This isn’t always an easy question to answer on its own, as there are others that go along with it, primarily:
- Is it for Business or Pleasure?
- Where are you going, and what kind of weather are they having there?
I know, pretty obvious stuff! ALWAYS check on the weather where you are going before you start packing!
The actual items that make their way into your bag(s) vary based on those answers, but there are some standards that you may want to follow that will give you the best experience.
1. Make sure while you are traveling that you do not wear restrictive clothing – you can pack them in your suitcase, but don’t wear them on the plane. Items like tight belts and pantyhose can impede your circulation, which is upset enough by sitting on a plane for hours (or a bus or a train or a car…).
[box type=”success” align=”alignleft” ]To avoid dangerous conditions like DVT while traveling (Deep Vein Thrombosis), do some leg exercises while sitting to keep your cirulation going. One to try is to put your feet flat on the floor, then slowly lift your heels until your weight is mostly on your toes, then lower your heels and lift your toes as high as you can while your heels are on the ground. Hold for a few counts on either end. You can also lift your foot and do clockwise and counterclockwise circles in the air, slowly.[/box]
2. Do a metal check on your wardrobe – metal bits on your jeans, underwires on your bra, jewelry – all of these can set off a touchy metal detector and slow you down.
3. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Feet often swell when sitting for long periods of time and shoes that start out feeling ok can be pretty uncomfortable at the other end. Some airports are really BIG too, and you may find yourself walking quite a lot – comfy shoes can make that a whole lot more enjoyable!
4. Try to bring wrinkle resistant clothing that doesn’t get creased as you where it or fold it up in your bag. Most hotels have irons and ironing boards, but who wants to spend their travel time ironing? (Personally, I don’t like spending ANY time ironing!). Travelsmith.com has a great line of clothing designed for travel, and many of the other name brands do as well.
5. Dress in layers, particularly if you are starting in one climate and ending in one that is very different. It will make your transition easier.
6. If you are traveling internationally, be sure to respect their customs and avoid offending the locals.
7. Pick a color scheme for your trip that allows you to mix and match the items in your bag. You won’t have to pack as much and you will have room left to bring cool stuff back home with you!
Image of a Qantas airplane at the Sydney Airport taken by Shayan, and used under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
