George's Journal: a Collection of Articles The most common comment from people, who join us on our programmes, is that they had fun learning and look forward to the next Bell Journey. Packing Sensibly
First, allow me to discuss the size of your bag. You may have just bought one of those new bags with wheels so it is easy to carry more just in case you need it. Perhaps it also expands so you can fill it as you go? Ohhh! We hate those things! Today we are having trouble as those “convenient” bags are so large, so heavy and often of odd shapes that we do not have enough space in the luggage bays anymore. Any bag that is larger than 155 cm or 62 in (length + width + height) and weighs more than 32 kilograms (70 lbs) is too large and heavy and may incur extra charges on an airline. Some airlines will only accept 50 lbs for each bag so give consideration to what you buy. Now that you’ve decided to travel with a bag you can actually carry for two blocks (the length of some airports) after the wheel has broken, let’s look at what you should be taking. Here are some tips to help simplify the process so that you don't have to stress about it every time you travel. Always travel light but travel smart! Rule #1 for me is to travel light. I travel using a garment bag (yes, it has wheels) and can live for a month out of it. I use a backpack as my carry-on for those things I want on the plane and for essentials like travel documents, tickets, medications, emergency change of clothes, etc. Of course my camera bag is with me, too. Here are 8 packing tips for efficient traveling: 1. Underwear – Don’t take a pair for every day of travel. These are easily washed out in the evening and should be dry in the morning. 2. Make up and toiletries – Travel with small containers of what
you need. These can be bought in travel sizes or simply put some into
smaller containers that you buy for travel. Make sure the lids can be
sealed tightly. 4. Clothes - After considering where you are going and taking the weather
into account, take only what you need for a week. You can always find
a place to launder. I prefer dark colours because spills aren't quite
as obvious as they are on light colours. Usually, you can wear a shirt
more than once between washing. Take pants and shirts/blouses that will
be interchangeable to make different combinations. 8. Purse – Ladies should not carry a purse when traveling. Instead, condense everything into a small fanny pack and put anything else that you'll need in your backpack. If traveling with a lot of cash or passport, use a money pouch that hangs around your neck and is worn underneath your shirt. And never carry all of your money in one place. As you can see from the above, it is easy to travel light. On each of the last two trips I was able to bring home unused clothing so every trip I take ends up challenging me to pack even better for the next time. I learn what's important to take and what isn't. Having a thorough list available as you pack for each trip helps you pack and feel confident that you haven't forgotten anything that you'll need during your travels. And….don’t use one of those back-breaking oversized luggage monstrosities with wheels. Please! Give us a call at Bell Travel (604-535-2587) if you have any questions
about travelling. More packing tips can be found on our website: www.belltours.ca. Printed in the Peace Arch News, June 12th, 2004 George Bell, |
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