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Pack Up Your Troubles

© Lain Ehmann

What to bring on your vacation-whether it's a weekend or a week or more-is one of the most critical decisions you'll make. Take too much, and you're burdened with extra luggage to schlep around. Take too little, and you're caught off-guard. Follow these tips to make getting your family's gear together as painless as possible:

1. Plan ahead. Figure out what activities you'll be taking part in, so you can make sure to bring appropriate clothing and accessories. A trip to the beach obviously calls for shorts, sundresses and swimsuits aplenty, while sight-seeing means comfortable shoes.

2. Check it out. The day before you go, check in with the weather service (try www.weather.com) to see what to expect for your journey. Even if sunshine is predicted, bring a light jacket for each member of your party; air conditioning gets cool, and sometimes those all-knowing weatherpeople are wrong!

3. Coordinate and consolidate. With the exception of underwear and socks, bring less than you think you'll need. Work wardrobes so kids and adults can wear shorts or pants more than once; coordinate colors so tops and bottoms are easily interchangeable.

4. Put like with like. Try to keep the kids' stuff in one suitcase, and group like items together. When all the t-shirts are in one spot, it speeds dressing in the mornings.

5. Don't forget accessories. Scarves, belts and hats can enliven outfits-even ones you've worn before-and take little space.

6. Think comfort first. If you have to choose between the height of fashion and the height of comfort, pick comfort, every time. Vacation is no time to suffer tight waistlines or blisters.

7. Do laundry once while you're gone. Though I typically advocate vacation as a time to get away from all your household chores, this is one exception. There's nothing more depressing than a suitcase full of dirty laundry, so find a Laundromat while you're on the road and do one round. Have the family to pitch in, and make use of all those washers and dryers to get it done fast. Alternately, many Laundromats offer wash-dry-and-fold services for a nominal fee ($2 or $3 a pound). It's well worth it. Hint: avoid the hotel laundry, as the charges are astronomical.

8. Think "emergency" for your carryon bag. Though it's tempting to check all your "necessities," don't risk it, especially if you have small children. Bring that extra set of clothes and twice the diapers and wipes you think you'll need-because when you need them, you REALLY need them.