Product Review & Giveaway: Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler
November 10, 2008 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Home & Living
As a frequent traveler I know the importance of packing light and still packing right. It’s a balancing act that needs to take into consideration the purpose of your travels, what you’ll be doing (and what you’ll need to wear), how long you’ll be traveling, and whether you will be checking or carrying on your bags.
You can’t take everything with you, and traveling is not like walking into your closet at home, but there are tips and tricks that can make the packing process a lot less painful than your probably find it.
I think I do a pretty good job of packing – and I define that as I wear everything that I take, take everything that I need (except for the faux plea of nothing to wear that allows me to justify a shopping trip), and manage my bags on my own.
Even with that expertise however, I still got a lot of useful ideas from Smart Packing for Today’s Traveler by Susan Foster.
Relying on a very simple concept of Pack, Select, Edit, Pack, and Go, Susan fills the books with examples, tips, product suggestions, and practical details to cover most any type of travel you’ll be doing.
Warning, though, some of you are not going to like what she has to say! For example, you’re going to have to limit the number of shoes you pack (take note Christina), for extended trips you will probably need to do laundry on the road, and sometimes you’re going to need to check your luggage.
On the other hand, following this advice will show you how to pull together a wardrobe for any reason or season, and still travel light.
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:
- Learn which fabrics and style of clothing are comfortable and are designed to stand up to the vagaries of travel, and how to start collecting your travel wardrobe.
- Map out your schedule and activities, so you can figure out what type of clothing you’ll be needing for each day of your travels.
- Learn about luggage styles and types so you can decide on a personal preference, knowing that it will meet your needs. Lots of good suggestions on putting together your own luggage wardrobe.
- How to choose a basic color palette that allows you mix and match wardrobe items to wear in numerous different ways. Pack less clothes but have more wardrobe choices.
- Pack early, giving yourself plenty of time to “edit” your clothes, taking out what doesn’t fit in your bag, along with anything that you really don’t need.
- Tips for packing for a cruise, adventure travel, or other specialty vacation.
The downside to Smart Packing, and it’s inevitable with any book of this type, is that some of the information is outdated. The TSA and airlines change rules faster than a book can be printed. Susan wisely acknowledges that, and sends the reader to sources for updated information. The wise reader will follow her instructions!
Do you need help with your packing? Do your chronically over or under pack? Are you looking for products that would help make your packing easier and more efficient?
Then you need this book.
And I very happy to offer you an opportunity to win it! How do you win?
Just leave a comment here and tell us one thing that you always pack and take with you.
The contest runs through Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 11:59pm (PT). On Sunday, a random winner will be selected from all the comments to receive Smart Packing. Please enter only once, and leave your email address in the appropriate spot so that we can contact you.
A very big thank you to author Susan Foster and KSB Promotions for providing me with a copy of the book for review, AND for providing a giveaway copy of Smart Packing to a reader of Travel Product Guide.
I work for Delta and I love to travel!
I take a change of clothes in my carry-on as well as a few snacks in case my checked luggage does not arrive with me!
I never leave home without my camera…it’s practically attached to me, and when I travel to a new place, I enjoy reviewing my trip through pictures.
Sweet
I never travel without a sweater or sweatshirt and a pair of long pants, even in the Summer. Weather is to unpredictable.
Travel alarm
I always take a couple of good books.
smchester at gmail dot com
Books and bubble bath
snacks and water
Scotch tape. Really helps if I buy something fragile. I leave it in my suitcase and it’s always there ready for travel.
Good walking shoes are my first priority!
I always take water with me.
A camera, good book and first aid kit
I always take my prescription meds and they are packed first. I split them into two with half in my purse and half in my luggage.
TOOTHBRUSH
I always take low fat snack bars. You never know when you might get stranded with no provided food.
I always take my toothbrush!
Clothes
tampons..hey ya never know
I always take my “travel purse” – which contains a clean pair of underwear, small toothpaste and travel toothbrush, deodorant, and cell phone charger. I never leave home for anywhere without comfortable shoes.
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE !!!
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway!
I always take my curling iron.. can’t leave home without it.
I always pack some Motrin….I usually need it when dealing with flight delays!
I always, always bring extra baby wipes. (Ahhh, family travel.) They work for everything: dirty shoes, sticky hands, make-up remover, you name it. They’re quite a bit cheaper than those marketed to adults, and are more gentle, too.
I always pack some wet wipes and almonds (a healthy snack that takes little space).
I used to always pack all my x-stitch “stuff” every time I went anyplace. I never x-stitched on any of my trips, but just having my threads and current project with me was like my adult security blanket. Now, I’ve traded x-stitching for scrapbooking as my hobby…so I leave my x-stitch at home and always pack my camera for all those pictures I never get around to scrapbooking after all! Oh, I also pack my cell-phone charger.
I always have a book with me when I go anywhere. Thanks for the giveaway, I really could use help packing I always take way to much stuff!
I always take a night light with me. That way everyone can see where the bathroom is at night!
I always take a book.
I need this because I only like to carry on and it’s such a hassle to pack everything in such a tiny bag.
What I consider essential is a copy of any paperwork (passport, itinerary, printout of important addresses, travel insurances, photocopy of any kinds of cards).
These go both in my carry-on and check through suitcase. (I don’t put credit card copies in suitcase, only in my carry-on bag.)
always take my own pillow
Must have a book and a comfy pair of shoes
One C cell Maglite…
I travel for work. I am gone 3 weeks to 6 weeks at a time and in all types of weather. The only consistent item I bring with me is the ‘Pack-Mate’ vacume bags, period. It’s like a big ziploc with one way valves at the other end. They come in two sizes and it is the only way I can bring all my clothing, jackets, winter clothing, pillows, etc…
Some form of light and lip balm
Snacks.CAMERA.H2O
I always pack my camera.
I always take my camera everywhere I go. I love to capture lifes moments especially with growing children!
I always take a sweater,because it can get
cool at night
I pack my Bible.
I always pack a book for downtime in airports, at the hotel or on a train. I also always pack Aleve and blister blockers.
One thing that I always pack and take with me is my glasses.
Its very important when we pack our Luggage for vacation. We should pack clothes and other things suitable for the place. We have see whether its hot or cold country. So that we can pack accordingly. So that we can enjoy vacation