You've heard it a million times; now you'll hear it once again -- pack light. The weight of your luggage is directly proportional to the length of time you've been carrying it around.

Bring comfortable, easy-to-clean clothes. Black hides dirt but also absorbs heat. Artificial fabrics don't breathe and will make you grimier than you'd ever thought possible, so go with light cotton instead. If you're traveling in the summer, bring several t-shirts and one sweater for cooler nights. Socks and undies don't take up too much room, so throw in a few extra pairs.

Packing light does not mean relying on a pair of cutoff shorts and a tank top to get you through any situation. Shorts, if not frowned upon, will almost certainly brand you as a foreigner in most countries, as will sneakers.

A sturdy pair of walking shoes or hiking boots (broken in before your trip) and a spare pair (perhaps sandals) allow you to switch off and give your tootsies a rest. Plastic sandals or thongs protect feet on hostile shower floors and are also useful for camping or beach-hopping.

Use a separate, waterproof bag for your toiletries; the pressure on airplanes can cause lids to pop off and create instant slicks inside your luggage. If you wear contact lenses, bring all the accompanying paraphernalia. Bring some toilet paper with you and have some in your pockets at all times (trust us). Bring deodorant, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tampons/pads, and any prescription drugs you might need, as well as insect repellent, sunscreen, and lip balm.

In your carry-on luggage bring an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses and enough of any medication you take to last the entire trip. You may also want your doctor to write a spare prescription using the drug's generic name, since brand names may vary from country to country. Never put prescription drugs or valuables in luggage to be checked. To avoid customs delays, carry medications in their original packaging. And don't forget to copy down and carry addresses of offices that handle refunds of lost traveler's checks.

Resources
Art of Packing More packing suggestions, with a couple of new ideas. Learn the "interweaving" method of packing, or the clockwise packing strategy. This is a page in a larger site from World Traveler, which lets you buy all brands of luggage on line.

Universal Packing List This labor of love provides a great starting point for any consideration of what to bring on your travels. Tips from users are also included.

Carry-On Allowances
How many carry-on bags you can bring with you is up to the airline. Most allow two, but the limit is often reduced to one on certain flights. Gate agents will take excess baggage -- including bags they deem oversize -- from you as you board and add it to checked luggage.

To avoid this situation, make sure that everything you carry aboard will fit under your seat. Also, get to the gate early, and request a seat at the back of the plane; you'll probably board first, while the overhead bins are still empty. Finally, a carry-on that's long and narrow is more likely to remain unnoticed than one that's wide and squarish.
If you are flying internationally, note that baggage allowances may be determined not by piece but by weight -- generally 88 pounds (40 kilograms) in first class, 66 pounds (30 kilograms) in business class, and 44 pounds (20 kilograms) in economy.

Airline Liability
Airline liability for baggage is limited to $1,250 per person on flights within the United States. On international flights it amounts to $9.07 per pound or $20 per kilogram for checked baggage (roughly $640 per 70-pound bag) and $400 per passenger for unchecked baggage. You can buy additional coverage at check-in for about $10 per $1,000 of coverage, but it excludes a rather extensive list of items, shown on your airline ticket. For more information, see Insurance.

Lost-Luggage Precautions
Before departure, itemize your bags' contents and their worth, and label the bags with your name, address, and phone number. (If you use your home address, cover it so that potential thieves can't see it readily.) Inside each bag, pack a copy of your itinerary. At check-in, make sure that each bag is correctly tagged with the destination airport's three-letter code. If your bags arrive damaged or fail to arrive at all, file a written report with the airline before leaving the airport.

The All-Important Toy-and-Book Bag
Once kids turn three or so, they're ready to decide what toys and books they want to take -- though parents should always reserve the right to make some suggestions and packed some additional toys in their regular luggage -- and able to carry most of it themselves in a backpack or lightweight travel bag with lots of flaps, compartments, and zippered pockets. Some of parents put a mesh bag behind each front seat so kids can see what toys and games they have.

If you're going by car, take a canvas bag of additional books and books on tape (you can even borrow them from the library). If you're traveling by plane, coloring books, playing cards, and kids' magazines are the most you can expect from the airline over and above the set of Junior Captain wings.

The following lists may serve as reminders of the objects children in your family consider essential.

Trip Toys for Infants & Toddlers

  • an essential stuffed toy and blanket
  • old baby rattles and teething toys (tie them with a string to the car seat so kids can drop them and pull them up)
  • song tapes, including nursery rhymes, finger plays, lullabies
  • a toy telephone.

Trip Toys for Preschoolers & Up

  • washable felt-tip markers (crayons often melt if left in the sun)
  • spiral notebooks or a clipboard and paper with a pencil on a string attached
  • a glue stick
  • a magic slate
  • playing cards and book of card games
  • books (preferably paperbacks), most brand-new but a few old favorites (keep a few of the new ones to dole out later in the trip)
  • cassette tapes -- of songs, novels, and children's books (let each kid, especially teens, bring his or her own tape player, tapes, headset, and extra batteries)
  • Mad Libs (pads of fill-in-the-blank stories that amuse kids from age 7) and fill-in activity books
  • sticker books
  • finger puppets, small toy people, or action figures of some kind
  • dolls
  • small cars and trucks
  • Legos in coffee cans or large zip-shut bags
  • hand-held video games
  • travel versions of popular games, such as Battleship, Yahtzee, and checkers
  • Klutz Press books, which come with jacks, juggling balls, and other toys
  • modeling compound
  • Brain Quest packages (each box contains 1,000 questions and answers designed for a specific age group, from preschoolers through grade 7)
  • Etch-a-Sketch
  • disposable cameras
  • crocheting gear -- or some other favorite craft
  • binoculars (for older kids)
  • action toys for rest stops: bubble-liquid sets, Frisbee, inflatable beach ball, baseball bat, gloves, tennis ball, soccer ball, jump ropes.

Other Handy Items

  • all sizes of locking plastic bags -- for everything from a wet bathing suit to soap to a snack to a precious collection of acorns
  • safety plugs for electrical outlets
  • a small plug-in night-light
  • If your kids are still in diapers, buy them (along with wipes) at local supermarkets -- hotel sundry shops usually don't sell them (and if they do they're too expensive).

Buying Camping Gear
Before getting loads of camping gear, seriously consider how much camping you will actually do versus the hassle of hauling around a tent, sleeping bag, stove, and accouterments. Also consider climate in choosing what to buy. For example, tents, which can be expensive, are desirable but not obligatory. A bivouac "bivvy" bag (a water-repellent shell that fits over a sleeping bag) can do the trick in some regions, or you can find semi-sheltered areas and risk the rain.

Gear Reviews & Information
Backpacker Check out "The Beginner's Corner" for recommendations on essential backpacking gear and apparel.

Gear Suppliers
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) A great place to get equipment, outdoor publications, and useful free pamphlets.

Essential Camping Supplies
Always carry a first-aid kit. Cellular phones, while expensive to operate, have afforded some modern campers peace of mind (and crucial help) in emergencies.

  • a good sleeping bag (preferably stuffed with Qualofil, which provides warmth when sopping wet)
  • a quality backpack (external-frame packs are better suited to rough terrain but are more awkward and less flexible than internal frames)
  • lightweight, waterproof clothes (layered synthetics are most effective)
  • matches in a waterproof container
  • rain poncho
  • multi-blade knife
  • something for banging in tent stakes (your shoe will work if it's sturdy enough)
  • mess kit
  • water bottle
  • water filter or purifying pills
  • can/bottle opener
  • small cook stove
  • extra rope
  • flashlight or candle lantern
  • toilet paper
  • compass
  • extra batteries.