Packing for your Vacation Home Break

One of the joys of having your own vacation home is that you don't need to pack a giant suitcase. Eventually you will have your own selection of 'vacation home' clothes in your wardrobe, that you will leave there.

If this is the case (no pun intended!) then you will not have to pack a suitcase of clothes. You can fill it instead with your favorite books or foods, plus a few extras.

However, it can still be a dilemma to pack a suitcase even when we have our own vacation home, because of the 'extras'. Weight is always a problem when the travel is by air. Often, it is (some) women who have more of a problem with this than men, as hair dryers, hair irons and cosmetics are all heavy.

Putting aside all the information about passports, vaccinations and documents etc, we can add a note about luggage. If you are worried about it opening, or being opened, then a thick roll of scotch tape wound around it several times is a good precaution.

In some airports now, they offer a see-through wrap service, where the suitcase is thoroughly cling-wrapped over and over with only a handle left showing! This is fool proof; but it can also cause a problem as they won't let you travel with scissors in your hand luggage!

One more note about luggage: It is space-economical if you use a small back pack for your carry-on. This way you will not have to pack an extra back pack for excursions whilst on vacation. Wear a money belt to hold your passport and cash. It saves fishing in your bag and it really is much harder to lose it or have it stolen.

Keep your email address on your backpack and your suitcase. It is safer than an address. Electrical goods such as the world wide adaptor plug and your cell charger can go in the large suitcase.

Clothes to take are often a personal choice, so I will skip over them, except for a couple of comments. One comment is to point out that it is very wise to take one sarong and one bandanna. A sarong can double as beach mat, a beach towel, a sun protector while you sleep, a skirt, a sun dress or a wrap. A bandanna can be used as a hat for religious places, as a mask if the wind blows sand, as a hand towel or for any type of clean up. Both use very little space in your suitcase.

I must add, as a reminder, that when in strict Muslim countries (or Muslim mosques that you may wish to visit) you may not be able to wear shorts or show shoulders or hair. Take at least one 'cover-up' to meet these conditions; you can always buy in local markets if this is the case.

No-one likes to fill their case up with useless weight, but it is worth taking an insect repellent for dusk, sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat or shade and a first aid kit.

By first aid kit, I do not mean the big box called 'first aid kit' from the pharmacy - I mean one that you yourself have put together that is very small. Just band aids, diarrhea tablets, antiseptic cream, your prescription drugs and your own choice of medication in a small pack.

Once people have their own vacation get away, they usually leave their shoes at their own vacation home. If this is not your habit, then take one pair each of sandals, runners and dressy shoes.

One last tip: the type of implement that mountaineers often wear on their belts is a great emergency tool to have. These 'swiss knife' style tools have knife, can opener, scissors, tweezers, pliers - and, it seems, everything but a toothbrush! If you do take one, you will probably be thankful, but be sure to put it in your suitcase - it will not get through the carry-on bag check.