The 10 Rules of Packing

[Travel ★★★★]

(P1) When you’ve spent more than a decade on the road, you get asked some pretty interesting questions. The one query I get most, though, is about packing: what to take, what to leave, where to put it. I’ve taken a boatload of trips, but every time I get back, I know I could have gone even lighter. Let’s save you some trouble and start with the basics of my lessons learned.

The 10 Rules of Packing

1. The Golden Rule: Take half of the clothes you were planning to bring and twice the money. I cannot stress how true this is.

2. Take only what you can fit in a carry on. We’ve all lost luggage before, and it’s a pain. But when it’s 3 degrees in Poland and you’re rocking those horrible sweats you insist on wearing on long flights, hearing “as soon as we find your bag, we’ll send it to you” can really put a damper on your first day. And, no offense to the Polish, but having to buy an entire wardrobe in Warsaw might not be exactly how you want to spend your travel pennies. This also means you’ll have luggage with wheels, which is worth its weight in gold.

3. If you simply must check luggage, ask them to put a “Fragile” sticker on it, which helps ensure your bags will be put on top of the pile and be first off the plane. Also, yours is not the only black suitcase, so slap a sticker or red ribbon on it — anything that will help you pick it out in the crowd. Think airport security is scary these days? Try making it through customs with someone else’s bag.

4. Mix and match. Bring three shirts and three “bottoms.” That’s 9 outfits.

5. Books are sexy. So are vinyl records. But save yourself the extra pounds and fill your Kindle with every book/country guide you need and stick to your iPod.

6. Don’t be a diva. If you’re the type who has to travel with your own hair dryer (and won’t use the hotel’s), then I might suggest a weekend in the Smokies over the Alps.

7. Jackets and sweaters take up a lot of precious bag space and weigh you down. Unless you’re going to Russia in winter, layers work just as well.

8. If you can bear it, stay away from jeans. This is huge and I should have moved it up to number 2. They absorb dirt (and odors), are bulky and take days to air dry. Cotton and khaki are the way to go.

9. If it’s important and can’t fit into your daypack, leave it at home. Stuff gets stolen no matter where you go. As big as a pain as it is, I am constantly carrying my computer, cameras, etc. on my back and in crowded places, as ridiculous as it looks, in front of me.
10. Every country I’ve ever visited sells soap, shampoo, socks, and t-shirts. I.e. What you forget, you can buy.

(P2) One last thing: those plastic gardening shoes that somehow made it into the acceptable mainstream of fashion footwear? Do your country a favor and don’t take them.

WORDS: 532

SOURCE: http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/24/the-10-rules-of-packing/

VOCABULARY: query, boatload, golden rule, damper, diva, mainstream

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.

1. Briefly, summarize the content of the article in your own words.
2. Which of these travel tips do you currently do when packing your suitcase?
3. Which of these travel tips will you start to do the next time you travel? Why?
4. Do you have any travel tips to share?

READING COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:

1. The author of the article states that the number one thing to remember when packing is to pack fewer clothes and take more money. (T or F)
2. If you have to check in a suitcase, ask for a ___________________ so it is loaded on the top and will be one of the first pieces of luggage unloaded.
3. The author suggests to wear _________________ of clothes instead of taking heavy and bulky coats.
4. What types of pants does the author suggest to take?
5. When it comes to shoes, the author suggests not taking those so-called fashionable ______________________.

EXPRESSIONS or PHRASES:

What do the following expressions or phrases mean?

• rocking those horrible sweats (#2)
• spend your travel pennies (#2)
• worth its weight in gold (#2)
• mix and match (#4)
• if you can bear it (#8)

Image source: by Photo: Cyndi DiMicco/My Shot http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/24/the-10-rules-of-packing/