Like many other travelers, I am currently stuck in Europe, due to the volcanic ash cloud spreading over the continent. My flight was supposed to leave this morning from CDG airport in Paris, but was cancelled yesterday and rescheduled to next Sunday.

Not being one to easily admit defeat and sit around waiting, I had booked backup flights out of Madrid and Rome for Thursday and Friday, battling travel websites that would show a flight one minute, and then have it fully booked seconds later. With all our technology and seeming invincibility it’s a bit humbling to be at the mercy of a volcano a few thousand miles away, and the whims of the trade winds.

Either way, I am off via car to Madrid in the hopes of clearer skies and functioning aircraft. Wish me luck!

While this topic strays a bit from our usual IT management fodder, I’m frequently asked for packing tips since I spend an ungodly amount of time in airplanes.

Perhaps the best tip I’ve found is the most simple: lay out what you think you will need, and then put half of it back in the closet, especially for a longer trip. Bring flexible clothing that you can layer, or that serves multiple purposes (for example a comfortable “upscale” pair of shoes you can use for evenings out on the town yet also wear for long walks around an unfamiliar city).

I also recommend creating a reusable packing list (this could be as simple as a document on your computer that you print for every trip). When you get home, remove the items you didn’t use from the list and after several trips you will have the “perfect” packing list customized for your needs. I categorize mine for groups of items that I may or may not need depending on the type of trip, so I have a group of items for international trips, items for running if I’ll have time for a run on a trip, and cold weather items.

Finally, nearly every town in the world has a dry cleaner with a “wash and fold” service that is priced quite reasonably. Most hotels also have this service, but it can be quite expensive except for many hotels in Asia. For long trips, this can really cut down on your packing, since you can stop in once or twice during the trip and have undergarments and whatnot washed and folded. I even do this occasionally before heading home so I don’t have a “gift” of a suitcase full of laundry for my wife!