navy
blazer with navy slacks -- wear on plane with one of the pants and shirts
below
camel-colored and one other matching
dress pants (ie: green); fourth pair pants optional but the point is not
to pack more than 3 pair. pack pants in plastic bags that drycleaners use
to pack sweaters to save weight and avoid creasing.
3 white dress shirts and one or
two other solid color dress shirts (pack no more than 4 and have the laundry
fold them so you have no hangers)
short sleeve shirt if you know you
will need it
Make sure your outfits match.
The point is almost everything should
match the blazer and you should have enough outfits to last through the
longest stretch between laundries (meaning a full weekday in a city in
a good hotel where you can give stuff in to be washed same day). You can
probably wear a shirt for 1-2 days and a pair of pants for 2-3 days if
you rotate outfits and if it is not hot. Remember you can always SHOP and
SHIP.
Winter wardrobe
overcoat with lots of pockets and
a scarf (and this goes with you on the plane)
one turtleneck
two or three sweaters that match
the rest of your clothes
if going to really humid area like
Singapore, take along a lens cloth for the camera
for high crime areas: pair pants
with velcro sealing front pockets
for sunny areas: shirts with pockets for sunglasses
belt (reversible; 2 color as in black
and brown)
(if i need shorts and sneakers,
i can always borrow; too heavy to carry
and never worn)
pajamas and slippers
2 handkerchiefs
6 underwear
6 socks
one pair dark dress loafer walking
shoes
extra pair of insoles for shoes
cut to size
emergency sweater only if you know
you'll need it; otherwise buy it
1 or 2 neckties
religious articles
lip balm
a good pen (hotel pens often suck)
and small pieces of paper and a few post-its
business cards and brochures
take face towelettes from airplanes
a "shout" stain remover towelette
2 miniature toothbrushes and toothpastes
shampoo in twist-lock container
such as those used for pills
110/220 shaver with cord and 220/UK-outlet
prongs
Tylenol or other pain and fever
reliever (either a small package or several individual doses each individually
wrapped so you can put it in a pocket or flight bag)
small pair sharp scissors wrapped
to prevent harm to other items or nail cutters (this may no longer be possible
to take so you may have to delete the item and buy one every 2 weeks or
so or borrow from the hotel)
flu medicine if you are going abroad
(ie: Microferon)
a few paper towels
eyeglass cleaner or lens cleaning
cloth
individually wrapped moist baby-wipe
towels
Desitin or some other butt rash
cream
10 ounce or 330 ml bottle of water
to carry around (Evian comes in this size which fits in pocket)
one plastic silverware setting (can
take from airplanes)
extra pair eyeglasses (optional)
extra wrist watch (optional)
photocopy of passport cover page
vital statistics: credit card numbers,
passport number, medical insurance information, doctor contact information,
travel agent number, telecard access numbers, all local numbers of people
you will call in a particular city on one page to carry around; names,
addresses and tel. #s of hotels and airlines and flight numbers to reconfirm
flights
pocket subway map (good to have
before arriving)
alarm clock
camera with film and extra camera
battery or digital camera with extra memory card
dental floss
pillow (sounds crazy but is great
for airplanes and strange beds)
a few throat lozenges
small pocket calculator for currency
exchange if the math is too hard
hairbrush
deodorant
any other toiletries or prescription
medicines you use (ie: face medicine)
housekey to get back in
bandaid
instant shoe polish wipes
global phone directory or palm pilot
cellular phone, charger, battery
and instructions if you are renting it (particularly the numbers to call
voicemail, instructions how to access it, and to reach customer service)
small plastic bag to put dirty laundry
into; ziploc bags for toiletries
plastic pouch to put papers into;
sealed on left side and open on right
extra bag for shopping stuff to
be dumped into in case you have to check 2nd bag
Note: If you must travel in summer
and winter climates on the same trip (ie: Russia and Middle East in June),
pack two separate bags, put the "wrong bag" into checked baggage and don't
claim the "wrong bag" at the baggage claim. Let the airline hold it until
you depart onto your next flight. Just say you forgot to take it or that
you don't want the bag to enter the country. Works every time.
Weight Saving Hint: Have laundry
fold shirts in plastic and leave out cardboard except around neck collar.
Also pack pants and jackets in plastic. No real need for hangers and most
places you go to will have one or two in the closet. Put things such as
shampoo and other medicines in small containers to last the trip such as
empty pill containers. Small travel size deoderant and toothpaste are useful.
following are suggested additional
packing items from people who frequently globe-trot:
gym clothes for people who use gyms
while traveling
swiss army knife or Leatherman with
can opener, scissor, corkscrew and
screwdriver (but beware this can
be illegal to carry in some places)
sunglasses and/or baseball cap
jeans and sneakers
antacid
toilet kit (to be taken from business
class flights)
plastic lighters
towel
one person stresses that a good carry-on
bag that folds well saves on
clothes' pressing bills.
See also my useful articles: "64
Travel Secrets" and "Things to do (checklist)
before leaving the Country." I check these every time.
Happy Journeys. |