Post-Graduation Explorations

I stumbled across this post at the Elliot.org blog about one woman's Christmas travel fiasco with American Airlines and her baggage. Apparently, not only did her luggage arrive quite late, but it was (purposefully) not mailed to the forwarding address she had left with the airline company when she reported the missing bag. To top it off, she was not compensated the checked baggage fee she demanded when she reported these errors to AA.

Elliot.org took a poll on everyone's reaction to the 'compensation' she received from AA and most readers felt that AA could have handled the situation better (AA refused to refund her bag fee on the grounds that the money was spent to send the bag back to her).  Personally, I feel that if AA is not going to refund a bag fee when they lose a customer's checked bag, they should charge more to at least be sure they can pay to send the bag all the way back to the owner, instead of insisting the owner meet them part way en-route.

 What do you think?

Our 'room sale' (our Seattle winter version of a Yard Sale) has been going well; we are down to about half the amount of stuff we started the sale with!

Now it's time to start packing away the items we can live without for the next few weeks.  This post is going to be done in several parts, most likely organized by which suitcase is being filled. Expect to get an overview of the suitcase we will be using, the items going into the suitcase (possibly even HOW they are being packed, depending on the function of the suitcase and the item), and why we chose that suitcase and those items. I will cover some of those packing basics (maximizing wardrobe without sacrificing space), some packing theories, and my own approach to packing based on my experiences traveling.

A word for the absolute Beginner (or for those of you who have noticed that you could use a little help in the packing department) I HIGHLY recommend that you consider purchasing The Packing Book. Most of my personal preferences regarding packing are a combination of the theories in this book and what I've learned (in the past 20 years) that works best for me. Absolutely wonderful book, well worth the mere $10.17, as it not only will give an overview of how to pack for multiple types of luggage, but also comes with several pre-made general packing lists and the author's recommended space-saver travel accessories.

I've decided to start with the items we (ideally) shouldn't need until we get to Germany - these items are going into the large SwissGear rolling upright suitcase (28") that we plan to check. The main idea is that whatever is put in this suitcase we should be able to live without until we get to Germany; ideally we should be able to live without these items for up to a week. (Have you ever had an airline lose your checked luggage?) Our carry-ons will hold the essentials to get us through at least a week.

Here is my general (moving overseas) packing  list:

Clothing		Accessories
Underwear (10)		Belt (2)
Bras (5)		Flip-Flops/shower shoes
Socks (10)		Warm Gloves
Warm Tights (2)		Warm Scarf
Nylons (4; various colors)		Light Scarf
PJ’s		Hat
Pants		Umbrella
Top		Daily purse
Tops		Earrings (4 pair)
Tank Tops (4; good for layering, dark & neutral colors)		Comfortable shoes Boots Dress shoes
T-Shirts (3)		Watch
Long sleeved Shirts (3)		Necklaces (2)
Dress Shirts (2)		Rings (2)
Light Sweaters (2-3)		Additional Items
Bottoms		Collapsible Drawers  (2 small, 2 large)
Pants (4)		Light fleece blanket
Skirts (2-3; varying lengths)		Collapsible bag

Seem like a lot? Don't forget that most of those item values will be doubled because Lex's stuff will go in here too. You might be wondering why the 'additional items' category. I have found that having a few items from my old home that take up very little space in my luggage and have practical applications in my new residence can make transitioning into a new place easier. These items are so friendly on space that I can get all 6 of them into the mere 1/4" deep mesh pocket on the inside of the top flap of the checked bag.

Check back soon for "The checked bag pt. 2..."! I will actually take pictures of the packing process and discuss the ins and outs of choosing which clothes should be packed and which should be left home.

This year, in light of our pending travels, I decided to create a list of 10 stocking stuffers (all under $10!) I would recommend for the savvy traveler.

