Traveling during the holidays can be a lot of work. So many

people travel during this time of year that it can actually be

downright exhausting not to mention stressful. Here are some

easy and quick packing tips to simplify your holiday travels.

Bags

Focus on getting all your things into one soft side small bag.

Yes, one that fits under an airline seat in front of you and is

roughly 9" + 14" + 22" = 45" total. Yes, it can work and will do

for any travel better than you think. Picture this: you've been

standing for hours in the line for you plane and it arrives 90

minutes late which means you'll have to dash from one end of

O'Hare to the other to catch you connecting flight home and be

back at work Monday morning. You won't make it if you checked

you luggage and it will be slow if you have to lug more than

one bag on your run. Get the picture?

Travel light and pack a single bag you can carry.

When you pack you bag roll your clothes and pack them firmly

together with other articles cushioned in between them. This

gives everything a good chance of arriving at you destination

in pretty good shape even if you are not. Do this with fancy

clothes, too. They'll look just fine when unpacked and hung up.

What To Pack

Take basic outfits. Spread these out on your bed. Before you

pack. Make sure pieces can be inter changeable to make several

outfit combinations.

Coordinate shoes, stockings, undergarments, jewelry (minimal)

and other accessories so that they go with all outfits. The

idea here is to keep these things to a minimum.

Pack efficiently. Put socks inside of shoes. Put shoes inside

of plastic bags. Put jewelry and any medications in a little

pouch or ziplock bag that will slip between rolls of clothes.

Put shampoo, conditioner and other toiletries in a ziploc bag,

too. Take a large plastic bag for dirty laundry.

Before you leave decide that you will take your dirty laundery

home. This is fine for a short 3-5 day holiday trip. In

emergencies you can do it where you are staying but for the

most part forget about it and take it home to do the week you

return.

Returning Home

A great trick to complete a trip is return to a clean,

organized home. Especially after the jostling of a holiday trip

its best to put your feet up and relax. It is wonderful to

return to washed laundry, a clean kitchen with counters

cleared, trashcans and newspapers taken care of by neighbors or

friends.

Traveling over the holdiays can actually be a fun adventure if

you take time to plan ahead, so you can enjoy the actual

journey. There are many nice people to meet along the way, new

things to see, quiet time to read and relax. Find things you

can do while traveling that you haven't had the time to do

while at home.

For example, take a book you've been meaning to read or pack

CDs you haven't been able to listen to yet. Fill the time with

all sorts of activities you usually put off and make the most

of your holiday travel experience.