I pack my cloths/camera gear one week before a trip. I test my camera gear and portable PC a month before the trip.

The hard part is waiting to leave for me Because I really do not have anthing to do except go to work and count the days.

So when do pack for your trip? The day before you leave?

Bill

I normally pack the night before, but we're going to try the Rick Steves method and try and pack everything into a carry-on. This will be a real challenge for my wife as we frequently drive to our destinations where we have few limitations on what she can bring (she will probably start at least a week in advance).

Hi Bill from NYC! I'll typically put things (but not clothes) aside in a designated place the week beforehand. I do this because, of course, I tend to think of things when I'm at or on my way to work, at the grocery, on the phone, or whenever and then I'll jot it down on a post-it Note which I carry around in my pocket. When I get home I'll put those things aside too.

As for the clothes, I typically know what I'll be packing so I leave that 'til the day before or even the day of the flight if that flight is late in the afternoon. But still, I'll push those hanging clothing items to one end of the rod in the closet. I don't like to put my clothes in the suitcase until the last moment simply because I ABSOLUTELY HATE WRINKLES and certainly don't want to spend my first day in Spain ironing those same clothes. If I fold my pants and shirts with exceptional care, down precise lines, I can usually get away pull them out of the luggage upon arrival with virtually no wrinkles.

I always put my passport, tickets (if they aren't E-tickets, which is usually the case), and any leftover Euros, metrobus passes, and contact names/numbers/email addresses in a large ziplock bag and put that in my suitcase FIRST, days before leaving so that these very important items won't be overlooked in the hustle-and-bustle of packing. Putting them in a large ziplock bag keeps everything together and keep them very visible.

Don't forget your plug adapter for your camera/portable PC cable to plug that into the wall in Spain/wherever.

Good luck! Saludos, MadridMan

It doesn't seem to matter when I pack...I'm going to overpack no matter what! But, I'm getting better.

How?

About a week before my trip I start laying out all the clothes I want to take with me on a bed. Then, everyday or so, as I pass the pile of items that I originally intended to take on my journey, I start taking items out of the pile. By the end of the week, there is a lot less than at the start. It allows me to take, basically, the essentials with a few extra items.

The most important thing, however, is that I have to decide which color shoes I need to take...and stick to that one pair (excluding the shoes I'm wearing at the time).

By the night before the trip...a lighter and more carefully selected wardrobe!

Sheryl

This is one of the most interesting post that I have seen on this board in a long time. In the early 70s when I was stationed in Spain we were a combat rotational unit. It got to the point that I could pack and be on the plane in less than one hour. Mrs. Dweller is like MM and starts several days in advance. In 2003 one of my Torrejon buddies and I took the wives and went back for the first time since coming home in '74. The wives had never been to Spain. Both women started to pack and get ready several days in advance. Both men packed the morning of departure. Bear in mind they live in Tulsa and we live in Phoenix, neither knew what the other couple were doing or how they were preparing. When we got to Madrid both women needed to run out and pick up a few things they had forgotten. Both men had everything, and were ready to see the sights. So there is something to be said for that USAF deployment training.

By the way, it was when the women needed to "run out and pick up a few things" that one of them asked what El Corte Ingles was. I chimed in and said it was a thrift store like the Goodwill, or Salvation Army and managed to keep a straight face. That worked ok at keeping them out of those places until the last two days of the trip.Theeennn they found out what was in there. Those credit cards are still aching from that afternoon of shopping.

I start the packing process while unpacking. I fill the toiletries before putting the bag away. 90% of my non-clothing travel items stay in the bag and are always ready for the next trip!

Clothing goes into the bag the night or two before.

Procrastinating college student here.... i typically pack (start and finish!) a couple hours before I have to leave for the airport. Yes, this technique was put to the ultimate test when I somehow managed to pack 2 stuffed suitcases for a semester long stay in Spain less than an hour before my airport shuttle left!

Kelly

Normally I'm already half-packed at all times by having all my toiletries together at all times and ready to go. All I need do is add clothes and go. But because this trip is longer than normal, and I have to be a bit more concerned with luggage weight restrictions, I needed more planning.

