Packing for Paradise

I can’t believe Mike and I are less than one week away from our trip to Antigua! I’ve had to restrain myself from starting the packing process already, reminding myself that a.) I don’t want to step around a suitcase for the next several days, and b.) I might actually need to wear some of my clothes before we depart.

Mike and I have, shall we say, very different packing styles. I tend to be a minimalist; I count the days I’m going to be gone, choose a color palette for my clothes that allows various pieces to be combined in multiple ways, add a scarf or two for for accessorizing, and throw in an extra pair of shoes (preferably lightweight). I try very hard not to pack more than I can put in a carry-on size suitcase, both to avoid paying a checked bag fee and to make sure my luggage isn’t lost in transit–always a big concern. For this vacation, however, I’ll need to pack a larger suitcase than I can carry on because the resort where we’ll be staying has an evening dress code. That means I’ll need nicer clothes for dinner, in addition to casual clothes for day trips, some hiking, and lots of time hanging out on the beach.

Mike, on the other hand, describes his packing style by saying “I like to have options.” Basically, this means he packs everything he owns and ends up wearing about half of it. We gave up on trying to share a suitcase many years ago, since he always complained that I didn’t leave him enough room and I always complained that he was squishing my stuff by packing in more clothing than one person could possibly wear.  These days, I pack light and Mike checks a bag and we’re both happier travelers, in spite of checked bag fees.

Travel makes me nervous, and since packing is one small part of the process I can control, I take a lot of care with it. Usually this means that I start making a packing list several days in advance, as I think of things that I want to make very sure I don’t forget–like my passport, for instance. But I recently discovered this awesome interactive packing list  from Independent Traveler, which has simplified the list-making process. Unlike other packing lists you might find online, this one allows you to choose only the items you want the list to include and add a few of your own, in case there are specific items you need to add. You can also have it emailed to you, so it’s available in digital form, or just cut and paste your completed list into a Word document–whatever is easiest for you to work with.

I’m not only obsessive about making sure I pack every everything I need, though; I’m also devoted to making sure my clothes arrive not looking like they’ve been stuffed in a hamper for a week, leaving me to walk around looking like the stereotypical disheveled American. All the compression that goes on during air travel–stacking and throwing luggage, changing air pressure, etc.–virtually guarantees that your clothing will be squished. The best you can do is fight back.

How? Roll your clothes, instead of folding them. Fold pants in half lengthwise, then roll upward from the bottom hem. Lay the waistband flat against the bottom of your suitcase, or the lower layer of clothes in a larger suitcase. For skirts and dresses, start with a lengthwise fold and then add an extra fold of skirt fabric, until the garment is roughly rectangular; then roll them from the bottom, as with pants. Fold shirts in half lengthwise, then fold the sleeves inward (both sleeves together, not each one individually.) Again, roll from the bottom up. Make sure collars lay as flat as possible in your suitcase. Packing a scarf or two gives you the option of camouflaging a collar that gets bent out of shape.

You can add a layer of tissue paper before you roll any clothing that’s prone to excessive wrinkling, though I would recommend leaving those clothes at home, since they’re clearly not travel-friendly. But if you really need a particular item for a special occasion, tissue paper can be a big help.

You can also fight back against wrinkles by packing your shoes at the bottom of your suitcase, not along the sides or in the center (or, worst of all, at the top). This keeps the bulk of the weight at the base of your suitcase, near the wheels, making it easier to maneuver while you’re in transit and less likely to fall over–another opportunity for squishing the contents. And, of course, it ensures that heavy shoes won’t add to the weight being imposed on your clothes.  I wrap my shoes, in pairs nestled heel to toe, in plastic shopping bags. That protects my clothes from any dirt on the soles. As I mentioned above, I try to minimize the pairs of shoes I travel with. In most cases, a pair of walking shoes and a pair of dress shoes in a neutral color will suffice–and you can wear your walking shoes on the plane. For this vacation, since I have to check a larger bag and won’t be hefting it around, I’m adding a pair of casual sandals for day trips and lightweight flip flops for the beach.

If you’ve vacationed at an all-inclusive resort, I’d love to hear your packing suggestions! (Other than sunscreen and bug spray, of course, which we plan to pack in bulk.)