Holidays Don't Pack Comforts of Home
Three bags? Families fight over what to pack long before they drive to the airport.
Are you going to wear all that? And why are you taking the laptop? All your files are in the ‘smart’ phone which means you can still run your business on vacation. But then, what’s the point of going in the first place?
Tough call about packing. I don’t have a problem because I’m an in-frequent flyer for many reasons: airport security frisking me with magnetic baseball bats, confiscation of sharp objects like a small pair of scissors, getting a middle seat, bathroom trips when air hostess is serving drinks, no space in the overhead luggage and my legs in prison for more than five hours. Oh! No! Now you know that I don’t fly business class.
The Frugalista Files, Natalie McNeal’s book reminds me that airlines are not amused about extra bags. That’s why they charge us.
Passengers who pack six pairs of shoes to go with six outfits don’t mind the extra cost I suppose, because they are scared of all cameras, great and small (cellphones). They are in the public eye so they must always look good for fans and the paparazzi.
What do you pack? Underwear for obvious reasons. You don’t want to be thrown off the plane because passengers complain that you are funky. Guess what? Underwear is very light, not heavy like your son’s Timberland boots. Always put one underwear and toothbrush in your purse or man bag for unforeseen circumstances. Yes lost luggage.
Talking about underwear, travelers pack a lot because of the laundry situation. Where will you wash your clothes? That being said, you need a family meeting about how to pack.
· Sneakers also come in black, which means you can wear them on the plane, hiking, touring museums and to dinner. Just wipe off the dust with tissue or an old face cloth. O.K. you can sneak in a pair of sandals, in your handbag.
· The denim nation. Why take extra bags when you belong to the denim nation? Iron and pack tight 6 t-shirts and 6 no-iron tops to go with your jeans. Please note that in some restaurants, distressed or ripped jeans are not considered formal wear. Women must pack one long skirt for those countries that are not fans of long tanned legs in shorts.
· You don’t have to pack jackets because you will wear one on the plane thanks to the air con. Pack big scarfs you can drape around your shoulders to achieve the formality requirement.
· Kids cannot pack toys and games that are in the ‘smart’ phone.
· No Samantha darling, you cannot take Princess, your teddy bear because she is as big as the dishwasher. You’ll cuddle with mummy instead.
· No, you can’t take all your make-up kits, moisturizers and shaving gear on vacation. You are leaving the comforts of home, so the rule of thumb is pack necessities, not the comforts of home.
Bottled water? You are taking bottled water because you don’t trust the country you’re visiting? Save the money and stay in your beautiful country. Nobody will miss you.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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