Packing: General Tips

Packing can be a pain. You spend ages cramming everything into your case and, when you finally reach your destination, you've still forgotten stuff. We tell you what to take to get the best out of your trip, as well as how to ensure your travels run smoothly.

General points
Take a look at our packing checklist (below) for what to take, what to ditch and what will be confiscated if you put it in your hand baggage.

• Be aware that if your luggage is overweight or oversized, you may have to pay high charges for the excess.
• Hand luggage allowances vary between airlines, but you're usually restricted to one bag small enough to fit under the seat or in an overhead locker. Many airlines impose a 5kg limit.
• There will be at least five bags that look exactly like yours, label them or stick something on so you can spot them easily. It's a good idea to put contact details inside your bags in case the outside tag gets lost.
• It's safer not to have your home address displayed on the outside of your bags. A postcode, email address or mobile phone number is just as good.

Basic tips
Some of these may seem pretty commone sense, but you'd be surprised how many people forget the obvious stuff:

• Take less clothes and more money than you first decide on. With clothes, lay out the minimum you think you need, then take some out. With money, work out the maximum you need and then take a bit extra.



• A secure way of carrying money and important documents is a pouch on a string that goes around your neck and inside your clothing. The documents you need to keep safe include:
  • Passport
  • Travel tickets
  • Accommodation vouchers and addresses
  • Credit card and bank account details
  • Travellers cheque numbers
  • Insurance certificate and contact details
  • Driving licence (if you're going to hire a car)
  • Inoculation certificates
  • Visas and/or work permits
• Take two photocopies of all important documents. Keep one with you, separate from your originals. Leave another set with someone who has a fax machine. That way, if you lose everything you'll have fast access to the things that matter.



• Make a note of the number to ring if your credit card goes missing. Keep it separate and leave the same details with someone you can contact quickly if you lose both.



• If you suspect you might need condoms or tampons while you're away, take plenty. They're not always easy to get and would you know how to ask where to find them in rural Poland? Plus, they might not be as reliable or user-friendly as you're used to.



• Take a mixture of cash and credit cards or travellers cheques. Be sure to get small denomination notes and, if possible, some coins.



• Leave space for things you want to bring back, or pack a foldable, lightweight bag.

Hand luggage
Stricter security at airports means you are not allowed to have any sharp objects in your hand luggage. No more knitting on the plane to calm yourself! The official list of banned items is:

• Knives of any type.
• Any cutting and puncturing instruments such as pocket knives, box cutters, ice axes, razors, scissors, corkscrews and metal nail files.
• Toy or replica guns (metal or plastic).
• Sports equipment that could be used as a weapon such as baseball/softball bats, golf clubs, pool cues, ski poles and hockey sticks.
• Mace, teargas, or pepper spray.
• Aerosol spray cans - hair spray, deodorant, insect repellent, or butane fuel (such as in curling iron refills, scuba tanks, camping gas).
• Explosives - fireworks, sparklers or signal flares.
• Flammable liquids or solids - fuel, paints, paint thinners or cleaners, lighter fluid and more than 16 oz of perfume.
• Catapults and darts.
• Hypodermic needles (unless required for medical reasons).
• Knitting needles.

Your home
Empty homes tempt burglars so don't make it obvious:

• Cancel milk and papers.
• Use a timer to bring on lights in the evening.
• Leave a radio on.
• Ask neighbours to keep an eye on the place.
• Unplug electrical appliances, particularly TVs and videos.
• Turn off water at the mains in winter and set the heating to come on for a short time overnight to prevent pipes freezing.

Read on to see what other travel essentials you should be packing.

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