I bought clear zippered pencil pouches (nice thick plastic) and filled each one with like items - things I tend to need when travelling internationally. It worked fabulously - no fishing around or pulling out multiple items to get to something, easy peasy happy travel!
Top pouch - comfort pouch - eye mask, disposable toothbrushes, floss, warm socks, mints, hair clip, eyeglass cleaner swipes etc.
Second pouch - security pouch - those pesky things you have to pull out when you go through security. I just left them in this pouch every time and considering it took 3 airports to get to Beijing, it saved me time and hassle.
Third pouch - activity pouch - cards for the airport (we're those people) and my Reader's Digest. I save my RD's for a few months before a big trip, they are perfect for travel because they are compact, lightweight and and I don't mind leaving them or passing them onto others when I'm finished.
Fourth pouch - medicine pouch (obviously important to a gal like me) - my prescriptions which I always carry on with me, pain reliever, laxatives (travel can be hard on a body) and something that has saved my bacon on so many trips - wads of band aids for my feet, they can make the difference between a good day and a bad day. Of course there is also something that was very important on this trip and everyone should take with them - Imodium, 'nuff said there.
Oh, one more pack - entertainment. I load up some books on tape onto our Ipods and charge up the batteries on my well used Gameboy.
I loved using these, just made everything less stressful and less stressful makes me happy. As Andrew Henry likes to repeat "happy wife - happy life".
