Thread: I Need Help Packing

Time is getting short and i'm putting off packing as long as I possible can.

I have packing questions I hope someone can help me with.

What is the best way to pack? Should i roll them and use tissue paper and just pack "normally" and hope for the best?

Also...how can I pack hubby's suit? Or do i just carry it in the garment bag? We are taking a bus to get to NY and probaby grab a cab to the terminal.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

patty

Not too tight.

Not too loose.

Dresses and suits in those plastic bags from the cleaners.

Fill shoes with other small items, like belts and socks.

Follow your list and pack one time, so you don't forget whether you've packed it already or not.

SHOW each other your travel documents before you go out the door.

Make notes for yourself later of what you took that worked (and what didn't), so you'll do even better next time.

That's all I can think of right now.

If traveling on Princess they have laundy rooms with irons just in case.
I have bought the downy wrinkle releaser when there were no irons on the ship and it works good.
Put an address label in your suitcase with info just in case the tag on the outside comes off and it is lost so they can get it to you.
I roll my clothes and it seems to work.
I put socks in my shoes
I try to have outfits that are interchangeable- Pants that you can wear different shirts with etc...
Yes as the previous poster noted make sure not to pack your documents in your suitcases.
Also dont pack meds in there if lost not a good thing- pack that in carry on.

Karen

Go out and buy those 2-1/2 gallon supersized ziploc bags! Fold up clothes and neatly put them in the bags. Before sealing, get as much air as possible out of them....them seal them up before air can return inside....VOÍLA!!!! You've made your own space bags and can pack much more into your suitcases!!! they're wonderful!

I cross pack our suitcases so that if one gets lost DH and I still have something to wear. And of course, the age ole advise, tie a brightly colored ribbon or piece of cloth to your suitcase so you can recognize it. It's even more important for those huge luggage holds when you get off the ship!

Bon Voyage.

kitty

I start a list about a month before and then check things off as I pack. I have folded things with tissue paper and once I didn't have any so just packed. Guess what, I didn't notice any difference. I have never rolled anything. As far as the long dresses: I just lay them on top and fold over once, I'm short so one fold over is enough, I have some glitzy jackets for formal nights which I put in plastic so the glitter doesn't get all over everything.

For the Caribbean cruises, I always put a swim suit with coverup, sandles, and a shorts outfit, and a culotte outfit in my carry on so I am ready for anything if luggage is lost,

My important "stuff" goes in my purse.

Here's a little different packing question:

How do you pack for a two week (or longer) cruise? Do you try to take more with you? Do you use the laundry and dry cleaning services on the ship?

I do not want to take too much with me but this is my 1st 14 night cruise and we have three formal nights?

Any suggestions?

Carol, I pack for a week like I will be gone a month!! My formals are all lightweight and comfy, and I would suggest ordering a Tux for hubby from the cruiseline and it will be delivered to your cabin, nothing to pack!! For other clothing, shorts, tops, underwear, nighties, bathing suits, I use the 2 gallon ziplocks. Also good for hair items, shampoo, cond, sprays, makeup, medicine, suntan lotion, etc, won't leak.Nice items for dinner,and formals, I wrap in dry cleaner bags with a hanger, less wrinkling!! Shoes are a bag by itself!! I take a carryone, with neccessities, medicine, change of clothes, bathing suit, etc. Also have a tote, for tickets, ID's, everything needed to board!!

Carol....we did this last summer for our Baltic cruise + pre-cruise stay in London = 17 days!!! We packed enough underwear and socks. I remember buying DH brand new socks as they can pack 2 weeks worth in their store packaging easily!! As for my dinner clothes...I brought 3 or 4 pair of black slacks and then brought lots of mix-n-match tops and 2 pairs of black shoes. This way I didn't have to overpack. DH did the same thing...he brought 4 pairs of dockers and lots of shirts that would go with them and 2 pair of shoes that would go with any of the clothes. It made it easier to mix-n-match too.

As I also stated, I packed all t-shirts, underwear, socks, nightwear etc, in Ziploc bags (2-1/2 gal size) and squeezed all the air out of them to flatten them and pack more in our suitcases.

We did use the laundry service once to wash our jeans and several other articles of clothing...only $18 in all...very reasonable.

With all this to pack, we managed to use 2 medium-sized soft-sided luggage pieces and a roller garment bag!!! It IS doable!!

Hi Jodi, We used our new roller garment bag for the firt time on our may cruise. I LOVE that bag! It is by far the best suitcase we have now. Even though it is softsided because of the rollers, it has a frame and keeps everything neat and tidy in the bag. We took it and one other bag plus carryons.

Stormy, I like your suggestion to show each other you travel docs and ID's. That's a good habit to get into.

I also, crosspack. I pack enough of each of our clothes in each bag that if we did lose one, we'd get by ok.