Packing for Business Travel

When you travel a lot on business, having the essentials ready to roll saves loads of time and aggravation.

It starts with your luggage. Frequent travelers may need both a roll-aboard bag for overnight trips and larger, rigid sided cases for weeks on the road (I take a case for each week of a long trip).

There are many good luggage makers, among them Mulholland Brothers of San Francisco which made mine. They use a tough canvas for their bags that's light, durable (leather luggage doesn't survive long as checked baggage) and distinctive. Whichever maker you choose, look for trolley style construction so you can roll the bag, and a color other than black so you can identify it on the luggage carousel.

Pre-packing everything but your clothes helps minimize the liklihood that you'll arrive at your destination minus some necessity. Your bag should contain a stocked toiletry kit with a spare set of contact lenses if you wear them, a dirty laundry bag, exercise shoes and clothes, a sewing kit with spare shoelaces, a travel alarm, a manicure set, collar stays for your shirts (and some silk knots if you wear cuff links), a portable steamer and a travel umbrella.

Luggage for your luggage is a relatively recent invention that makes sense if your clothes tend to shift and wrinkle in transit. Folders like the pictured one from Eagle Creek are designed to stack half a dozen shirts, trousers, sweaters, or pajamas and hold them in place.

The next time you're going to have to rise early and head for the airport, pre-pack the staples you'll need to look and feel your best. It'll help you enjoy the trip.