Business Travel Packing

When men made up the majority of business travelers, packing for business travel seemed simple: a change of shirt, underwear and socks stuffed into the briefcase alongside the important files, and off they went. Toiletries consisted of a toothbrush and shaving kit, and no one cared if he wore the same shoes for three days.

The number of women traveling for business has been growing. While small briefcases may be enough for men, they hardly have enough space to meet a woman''s needs. While men can get away with wearing the same suit three days in a row, expectations are different for women. Women need different looks and to look good at the same time, so they''ll need a little more space than a briefcase can offer.

Modern luggage design has gone a long way to replace the sparse briefcases with little room left over for personal items and clothing. Modern "briefcases," in fact, look more like offices on wheels with a compartment for everything that doesn''t fit in the single carry-on bag.

Women Packing for Business Travel

Packing for business travel requires some strategic thinking, ladies. These tips will help you make quick decisions when the boss announces you have two hours to pack and board that plane:

• Mix and match the outfits. Pick some basic colors like black and beige suits that travel well in garment bags and use extra space in computer bags and briefcases for light wrinkle-free shirts or sweaters and shells that vary widely enough to fool the people you''ll meet into thinking you packed a dozen full outfits.
• Wear your most comfortable walking shoes and pack another pair with a medium heel. Light sandals double as slippers and beach shoes, and can be crammed flat in briefcases or computer bags.
• Wear or pack a light raincoat. Women who take along garment bags find that a good all-weather coat can be draped over a suit without taking up much space. Day trips to the country might require slacks or sportswear.
• Wear a good watch, but pack the rest of the metal to avoid slowing down the security lines at the airport. You don''t need much jewelry, so take just a few good pieces in neutral colors.

Ready in a Jiffy

Some jobs require little business travel while others require that you be ready to go at the drop of a hat. Here are some tips for saving time:

• Keep a duplicate set of toiletries in a kit that you leave packed and ready. Keep a checklist in it so that you can circle items that must be replenished, such as toothpaste or miniature shampoos and conditioners.
• Invest in good luggage tags that have your contact information in case your garment bags or other luggage items get lost. Don''t forget to tag briefcases too.
• If you travel often, keep a tote handy for one-day trips. You might not need overnight items, but delays and weather problems might turn that one-day trip into an overnighter. Most hotels can supply emergency items like a toothbrush, shampoo and a razor, so you need not worry about packing too much.
• If emergency departures come up often, keep extra totes and garment bags ready to go at the office.
• Look for things that do double-duty, like flip-flops for slippers and t-shirts for sleepwear.

Business Travel Lite

We all tend to over pack. Even seasoned travelers can recite the list of items always packed and never used. Leave these at home:

• The third pair of shoes. Yes, they do have shoe stores in Bolivia!
• The hair dryer. Most hotels suitable for business travelers have them already. At worst, you''ll have to call housekeeping to have one delivered. Call them if you''re not sure.
• Ditto for the travel iron.
• The umbrella. Get a coat with a hood and remember that you''ll be in taxis and limos most of the time anyway.
• Anything weighing more than eight ounces and can be bought for less than ten dollars.
• Any clothing that''s spotted or wrinkled and isn''t ready to wear.