This is a great find! Pretty exhaustive ... down to a comment on how one should tie one's shoelaces! I think the writer must be a difficult person to live with... he/she probably has exact rules for squeezing toothpaste tubes, etc.

Anyway, many useful tips here (even for a frequent traveller in, into and out of Africa like me).

this is always a big problem of mine-- overpacking. (I think its because I once UNDERpacked for a trip, and that was not fun.)

anyway, i have a trip to go on this summer, so this will come in handy! thanks!

Great find! Lots of useful tips. I've been getting better about carrying less on trips, but I still take too much stuff. I printed out the packing list and will create my own version.

I had a weird thing happen at security when I was returning from the Bahamas in March. I had packed my little 3 oz. carryon liquids in a small clear plastic, zippered cosmetic bag. More durable than a ziplock, and completely completely clear.

Security asked to see it and told me that I couldn't bring it on board and kept pointing to the poster showing a ziplock bag as the only one permitted. Ordinarily, I would have just tossed the stuff, but I had some small expensive cosmetic items in the bag and I wouldn't budge. Neither would security.

My bf went out to the various food stands and stores outside of security to see if he could find a ziplock bag. Mercifully, one of the vendors gave him one and I was back in business.

From now on I will place the items in a zip lock bag inside my nice clear plastic cosmetic bag. And...carry extra ziplock bags.

My ability to pack super light is probably one of the few things I REALLY miss since I had a baby. It's impossible to pack light with a baby. I am still better than most, but basically if I have to bring more than one bag with me on a trip, it's too much. Give me enough underwear and socks for every day, and one change of clothes, and I'm good for a week at the very least. After all, hotels usually have a laundry, and you just need something to wear while the rest is in the wash.

This is going in my bookmarks. I ALWAYS have too much in my bag!

I always travel light. I learned to pack from Rick Steves, and his number one rule is "It's not if you are going to use it, it is if you are going to use it ENOUGH."

Also - don't sweat the small stuff. For nearly everyone travelling, that means don't flip out about things like your toothpaste. You forgot socks? Buy some there. You aren't going to some strage magical land where they haven't heard of socks.

And if you are going somewhere where they haven't heard of socks - then go without socks! Live the local culture!

I did this while traveling to Asia. However, when returning home, I raised suspicion, since someone traveling for the length I did should have had more than one bag. I don't know what they assumed, but they pressed me for more information and asked how it was I was able to travel so light, etc. It can set off alarms in the head of security.

Wow. Security people stunned by a common-sense approach, how is that possible?
/sarcastic, in case that wasn't obvious...