soap for a quick wash just in case.
2. Footwear:
I'm a well-known shoe hoarder, so my natural impulse is to bring A LOT of shoes. I fight it on a regular basis and, honestly, shoe greed sometimes wins. But regardless... Rule number one, no matter the reason for traveling, season or destination, I wear my bulkiest pair on the plane. It might not be the quickest option for security checks, but saves a lot of space and weight in the suitcase. I always, always, ALWAYS pack at least two pairs of shoes plus the ones I am wearing while traveling. Ok, if I'm going on a weekend kind of thing, there might be jut two pairs instead of three ;)
That obviously does not mean three pairs of sexy stilettos, mind you… Be it summer or winter, dry or wet, there's a pair of good walking shoes - horray for supercute Chucks, and a dressier pair - heel or no heel. If it is summer, that would be two pairs of sandals and the Chucks, if it's winter, then we talk about boots, ballets and the Chucks.
A piece of advice: even in the lightest of packing options, never count on spending the WHOLE trip in just one pair of shoes. A) walking all day every day in the same pair of footwear is guaranteed to produce nasty blisters. B) wearing the same shoe all day every day is guaranteed to produce nasty smells, since the shoes don't really have time to dry out overnight. C) getting your feet wet due to rain or puddles during the day without being able to change footwear is just about the most uncomfortable thing ever.
Oh, almost forgot about this one: if I am staying at a very budget kind of accomodation, especially if we talk about hostels (yeah, I still do that), I will also pack a pair of rubber/plastic flipflops to use in the shower. Technically, they are footwear, but those calories don't really count.
3. Accessories:
Two handbags - a big tote and a small one for evening. Done. Scarves galore and very limited jewelry. And sunglasses and a foldable umbrella.
4. Toiletries:
Before we go into the details, let me tell you that the "spilled shampoo in the suitcase over EVERYTHING" nightmare happened to me once. It was terrible. It leaked through the toiletry case and got evenly distributed through all the stuff that was in the suitcase. Luckily I had access to a washing machine (eternally grateful, Tolja!) and was able to rinse everything thoroughly, but it was A MESS that ruined my first day in Copenhagen.
To avoid such tragedies, I now pack travel-sized everything, obviously, and have since invested in a sturdier and prettier toiletry case than the one used in Denmark. I like to use small reusable bottles for my mouthwash, toner, moisturizer and such. I am very aware that you can buy basics everywhere, but I like my products and, especially if I'm taking a shorter trip and don't want to spend travel money on products that I already have at home, I prefer to bring everything with me.
Speaking of basics, I recently experienced this huge epiphany that bar shower soap and solid shampoo are the best. thing. ever. No spills, no mess, you can cut off a smaller piece without problems AND solid soap works way better for my dry skin than shower gels. Seriously. To downsize even further, I also discovered that LUSH makes this awesome toothpaste tablets or "toothy tabs" and they work like magic. I just put an appropriate number of those little tabs in a cute tin candy box. More compact than tube toothpaste :)
I also never forget a few baggies of paracetamol+vitamin C granules, ibuprofen pills, dental floss, a mini sewing kit, band-aids, tampons, SUNSCREEN, tissues and wet wipes. And hand sanitizer just in case. And in summer, I never forget baby powder and anti-blister gel to keep my toes happy.
5. On board.
My on board handbag is usually filled with a mini travel kit (more on that next time), enough entertainment to keep a toddler busy for 3 days, spare socks, and a water bottle which I smugly sneak through security basically by emptying it and then refilling it after security. Genious, I know!
If I board a red-eye (which I would normally sleep through thanks to melatonin), I would also bring pyjama bottoms for added comfort.
6. Checked vs. Carry-on.
Whenever possible, I choose to fly with a regular carrier instead of a low-cost. It's got nothing to do with snobbery. It's just that low costs are not what they used to be - rock bottom cheap. They charge you for everything and when you do a thorough comparison and a bit of research, you can find pretty sweet deals with regular airlines, but without the hassle. But I really do NOT want to pay additional money for checked luggage - Uncle Scrooge here!
This obviously means that the above-mentioned dilemma of checked vs. carry-on is easily solved in favor of the cheapest option, which also dictates the packing plan.
Regardless of everything written in the lines above, always remember that with airlines, just as with casinos, the house always wins and there's no point in trying to cheat the luggage policy. You'll lose and thy'll make you pay for it. So always pack accordingly and save those extra pennies for a fun night out at your destination!
Happy travels!
Jules
Summer packing is obviously always easier than winter or, even worse, transition-season packing. Shorts, tees, dresses, a sweater just in case and sandals. End. Winter packing is inevitably heavier, but doable. Again, depending on the reason for the trip, I try to stick to pants and tops that can be layered for added warmth and versatility. I try to stay away from superthick sweaters and opt for pieces made of thinner materials, but that are still warm, especially if worn one on top of the other.