1. No-Leak Toiletry Kit - Having your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash explode inside your toiletry bag due to cabin pressure changes can be very frustrating! Especially, if you were planing to live off those toiletries rather than buy large bottles on-site. Luckily, the company know world-wide for their No-Leak water bottles also makes TSA standard size bottles and containers for your toiletry needs! 3-1-1 Nalgene Travel Bottle Kit ($9.99)

2. Soap Sheets - If you are the type that would prefer to avoid carrying liquids through security (or if your TSA approved zip baggie is already full of other items you've deemed more important to your in-flight comfort) then Travelon soap sheets might be more your style. Thinly pressed sheets of Hand Soap, Shampoo, Body Wash, laundry soap, and even shaving soap come in compact, flip-top containers about the size of a pack of gum. Just add water and lather up! 50 sheets per package. ($2.75 - $7.99)
(These little packets are also great for  your day-pack; getting caught in the loo without soap is no fun!) 

3. Travel Toilet Paper - Getting caught in a public toilet without toilet paper can be one way of turning your excursions sour! Avoid getting caught in this less-than-ideal (ok, I'll take the pun - crappy) situation with a traveler-friendly toilet paper. ($0.99)  Pair it with a traveler-friendly pack of toilet seat covers, and keep your public toilet adventure clean and sanitary! ($3.50)

4. Outlet Adapter - I always pack at least one universal outlet adapter in my pack when I travel outside the USA. Universal adapters (adapters which can be used on varying outlet forms) can be more expensive than dedicated adapters (adapters which only work with a USA-standard pin design and one outlet form, like Australia), but most often never more than a few dollars. From my own experiences traveling to multiple countries that utilize different outlet designs (and even the the UK, where there are 2 forms used throughout the country!), those few dollars spent once saved me at least $100 in adapters on my last trip through Europe. The Universal World Wide Travel Charger Adapter Plug by Eforcity will allow you to 'plug in' to EU/UK/AU outlets and can receive pin designs from the same countries. Plus, it accepts plugs with grounding prongs, making this adapter good for both small and large electronics! ($3.59)

5.  Travel Security Pouch - Easily hidden pouches for emergency cash and paperwork (like a copy of your passport and credit card) are indispensable for any traveler. The come in several styles and can be worn in various location, hidden, on the body. For those who like wearing fanny-packs (sometimes called belly-bags) I would recommend the Travel Security Waist Pouch. This item can also be tied to a belt loop and worn lengthwise down the inside of a pant leg. ($8.44) For the ladies, Austin House has a security pouch which is cut to be worn inside the bra. ($6.94)

6. Laundry Kit: Washing - Laundry facilities can be expensive when traveling. If I can save a few dollars (and burn a few extra calories!) by washing my lighter/smaller clothes, such as underwear and socks, I'll happily do that to pay for a trip up the Eiffel Tower! This Lewis N. Clark Laundry Kit with Woolite comes with 8 cold wash soap packets and one large drain stopper (great for most hostel sinks or tubs!). ($10.00)

7. Laundry Kit: Drying - Dryers, particularly in Europe, can be very expensive to use. Rick Steves Travel Clothesline, weighing in at 2.2oz, stretching to 6ft,  and triple braided to negate the need for clothespins, this is the most space efficient dryer any traveler could ask for. ($9.00)

8. Travel Towel - You're probably wondering how you can get a towel into a stocking, along with all those other travel goodies. Lightload Towels travel towels are vacuum packed (and weight only .3oz!) into roughly 2in. diameter discs. Just add water and the towel will open to it's full size. These towels have been tested and reviewed in such travel and outdoor magazines as Climbing and Sailing. These towels come in many sizes including Hand Towels, Beach Towels, and Minis. Made of cellulose (not oil, like in microfiber), the Green traveler can feel good about this product, too! ($2.75 - $18.00)

9. Compression Packing Bags - These come in two forms; Vacuum and manual. I prefer manual compression bags because you can't guarantee an available vacuum in a hostel or budget hotel, but both are great investments for any traveler (and they are reusable!). I definitely recommend these for those traveling during a season change (i.e. Winter/Spring) as they will make packing your heavier clothing, like a parka, more efficient. ($7.99 - $9.86)

10. Travel Journal - Every traveler needs a way to keep a record of their experiences - my first travel journal was a Moleskine (pronounced Mol-a-skeen-a) and I can't recommend a better choice for the on-the-go traveler. These light weight, compact journals have been used by such internationally recognized artists as Ernest Hemingway, Andre Breton, and Vincent van Gogh. You can't find a better journal suited to travel! ($9.98)

If you find this useful, let me know! I might start doing these lists more often!