i'm not convinced with his whole space-saver bag thing. it seems to be just a clever marketing gimic. after a quick internet search, i see before and after type pictures where a full volume article of clothing is shown next to the compressed, bagged version...looks pretty convincing. The problem, of course, is that soft items are compressed within the suitcase whether in a bag or not. Suitcases have been performing this compression "magic" on their own for decades!

i suspect that many run out to buy these things with the enthusiasm expressed by sweetkate but after one trip, they end up in the rubbish bin with all the other unnecessary plastic bags and containers that proliferate in our world.

Just a heads up-- there's a rumor floating around London, Vienna, and especially Paris. They're saying that Americans wear the RATTIEST underwear of anyone! How did we get that reputation? It's worse than white tennis shoes.

David, if you take minis instead of heavy black slacks, you can pack more stuff in your bag to take back home. Honest!

If you'd all just stop wearing those mini-skirts, the underwear wouldn't be a problem!

The best travel advice ever written, courtesy of the late Douglas Adams:
<b>DON'T PANIC!</b>

(That, and always know where your towel is.)

Seriously, there is a great deal of wisdom in those two little words. Even if your best-laid plans go astray, just think of the great adventure story you'll be able to tell for the rest of your life!

One last piece of advice: If you lose your passport, and have looked everywhere for it, go back to the first place you looked. You just didn't look hard enough the first time.

I purchased the special plastic bags for travel and found them too heavy and cumbersome. I find the 2-gallon size of Ziploc bags (usually available at Wal-Mart) do the same job with less weight and bother. As I said in my earlier post, I especially use them to pack anything that might get snagged by other items in the suitcase, such as my favorite black knit cardigan.
I do not use them to save space--just for organization and protection, but if you want to save space, then just sit on the bag to squeeze out the extra air.
An added plus to using plastic bags is that your clothing resists wrinkles. I don't know why, it just does.
I do not pack everything in plastic bags, because then it all slides around maddingly in my suitcase--I just pack the items I especially want to protect or keep together for some reason. I take extra bags to use for dirty items, snacks, or segregating all the brochures and other paper flotsam I seem to collect during a trip.
I wish I could follow the best travel tip, which is to take half of what you think you need. On my recent trip to England and Scotland, I could have gotten along well with 2 pairs slacks, 2 skirts, about 5 tops, 1 cardigan, and 2 pr. shoes/sandals. Of course, I did not do that!

Can you guys stand another &quot;undies&quot; tip?

When packing, I put mine in a ziplock bag so that if an airport screener has to go through my bag, he or she can easily see what is in there and my undies aren't laying all over the security counter. I have a second bag for the worn undies.

Make sure that you travel light enough (22 inch bag or smaller) so that you can carry your bags on board. There will never be any question as to where they are if you have them.

We purchased Travel Underwear a few years ago...socks also. Very comfortable, easy to wash in the sink and dries real quick. We did a 2 week trip to India with only 3 pairs of underwear to mess with. Great stuff.

I have also done the throw away trick on old underwear also.

Carry an empty soft bag with you in your suitcase. Comes in handy to take stuff home with you.

Throw away old undies
Buy several inflatable neck cushions from the $2.00 shop if you are doing lots of touring in vans etc. They can be used to cushion during bumpy rides.

visit with the following order...
people, sightseens, museums, family business, beaches, hotels......swimming pools, wineries specialy in summer day time....

Perhaps TMI, but my husband stopped wearing underwear several years ago...no doubt to avoid having to leave it behind in European hotels!

<i>Perhaps</i> TMI?

Wow Missypie, that is really gross! To each his own.

I actually like to use the clear plastic bags with zippers that many sheet sets come in. They have square side to them and so sweaters and shirts fit into them perfectly.
1jan1

Good grief, missypie, on a need to know basis, we didn't!!

My high school German host family Vater advised me well; &quot;Lay out all the clothing and money for your trip on your bed. Take only half of the clothes and take twice as much money and you will have a wonderful time.&quot;
And I did!!

Wow, missypie, you must pack a new pair of pants for him each day?

Don't the pants' seams rub his unmentionables? Add to this appropriate lotions in your luggage.

Send him to Overpackers Anonymous... or have his doctor to have a hygienne talk with him.