‘Unpack half the clothes and take twice the money’
A call out to readers on packing tips led to an extraordinary response, heated discussions and some great advice.
A few weeks ago, I confessed to being a bad packer and asked for help from our readers for an upcoming trip with my family. I did not think much of it at the time – I was simply hoping for some good advice – but the response I got was quite extraordinary.
The first email arrived on Saturday morning at 9.02am, from the lovely Peita Hatch, who advised me step by step on what layers I should pack and even which shops to buy said layers from.
It soon became apparent my column had touched a nerve. Over the next week more emails lobbed. Dozens of comments appeared on my story online, there were debates in our editorial office and even a subsequent radio interview on the subject.
Heated discussions ensued on whether you should roll or fold and whether carry-on only was the best approach. A surprising number of people – men and women – also admitted to being poor packers, which made me feel much better.
“This is my problem too,” wrote one reader. “I am reading the comments with enormous interest. I always seem to pack half a suitcase I don’t use.”
The most common feedback concerned how to pack when travelling to a colder climate: carry your winter coat and wear your heaviest shoes on the plane.
An impressive number of people instructed me on how I could survive with one carry-on bag. Packing cubes were popular, with planned outfits in each one, and almost everyone advised “decanting” toiletries into smaller containers. I even learnt about the
5-4-3-2-1 method (five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two outer layers and one dress).
Some responses made me laugh while others were out of left field. One person suggested ditching the winter coat and wearing extra large Deep Heat back patches instead.
Other ideas included posting clothes ahead when going on an extended holiday, and packing old clothes and throwing them away throughout a trip.
But the best tip I received was from Brian Farthing over email – pure genius.
“Dear Milanda, in a long life of 93 years and my fair share of travel, my secret to packing for a holiday is just before you leave, unpack half the clothes and take twice the money. It works every time.”
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