subject: Packing for Road Trips [print this page] Packing for Road Trips Packing for Road Trips
Recently, my family had a reunion, and I acted as the main shuttle for people who were flying in from different parts of the country. When I went to pick up my aunt, uncle and cousin, I was not too shocked when I saw my aunt standing there with what can only be described as the kind of suitcase one would use to hide several bodies in while traveling. I was lucky that her suitcase- her one suitcase- even fit into my car with the rest of her items!
Whenever you are traveling, as a general rule of thumb, it is always best to pack light. In today's day and age, this is even more pertinent as many airline agencies have actually started charging people for extra luggage and carry-ons, etc. Besides this, we are currently living in a world where you could potentially get away with not bringing any luggage at all due to the fact that you can purchase most (if not all) of the items that you need no matter where your final destination is. For example, toiletries, clothing, prescriptions, etc. All of these can be acquired at your final destination (if you are flying nationally versus internationally of course). Why, with my extensive travels to various parts of North Carolina, I have seen at least a dozen CVS, Walgreens and RiteAid pharmacies within a three block radius of one another at all times.
In essence, a list helps you keep track of your items. For a longer trip of more than three days, you'll want to remember the staples: plenty of underwear, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste. In the event that you ever get stuck somewhere, it is always a lifesaver to make sure that you have plenty of fresh underwear and socks. After all, you can wear the same pair of jeans over and over again for a week- (and most of us do), but I wouldn't try to do the same with undergarments.
Due to restrictions at airports, you are no longer allowed to bring large bottles of water on board the plane. However, it is important to stay hydrated. If you are unsure of any of the items that you are or aren't allowed to bring with you, it doesn't hurt to call up the airline ahead of time. If you're anything like me and you hate dealing with automated phone services or being transferred a bunch of times on the phone, many airlines also offer up these tips on their websites. All it takes is a couple of clicks of your mouse to figure out what is and isn't acceptable on board a plane. When all is said and done, packing lighter is always the better option because it means less time that you have to spend at the airport baggage claim waiting for your bag to surface. Additionally, it greatly reduces your risk of losing any baggage while in transit.
