Fodor's How to Pack, 2nd Edition (Travel Guide) [Paperback]

Fodor's (Author), Laurel Cardone (Author)

Book Description

Series: Travel Guide | Publication Date: January 7, 2003

Aiming to trade your jumbo suitcase for one that's merely medium-size? Trying to fit everything into a carry-on? Do you always pack too much, too little, or the wrong thing?and obsess about it? Fodor's How to Pack is a must-have to helps you get organized.Packed with info and advice on everything from foolproof pre-trip to-do lists; travel kits; how to arrive wrinkle-free; tips for packing tricky items; help for moms and dads; carry-on packing?all the secrets; how to pack for the way back; and what to take no matter where you're going. Plus how to avoid the overpacking trap; clothing checklists for men, women, and kids; packing checklists for every kind of trip; and how to buy luggage.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Aiming to trade your jumbo suitcase for one that's merely medium-size? Trying to fit everything into a carry-on? Do you always pack too much, too little, or the wrong thing?and obsess about it? Fodor's How to Pack is a must-have to helps you get organized.Packed with info and advice on everything from foolproof pre-trip to-do lists; travel kits; how to arrive wrinkle-free; tips for packing tricky items; help for moms and dads; carry-on packing?all the secrets; how to pack for the way back; and what to take no matter where you're going. Plus how to avoid the overpacking trap; clothing checklists for men, women, and kids; packing checklists for every kind of trip; and how to buy luggage.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fodor's; 2 Expanded edition (January 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140001235X
• ISBN-13: 978-1400012350
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.4 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Tips
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Reference
  • #26 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Essays & Travelogues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dear Sister, the book saved me lots of time and headache..., May 24, 2003

By 

Ellen Etc. (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fodor's How to Pack, 2nd Edition (Travel Guide) (Paperback)

Dear Sandra,

Thanks for lending me Fodor's How to Pack book! Having never been abroad before, I had a lot to learn and didn't even know it. I'm going to have to get a copy of this book for myself, especially for the checklists of "Basic Wardrobe Options for Women," ditto for men, and what to put into a first aid kit, laundry kit, sewing kit, toiletries kit, etc. I read the sections on packing for cruises, mountain trips, hot and cold weather, and adventure trips even though I wasn't going to use them for this vacation, just because they were interesting and I kept picking up the stray tip. (Thank goodness I don't have to use their advice on traveling with children!)

The sections on what to wear on the plane, what to pack in one's carry-on (as well as reminders of what NOT to pack), food for the journey, and how to pack luggage that will be checked in were extremely useful. Who would have thought to pack clothes in those plastic bags from dry cleaners to keep items from wrinkling?? I'm trying it and will let you know how it works out. They also talk about the different philosophies of packing -- the "roll" style that is especially good for duffel bags, vs. the "interlock" style where you stack layers and then fold them all together to decrease wrinkling.

On the down side, the book seemed padded and too chatty, when, being the procrastinator that I am, I needed to get the information right away. But I was able to find it, and someone could just use the many helpful checklists and be way ahead of the game, as I was. And there were things I never thought about, such as compiling a "personal documents" file to put in my carry-on, with a copy of my passport and driver's license and a photo of my luggage in case it got lost.

Altogether I found this a must-read for either the procrastinator or the unseasoned traveler such as yours truly. Thanks for caring enough to send me this book!

Best wishes,
-H

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More than you ever wanted to know on the subject, but dated in important ways, July 7, 2010

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fodor's How to Pack, 2nd Edition (Travel Guide) (Paperback)

This slender little volume is packed--pun intended--with useful information, all the way from advice about buying luggage, to the best way to pack particular garments, to what you should pack for particular kinds of trips, to how to fold clothes to avoid wrinkles and use the least space (these last two goals don't necessarily go hand in hand), to what official documents to take depending on where you're traveling. Reading through this on a plane ride I felt agreeably overwhelmed by all of the advice.

However, this book was last published in 2003 and badly needs an update--a noticeable amount of information concerning carry-on rules and airline policies is no longer correct. For example, you can't buy water in advance or fill water bottles at home and expect to carry liquids on board, because of the "three-ounce" rule. Nor should you lock your checked baggage, likewise for security reasons. I caught other instances of advice that is currently invalid, though rules could very well change again in the future. Ideally, any book about air travel should go through regular updates and there's enough valuable information in "How to Pack" to hope that Fodor's will revise this book very soon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, May 9, 2008

By 

Bonnielu "Bonnielu" (Western, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fodor's How to Pack, 2nd Edition (Travel Guide) (Paperback)

I was pleased because I am frantically packing for a cruise. Never been and this little booklet gave me some great ideas.