Ivan’s Packing List as of 1 January 2007 This is about 5 days worth of clothes; if you do laundry abroad, it will last indefinitely. You want to avoid checking bags! A must is a light garment bag with many pockets and a shoulder strap and a small ca

navy blazer with navy slacks — wear on plane with one of the pants and shirts below
camel-colored and one other matching dress pants (ie: green); fourth pair pants optional but the point is not to pack more than 3 pair. pack pants in plastic bags that drycleaners use to pack sweaters to save weight and avoid creasing.
3 white dress shirts and one or two other solid color dress shirts (pack no more than 4 and have the laundry fold them so you have no hangers)
short sleeve shirt if you know you will need it
Make sure your outfits match. 
The point is almost everything should match the blazer and you should have enough outfits to last through the longest stretch between laundries (meaning a full weekday in a city in a good hotel where you can give stuff in to be washed same day). You can probably wear a shirt for 1-2 days and a pair of pants for 2-3 days if you rotate outfits and if it is not hot. Remember you can always SHOP and SHIP.

Winter wardrobe
overcoat with lots of pockets and a scarf (and this goes with you on the plane)
one turtleneck
two or three sweaters that match the rest of your clothes

if going to really humid area like Singapore, take along a lens cloth for the camera

for high crime areas: pair pants with velcro sealing front pockets

for sunny areas: shirts with pockets for sunglasses

belt (reversible; 2 color as in black and brown)
(if i need shorts and sneakers, i can always borrow; too heavy to carry
and never worn)
pajamas and slippers
2 handkerchiefs
6 underwear
6 socks
one pair dark dress loafer walking shoes 
extra pair of insoles for shoes cut to size
emergency sweater only if you know you’ll need it; otherwise buy it
1 or 2 neckties
religious articles
lip balm
a good pen (hotel pens often suck) and small pieces of paper and a few post-its
business cards and brochures
take face towelettes from airplanes
a “shout” stain remover towelette
2 miniature toothbrushes and toothpastes
shampoo in twist-lock container such as those used for pills
110/220 shaver with cord and 220/UK-outlet prongs
Tylenol or other pain and fever reliever (either a small package or several individual doses each individually wrapped so you can put it in a pocket or flight bag)
small pair sharp scissors wrapped to prevent harm to other items or nail cutters (this may no longer be possible to take so you may have to delete the item and buy one every 2 weeks or so or borrow from the hotel)
flu medicine if you are going abroad (ie: Microferon)
a few paper towels
eyeglass cleaner or lens cleaning cloth
individually wrapped moist baby-wipe towels
Desitin or some other butt rash cream
10 ounce or 330 ml bottle of water to carry around (Evian comes in this size which fits in pocket)
one plastic silverware setting (can take from airplanes)
extra pair eyeglasses (optional)
extra wrist watch (optional)
photocopy of passport cover page
vital statistics: credit card numbers, passport number, medical insurance information, doctor contact information, travel agent number, telecard access numbers, all local numbers of people you will call in a particular city on one page to carry around; names, addresses and tel. #s of hotels and airlines and flight numbers to reconfirm flights
pocket subway map (good to have before arriving)
alarm clock
camera with film and extra camera battery or digital camera with extra memory card
dental floss
pillow (sounds crazy but is great for airplanes and strange beds)
a few throat lozenges
small pocket calculator for currency exchange if the math is too hard
hairbrush
deodorant
any other toiletries or prescription medicines you use (ie: face medicine)
housekey to get back in
bandaid
instant shoe polish wipes
global phone directory or palm pilot
cellular phone, charger, battery and instructions if you are renting it (particularly the numbers to call voicemail, instructions how to access it, and to reach customer service)
small plastic bag to put dirty laundry into; ziploc bags for toiletries
plastic pouch to put papers into; sealed on left side and open on right
extra bag for shopping stuff to be dumped into in case you have to check 2nd bag

Note: If you must travel in summer and winter climates on the same trip (ie: Russia and Middle East in June), pack two separate bags, put the “wrong bag” into checked baggage and don’t claim the “wrong bag” at the baggage claim. Let the airline hold it until you depart onto your next flight. Just say you forgot to take it or that you don’t want the bag to enter the country. Works every time.

Weight Saving Hint: Have laundry fold shirts in plastic and leave out cardboard except around neck collar. Also pack pants and jackets in plastic. No real need for hangers and most places you go to will have one or two in the closet. Put things such as shampoo and other medicines in small containers to last the trip such as empty pill containers. Small travel size deoderant and toothpaste are useful.

following are suggested additional packing items from people who frequently globe-trot:

gym clothes for people who use gyms while traveling
swiss army knife or Leatherman with can opener, scissor, corkscrew and
screwdriver (but beware this can be illegal to carry in some places)
sunglasses and/or baseball cap
jeans and sneakers
antacid
toilet kit (to be taken from business class flights)
plastic lighters
towel

one person stresses that a good carry-on bag that folds well saves on
clothes’ pressing bills.

See also my useful articles: “64 Travel Secrets“and “Things to do (checklist) before leaving the Country.” I check these every time.

Happy Journeys.

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