Any new packing tips?

[MagicalMom]

I know about the ziplock baggies. I'm looking for some different tips. I have taken all of my film out of their packs. It was 20 rolls, so it takes up a lot of room. I put them all in ziplock bags & packed extra bags incase we need them while away. I also unpacked the ponchos & put them in a large freezer size bag. I figured that would keep everything in my backpack dry after we take off the wet ponchos.

Any other ideas?

 

[ktglads]

Make sure you put your film in your carryon - don't want it to get exposed and ruin your pictures!

 

[MELSMICE]

Use a small collapsible cooler as a carry on - in fact, if you have a layover, use it to pack a lunch w/ some cold drinks & sandwiches.

Bring mail-in envelopes for your film & then you can mail it in for developing & have it there when you get home. This alleviates worrying about whether it will get ruined on the way home with the x-ray machine.

Put all your belts & socks inside your shoes that you are packing.

Pack all bathroom items (shampoo, hairspray, shower gels, toothpaste, etc.) in ziploc bags also in case they leak.

I'm sure many others have other packing ideas for you!

 

[dizkidz2]

This is a repacking idea I use. When you are packing to go home I separate the clothes into loads of laundry, so when we get home I just take the clothes down to the washer and unpack right in to the washer. This may take a little extra packing, but well worth it.

 

[bobcat]

Pack a collapsable laundry hamper. This helps to keep the room clutter free and is handy to go to the laundry room if needed.

 

[MagicalMom]

Bobcat, I was just reading in another post about the collapsable hamper. That sounds like a great idea. When we get home I can give it to my 12 yr old daughter, b/c the hamper in her bathroom is obviously too far away for her!

 

[bobcat]

When we get home I can give it to my 12 yr old daughter, b/c the hamper in her bathroom is obviously too far away for her!

LOL! I know what you mean!

If we don't keep ourselves organized in the room I would go nuts. I think I am going to try the shoe holder idea this trip.

 

[Sandy Feet]

LOL There's no hope. I put a basket in my son's room. He will drop his clothes EVERYWHERE in his room but not in the dang basket. In fact sometimes it looks like his clothes exploded off his body!

 

[tiggerfan58]

The hamper idea is a great one....we used it this past January....made it really easy to carry close to laundry room at the hotel.

 

[AlicesAdventures]

The collapsable hamper is great we just put the whole thing of dirty laundry in our roller dufflebag with our shoes. Goes straight to the laundry room when we get home.

 

[vhoffman]

Here's my idea for living out of a suitcase. I pack underwear in seperate ziploc bags--socks in one bag, underpants in another, and so on. Of course, a seperate bag for each item and each person. Do put the name on them, its amazing how much underwear all looks alike when smushed into a plastic bag. Then I fold an extra ziploc bag the same size inside each bag labeled "dirty". As an item is used and is dirty, just put it inside the "dirty" bag. I also place an Odor Eater inside each "dirty" bag. That might seem hilarous to some, especially the "laundry freaks" I've encountered on other boards. However, it keeps your suitcase from stinking, especially socks. Of course, if something's too stinky, I just throw it away. I detest washing out stuff in the hotel sink then having wet stuff hanging all over the room. But do be careful how you throw away your "dirties". About a year ago we were staying at a Marriott when my son had an accident in his underwear.I put the dirty underwear in that plastic bag they use for valet cleaning and set it outside the door. The next morning, along with our newspaper, we found a little bag with my son's underpants--all nice and clean! I had not noticed the laundry slip on the bag. Even though I didn't fill out the slip, there was a barcode on it identifying it as belonging to our room. They charged us $6.75 for this service! I could have bought a pack of ten at WalMart for that price!
Usually, our trips are 5 days or less. We can pack enough for that period of time without having to do a load of laundry. Of course, if we were going on longer trips we would make plans to do laundry during the trip. However, our trips are too short as it is without spending part of it in a laundrymat. When you come home, you'll have the same number of underwear bags as when you started (assuming you packed exactly what you needed), just in another bag. We used to put all dirty underwear in one of those plastic valet bags you get in the hotel room. Only problem is, when you go to leave, you have one giant bag of dirty clothes that won't fit inside the suitcase unless you sit on it (the suitcase, that is). I use the quart-sized bags rather than the half gallon. I find it easier to pack several small bags rather than one or two large ones. Oh, well, that's my attempt to be organized (believe me, it used to be worse!)

 

[clutter]

I bring a tote bag and a duffle bag in my suitcase. The tote bag is where all the "toiletries" go in the hotel room. You know, the benedryl, bandaids, and all that stuff that you may not need, but don't want to pay disney prices for! I used to back them in the tote bag, but now it's separate for x-rays. The duffel bag totes the dirty laundry home (make sure you bring one less bag than allowed on the way down!) and frees up suitcase space for all the extra stuff that accumulates over a trip.

The duffel also doubles as a hamper if I do laundry at the resort.

 

[StitchGirl88]

I told my mom to do this but she won't listen.
I told her to put all of there(mom and dads) in one suitcase a smaller one and put it in there biger one then that way we have an extra suitcase for dirty clothe and suveners(sp?) and i may just talk her into it.

 

[mlg32]

My sister-in-law gave me this tip but it is only useful if you are driving. I pack in rubbermaid totes, I am not sure the exact size but they are about $4 a piece at Walmart and they are great when you have little kids with all the extras you need like toys, bedtime books etc. We have a regular sized SUV and this vacation(our first to Disney) I am planning to use 2 for clothes, shoes fit great on the top soles facing up and I can also usually stick all the extras, like girls hair accessories and other toiletries in the totes too. I am also taking 2 half size totes for miscellaneous stuff. Once in the room I unpack and use one for dirty laundry hamper(also doubles as clothes basket). I also use smaller rubbermaid baskets for car games, snacks and DVDs they can all be transferred to the room to keep things organized. It definetly isn't nice luggage but it sure is convenient!

 

[dansyr]

I got this great little organizer at bed bath and beyond. It holds all your bathroom stuff in little slots. It unfolds into several different compartments and then folds back up to the size of a large makeup case. It also has a hook.... so when you get there...you can just open it up and hang it on the towel rack and all your stuff is right there.

 

[bubba's mom]

i always take: extension cords, nightlights and spray air freshener for the bathroom..... took 'em on our cruise and last vacation-always seem to come in handy!

 

[luvthatduke]

My mother always ships at least one suitcase
full of clothing home at the end of her trips.
She just packs what she doesn't need for
the last few days, and takes the whole thing
to a local Mailbox, Etc. or similar packing/shipping store.

It convinced me when I saw her get on the
plane with just her one carry-on!

She's done this several times with no problems,
her suitcase arrives in it's box a few days
after she arrives home.
I believe she's also shipped her dirty laundry, too!

And thanks for the advice Re: Rubbermaid boxes
instead of suitcases! I'd been told this before but
had forgotten about it. We're driving in November
and I've put that advice at the top of my
packing list as a reminder