elvira

Folding if I'm going to be unpacking the suitcase; rolling an entire outfit, including socks and underwear, if I'm going to be only overnight or on an overnight train; nightclothes go on TOP, no matter what, along with my toiletries in a zippered bag. <BR>A good Swiss Army knife has a little pair of scissors, along with a corkscrew and the knife. <BR>A pen or pencil in my pocket for quick notes on train times, and the like. <BR>A small roll of duct tape for repairing a broken bag, sticking on my heel to prevent a blister (Al, was that your suggestion?) and gagging a whining travel companion. <BR>Bungee cord clothesline - even if you aren't planning to do laundry, you WILL get caught in a downpour and need it for your wet socks. Also good for tieing up a whining travel companion. <BR>Ziplock bags (gallon size, maybe 3 or 4) for wet stuff, or carrying the half of a baguette sandwich you couldn't finish. Also good for putting over the head of a whining travel companion. <BR> <BR>No need for each person to carry dupes; one carries the duct tape, the other carries the ziplocks. You get the idea. <BR> <BR>I'm a believer in a coupla - coupla bandaids, coupla safety pins, coupla rubber bands. <BR> <BR>Never used a door alarm; most hotels have a chain or hasp lock. If your hotel is that iffy, move. <BR> <BR>I do take a travel alarm clock (take the battery out before you pack it; airlines get real nervous if they hear tick-tick-tick coming from a suitcase) because I don't trust wake-up calls, especially if I'm catching a plane or train the next morning. And, many hotels don't offer the service anyway. Also good idea if you're on a long train trip where you might nod off. Set the alarm for 1/2 hour before you're due to arrive, just in case.

terri

Elvira, <BR>As always, your ideas are valuable-- and humorous. Keep 'em coming. <BR>Terri

Shelley

Do the hotels in France have alarm clocks or do I need to bring my own?

Susan

Elvira: I always knew that duct tape was good to have along for repairing a suitcase, but I love it and your other fixes for a whining travel companion! Love your sense of humor (or have you just travelled with people who aren't much fun?)!

Jan

As a newbie to these boards, I'm having a blast reading everyone's great (and humorous) ideas. I pack using the Eagle Creek folding Pack-It systems plus the cubes for underwear/socks. Everything stays organized and few creases. While I pack many of the handy items already mentioned above (Ziplocs--a must!, mini duct tape roll, sewing kit, compass, etc.), I also throw in these: a miniature first aid kit (incl the usual--band-aids, etc., plus a few chewable Pepto Bismol, cough drops, Benadryl); a Mini-Maglight flashlight w/Magellan's flex attachment for hanging around my neck for late night journaling; wet facecloth in Ziploc bag; lightweight small wooden cutting board; screw-together tiny salt & pepper shakers; water bottle w/neoprene cover & carrying strap (ALWAYS!); and mini binoculars for viewing high ceiling art.

Jim

I do lots of bicycle and hiking tours. A good friend taught me the method of packing the biking clothes for each day in the small plastic bags discussed. This makes each morning easier, particularly when waking in a dark tent. <BR>Also, a large plastic bag to contain everything inside a duffle protects against duffles left too long on a rainy tarmac or outside in a pickup area.

Bob Brown

I am a practioner of the cram, ram, and sit heavy school of packing. Breakable items like a clock and electric razor go in last, just before final closing. I cram in everything I can into my suitcase, ram it with a pole if needed, and then sit on it to fasten the latches. Then I take a big strap and secure it around the center, under the handle. If nothing leaks out or explodes within 90 minutes, the suitcase is ready to go. Stuff that will not go in forces a decision. Some goes and some stays. <BR> <BR>Between us, we take along along a little detergent, a pocket knife, an alarm clock (I don't ever trust an unproven alarm clock!!), a few clothes pins, some tape, a few first aid supplies, and the ever important wash cloth. <BR>I take along a small converter for my electric razor, immersion heater, and my wife's hair dryer. <BR>I never have more than one suitcase that I check and one that I carry on. <BR>The small one has the essentials including my medicines in case my big piece shows up later on.

