Please give me your packing tips!

[dorothyinAus]

I really can't help. I moved permanently and used and international moving company.

But I would definitely load your wardrobe with basics that cane be mixed and matched, and pack more underwear tan you think you'll need. Even after being here over a year, the thought of buying underwear here is daunting.

[wise_rita]

First and foremost, abuse the shit out of the carry on luggage allowance. I suggest a good sized roller suitcase and a backpack (or similar non-purse bag that holds a lot). Keep your purse in your luggage elsewhere and put the contents in your backpack.

Heavy and important stuff goes in the carry on roller suitcase. SHOES, especially! They add weight so, so fast but are pretty compact so you can fit a lot of them in your carry on suitcase. In here also goes things you cannot lose if your checked luggage disappears forever. Jewellery, documents, electronics and chargers (important for another reason, in case you get stranded at an airport).

It's wise to keep a smaller bag WITHIN one of your larger carry-ons, so you can pull it out and keep it under the seat on the plane. Keep things like your magazines, toothpaste, or whatever you'll need for the actual flight.

Beyond clothes, you don't need to bring a lot of "stuff". Not for one year. Limit yourself to ONE framed picture (this can be tough for some). That one framed picture is also a good candidate for your carry on luggage, so it doesn't get broken.

Are you bringing medical or other supplies? I think you might have mentioned that before. I'm guessing/hoping that does not cut into your luggage allowance?

The name of the game is WEIGHT! Suitcases are so big these days and weight allowances so small that your "filled to capacity" suitcase will be half empty. On that note: Suitcases themselves take up a lot of weight. If you can get gigantic duffle bags that's much better. They weigh so much less.

Know your destination, its weather and your lifestyle there to determine which clothes to bring. Don't pack stuff that isn't versatile. You can stretch your wardrobe by mixing and matching pieces. This generic info is the easiest part, I think. Getting it all there is the tricky part.

This process can (and should) take WEEKS! No shame in that. Pack, rethink, repack, take your time. I find it helpful to have different rooms (or complete opposite ends of rooms) to separate my different "piles". There's a take pile, store pile, donate pile and trash pile.

That's all I can think of for now.

Signed,
3 international moves with only suitcases

[potatopie]

Good advice so far.

As to weather and what you need:

It never gets super cold here. You may want to wear a hat (I haven't yet) but I've never worn gloves or mitts.

Instead, invest in a good rain jacket. I got a long one from Eddie Bauer with a detachable liner, so I can wear it when it's warm or cooler. That's all you need in the winter (and not even that a lot of the time).

The worst it gets is low 50s, maybe high 40s, and rainy.

And don't worry about shopping here. There are some decent department stores (Woolworths, not the same as UK) where you can stock up on things you need. Not the same quality as back home, but good and cute. Think Target type. But you can get whatever you need.

[aMrsin09]

Only thing WiseRita forgot in the carry on, is along with all your chargers is a universal plug adapter. Or at least one for the countries you expect to be flying through.

[wise_rita]

Universal adapter goes without saying! One that goes FROM any plug TO any plug is best, but I've got electronics from 3 continents so it's a must have for me so it might not make sense for everybody to shell out $30 for one.

[aMrsin09]

May 16, 2012 5:31:36 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Universal adapter goes without saying! One that goes FROM any plug TO any plug is best, but I've got electronics from 3 continents so it's a must have for me so it might not make sense for everybody to shell out $30 for one.

You would think it would go without saying, but you have no idea how many times H has put his in his checked luggage. We now own several of these (at way more than $30) because he buys replacements in the airports.

[pittpurple]

Some great advice already!
I would consider duffle bags as well - at least one duffle bag if there's a security issue and pack the stuff that it wouldn't be a huge deal to lose if that's relevant.

I wouldn't bring any 'stuff' for a year. Just clothing, electronics and toiletries. Obviously all your electronics in your carry-on. Personally, I'd bring a several month supply of any 'must-have' toiletry items but be really strict about what that list has on it.

If you don't have an e-reader and you're a reader, I'd buy one. Saves a ton of space and effort.

[potatopie]

Good advice from Pitt. Toiletries if you're picky about brands. Though you can find quite a few common ones here, just not always the exact product.

But as far as adapters go....I never found one that fit a South African plug (it's a really big 3 prong plug) in the US stores. So I'd say wait until you get here and you can buy a US/SA plug adapter at most grocery stores.

ETA: here's one from Amazon www.amazon.com/VCT-VP110-Universal-Travel-Adapter/dp/B000WU2VTG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337169259&sr=8-1

However, they use European plugs a lot. So you could buy an adapter to Euro plugs (which would help in airports on layovers) and you can use those here too.

ETA again: I'm saying Euro plugs but it's whatever we use in Italy. Haven't traveled around the rest of Europe to know what they use. I just know UK is different.

[centralperk]

You've gotten a lot of good advice, and I don't know that much about South Africa specifically, but DEFINITELY pack as much as physically possible into your carry-on (including shoes and other heavy stuff), and pack clothes that you can layer and mix and match. If you have a skirt that you can only wear with one top or something, it doesn't get packed, no matter how much you love it! And definitely get a universal adapter.

[blushing]

You are going into the CPT winter now, which means that it is going to be wet and windy. It gets cold, but I would not call it freezing unless you are going to be living out Franshhoek or Ceres way. I would not pack a big heavy coat, more hoodies, cardies and light rain jackets. When I lived there I lived in my jeans, a lot, unless I was wearing work clothes. Most places allow jeans on a Friday and a lot of places finish work at lunch time on a Friday, unless you work somewhere like a bank (not sure if you are going to be working).

If you do clothes shopping there then -
Woolworths - buy your underwear and socks from here. You can also wear better quality clothes from here (at least you used to be able to, have heard some rumours to think otherwise lately)

Truworths - fashion clothing - better quality than Mr Price

Mr Price - cheap, cheerful, lasts a month

Queens Park - Good quality clothing, will last. More classic lines usually

Edgars - a bit like Macys on a lot smaller scale.

Stuttafords - slighlty more expensive, but you should find everything from Hip Hop to Monsoon in there (not sure those names mean anything to you)

Young Designers - interesting store. Up to date fashion store. Clothes made by unknown designers. Worth a browse

For toiletries and medicines you should be ok. Let me know if you can't find anything and I will tell you the SA version, they even have the Mitchum we can't get here there. My MIL always bring it for me when she comes over, that and the drugs we miss here.

Keep all your jewellery and anything valuable in your carry on luggage. I have had cosmetic jewellery stolen. They will steal anything they think they can sell when they go threw your luggage in transit.

I am trying to think of other things, but I keep getting interrupted and this post has taken me over an hour.

[clickerish]

Duffle bag. Use one regular for valuables and get one of the military issue duffles which you can't cut through at all but that weigh very little and can pack pretty much the straight weight allowance in clothes. Also, don't forget to maximize your wearing potential on the plane. Even if you only really want a shirt and pants, wear a sweater and whatever coat/raincoat you're bringing. Why pack something like that!?!

Also, while I totally respect your lack of desire to purchase more, CapeTown is not the end of the earth. They have plenty of access to items you are used to or similar ones.