Take only what you need. How often is that packing advice dispensed only to be ignored, particularly by women?
Nicole Moellenkamp in Berlin is aware of the problem. When on vacation she wants an outfit for every situation. Unfortunately, as a result she often takes too much with her and forgets the important things. Moellenkamp and other people going on vacation can ease the problem by following a few packing tips.
"The most important thing when packing a bag is good planning," said Regina Maass, owner of Kolibri, an image consultancy in Hamburg. "People who stuff their bags in a rush the night before departing tend to take too much along, and usually it's the wrong stuff."
It helps to pay some thought to the climate in your destination and the planned activities when packing. While travellers going on a hiking trip can spare themselves packing a little black dress, those on a city tour have nothing to worry about if they pack a practical pair of Gore-Tex pants with a zipper. Vacationers also should always have the clothes they need to handle surges in temperature.
"A thick sweater, a bikini and a bottle of sun block belong in every suitcase," said Maass. For a 14-day trip she recommends taking clothes to create an outfit a day. The art of this plan is to have as few basic garments as possible.
"The traveller should be able to combine every article of clothing in the suitcase at least three times. That way, you can avoid unnecessary weight." Thus, a favourite blouse that only goes with a certain pair of slacks must stay at home.
Taking a few versatile basics is a way for travellers to be well- equipped for almost every situation, said Andreas Rose, who works as a personal shopper in Frankfurt.
"Jeans, a white blouse and a bikini top under that can look as good on a beach as in a museum," he said. Add to that a few solid- colour tops, a knee-length skirt and a light jacket - that's all that's necessary for a classic beach-and-city vacation.
In any case, never take more than two weeks of clothing no matter how long the vacation is scheduled to last. Most hotels and resorts offer a laundry service and there's always shopping for people who don't want to wash their clothes.
Often it's shoes that cause women problems when they are packing for a trip. They bring either too many pairs or the wrong ones.
"One should never pack more than four pairs of shoes on a two- to three-week vacation," said Maass. What's important to take is comfortable shoes that can be worn for long walks.
"No shoe experiments on vacation," said Jan Schaumann, a style trainer in Berlin. He advises against packing footwear that women would never wear at home. "And even though it's comfortable, neither women nor men should wear socks with sandals," Schaumann said. Instead, vacationers should always wear closed shoes in the city and flip flops on the beach.
Schaumann said many people forget all fashion etiquette when they are on vacation. People whose vacations expose them to other cultures should be conscious that there are different notions about how to dress for warm weather.
"For a trip to Tunisia, pack a T-shirt rather than a mid drift top with spaghetti straps," he advises.
Despite all the practical considerations, there is no reason for people to reject style when on vacation, Schaumann said. He recommends bringing a pair of pumps and a chic dress to dine out. Maass likes jewellery as a means of adding a touch of glamour to a plain dress.
"Earrings and necklaces can make an outfit elegant or casual and jewellery doesn't take up much room in a suitcase," Maass said.
