Pack that there and this here!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and for most of the country it’s also starting to feel a lot like Christmas too. We’ve hit our high temperature of 4 for the day here in Minnesota already, that isn’t a typo, its four degrees today. If that doesn’t make you start to think about the holidays then maybe wrapping gifts get you in the holiday spirit. We’ve talked about how travel makes a great gift, which is still true, but you’ll still need to wrap it and give it to the person (we’ve had fun wrapping pictures of the different locations and giving those as gifts) and would love to hear your creative ideas for wrapping the gift of travel.

Gift wrapping is always a bit like playing a game of Tetris to get everything to fit just right. When you think about it, it’s pretty similar to packing for a vacation. Trying to fit everything in your luggage or carry-on bag can be a game too. We’ve gotten a lot of questions recently about what should go in checked luggage and what should go on a carry-on bag. Let’s unwrap some of those questions and see what answers are inside.

Carry-on bag (or in some parts of the world, hand luggage):

Anything you will need access to while you are in the airport or on the plane. This includes your boarding pass, passport, ID, cash, credit cards, etc. Keep these with you.

A good rule of thumb when packing your carry-on bag is to pack things to keep yourself healthy and entertained. We always pack things that can’t be easily replaced when we get to our destination. For example we could go to almost any store and get toothpaste but it will be unlikely that we could walk into a pharmacy and easily pick up a prescription medication in the right dosage.

Glasses & contacts

Medication- it is recommended to keep these in their original bottles.

Any medical equipment or devices you may use- check with the airline or your travel agent if you have questions.

Electronics & chargers- consider bringing a power pack with you as airport outlets are often occupied and the airplane may not have power for you to charge your device.

Earphones- many airlines offer in-flight entertainment either on their screens or over WiFi on your own device. Either way you’ll need earphones.

Jewelry & valuables

Reusable water bottle- fill it up after you pass security.

Snacks- we recommend bringing a few snacks for the plane. Most airlines have snacks for sale but you may not like what they have or may not want to pay for it. It is easier to bring your own.

Pen, Sharpie and small notebook- you never know when you will need it.

If you’re traveling internationally, many people also like to pack a change of clothes in their carry-on bag so that they are fresh for their arrival.

Checked Luggage:

Shoes

Clothes

Toiletries larger than the TSA requirements

Bulky items like coats

Anything sharp

Curling irons, hair dryers, and other items used for personal beauty care.

Things you won’t need until you get to your destination

We also recommend packing a little bit of bubble wrap in your luggage. It takes up almost no space and no weight, just put it around the edges of your suitcase. This way you will have it when you are on your vacation and buy a fragile gift or souvenir that needs to be protected on the way home.

You may also want to include a piece of paper with your address and contact information inside your checked bag in case your luggage tag should accidentally get torn off.

We hope this helps make your travel packing a bit easier and helps set you up for success on your upcoming travels.