Wyndham Wisdom

I am "THE MASTER PACKER".

It's hard to remember which airlines will let you take what size bag on board, and which carrier is charging what for the first piece of luggage and the over-stuffed suitcase and ... Well, you get it. The list goes on. (whew! I'm already exhausted ... you?)

If you are anything like me, you avoid checking your luggage at all costs. When I think of packed luggage, I immediately imagine myself in line waiting, and eventually wondering why my luggage is in Hawaii while I'm back in New Jersey, which, of course, I paid to check in the first place. It's not a pretty picture.

So, packing for a business trip has become an art form for me.

My husband calls me the "master packer". I think it suits me. I can pack an entire week's worth of business attire into one carry-on piece of luggage. I rarely over-pack and I rarely have to wear something more than once (jackets not included).

So what's my secret? First, everything I bring is a neutral color. Boring...yes! Adaptable...yes! When I am putting together my "outfits", I make sure that I can mix and match everything so that I feel like I have the same flexibility on the road as I do when I am standing in my own closet.

I always throw in a light-weight colorful scarf or two as well as a sweater to brighten up any outfit. These take up little space and you never know when you will need them. I also bring some fun jewelry to give my outfits a little more personality. Those items go with me on the plane and take no space up in the suitcase at all. (Another tip -- ladies, carry a large purse and store your jewelry, folded into the scarf inside an interior pocket.)

As for packing, this is where the creativity comes in. I believe stacking is big no-no. The flatter your clothes, the more you can fit in your suitcase. I know some people believe in the rolling concept, but I am now a grown up and simply cannot get past rolling up my business clothes.

Slacks should be folded only once and laid flat in the bottom of the suitcase, and then staggered to cover the entire bottom. Skirts, sweaters, blouses should also be folded in half and staggered; try not to make high piles. Don't lose that valuable space in the middle and corners of the luggage!

Now, the dreaded blazer. Jackets can be tricky. I have found they do best on the top folded in half length wise. I love shoes, but not when it means checking my luggage to bring them along. I try to keep it simple and if I have neutral outfits I should not need more than one or two pairs of shoes.

Now it is time for the real soul searching. Do you work out? Are you going to work out on this trip? Seriously - are you going to get up, go to the gym and work out? Do you pack your sneakers every trip and then they never leave your suit case? It's your call. If you do pack your work out stuff, put your socks into your sneakers and find those unused pockets in your suitcase for your workout clothes.

We've almost got the perfect bag packed. Now remember, the TSA still has some pretty strict rules about carry-on items so be careful what you have in your cosmetic bag. You can only bring limited amounts of liquid and gels on board so you may not be able to bring everything that you need. Your best bet is to go online and find out exactly what your hotel offers. If your hotel is providing a hair conditioner plus shampoo, you will be able to eliminate those items from your bag.

I hope these tips work for you, but not everyone can be a "master packer". Some people need to have more options and do not mind the checked luggage route! I suppose that patience is a virtue.

Published: Endless Vacation May/June 2008 Issue