Avoid The Urge To Overpack

Unfortunately, you can't take your entire closet on your next vacation. I once took a friend to the airport and picked up her suitcase only to discover it was incredibly light. I asked her what she had packed? She replied with one change of clothes and a few toiletries; I like to leave room for shopping. This might be an extreme example of light packing, but it does shine a light on the benefits of packing lite.

Nothing can ruin your vacation faster than roaming around with too much luggage. If you're hauling the load by yourself, consider leaving most of your treasures behind at home. I have suffered this self-inflicted pain myself. It wasn't fun, plus it cost me a pretty penny in overweight and multiple baggage fees. Over the years, I have reduced the number of goods I haul around. Here are a few top tips from Couture Trips.

The Luggage
Weight matters when you select your luggage. Try weighing your current suitcase empty; ditch the old bag and go for a newer model if it is pretty heavy. Many modern lightweight suitcases are made from polycarbonate materials or lightweight aluminum shells. Check out the luggage label for the weight and shop for the lightest but most durable shell. 

Shoes
You can sabotage your efforts by taking too many shoes. The basic rule is three shoes, one comfortable pair for sightseeing, one dress shoe for evening dinners or more formal occasions, and one pair of in-betweens- like ballet flats that you can dress up or down. Leave the rest, resting comfortably in your closet. Remember, you'll have one pair on and the other two safely packed away.

Clothing
Use the rule of five's- five shirts, five pairs of trousers, five socks, five sets of underwear. If you plan on attending a more formal event, tuck in a dark-colored dress or suit. If you're heading out during the summer months, you might consider five dresses, five skirts, and five pairs of shorts instead. The key is making sure the items you select are interchangeable. Remember to choose lightweight and breathable fabrics, especially if you travel during the summer months.
Packing during the winter months offers more of a challenge due to the weight and bulk of the fabrics. But adhering to the rule of 5's is an excellent place to start; tip for the colder months-wear your heaviest or bulkiest item of clothing.
Packing cubes are a great way of keeping your belonging organized and clean. Remember, you won't necessarily want to place your clothing in the drawers of just any hotel furniture. Keeping your clothing in the packing cubes makes packing up and unpacking a cinch when you are on the go.

Toiletries
Purchase travel-sized products and transfer your home-based products to smaller travel-sized containers. Take only what you need and leave behind the extra cosmetics. Remember depending on where you are traveling to; you can purchase toiletries at your destination. One of my favorite things on holiday is perusing pharmacies in foreign countries. You might find something new and exciting to take home with you. French pharmacies are notorious for carrying high-quality skincare products.

Carry On's
Traveling with a carry-on solves so many problems. Your check-in process will be pretty simple, and you will avoid the lost luggage crisis. Reconnecting with your checked bag won't be in the equation if you have all your belongings in tow. Walk right off your plane and right into your holiday.

Test Time
Try living with the rule of 5's, slimmed toiletries, and three pairs of shoes for one week and see how you do if you pass; maybe you are ready to take the next big step, packing with just a carry-on!

Washing Up
Yes, you'll need to do a bit of washing if you only have five pairs of underwear and your trip is for 14 days! Most cities have self-service laundry mats, or you can improvise in the hotel room by filling up the sink and doing a bit of a scrub-up. Sink Suds are an excellent travel-friendly product that can help you get the washing done in the hotel sink. Most hotels also provide laundry services if you need to send your clothes out but remember it might take a day or two to receive your clothing back, so plan accordingly.

Take the time to think through ever item you toss into your suitcase. Remember you'll likely regret bringing anything "extra" or something you think you "might need". Chances are you won't need it and you'll regret the added items.  Resist the urge to overpack and you'll be on your way to passing the carry-on only challenge.

Visit www.CoutureTrips. com to schedule a complimentary travel consultation. We'll give you more than just a cool trip! ​

Coping with travel delays and glitches seems to be commonplace now. The headlines are full of delay notifications due to airline and airport staff shortages, weather-related events, or the growing pains of relaunching the travel industry post-Covid. We have brainstormed and would like to suggest the following ways to cope during this transition time.

1. Fly non-stop; fewer connections mean fewer opportunities for a glitch or delay.

2. Arrive early enough to troubleshoot a delay or cancellation at the airport—3 hours minimum for international travel and 2 hours for domestic.

3. Fly with reputable airlines- avoid budget airlines during this readjustment phase.

4. Schedule a potential flight delay into your itinerary. For example, arrive at your cruise departure city early and take the sites in a day or two before cruising. There are endless ways to explore a city even if you think you know everything about it. This strategy will take the stress out of a tight itinerary time frame.

5. Purchase travel insurance- it's a must these days with so much uncertainty.

6. Stay flexible- leaving your home has inherent risks.

7. Use your manners- try and be kind and considerate even in the face of stress and disappointment. I passed out Starbucks gift cards to the airline staff on a recent flight to London, and the reaction was so amazing. The airline staff relayed that me most of the abuse issues occur on US domestic flights. The staff treated me like gold- so give a little and fly international!

8. Use an ASTA-certified and experienced travel consultant. We place all our clients on a flight tracker during air travel days, and  we can make changes to smooth things out when we see a  potential cancellation or glitch.

9. Travel with just a carry-on and keep all valuables and medication with you.

10. Have a backup plan, and don't plan a meeting or work-related events on either side of your vacation. It will give you a cushion in case of a delay or disaster.

11. Be patient- over time, the affects the pandemic had on the travel industry will work themselves out.

12. Evaluate the risk-benefit ratio for yourself. Please take responsibility for your decisions, whether you  decide to travel or not.

 Hang in there travel issues will resolve with time. Be patient and realize the travel industry was devastated during the pandemic. It takes time to re-boot the entire travel industry. Don't give up, and hope that the future is even brighter for you and the travel industry as whole.
*Note these are only suggestions and observations from our perspective. 

• ​Passports: You need a valid passport to leave the U.S. The Passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you return home. The Passport must be in good condition, without spills, torn pages, etc. Your Passport must have enough blank pages to accommodate entry and exit immigration stamps for each country you are traveling to. At least one visa page in your Passport is required for each visa. Most travel visas stamped into your Passport need an entire blank visa page. For additional questions on renewal or validity, visit Travel.State.Gov. The name on your airline ticket must be identical to the one listed on your Passport. Warning you may be denied boarding if there are any discrepancies.                                                                                           
•  Copies: Leave hard copies of your travel documents (Passports, Vaccine Cards, Itinerary, etc.) with a close friend or family member. Pack a duplicate set for your own reference in case your phone is lost or stolen.

 

• Currency: Obtain some local currency before your trip. You will be prepared if your debit or credit card is non-functioning or a digital malfunction occurs. Not all ATMs (especially in rural places) accept foreign debit cards, and not every restaurant and store will. Some merchants do not allow foreign debit cards. You should have some backup cash and a credit card. Be aware of where you swipe your credit card. Fraudulent transactions can prove disruptive to your vacation. Additionally, using debit or credit cards regularly could accumulate transaction fees. At ATMs, for instance, you'll be charged for converting funds into local currency and, if outside of your network, an additional ATM fee. Check with your bank before departure about their foreign transaction fees and policies.​