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VIRGO Travellers
Write Lists!
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As a Virgo, a star sign renown for female list writers,
holidays provide me with the perfect opportunity for extensive list writing, I even
have lists of lists. For those of you who do not revel in list writing and find final
holiday trip preparations tiresome and stressful, here are some ready-made lists:
Before you go, remember
to: (not in any particular order)
| Arrange any visas |
Arrange mail collection |
| Arrange lawns to be cut, rubbish cleared
etc. |
Put suitable message on answer phone |
| Photocopy your passport info credit card
details and emergency numbers to call if either are stolen. Keep one in your luggage
and leave one with a friend, together with copy of your itinerary. |
Double check your credit cards and passport
re expiry date
Buy film and new battery for your camera |
| Organise money - get some local currency
so you don't have to go to Bureau de Change on arrival just to get change for a baggage
trolley! |
Have any vaccinations needed
Arrange any prescriptions
Purchase any gifts for hosts etc. |
Book pet accommodation
Check your travel insurance |
Put clothes out, anything need dry-cleaning
or washing? Clean shoes, get re-heeled if needed. |
| Decide if you need to buy an electrical
adapter for countries you are visiting (hair dryer,razor etc) |
Get your hair cut/coloured etc.
Visit to beautician - dye eyelashes, leg wax, nails, etc. |
| Arrange car storage or transport to Airport
- allow lots of time for a little bit of duty-free shopping! |
Empty fridge
Store valuables in safe place |
| Don't forget to check electrical
appliances are off before leaving home! They probably are off, but this way you won't
worry all the way to the airport about the iron being left on!! Leave a key with
trusted neighbour! |
Put labels on luggage and mark with either
bright tape or coloured ribbon for easy identification |
| Remember to Pack: |
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Passport
Camera and film |
Driver's licence
Business cards |
| Vaccination certificates |
Credit Cards, traveller's cheques and
cash |
| Air tickets if not electronic, airpoints
card |
Any vouchers for hotels and car |
| Guide books and maps |
Sun screen |
| Tiny powerful torch - especially useful
where power supply is dodgy or for walking home after dinner on tropical island |
Tiny powerful torch - especially useful
where power supply is dodgy or for walking home after dinner on tropical island |
| Prescription and first aid stuff, special
blister plasters |
Contact phone number for credit company
(lost cards) and travel insurance. |
| Any telephone calling cards or your phone
and charger (need adapter |
Pocket knife (useful for opening bottles
etc. but don't pack in carry-on luggage, likewise with nail scissors) |
| Wee sewing kit (hotel size) |
Glasses (spare), sun glasses |
| Address book so you can send postcards
to envious friends |
Washing powder and stain remover if appropriate |
| I also take a cake of our bath soap as
we hate the teeny weeny slivers you get in hotels |
Teabags, if you have a favorite brand |
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Essentials for your
Carry-on Luggage:
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In my carry-on luggage I always
have:
A change of clothes (T shirt, knickers etc.), togs
(if going to a beach or there will be a hotel pool), nightwear, jewellery
(minimal and not best), toileteries, medication and makeup (put latter in
see-through bag, so much easier to find the lippy). If things do get lost, you are not completely stuck,
also if plane is delayed overnight you can go to hotel without waiting for your luggage!
- To combat dry stale air in the plane,
take some fav creams and lotions - foot cream for tired feet, a good moisturiser,
lip balm and eye drops are a fab idea. Also industrial strength ear plugs help make
your flight more pleasant and an eye shade - it may look a little odd but makes the
world of difference for long haul travel
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- I also put in some Wipes (ideal for freshening up
during long flight).
- A rivetingly good book - one friend always starts
a book before leaving to ensure it is really engrossing.
- A notebook or diary to record your thoughts and holiday
experiences, so you can send to travelblognz!
- Make sure you have a pen in your handbag to fill
in the tedious array of forms!
Here is a basic list of things
a woman might take for a trans seasonal trip: (should fit in quite small bag). Men
rarely have the problem of packing too much!
Less is more (enjoyable) - don't over-pack, you'll
regret having to lug around extra clothes. And stick to a limited colour range that
you can mix and match easily - black and white, or white and navy - with a highlight
colour or two for variety - a red/pink/cobalt or green top for example.
| Nightwear |
sarong or cashmere shawl (takes less
space than robe) |
Bras and knickers
Togs |
Shorts
Trou (at least 2) |
Skirt and/or summery dress
Rainproof jacket |
Wool Cardigan and/or cotton sweatshirt |
| A small number of short and long- sleeved T shirts and knit tops (if you have silky fabric
T shirts, they are fab for travelling as wash and dry quickly and don't need ironing) |
Glam top for a posh dinner
Silk scarves (don't take up much space and can ring the changes) |
Good Jacket, preferably creates suit
with one of the pairs of trou
Sun hat or cap |
Walking shoes (not trainers unless you
actually intend to run!) and/or boots |
socks, knee-highs - a pair of tights
are marvellous under trou if the temperature drops
Light wool jersey (say Merino) or top to layer up for cooler days. |
Shoes (2 pairs) Never take new shoes
- wear them around the house to ensure they are a comfortable fit |
- Wear comfortable clothes on plane,
- your heaviest shoes
- carry your jacket
- take a cardigan or something snuggly to put on during
flight as it can be quite cool.
- You might take a pair of warm old socks to pop on
(take your shoes off during flight - throw socks away)
Wheeled luggage is the way to go - so much easier
for making fast exits from airports!
Tighten all the lids of all tubes, jars and bottles
and put in snapfast plastic bags to avoid leakages onto precious clothes. Leave aerosols
at home.
Carry spare plastic bags for emergencies, dirty clothes,
wet togs and shoes etc
Lay everything out on the bed - what goes with what?
If you can't get three looks out of a garment then consider leaving it behind..
A clever hint for two people travelling together is
. . . place half of each's belongings in the other's case, so if a bag is lost then
you both still have some clothes to wear!
You may like to carry a fold down suitcase in your
bag to use for all the shopping when you return.
I keep my packing lists from different holidays and
refer to them when planning my packing for my next holiday.
Incidentally, I have always taken a white linen shirt
away on holiday and never worn it!
Let us know about your packing tips:
We pack all our clean underwear in separate snaplock
bags, eg socks, bras, knickers etc. You can then find them easily in your case and
see at a glance which is what, without digging for the "smalls" and disrupting
everything else. We have done this for several years, and when we are home, these
bags just stay in our cases for next time.
– Lynne Hewson of Albany
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