Actually, I guess you could say I started "packing" in June. Started buying/setting aside all the things I would need and placing them in the spare bedroom. Now I have everything I need. This weekend I did a sort of "packing test" to see if I met the weight restrictions. (On BA checked baggage has to be less than 50 pounds and carry on 12 pounds or less) It also gave me the opportunity to go over everything and toss what I absolutely do not feel I will need.

I'll pack everything the day before I leave - and I allow all day for it. I put on some relaxing music, maybe have a glass of wine - anything so I don't feel rushed and hurried. That way I don't forget anything and everything ends up where it's supposed to be. I've never liked packing at the last minute as I always end up forgetting things!

Reading the replies make me think the way we live is how we pack too. The reason why I pack a week before is because of work, not because I am organized person. Far from it!

Anytime I start my vacation I usually and have been doing it for the last five years, I fly out that Friday night and usually leave work early the same day. So during the week Monday - Thursday the chances are I will be coming home late from work and really do not have the time to pack. Once I did not packed my camera gear over the weekend and the Wednesday before me flight, I was up until three in the morning packing it and only had two hours of sleep before I had go to work. I recall the Friday night flight to Milan I passed out on the fight for the lack of sleep.

This weekend I going down to the basement to check out the suitcase, my travel camera bag and the travel gear which I have not used or seen since six months ago when I used it last.

Hopefully I do not have any surprises and I did early this year when I found my shaving kit bag was damage and I need a new one.

Bill

My philosophy for packing is to pack incredibly light, 'cause you'll definitely be doing a lot of shopping when you're there! (Well, at least I will!) And hey, ya wanna fit in, right? I leave for Granada in 2 weeks (for 3 1/2 months! YAY!) and I plan on taking very little... and buying what I don't have. Teehee.

Forgot something! Make sure you bring whatever pain killers you need, 'cause you're not going to find the same ones in Spain! For instance, I can't live without Excedrin Migraine, or else I may as well decapitate myself right here and now. They don't sell Tylenol and what-not in stores there... you have to go to the pharmacy. They kinda scare me.. they shouldn't, I know, but they do!

Not only are pain meds restricted to pharmacies, but they are plenty expensive.

I have a friend in Madrid who asks me to bring Walgreens aspirin from time. 3 bucks for 500 on sale!

Gosh, all this talk about packng and I think I'm ready...but my trip isn't until June '06 so I guess I should ease up!!

So, my questions is...WHAT are you packing your guys' stuff in? What TYPES of suitcases work best for you??

We're (me and husband) going for 10 days...want to buy plenty there and be fairly mobil but not quite back back style...any tips on types of luggage and places/sites for good travel gear would be great!!

Hello tclearn3,

I follow professional travel guide, Rick Steve's advice: pack light! After following this advice on several trips, my advice to you is pack light, the less you take with you will mean the less you have to lug around with you. One small suitcase allows you so much more flexibility in your travels.

What suitcase to take? I bought a very sturdy Ricardo suitcase with very sturdy wheels and big enough to place either under the airline seat or above in the baggage compartment. I can't emphasize the word "sturdy" enough. Test it out before you go and see if it's comfortable to tote it around with you for a day. My son carried a duffle bag, he's strong!

Check with your airline for the dimensions of your carry on luggage. Doing so means that you can forego the long wait in baggage claim.

What to wear? Keep in mind, you are a tourist, so safety, comfort and convenience should be your mantra. Unless you are going to attend a concert or a family event, such as a wedding, forego any formal wear.

As a woman, I usually decide on one color scheme to coordinate my clothing. For my last trip, in December, my color scheme was black/red/cream. My son packed around the color blue, he looked fantastic the whole time.

The hotels we stayed had laundry facilities and in Madrid we did visit a coin laundry called Onda Blu, which also had internet facilities.

When we left, we also wanted to avoid the long lines and bother of claiming luggage. So we mailed most of my heavy stuff like books, clothes and souvenirs.

If you plan to buy a lot, buy a suitcase in Spain to place your new items, and take them with you.

Have a fantastic trip!

For me because I into photography, I have to take two bags.

The suitcase, has my cloths and a tripod. I check that in. I carry on the plane a large camera bag for my camera gear and portable PC. This is the stuff I would never check in.

