You know those pesky perfume paper samples they stick in the magazines? Put them in your suitcase(s) in between trips.  It  makes the bags smell nice and keeps them from smelling musty in storage.

You can also save these perfume samples and bring them along with you instead of a bulky perfume bottle that could leak! Just rub them on and toss them out!

-Tip submitted by a 5-time Vantage traveler from Greenville, RI.

Do you have any great travel tips? Feel free to share them with a comment below!

Packing for a trip can be a daunting task. What to bring? How much to bring? With help from a blog post by Jack Thomas, here are a few tips to get you started.

Pick two basic colors of clothing.

• Picking two basic colors of clothing will allow you to limit the number of shoes and accessories you have to bring.

Plan on doing laundry.

• Try to bring no more than a weeks worth of clothing.  When you run out of clean clothes, just do a quick wash!

Bring washable silk

• Washable silk is as good as cotton. It keeps you warm and cool. Washable silk dries overnight and 10-15 pieces take the same space as 2 pairs of jeans.

Bring a rain coat

• A plastic rain coat can double as a bathrobe or windbreaker.

Bring old clothes

• If you bring old clothing, you can discard it along the way! That way you can have more room for souvenirs!

Plan ahead

• Make sure you check the weather before you leave. Although weather can be unpredictable,  this should give you a good indication of what’s ahead.

Do you have any other great packing tips? Let us know!

Prepare for the Weather
Check the typical weather for your destinations before you begin to pack. It is always a good idea to wear “layers” in order to accommodate for changes in the weather. Always bring clothes that will accommodate for weather that is outside the temperature ranges that you find for your travel destinations in order to stay comfortable on your trip!

Organize packing by your “Typical Day”
If you can’t decide what to pack for your upcoming trip, make a checklist. When making your checklist, run through your daily activities to decide what is important and what is not. Think about the steps you take throughout your day from when you wake up, to when you go to sleep. Only bring the daily necessities.

Don’t Pack More than you Need!
Pack according to the specific trip you are going on. Remember, you will have the opportunity to buy clothes and toiletries at your destination. Most stores will sell travel size toiletries. Also, take advantage of laundry services in hotels and on cruise ships, these will help you pack lightly and will also open up more room for souvenirs. It is a good idea to pack some of your older clothes that you are willing to dispose of on your trip because it will help free up space for new clothes and souvenirs.

Thank you for reading!

P.S.  Before leaving on your trip, evaluate your health in order to determine if you need medicines, pack accordingly!

The next time you’re preparing for a cruise, keep these tips in mind:

• A good rule of thumb is to pack one outfit for every 2 to 2 1/2 days of travel
• Pack lightly, especially for warm-weather cruises. Just remember to toss in a sweater , shawl, or light fleece  for cool evenings and hyper-air-conditioned ships.
• Don’t bother buying anything new. For day wear, simply wear what you usually do at home: slacks or shorts, T-shirts or sweatshirts, and comfortable shoes such as flip-flops or sandals.
• Bring a pair of rubber-soled walking shoes for slippery decks and shore excursions.
• For colder climes, include a warm-up suit. Consider lightweight thermal underwear in place of bulky outer garments.
• The clothing you bring should be wrinkle resistant.
• In the event your clothes require extra TLC, some ships have complimentary self-service laundries for passengers wishing to wash and iron on your own. If you’re sailing on one that does, pack fewer items. Self-service laundries are a handy feature, especially when you consider that travel irons are verboten on most ships (they’re electrical fire hazards) and shipboard laundry services can be expensive.
• Remember, even when formal wear is requested, it is not required. If dressing up to the nines isn’t your thing, don’t feel obligated.
• The key to packing smart is bringing mix-and-match clothing.
• Pack sleepwear, underclothes, and some inexpensive foul-weather gear (a rain slicker or collapsible umbrella). Toss in a tote bag for carrying odds and ends.

You have most likely read or heard about (or even already experienced) new airline fees for checked and carry-on bags. Since fees seem to be changing on a fairly frequent basis, the best advice we can give you is to contact your airline two to three weeks before you depart on your trip to get the most up-to-date fee information. That way you can plan your packing accordingly and avoid being surprised or caught off guard when you arrive at the airport.

Here are links to several web sites or travel blogs that can give you additional information about baggage fees:

• http://budgettravel.about.com/od/airfarescruises/tp/majors_bagfees.htm

• http://www.orbitz.com/blog/tag/baggage-fees/

• http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/new-economy/2010/0112/Delta-baggage-fees-go-up.-Here-are-three-ways-to-avoid-them

With baggage costs on the rise, it is also the perfect time to remind travelers about packing tips to help lighten your load and potentially reduce your costs:

• Pack only what you need, or put another way, bring only half as much as you will need
• Organize by packing for your “typical day” and make a checklist if you have difficulty deciding what necessities to bring
• Try to keep heavy, bulky footwear to a minimum
• Use every inch of luggage space
• Insert hosiery into your shoes
• Roll up sweaters and undergarments on the bottom and sides of your luggage, followed by layers of clothing that wrinkle more easily
• Bring sample sizes of toiletry items

Before flying, remember to phone your airline (or visit its web site) for the latest information. Happy and safe travels!

PHOTO CREDIT: LUGGAGE, ANYONE? BY LINDA DuBOSE VIA STOCK.XCHNG.

If you pack your pants like this, you're doing it wrong.

Americans tend to stand out when traveling. Part of it is our love of baseball caps, blue jeans, and other casual clothing. At Vantage Travel we always recommend you wear what’s most comfortable while on your trip. With these helpful tips on avoiding wrinkles when packing, you might still stand out — but you’ll look neat and wrinkle-free while doing it!

• Pack items with the buttons buttoned.
• Fold clothes as little as possible.
• Fold items as close to the waist and seamsas you can.
• Plastic dry cleaner’s or laundry bags between layers minimize wrinkling — just keep each layer flat and even.
• Suits, jackets, and other hard-to-iron items can be given some extra protection from wrinkling by carefully rolling them top to bottom in a towel instead of folding.
• Unpack as soon as possible after you arrive aboard ship.
• Instead of bringing a bulky travel iron, try hanging your clothes in the bathroom when taking a shower. Often, the humidity is enough to de-wrinkle them.

Happy wrinkle-free traveling!

PHOTO CREDIT: PANT WITH STRIPE POCKET BY EMILY LUCIMA VIA STOCK.XCHNG