Different Ways of Packing - the student way

Problem
How do you avoid packing on the last night if you have a late night farewell?

Packing
By Angela Lansbury

"How should I pack? Tell me, how do you pack?"
Chris says, "I pack light - don't care what I lack.
Who cares what you wear! I don't care what I wear
I pack like a student, rolled, creased or flat

"Every day I take out what I'll wear for that day
At night I put dirty clothes away
In a plastic bag carried home to mother
That's a handy trick I learned from my brother

"What's left in the case is labelled, it's mine
So I'm always half-packed for the next time
Oh, Angela, you make far too much fuss
Just throw it all in and do it like us!"
-ends-
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

How to protect your cabin bag when travelling

I had luggage assist on the railways. Unfortunately, people, trying to help, didn't understand that four wheel bags need to be upright. They insisted on dragging the bags forwards on two wheels. This damaged the front pocket of the bag, leaving dirt and holes, and damaging the beading edge.

I bought a patch in a craft shop. the assistant said to me, "You don't want an iron on patch. You need a glue-oo patch."

Problem
How do I prevent more damage next time? My wheel on luggage gets damaged easily. How can I protect it?

Answer
Do what you see done at the airports. They charge you to wrap your suitcase in what looks like clingfilm.

You could encircle your bag with a strap.
Use clingfilm.
Add bubblewrap.

Wrap an old blanket around it, then a plastic bag.
Place a pretty new pull-on bag inside an already old and dirty larger bag.

Author
Angela Lansbury.

Using Laundry Bags For Packing

Problem
How do you make a laundry bag for packing?

Answer
Depending on your time and budget:

1 Use a spare bag from home. A disposable light 'plastic' shopping bag. Any kind of bag. Even A4 paper with sellotape made into a large envelope with the word laundry written by hand or printed. Or print this as a label to tape onto a paper bag or paper carrier bag.

2 Add a luggage tag marked LAUNDRY.

3 Pack an old pillow case.

4 Alternatively, buy a cheap new pillow case or cotton or synthetic or plastic cushion cover. Some of them fold over. Others have zips.

5 Add a ribbon, or two ribbons, sewn on or fixed with sewing pins. Tie ribbons in a bow to fasten the bag.

6 Write the word luandry neatly on the outside.

7 Or print the word luandry in large letters in gothic script in a frame and stick on or pin on.

8 Failing all else, take the plastic laundry bag from the hotel bedroom.

9 If you feel this would be stealing hotel property, or inconvenience staff, or the next hotel guest, or your spouse who might want to send laundry, ask if it is OK to take the bag. If they say that's fine, they know to have to replace the bag and you can stop worrying about it.

10 Another option, buy a bag marked laundry on line.

11 Take your laundry bag from home.

12 Buy a packing cube with zips and mesh.

13 Add a scented bag or scented drawer liner.

14 Spray with a clothes freshener such as Febreze. This could travel with you in some instances. If you cannot pack a spray bottle or liquid on a plane, leave it behind at your second home or with hosts if staying with family or friends.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.