Travelling Light And Right

Many corporate travellers have at some time or the other made a mistake in their packing which led to life becoming agony on a trip. Reema Sisodia catches up with a few of them to find out what they have learnt from experience and whether there is a formula for avoiding 'baggage pangs'…

Can you imagine paying 110 pounds for a medicine which is worth just six pounds? In Indian rupees that translates to over Rs 8,000 extra. Well, Rajiv Duggal senior vice-president, SOTC, knows the agony of shedding those extra pounds. "Abroad, unlike India, it is extremely tough to get medicines and drugs off the counter. On one of my initial trips, in this case it was to London, I fell ill and needed antibiotics. To my unpleasant surprise, I discovered that they would not sell medicines without an authorised prescription from a doctor. I had to spend 110 pounds by paying up for a doctor's appointment, who prescribed an antibiotic that cost me only six pounds," says Duggal. Since then, Duggal, has never gone wrong on this front. He has his separate medical kit that is only kept aside for travel, which is an essential part of his packing.

They say experience is a strange teacher - it gives the test first and the lesson afterwards. This is especially true when it comes to travel. Most frequent fliers inevitably have an experience or two about the manner in which life went all awry due to packing goof-ups. Many of them will also vouch for the fact that they are wiser today when it comes to baggage pangs, thanks to the experience of constant travel which has made them smarter and savvy travellers.

So for business travellers like Duggal, experience has taught them how to avoid baggage pangs. For example, Duggal advises every traveller to carry a multi-adapter, as plug points differ from country to country.

Likewise, most corporate travellers today have a few essentials that always accompany them on their trips. These include medical and first aid kits, a kit for toiletries, essential emergency contacts and numbers, gadgets, etc. One such traveller is Ashank Desai, chairman and managing director, Mastek Ltd. He has a packed bag always ready just for his jet setting journeys.

Anupam Mittal, chairman & CEO of People Group (shaadi.com, mauj.com, fropper.com, People Pictures), is yet another corporate traveller who has learnt to travel light and right the hard way. He feels it's important for travellers to make sure that they are picking their own bag from the conveyer belt, hence it is a good idea to have some unique identifier to distinguish it for the others. Explains Mittal, "With globalisation, luggage and travel accessories have also becoming very standard and many bags have started to look alike. On a trip to Kolkata once, I took somebody else's bag off the belt as it was identical to mine. Even the initials on the bag were the same. In my hotel room, when I opened the bag, there were women's clothes on the top. Even then I thought somebody had pulled a prank and that this was indeed my bag. A little more investigation put that theory to rest but now when I travel my bags usually have a tag with my business card in it."

Certain things, Mittal believes, travellers learn as they go along. "For example," he says, "it is best to have undergarments and socks on one side rather than buried under everything. Anything that requires quick access should be on one side as opposed to underneath everything. A few leakages have led to the resolve that shampoos, gels etc must always be packed in toilet bags and if too big then in plastic wrapping. Also, money, valuables, and things like diaries should always be kept in the hand baggage. If your bags are misplaced by the airline at least you can contact people. Make sure your hand baggage is light. Ensure that your money, valuables, and diaries are close to you. Keep a change of socks in your hand baggage in addition to your toilet bag. Extra deodorant stock is also a good idea. Though I am a last minute packer, I see to it that my things are in place. Earlier I carried a lot more than I needed but now it is down to the basics. Travelling is tiring anyway, what with different time-zones, fast food etc all. By traveling light one can reduce a lot of stress."

Don't Get Sent Packing

A smart traveller is also a focused and a confident traveller, and however last minute you may be, putting your basics in place does not consume too much of time. A list of stuff you might want to take is very different from a list of things you cannot travel (comfortably) without. Packing also calls for being a well-informed traveller, especially about weather conditions and the culture of a place. Packing, as per the weather, is something most seasoned travellers take into account. Says a frequent traveller, who preferred not to be named, "Carrying specific shoes as per the weather conditions is important. One normal pair and one as per the specific weather requirement helps. I personally had an unpleasant time in Norway, where I slipped and fell four times in one day, due to the wrong shoes." He goes a step further and adds that it is not a good idea to try your new pair abroad since shoe bites may cause agony. If you are travelling to a destination where rain and snow is due, travelling with a leather bag may not work. Hence, using the right kind of bags also goes a long way is travelling right. A bag with zippers designed to be locked with a small padlock is suitable. One can also use combination locks, rather than the keyed variety.

Likewise, as important if not more, is the clothes that one carries or chooses wisely not to carry. Going overboard packing clothes and loading extra weight will only lead to travel woes. Duggal says that he does make an effort to carry wrinkle-free clothes. Since carrying an iron is a little absurd and ulitising the laundry services, especially abroad, is expensive. Duggal has also invested in a travel bag that helps him carrying his suits straight up. A nice blazer is ideal for almost any dress-up occasion, and there are companies that make them with both fabrics and pocket arrangements that are specifically designed for travelling. A presentable cardigan is an excellent layering item, and can also substitute for a jacket when a more formal occasion is on the cards. Carrying basic and neutral colours such as a black trouser, coupled with few formal and informal shirts along with just two pairs of shoes depending on the occasions and business meets should be just right. For Riyaaz Amlani, CEO, Mocha - Coffee & Conversations, his overnighter has a dark suit, a couple of formal white shirts and ties, which he always carries in the boot of his car without fail. Being a 'last milli-second planner', as he describes himself, his overnighter always goes with him.

Mix-N-Match

Mix-n-match is one secret which corporate travellers, cutting across gender lines, follow assiduously. Unanimous in their opinion about the mix-n-match formula, are Ruhi Daswani, president, Bulls & Bears Finance Limited (travel & tours) and Vasuki Sundaram, proprietress, Wings Travel & Tours Co. "For women travellers, matching the shoes, bags, accessories and jewellery as per the outfit is important. Dressing for a formal occasion or a casual evening also calls for a different wardrobe. Like black formal trousers for men, a skirt as western wear would be ideal for women to carry," says Daswani. Packing a few shades of tops, both casual and formal, would help in providing a new look. Carrying two pairs of shoes, one that goes well with formal attires and the other which is more casual would make sense. "Packing in a saree also features on the list of some women travellers, wherein a light non-creasing material is the preferred choice. They also prefer different kinds of kurtas blending in the Indo-western wear," says Sundaram. Necktie, scarf, hair band, bandannas are accessories that can stretch a wardrobe, for women in particular. A well-chosen scarf can dramatically alter the appearance and thus multiply the utility of an outfit. Costume jewellery also works well in this manner. Like women, men too follow the mix-n-match funda. Adds, Amlani, "Mixing and matching a few coloured shirts and a tie with a dark business suit often gives an impression one is carrying a complete wardrobe. A pair of semi-formals for meetings over a drink, is something that can go with you."