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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Plan Ways To Identify Your Luggage Before The Trip

By Grace Jennings

In order to get the most enjoyment when you travel, consider planning ahead for ways to identify your luggage once you reach your destination. Keeping track of your bags at the airport, train station or at the cruise ship dock is an important component of a successful travel experience.

It's not always easy to figure out which luggage is yours in the bustle of an airport baggage claim - next time you're waiting at the baggage carousel, make a note of how many identical black canvas bags you see. I'm guessing this accounts for the bulk of the bags there in the carousel, right? This is why baggage mix-ups happen so often; a lot of people have baggage which is the same color, size and style as everyone else!

If you are in the market to purchase new luggage, consider getting something a bit offbeat. While it's impossible to be completely unique unless you have a custom design, you can move away from the standard black or brown bags most people gravitate toward. For the more creative types perhaps bold patterns or bright colors will do the trick. Of course, this strategy isn't for everyone.

Prepare First To Avoid Losing Your Luggage

One way you can make your luggage stand out is to tie a ribbon or scarf which is brightly colored or features a distinctive pattern. This, of course can work against you if others on your flight had the same idea. Always double check your luggage tags, even if you think no one else could possibly have a neon green ribbon on their suitcase.

Ribbons and scarves are problematic in another way because they can get caught on machinery during baggage handling process, causing delays and can also be removed during handling. If you are going to try the ribbon or scarf strategy, remember to also include all of your contact information on the tag.

You should also have your contact information inside all of your bags. Why? In the event that your bag is lost or mistaken for someone else's bag, this can help you and your luggage be reunited. It's also useful in the event all of your tags are somehow lost during handling.

A growing number of travelers have turned to personalized luggage tags as a way to keep better track of their belongings. You might be surprised at the variety of looks you can find and while possible, it's not likely your fellow travelers will choose the exact same ones. Embroidered luggage tags in particular have gained popularity recently but there are many options from which to choose. Because really unique ways to identify your luggage are key to finding your bags quickly, try to go for the most unusual tag you can find.

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