Between the excitement of traveling to a destination and the anxiety concerning the traffic or flight schedules, there is a component of travel many neglect until the night before departure. Packing has long been a pest to some travelers. Hauling excess baggage is an additional nuisance but with a few easy steps one can increase efficiency and decrease stress.
Although this may seem obvious, the secret to packing efficiently is to bring only what is necessary. Keep in mind the location and climate of the destination. If winter break will be spent in Buffalo, it may not be necessary to bring all those swim suits.
Likewise, it would be OK to leave the puffy jacket at school during a vacation in Florida. Don't worry, there will be plenty of days to wear it after the break.
To minimize the amount of clothes needed during a trip, pack like-color outfits. This way it will be easy to mix and match. Don't bring those pants"" that can only be worn with ""that shirt."" Being stuck lugging around excess baggage can be cumbersome.
Katalin Wolff, a mother of four, tells her experience of driving to Colorado for their annual holiday ski trip in a tightly packed mini-van. ""My husband goes by the 'bring it just in case' rule of packing. The kids were stuck in a fetal position for the 20-plus hours of the trip,"" Wolff said.
The best way to avoid situations like this and conserve space in a suitcase or duffle bag is by rolling clothes instead of folding them. T-shirts, pants and sweaters can be tightly rolled, the way one would a burrito. Smaller items like socks can be stuffed into shoes.
UW sophomore and frequent road tripper Matt Eggert has developed his own method of packing resourcefully. ""I usually start with the stuff I don't want wrinkled and then I stuff my underwear all around it,"" Eggert said.
Whether the holiday travels will consist of just the trek home or an exotic vacation abroad, remember to designate some empty space in the suitcase for the trip back. Never underestimate the load that will accumulate en route.
Learning to pack efficiently not only leads to a blissful travel experience, but teaches a valuable life lesson, according to UW sophomore Sara Jane Goska. ""The less [baggage] you have the better. Travel light physically and emotionally otherwise it just weighs you down,"" Goska said.
