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My bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

© Sonia Michaels

Well, I'm getting excited. Just a few more weeks until my next trip to Italy, and I can't wait! My handy carry-on convertible (backpack to suitcase) bag has been packed and re-packed a few times, and my daughter has been practicing with her kid-sized case on wheels. Our travels will take us to Florence and Venice, with some day-trips outside the cities, with a few days in London on the way out and back. My other travelling companion - my mother - has never been to Italy, so I'm looking forward to showing her around some of the places I have enjoyed on previous trips. I'm also looking forward to my daughter's first real travel experience - she's all primed to behave well on the plane, so here's hoping that we'll have an uneventful flight!

One of my travel goals has always been to have a well-packed case, preferably one that I can carry onto the plane with me, so that I can avoid congestion at the baggage claim area when I arrive. I thought that most people tried to pack that way, but I'm beginning to learn that there are as many ways to pack as there are people who travel! Some close friends, who will remain nameless, pack using the "throw a whole pile of assorted stuff we might need into the suitcase in a big heap right before leaving for the airport" method, while some other people I know are completely the opposite - if they don't have the travel iron, steamer, hair-dryer, and curling iron, they can't leave home.

I've found packing inspiration in a number of places, including Rick Steves' packing hints, at http://www.ricksteves.com/tips/packlist.... (general hints) and http://www.ricksteves.com/tips/398wpack.... (specifically for women travellers). While Steves' approach may be a bit sparse for luxury travellers, it works very well for my budget-oriented purposes.

Also visit the Compleat Carry-On Traveller - http://www.oratory.com/travel/ - an extensive and very helpful packing web site. Bear in mind that many of the hints on this page aren't specifically directed at Mediterranean-bound travellers, and may be more useful for those heading to Africa or Asia. Still, the basic concepts work, no matter where you are going. Travelite - http://www.travelite.org/ - is another site directed at people who prefer to travel with just a carry-on bag.

More hints can be found at eHow.com - http://www.ehow.com/eHow/eHow/0,1053,340... is a good one for business travellers, or people who prefer to pack on the heavy side. eHow also offers many other useful travel hints, including information about packing for travel with children, and packing for various destinations, including Spain - http://www.ehow.com/eHow/eHow/0,1053,130... - and Paris - http://www.ehow.com/eHow/eHow/0,1053,116... .