Packing light - what are your tips?

[flying_babyb]

Roll everything. Actully what works well for me was getting gallon zip lock bags and putting a whole days clothes (socks undergarments shorts tee) inside then sealing all but one corner and smushing it (like a space bag). Was not only a space saver but a time saver. Space bags are great.

 

[seus-mouse]

Thanks for all the good ideas
We usually drive and this year DH found a low mileage Chevy prizm '02 with only 20k on it so the gas mileage is great. YET, my girls and I are used to filling a mini-van with roof racks or a conversion van. So I told them we have to pack like Dad, He can wear the same two pair of shorts and three shirts and live in flip flops for a 13 day trip...

Our Go-Lite Disney trek.
Thanks,
Holly

 

[ebloom]

Thanks for all the great tips. We are going to try to do carry on only for our trip in October (9 days). Hope we can do it with all your great ideas.

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

Thank you Twitterpated Dad and Luv2Diz. I will check those out. I'm really liking the idea of wearing something other than jeans since I have to wear jeans for work and I wear them at home, it would be nice to wear something else on vacation, especially if it's light, takes up less room in the carry on or backpack and I can wash it out in the sink or stream.

I'm always amazed and thankful for the great advice and help that we get here on the boards.

 

[MapleGirl]

Roll everything. Actully what works well for me was getting gallon zip lock bags and putting a whole days clothes (socks undergarments shorts tee) inside then sealing all but one corner and smushing it (like a space bag). Was not only a space saver but a time saver. Space bags are great.

Hmmm.... I really like this idea of storing outfits in zip top bags. I might do this next time. It's just DH and I, but we tend to change clothes halfway through the day (after our afternoon nap back at the hotel). I end up packing a lot of clothing for the two of us. I'm also neurotic about planning and packing, so this might amuse me for a few days!

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

I've been using the ziplock bags for years. They work great. One year we went to Jamiaca back when they went through your luggage at the airport down there in front of everyone. They just lined up your bags on these wooden benches and started going through all the suitcases while everyone is standing around watching. Well, everything I had packed was in ziplocks so they just pulled out the bags and looked through the suitcase and put the bags back in - neat and tidy and nobody sees too much. The couple next to us, meanwhile, have all of the their unmentionables strewn all over the bench for everyone to see, some of them fall on floor (Yuk!). She was so embarrassed. She looked over at us and said that she had never thought of packing with ziplocks but after having been through that experience she was never packing without them again. Just another reason to use them.

 

[AngelBabyJana]

I've been using the ziplock bags for years. They work great. One year we went to Jamiaca back when they went through your luggage at the airport down there in front of everyone. They just lined up your bags on these wooden benches and started going through all the suitcases while everyone is standing around watching. Well, everything I had packed was in ziplocks so they just pulled out the bags and looked through the suitcase and put the bags back in - neat and tidy and nobody sees too much. The couple next to us, meanwhile, have all of the their unmentionables strewn all over the bench for everyone to see, some of them fall on floor (Yuk!). She was so embarrassed. She looked over at us and said that she had never thought of packing with ziplocks but after having been through that experience she was never packing without them again. Just another reason to use them.

I really like the idea of using the ziplock bags to pack, it seems like a great way to keep everything organized, the kids can just grab a bag each morning and get dressed.

For those that use the ziplocks, does that make your luggage heavier? Seems like you can pack a lot more that way, and I am afraid of going over our 50 lb weight limit. Our suitcases seems heavy even when they are empty ...... so I know that I will have to be careful about this.

We are each checking a suitcase, and the kids will each have their backpack with a few small items inside (snack, small activity/puzzle book, Nintendo DS's, their IPods, and swimsuit).

Now any ideas on how to get all those souvenirs home? We were thinking about putting 2 folding tote/duffle bags in the bottom of our luggage - then on the way home, DH & I can use these as carry ons. What does everyone else do for all those items that you "collect" while at Disney? (With 3 kids, and our first trip to Disney, this could be a problem).