ONE WEEK BEFORE TAKEOFF

Freshen up your suitcases
Air out your bags before you pack. And next time you put luggage away, leave lavender sachets by L’Occitane en Provence in the pockets.

Stock up on storage bags for small items
Our favorites: Stephanie Johnson designs stylish Dopp kits with protective plastic interiors; a nylon-lined cotton sack by Zazendi is well suited for wet swim gear; and the drawstring laundry bag by Flight 001 is treated with polyurethane, which keeps odors under wraps.

THREE DAYS BEFORE TAKEOFF

Get your gadgets in order
Empty memory cards and charge your phone and camera. Consolidate power cords, chargers, and extra batteries in your carry-on (new DOT regulations prohibit putting them in checked luggage). Pick up the Tumi Electronics Charger Kit, with adapters that work in 150 countries.

Refill necessary prescriptions
Bring medications with you on the plane; make sure they are properly labeled according to TSA requirements.

Copy important documents
Carry paper duplicates of your passport, visa, and itinerary, and e-mail yourself electronic copies. With a password-protected itinerary on Google Docs, close friends and family can keep track of where you are.

Pare down your travel wallet
Only bring essential documents: driver’s license, medical insurance cards, passport, and credit cards. (T+L Tip: Alert your bank and credit card companies before you depart, so that they won’t be alarmed by out-of-town charges and ATM withdrawals.)

ONE DAY BEFORE TAKEOFF

Record the contents of your suitcase
Take pictures of your clothes, shoes, and jewelry, which will serve as documentation if your bag is lost or stolen. Download the shots onto your home computer, just in case.

The survey found that travelers can save on average 30 percent on land/sea vacations and 20 percent on packages that include airfare versus planning the same trips on their own.

Savings are based on a typical one-week package during high season at rack rates.

Depending on the destination, travel in low season nets an additional 20 percent savings, with savings of up to 40 percent for areas like Mexico and the Caribbean.

USTOA reports that savings have remained constant since 2005, when the association last surveyed its members.

The survey also revealed that for travelers with limited time, booking a one-week air-inclusive escorted tour saves an average nine hours of planning time and an average 16 transactions.

Booking a vacation package rather than a tour saves an average five transactions.

Transaction are defined as booking airfare, transfers, hotel accommodations, sightseeing, events and meals.

The USTOA survey was based on a sampling of 12 companies representing a wide range of tours and vacations to all parts of the world. www.ustoa.com

-taken from the 2008 Group Travel Industry Buyer’s Guide pg. 51