Ready, Set, PACK!

If you all are anything like me, packing lightly and adequately is not my forte. However, I seized this opportunity to research some rules, tips and formalities to educate myself and to share with you all, considering I am hopping on a plane in two days. Yikes! Whenever flying, you always risk luggage troubles. I think I have had more luggage failures than successes in my personal flying experiences. However, since I am going to Florida this week for only 4 days, I must pack smart and light to stay under American Airline's weight limit and save my money. Depending on the airline, they can charge you a pretty penny to check your bag in, which is hard to do after the hundreds of dollars you already given them for your plane ticket. There are obvious circumstances where you must check a bag in, like if you are going somewhere for an extended period of time and your bag can not fit their carry on criteria. My best advice to save some money and stress, would be to bring a smaller suitcase onboard as your carry on. American Airlines specifies carry on luggage dimensions on their website. In order for your carry on to fit in their overhead compartment, your bag must not exceed the dimensions of 22" long by 14" wide by 9" tall. What's worse than cramming an oversized suitcase into a small compartment? You don't want to be that person.

Once you have made sure your bag is within these dimensions, it is important to think about the contents that you will be packing. Flying restrictions have immensely impacted our packing and travel habits post 911. It is important that we are aware and cautious of all of the restrictions to ensure a smooth transition through security. No longer can we pack liquids greater than 3 fluid ounces in our carry on bags. The most recent restriction being absolutely NO toothpaste regardless of its size on your carry on. My advice would be to first make a list of your liquid bottled essentials, then go to Target and buy them in their travel sizes. It is always good to put them in a zip block bag, to prevent any leakage.

Now we get to the tricky part...clothes. The hardest part about traveling is to resist temptation of packing your entire wardrobe. I realize you need your options, but that is just not realistic. It is (sometimes) OK to wear something more than once on a trip, or to do some laundry. Thinking about what you really need versus what you may want is the hardest obstacle to overcome. It is also crucial to check the weather forecast of your destination when packing to ensure you are fully prepared for anything mother nature might throw your way. Depending on your trip's duration, you may only really need 1 pair of flip flops, not 5 that look slightly different. 

Each trip and travel experience will be different for everyone. Different climates, different durations and different destinations all bring different needs. If you find yourself in a similar situation like me, take the worries out of packing, keep it simple and have fun!

Packing Tips for the Student Traveler

2 suitcases packed tightly with clothes and shoes for 3 months abroad in London during the Fall and beginning of Winter.

When preparing to travel, one of the first things you need to do is pack your bag. When packing, it's always important to decide what you need to take, and what isn't a necessity. This can all be determined by how long you will be traveling, what seasons you'll experience, and where your destination is.

According to an article in USA Today by Caroline Costello, packing is pivotal and forgetting an essential item leaves one disappointed and scrambling to find the nearest store in your destination. If you pack too much you could risk a disorganized bag that's too heavy leading to baggage fees from the airline. She goes on to give 10 packing tips every traveler should know, some of which I'd love to share with you.

The first tip is roll, don't fold. Tightly rolled clothes will take up less space than folded ones. This was true when I packed for 3 months in London, but to increase packing space even more add space bags for extra measure. If you roll the clothes and shrink them in space bags, it makes for great room for souvenirs and the bag feels lighter without all the extra air.

Next make yourself a list, because if you procrastinate with your packing then the process will be more difficult. Make a list based on destinations, locations, weather, etc. It's important to figure out what you'll need such as an umbrella for London, a dress for Spain or some shorts for Rome

Figure out your airline's baggage policies so that you don't get held up at the airport. Check the extra weight charges and limits, and see how many carry-on bags your plane allows. Make sure if you have any liquids in your carry on they follow the 3-1-1 rule in the clear plastic containers, and see what your airline allows in checked bags.

If possible and comfortable layer for you flights, less clothes in the bag means more room, and the more you can fit on you, the more you can take! Packing wisely will make your travels easier whether it be for a few days or a few months.