Bill

I am just itching to get packing. I leave Thursday for 17 days in Seville and can't wait to get started. I won't do my clothes until the day before I leave but I have packed up shoes and other things I won't be using. These last few days are going by sooooo slowly

Angela

I charge my camera batteries about 3 days before I go. Get the rest of my stuff out and inventoried the day before. Do the actual packing the morning of travel (coming from the USA, I fly overnight).

I, too, am a firm believer in carry-on packing. Not having to wait for baggage gets you through customs a lot faster.

My wife and I each take one carry-on. One 22-inch w/wheels for overhead storage, and a smaller bag underseat with anything we might need on the flight in it.

This is for a 1-week trip...but I'm sure we could do it for longer.

i used to do the carry-on only routine...but i just can't leave my trusty swiss army knife behind. i guess i could buy a cheapie when i land and toss it when i leave...not being able to carry-on anything sharp is a real hassle...
that being said...i keep all my basic travel supplies together and am able to pack and go in under 10 minutes...

Wow. I could never do that! Mostly due to the fact that 99% of the time I forget the most basic things even when I'm just going to class or something...

When I pack for my trips (and especially when I went to Spain for 6 months), I usually start about 2 weeks before. I'm used to living in and out of a suitcase (moving back and forth between home and school a lot), so I throw all my "most forgotten" things (lotion, address book, nail clippers, etc.) into my suitcase and pull them out if I need to use them. Then, about 3 days before I leave I do my laundry and make a list of the clothes, etc. that I want to bring. I start putting things in my suitcase the night before (to avoid MM's dreaded wrinkles! )

I still don't know how I managed to come BACK from 6 months in spain with only a large suitcase and a hiking backpack (not a very large one!)

One more thing. We're not major travelers - we only take about 1 trip to Europe a year, but we keep a packing list from trip to trip with only minor changes. This really helps cut down on the lead time needed, sincew we just pull out the list when it's time to assemble everything.

We carry the list with us -- if we discover an omission ("We should have brought that!") during the trip, I pencil it in and update it when we get home.

Night before

Anytime I think of something, I throw it in the "stuff for Spain" drawer. But clothes-wise, I pack late the night before.

I am a big procrasinator. So I actually pack in the hours before I leave. Since international flights leave Chicago around 5 p.m., the day of I am up at 9 a.m., watch Oprah while I make a list of what I need to bring, have lunch, then it's a race against the clock with my heart beating fast until the moment I sit myself down at the departure gate. It's harrowing, but I haven't been able to do it any other way.

My friends make fun and always call me to ask if I'm doing laundry at 4 a.m. the night before the flight.

Any important advice on Must-Haves for a semester in Granada? I'll have one LARGE rolling suitcase, a large backpack, and a smaller weekend-size backpack. I'd like to know what to leave out! I'd like to not have to shop a lot there, I want to spend my money on side-trips during our 3-day weekends.

I travel for 5 weeks sept-oct, I used to take hand luggage only, But because I always take my SA Knife,manicure stuff etc. I have to check bags in.
So now I pack all my clothes in my maximum size Carry rollalong/Rucksac bag, which in turn is packed inside my Rollalong Samsonite case. I use a Courier style shoulder bag for hand luggage.
On the return Journey the Courier bag(folded) goes in the Samsonite and the Rucksac becomes hand luggage. Thus allowing plenty of room for those bargains!!! I check in about 8k on way out and about 16k on return.
As for clothes, I have a "travel wardrobe", that I always take,colour base is Black & Gold.4/5 tops,2 skirts and 2 light silky trousers. 1 pr gold sandals,swimwear & 2 Sarongs. This gives the opportunity to make up several outfits. I wear trekking Flip flops and trousers with zip off bottoms for any journeys.I wash clothes as I travel. Nothing I take needs ironing.

I am one who leaves the bags mostly packed. I am constantly in a state of packing/unpacking because I travel so much. If I need to buy something new for my trip I never buy it before I go, I wait until I get over. I do agree about taking your own OTC meds, they are much more expensive in Europe. After so many trips, I know what is much cheaper to take and what I can just buy over there.