Here are 8 great packing tips that I think will help senior travelers planning their next travel adventure ensure they have an enjoyable and memorable trip.
1. BAGGAGE:
When packing for a multi-day or multi-week trip, pack a FOUR WHEELER rolling suitcase as well as a backpack or backpack. Always remove the tags from your last trip. Label or mark your bags so that your luggage is visibly different from other bags. Add colored stripes, bows and labels that display your name and travel company (or email and phone number where you can be reached). On the inside of your tag, write your name, address, phone number, and email. Inside your luggage, put your name and a copy of your itinerary. Leave an emergency name and number. Whenever possible, use TSA-approved locks that allow your suitcase to be opened without breaking the lock.
2. SHOES:
Bring comfortable shoes, especially if you expect to do a considerable amount of walking. Two pairs of walking shoes are essential on most trips, shopping, tours, or otherwise. You can wear one pair in the morning or the first day, and then switch to the other pair in the evening when you go out to dinner. This will also give your feet a chance to recover from the adjustment of a pair. If necessary, consider bringing a collapsible “monopod” that can be used as both a walking stick and a tripod for your camera.
3. MAKE A CHECKLIST:
Writing down things to pack will help you coordinate outfits. First write what comes to mind. Don’t think through the entire list of items and then start typing. For example, if you’re thinking of toiletries like toothpaste or a razor, just write it down. Next, you might be thinking about your reading glasses, and so on. It doesn’t have to be in any logical order. Just write what comes to mind.
4. BEGIN PACKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:
Once you’ve started your list, you can start packing. You should practice packing well before you travel. There is nothing worse than last minute decisions. On the other hand, there are several advantages to starting packing early. By doing so, you reduce the possibility of forgetting something. If you find that you need to buy something for this particular trip, you will have plenty of time to buy it without being in a hurry. For example, you may need a light raincoat for the next trip and you don’t have it, so you can go buy one without the urgency. If your airline has baggage weight restrictions, weigh your baggage to make sure you comply. By packing early, you can plan for such situations.
5. ARRANGE YOUR CLOTHES.
Lay out all your clothes and make sure all the tops and bottoms coordinate with each other. It’s helpful to choose one or two “theme” colors, such as black, brown, or khaki for a neutral color and red or blue for an accent color. If you want, you can make all the clothes match your neutral color; select matching shoes, belts and handbags. If you bring your black shoe, you do not need to bring your brown shoes. Try to plan around your neutral color. The common advice is to roll the clothes. To do this, lay out each item, pull it top, bottom, and sides to remove wrinkles, fold it in half, and roll it up. Don’t worry because your clothes won’t wrinkle more than if you had packed them flat and will take up less space. Put socks, underwear, belts, and accessories inside shoes. Insert shoes into plastic bags (grocery bags are fine) before packing to prevent your other items from rubbing against the soles. Use travel-size toiletries and toothpaste, if possible. Store them in a resealable plastic bag in case they leak on the way. Don’t forget to include a multi-plug adapter for your electrical devices like mobile phones, cameras, and laptops if you’re heading abroad. If possible, bring a small travel umbrella. Also remember to pack items such as liquids, medications in your check-in luggage, unless you put them in separate plastic bags and store them on top of your carry-on.
6. WHAT TO BRING ON BOARD:
Plan to wear your bulkier shoes on the plane, if you are flying. Take your jacket on board even if you don’t plan on wearing it; Jackets take up a lot of space in your suitcase. Always try to leave room for souvenirs in your checked baggage. When you go shopping, you’ll know exactly how much you can buy, because you’ll know how much space is available in your suitcase. Don’t forget to bring your passport, money, tickets/boarding passes and prescription medications on board. Make a simple checklist for all of these items. Call it your “Onboard Checklist.”
7. CHECK YOUR ITINERARY:
It is very important to have a Travel Itinerary, even if it is for a few days. This is especially true for older travelers. Most of us older travelers travel for pleasure. We want to enjoy the trip. So the last thing we want to do is get stuck with the stress of thinking about what to do next during the trip itself. So, first of all, check the destination you are traveling to. Is there a lot of walking, physical exercise, and downtime? This is important when choosing what to take on your trip, for those of us who need to always carry extra medication. If you are going to be away for a week, bring an extra week’s worth of medications. You never know when a plane is delayed, a bus is broken down, or a train is unable to keep to schedule. This ensures that you will have enough medication. Also, if you have a medication list, always carry it with you, in case of illness or emergency. Make sure to bring an extra pair of glasses. If you can’t bring an extra pair, be sure to bring your prescription with you. Plan to layer your clothes and always bring an extra light sweater. This is good for a cool bus or air-conditioned restaurant. Take a small bottle of water with you during the tour. This will keep you hydrated. You cannot take this bottle on the plane, so please empty it before checking in.
8. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
When you’re packing, be sure to pack several extra tops. It’s easy to spill something on a blouse, and with extra blouses/shirts you can always replace the stained one with a new one. If you want, you can also take some stain remover for your clothes. A specially treated cloth can be purchased in a sealed package, to be used once and discarded. A list of important names and addresses, in case of an emergency, should be placed in your suitcase and in your purse or wallet. Cell phones must have the designation, ICE (in case of emergency), and the number of your next of kin. It’s better to have this essential information conveniently stored with you at all times rather than trying to find it on the go.
I hope the simple tips above will be helpful in planning your next vacation and I wish you a very pleasant trip!