STYLISH GENTLEMAN
or shaver, toothbrush and comb means you
won’t be stuck. Most chain hotels will provide
the other essentials for you and so it’s not
worth packing these unless you have to. Hair
gels can be hard to get in some places however,
so if you use these it’s always worth keeping a
spare in your travel kit.
When it comes to packing my advice is always
go as light as possible. By making good use of
hotel or local laundry services (The latter are
generally much cheaper), and by choosing
clothes that can do double duty you should be
able to pack for up to two weeks just using
carry-on luggage.
Travelling with carry-on only makes for a
much more relaxed time. You avoid the long
waits at the baggage carousels, and you know
your bags are not going to go missing or be
broken into. For people travelling
internationally this can be a real problem,
especially for some countries. For example I
would never pack anything valuable into
checked luggage if I am going into or through
the USA. By train a smaller bag is more easily
stowed above the seat, removing the problems
of finding a space to store your bag and the risk
of it being stolen. If you do leave luggage at the
ends of compartments then I’d advise both
putting it up as high as you can manage and
using a small, lightweight bike lock to secure it.
Travel Essentials
Any checked luggage will get battered and
damaged, so choose carefully. A beautiful soft
leather case may look fantastic when new but
will it still look as good when it’s been through a
few long haul flights? I have a Globe Trotter
case which ages very gracefully so I can be
relaxed when it appears on the carousel with a
few extra scrapes.
If you do decide to check luggage then keep the
essentials in your carry-on. A spare shirt,
underwear and toothbrush will see you through
24 hours if your luggage gets misdirected and
you can always buy whatever else you may
need. Just remember to keep receipts and get
reimbursed from the airline.
Packing itself is a bit of an art. I know people
who swear by rolling their clothes, but it’s not
Luggage is an important choice, and I’d
something I have a lot of success with. If you
strongly advise a wheeled case with a briefcase
can make it work then more power to you. It is
that can slip over the carrying handle. A holdall
probably the best way to pack. I carefully fold
can be very stylish, but it becomes hard to
shirts and trousers inside a packing envelope.
manage if you have a bag in each hand and
There are many companies that offer these, and
you’re trying to also manage passports, tickets
I find they do a great job of keeping things as
and a drink. Much better to have a 4 wheeled
crease-free as possible and also protect from
case that can stand up without you holding it
any spills or other mishaps that might happen
and which you can easily lift up and down
in transit.
stairs.
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