lisa

It is funny to me that so many people seem to bring duct tape on their travels. I don't even own duct tape in real life and have never had need of it, so can't imagine why I would ever need it while travelling. With every trip I bring less and less. Can't imagine bringing the buzzer alarm for the door, but yes I do always bring a tiny travel alarm clock (fits in the palm of my hand). It never hurts to throw in one of those tiny sewing kits -- I've rarely had need for one, but they hardly take up any room and the one time I stepped on my long skirt and ripped the hem out I was very glad I had a needle and thread so I could tack it up quickly. I bring nail clippers or small nail scissors rather than regular scissors. <BR> <BR>In answer to the original question, I roll some things and fold others. I'm a fan of the ziplock bag method, although note that while it is true that this allows you to fit more in one bag, it will also consequently make that bag weigh more than it would otherwise, and lots of airlines have luggage weight restrictions. I don't necessarily want to make my bag heavier, so I don't always use the ziplock bags (although I do always throw a couple of empty ones into a pocket of my suitcase -- they come in handy if you have to pack a wet bathing suit or whatnot).

atraveller

My husband won't let me touch the duct tape. He says it's the last bastion of masculinity.

Jane

Today was errand day...cleaners, etc. Also went seaarching for those"spacebags" to compress your packing. Got the list of distributors off their web site. Everyone had the big ones that need a vac, but NO-ONE had the travel version. At least I can organize my linen closets! <BR> <BR>Back to tried and true ziplocks(big ones).

Al Godon

I think Elvira listed the number one use for duct tape. If you see someone in Paris wandering about the tourist attractions with their mouth bound shut with duct tape, ask them if Marna is their travel companion. It is an even money bet. <BR>It is good to have some if your suitcase springs a leak, like one the hinges getting knocked off. The newer models are quite good at holding up under the banging they take.

Anna

The Pack-It's made by Eagle Creek are excellent. They keep the clothes from getting wrinkled and keep my backpack or suitcase organized. I like the half cubes for underwear and socks. I always bring ziploc bags in a variety of sizes, earplugs, a travel alarm clock, and a small sewing kit (match book size). Since my husbands bag was lost last fall on our trip to Paris, we now carry some of each others clothes in our packs.

carolyn

A woman's complete tool kit: WD40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40. If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape. So much for the last bastion of masculinity. <BR> <BR>My daughter gave me a couple of travel packs that have a cardboard to fold things around for size and then slip out to become the bottom of the pack and with mesh covers that velcro shut. They are very nice, but I use zip lock bags, too.

Anna

I also bring along a bar of Fels-Naptha soap for handwashing my clothes in the hotel room sink. The bar takes up very little room and I don't have to worry about leaking detergent in my pack.

Baggage

I'm a fan of the roll. Seems to wrinkle stuff less and fits more but maybe I'll give the bag thing a try this time. I don't bring umbrellas or stuff like that. It's worth it to me to just buy an umbrella there and leave it behind. Love the 50-50 idea. Would really hate to be without clothes on arrival.

Al

My daughter's birthday card last year was a picture of The Titanic going down with a little blurb above it: "Quick! More duct tape...I think I'm gaining.!" <BR>We just returned from Thailand where our handy supply of duct tape again saved the day. We wrapped about 6' of the silver stuff (known we were told by people from New Hampshire as "Vermont chrome") around the handle of a Magic Marker pen (another indispensible...but that's another story). The tape held our Reebok gym bag together when the gorilla who handled it in Cambodia was finished giving it the once-over. Rolling one's clothes? No way. Using plastic bags leaves you with a dozen items in your suitcase instead of 50 or so. You simply sort through the clothing (after two weeks you seek that which is least fermented) and open the bag you wish. Otherwise you find yourself pawing through a mound of fragrant unmentionables when you are most vulnerable, i.e., after a shower.