Comments on: A post-travel plan

By: Tina Cassler

Tina Cassler — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:32:38 +0000

This is not silly at all! We’ve done the same thing for years!

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:59:21 +0000

What techniques are there for managing all those souveniors, ticket stub and business card scraps, and digital photos? I find that that crap weighs heavier in my mind than dirty clothes. I still have scraps and hundreds of photos from an epic trip in 2003, and the thought of organizing them is overwhelming!

By: Maggie

Maggie — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:31:10 +0000

When we were on a long trip I had one suitcase that was dedicated to dirty laundry. It kept the clean clothes from smelling funky and made it easy to find when it came time to do laundry. I’m sure the security people at the airport would regret opening that bag to search, lol.

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:35:26 +0000

Great ideas! I follow the same rules if I am coming back from a business trip or traveling with my husband. However, add the three kids and a long vacation to the mix and the clothes are to the ceiling and it takes more than one day (sand from the beach vacation alone takes time…) to deal with everything.

So, early on in our family days we decided to always come home on a Saturday. Sunday is decompression, laundry, open mail, take the dog for a long walk, grocery shopping day.

Might not work for everyone, but it makes me a happier mom!

By: Sophia

Sophia — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:34:01 +0000

emme:
well it depends if one manages to sleep on the plane and also if it’s time to sleep. sleeping in the day just prolongs jet lag!

i did start unpacking immediately after flying 30 hours (transit included). mainly to fish out souveniors. but i dumped the to-wash clothes in the clothes hamper as well. i didn’t exactly complete before i…went out in a bid to not sleep.

By: emme

emme — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:35:25 +0000

Wow, great idea for getting back after your 2 or 3 hour flight on vacation. After flying 23 hours between India and the West Coast, I think I’ll sleep before worrying about my suitcase messing up the joint.

By: twosandalz

twosandalz — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:03:16 +0000

Even 5 minutes of unpacking is tedious after time away. So I make into a game… How Fast Can I Unpack? Can I fully unpack before my turn in the shower? Before the pizza arrives? A bit of peppy music helps too.

By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:20:27 +0000

It’s not a silly list. My ‘old’ way of unpacking was silly.

1) Leave half-unpacked suitcase on floor. For three months.

By: Minnie

Minnie — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:33:44 +0000

I also make myself put away Christmas gifts immediately after my return from the big get-together. One year, I didn’t do it right away, and they sat there for weeks. Or maybe my family needs to get me better gifts…
Anyway I get your point!

By: The Chatty Housewife

The Chatty Housewife — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:27:47 +0000

I throw the clothing in the laundry hamper and wash them on my regular scheduled laundry day (Monday) but we do make a habit of unpacking as soon as we get home, or if it is too late, first thing in the morning.

Most of my toiletries stay in their toiletry bag, we travel often enough that I have minis of almost each item. I find this helps a lot.

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:52:15 +0000

I put dirty washing to plastic bags as I go, the empty them into the wash when I get home, anything clean goes back on the shelves. 30 seconds after walking in I’m done. My partner, however, still has a bag on the bedroom floor with some stuff from the last trip. Last time the bag stayed there between trips!

By: Sophia

Sophia — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:12:32 +0000

@Rashid:
I’d procrastinate further if i don’t do things right away!

@Erin:
You got to reverse steps 2 and 3

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:28:42 +0000

Rashid, I’m with you. Except that I do do one thing I don’t think anyone’s mentioned: carry a big laundry bag with me and a dry cleaning bag also. If someone else already said this, I’m sorry. I’m fluish and stupid today.

By: Josephine

Josephine — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:27:40 +0000

I also keep a “laundry bag” in my luggage, and while I’m away, I throw all the dirty clothes in there. When I get home, all the dirty clothes are already isolated.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:20:39 +0000

Ha ha – this list is exactly what I need – I tend to stagger up to bed very very tired and the suitcase is still there in the morning (a few days later! whoops!)