We all love to travel, but unless you are Martha Stewart-organized, packing for vacation can be a real pain.
Whether you are jetting off to grandma’s house in Omaha or planning to watch history being made in London during the Summer Olympics, you will likely need more than just a toothbrush and underwear to get through a week-long trip.
Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce stress when packing for a summer getaway. For starters, if you are flying on a commercial airline that charges an arm and a leg for excess baggage, consider wearing your heaviest shoes and clothes when you leave and return. By wearing bulky clothes on the plane, you will save precious space in your suitcase. Also, don’t stack piles of books or documents on top of each other; rather, spread them out between your checked bag and carry-on in order to lighten the load.
In addition, be mindful of baggage rules mandated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA highly recommends not packing the following items in your checked bags:
*Jewelry
*Cash
*Laptop computers
*Electronics
*Food
*Beverages
*Weapons
Keep in mind that you are limited to one carry-on bag plus one personal item when traveling on major airlines. According to the TSA, personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases, or camera cases. Given the tight size restrictions it is very easy to overpack; however, it is critical to consider that screeners will be opening your bags to inspect their contents, so it pays to pack efficiently. Also, by packing light you can avoid the embarrassment and hassle of having to re-stuff your bags at security checkpoints. Finally, if you are germaphobic, you should place your personal belongings in clear plastic Ziploc bags to reduce the chance that a TSA screener will transfer nastiness to your precious items.
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