If I'm going on a longer trip, say, more than 10 days, I definitely scale down the number of outfits, since stuff can be easily washed at laundromats. I also pack a small piece of laundry bar soap for a quick wash just in case.
2. Footwear:
I'm a well-known shoe hoarder, so my natural impulse is to bring A LOT of shoes. I fight it on a regular basis and, honestly, shoe greed sometimes wins. But regardless... Rule number one, no matter the reason for traveling, season or destination, I wear my bulkiest pair on the plane. It might not be the quickest option for security checks, but saves a lot of space and weight in the suitcase. I always, always, ALWAYS pack at least two pairs of shoes plus the ones I am wearing while traveling. Ok, if I'm going on a weekend kind of thing, there might be jut two pairs instead of three ;)
That obviously does not mean three pairs of sexy stilettos, mind you… Be it summer or winter, dry or wet, there's a pair of good walking shoes - horray for supercute Chucks, and a dressier pair - heel or no heel. If it is summer, that would be two pairs of sandals and the Chucks, if it's winter, then we talk about boots, ballets and the Chucks.
A piece of advice: even in the lightest of packing options, never count on spending the WHOLE trip in just one pair of shoes. A) walking all day every day in the same pair of footwear is guaranteed to produce nasty blisters. B) wearing the same shoe all day every day is guaranteed to produce nasty smells, since the shoes don't really have time to dry out overnight. C) getting your feet wet due to rain or puddles during the day without being able to change footwear is just about the most uncomfortable thing ever.
Oh, almost forgot about this one: if I am staying at a very budget kind of accomodation, especially if we talk about hostels (yeah, I still do that), I will also pack a pair of rubber/plastic flipflops to use in the shower. Technically, they are footwear, but those calories don't really count.
3. Accessories:
Two handbags - a big tote and a small one for evening. Done. Scarves galore and very limited jewelry. And sunglasses and a foldable umbrella.
4. Toiletries:
Before we go into the details, let me tell you that the "spilled shampoo in the suitcase over EVERYTHING" nightmare happened to me once. It was terrible. It leaked through the toiletry case and got evenly distributed through all the stuff that was in the suitcase. Luckily I had access to a washing machine (eternally grateful, Tolja!) and was able to rinse everything thoroughly, but it was A MESS that ruined my first day in Copenhagen.
To avoid such tragedies, I now pack travel-sized everything, obviously, and have since invested in a sturdier and prettier toiletry case than the one used in Denmark. I like to use small reusable bottles for my mouthwash, toner, moisturizer and such. I am very aware that you can buy basics everywhere, but I like my products and, especially if I'm taking a shorter trip and don't want to spend travel money on products that I already have at home, I prefer to bring everything with me.
Speaking of basics, I recently experienced this huge epiphany that bar shower soap and solid shampoo are the best. thing. ever. No spills, no mess, you can cut off a smaller piece without problems AND solid soap works way better for my dry skin than shower gels. Seriously. To downsize even further, I also discovered that LUSH makes this awesome toothpaste tablets or "toothy tabs" and they work like magic. I just put an appropriate number of those little tabs in a cute tin candy box. More compact than tube toothpaste :)
I also never forget a few baggies of paracetamol+vitamin C granules, ibuprofen pills, dental floss, a mini sewing kit, band-aids, tampons, SUNSCREEN, tissues and wet wipes. And hand sanitizer just in case. And in summer, I never forget baby powder and anti-blister gel to keep my toes happy.
5. On board.
My on board handbag is usually filled with a mini travel kit (more on that next time), enough entertainment to keep a toddler busy for 3 days, spare socks, and a water bottle which I smugly sneak through security basically by emptying it and then refilling it after security. Genious, I know!
If I board a red-eye (which I would normally sleep through thanks to melatonin), I would also bring pyjama bottoms for added comfort.
6. Checked vs. Carry-on.
Whenever possible, I choose to fly with a regular carrier instead of a low-cost. It's got nothing to do with snobbery. It's just that low costs are not what they used to be - rock bottom cheap. They charge you for everything and when you do a thorough comparison and a bit of research, you can find pretty sweet deals with regular airlines, but without the hassle. But I really do NOT want to pay additional money for checked luggage - Uncle Scrooge here!
This obviously means that the above-mentioned dilemma of checked vs. carry-on is easily solved in favor of the cheapest option, which also dictates the packing plan.
Regardless of everything written in the lines above, always remember that with airlines, just as with casinos, the house always wins and there's no point in trying to cheat the luggage policy. You'll lose and thy'll make you pay for it. So always pack accordingly and save those extra pennies for a fun night out at your destination!
Happy travels!
Jules
hočemo več sličic! sej veš, da sem bolj vizualen tip :P
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