Packing AHH!

So.... I'm leaving in two weeks for London I'm terribly excited, but I've been putting off the inevitable.

Packing.


I want to trial pack so I can see how naive I was to think I could take everything with me.

Anyone have any packing tips... any suggestions on how to fit my life into two suitcases?

As much as I love travelling.... geez, do I hate packing.

I've heard that you should pack all you want to take, and then remove half I haven't tried it myself, but I think its a good idea considering I always take too much and don't wear most of it at all! good luck!

1) I always find it helpful to roll all my clothes. I don't know why, but I seem to be able to fit more in my case that way.

2) If you know where you'll be staying or working, you can send a couple of boxes before you leave. These would be the items you can do without for a while as it takes anywhere from a week (airmail) to six weeks (surface).

3) Be sure to bring your credentials/ documents with you (degrees, transcripts and whatnot) your employer may want to see them.

mlondon- yes, I've also heard the take out 50% of what you want to pack rule... and I think I followed it pretty well when I went travelling this summer.

I'm just concerned that I'm not travelling this time, I'm moving. And as superficial as this seems, I don't want to leave my clothes and shoes at home! They're my things and I'm going to have trouble parting with them if I have to. But I know I'll have to because my shoes alone will take up an entire suitcases.

I think I will look into shipping some stuff, is it outrageously expensive. I have to remember that if I ship it there, I'll most likely have to ship it home and London to Edmonton seems like it would cost a whole hell of a lot more than shipping TO the UK.

I was an airline employee so fitted it in 36 boxes nstead.

When I was packing I found it really helpful for friends to come over and help you weed trough things. Also weigh your bags before you leave. My weight limit for my bags was seventy pounds for each suitcase and I exceeded it by twenty pounds in one suitcase and it cost an extra three hundread dollars to put it through on the plane.

As dumb as it sounds, I would recommend trying everything on before you pack it (or decide to keep it). I weeded out a third of my wardrobe based on the fact that I had grown, and it hadn't. It's also a good indication of how often you actually wear something (I found stuff that I probably hadn't fit, or worn, in five years or more).

Ah man I am reminded that I have to pack! Oh well at least I have the good advice here to help

My girlfriend and I just landed in London and we took 2 suitcases each. We are going to be living and working here on a visa and she especially could not part with much of her stuff. We should have followed the "take out 50%" rule however. It was really hard to lug all of the stuff on the underground and too expensive to cab it (though we eventually took a cab). If I could pack again I would travel as light as possible and update my wardrobe once here. Or shipping would be an option but carrying around 2 60 pound bags was not fun. I agree with idea of friends or family bringing key items once you are settled. If you arriving in summer you can have people that are visiting bring some winter clothes and take unwanted items home again.