1. You can pack sparingly by using solid colors that go with one another. For example, three pants: jeans, khakis, and black jeans. Then alternate with a white top, a navy top, and a black top. You have eight or nine outfits with only six items.
2. Pack thinner clothing and wear or carry the heaviest jacket and sweater you’ll need as well as your biggest shoes (like sneakers).
3. Take dual-purpose things. A cardigan close at the neck can also serve as a top. A dress might serve as both a full dress and a skirt (with a blouse over it).
4. Don’t pack things you are sure you can buy there, but do be prepared for emergencies (like waiting an extra night in the airport - keep an extra T-shirt or change of clothes in your hand luggage)
5. A dress bag usually can hold everything you need for a week. You can put pants, tops, as well as toiletries and other things in without ending up with a mess. Rolling hand luggage is also useful. If you can avoid checking things in, do so.
6. If you know you most likely won’t ever wear those shoes, don’t bring them. If there’s a good chance you will, do. Plan to pack sparingly. That means you can buy more, too!
7. Travel with inexpensive but sturdy luggage. Your luggage is subject to cruel punishment. If they lose it, you’d rather lose an inexpensive box than an heirloom.
8. If you're traveling for more than a few hours (or even if you aren't), take some food with you. It can be just a few granola bars or some crackers, just to tide you over so you don't have to spend an arm and a leg at the airport shops. 9. Emergency and essential items: gum or candy, food, aspirin, bandaids, stamps, change, a credit card, id, passport, ticket 10. Buy gifts BEFORE you get to the airport - invariably you'll spend more money there.

Before you go!

1. Let neighbors know when you’re traveling. Ask them to keep an eye on your place. It’s a great deterrent to burglary.
2. Take care of things at home before you leave, if you plan to be away for a while. Turn off the heat and AC, turn off the gas and hot water. Leave plants and pets to be tended (with a neighbor or a sitter or a sitting company). You’ll enjoy a relaxing trip and come home to peace and quiet.

Packing makeup and toiletries:

1. Take dual purpose things - body/hair wash, tinted facial moisturizer, leave-in hair conditioner/styler, all-over bronzer
2. keep all my makeup and toiletries in a travel-size soft train case with a zip-off top. You may want a separate one for makeup and a separate one for other stuff like toothbrush, soap, etc. A mirror easily props up in it for a quick face-fix. Get one with a pocket or a piece of elastic to stand up brushes, pencils, and things like that so they won’t be lost.
3. Some important things (especially for women): Powder to get rid of shine, Tinted facial moisturizer (get one with sun-protection for added protection), Leave-in hair conditioner/styler, All-over bronzer (works as blush, can add shine and color to lips in the summer, and a hint of color to eyes), Lipstick in a favorite neutral color that has a hint of pink in it (can also be used as blush), A brown eye pencil for eyebrows, and tan eyeshadow (some eyeliners smudge well, too, so they can be used as both liner and shadow), A concealer stick for trouble spots
4. Take travel size skin, hair, and all-over cleanser (shampoo works)
5. Makeup: Consider one of the triple-purpose pencils that can be used for cheeks as blush, lips and both liner and lipstick and eyes as both liner and shadow.
6. Wrap things that may spill (like shampoo, cleansers, liquids) tightly in plastic zip bags.
7. Take travel-size products (sample size, especially if you’re only going a few days). They’re smaller and cost less (save them from hotels if you like for future trips)