Traveling with order?

24 08 2010

Trying to travel light

“Where’s my charger? I can’t find my blue tshirt! I was sure it was in here. Have you seen it? Did it get muddled in your clothes?”

“No, Robyn. I haven’t seen your charger or your shirt. Didn’t you check under the bed?”

“Ugh! I am getting so sick of this!”

I had been traveling for eight months and my backpack was starting to look like the inside of a martini shaker and my travel buddy was getting tired of my constant scavenger hunt. To my defense, moving from hostels was usually early in the morning on little sleep or repacking for climbs into the mountains.

This inevitably meant the shirt I needed or the pants I needed next time were on the bottom. The backpack would get emptied…..again! And then one day in Cusco, Peru I met a man with his act together. I know…shocking. His clothes? Not in a muddled bundle like mine. Nope. He had them all sorted into separate compartments and bags. Brilliant.

Eagle Creeks Cube which can help keep your clothes and shoes organized

Me? I was unpacking my entire bag. It was an exhausting affair that managed to claim more than enough of my shirts (there is a blue one floating around Bali) and converters (there’s one still plugged-in in Selcuk, Turkey). What did this mean? When I got to the next destination I had to re-purchase what I lost.

I wasted time and money on re-organising my affairs when I could have just visited The Harbourmaster and Sheilagh Robertson for her Travel Tip Tuesdays.

Mobile Lockers for organizing your clothes!

“We all tend to pack too much when we travel. The new 50 lb weight limit on airlines has made it more important to plan more carefully before traveling.

“Eagle Creek “Pack-it” organizers help organize your suitcase more efficiently by enabling you to:

-group and pack coordinating items together,

-fold shirts neatly,

-roll up the socks and underwear,

-and pack toiletries in small containers suitable for carry-on bags.”

Pictured on the left these range in size and prize from $55 to $62.50 at The Harbourmaster on the ground floor of the Washington Mall in Hamilton.

“The organizer cubes come in various sizes, big enough for large sweaters, or small for lingerie. There is even a suit folder that is more compact than the traditional garment bag but ideal for a blazer or single suit.”

Sheilagh added: “By packing your coordinating items together you will find it easier to eliminate the items that don’t mix and match that just add weight to your bag.”

Are you traveling for business? Or need to keep your shirts clean and unwrinkled? The Harbourmaster is at your rescue. These shirt folders (below) offer almost flat cases for folding your shirts in perfect harmony with the inside instruction sheet (second photo below). The cost of looking pulled-together? For an 18 inch folder: $43. For a 14inch: $37.50.

Keeping your shirts pressed and folded

With a handy instruction sheet included

I could definitely have used the cubes for my trip! Remember The Harbourmaster is located on the ground floor of the Washington Mall near the Washington Alley entrance!





Place the wine glass in…

28 06 2010

a zip lock bag. Wrap the sweater around it. Hide it in the winter jacket.

Stuff it at the bottom of the bag. Shoes are hiding underneath. The utility bag goes on top.

Wine Tasting in Chile

What am I talking about? Trying to fit my life in a backpack for a year. And yes the wine glass from Concha y Toro made it back to Bermuda.

In that vein today’s Rock Fever Column takes-on packing and…..a few more tips from those who know:

The New York Times recently covered the “Art of packing” by who else? A stewardess! What’s the number one tip?

Roll, Roll, Roll, your clothes! It saves space and your clothes.

Others? Layer, layer, layer. Winter clothes are the worst to pack! So much stuffing. So bring long underwear and layer the clothes and the winter jacket can be a minimum.

From the travel site Gadling? Create a travel drawer. Good idea especially when I am always searching for my chargers and vaccine booklet.

Stock it with travel-size shampoos and a first-aid kit.

Need a computer? Don’t forget the ethernet. Though to be fair most places now have WiFi so…don’t stress if you forget.

Need to bring jewelry with you? Well include a typical pill-box and each of these compartments can store your important pieces.

Do you have any good packing tips? How do you prepare for a trip?