<h2 class="footer_style"> Holiday with friends</h2> Anil Purohit is an IT professional with a penchant for travel. He has chronicled his experiences in a soon-to-be published booku00a0titled Windows in the Street. Purohit has been to many wildlife camps with friends. These are his tips: <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2012/apr/PACKAGING.jpg" style="width: 400px; height: 421px; " /> Illustration/ Amit Bandre Pack this: &gt;&gt; When packing, keep the destination&rsquo;s weather and attractions in mind. &gt;&gt; Identify common items of use &mdash; mosquito repellent, toiletries, medicines, camera &mdash; so you can share and split the load. &gt;&gt; Depending on the destination / experience, pack binoculars, audio recorders, etc in lieu of some clothes. &gt;&gt; Check the climate. A hat and sunscreen lotion could be crucial. Ditch this: &gt;&gt; I&rsquo;d rather look out the window during a journey than have my nose buried in a book, so, for similarly-inclined travel buffs, I&rsquo;d recommend you leave the books behind. &gt;&gt; Travel light. If you forget to pack a hat, you&rsquo;ll almost certainly live to tell the tale. &gt;&gt; While trekking across the Western Ghats one monsoon, leeches had feasted on my feet so my shoes were soaked with blood and had to be discarded. Had I carried tobacco to smear on my feet, the leeches would have stayed away, but thanks to the omission, I have a story to tell, so don&rsquo;t agonise too much over what to pack. <h2 class="footer_style"> Holiday with family</h2> Thirty year-old Worli resident, Mansi Zaveri holidays with her family at least twice a year, and with a three-and-a-half year-old old daughter, packing requires a good deal of forethought. Pack this: &gt;&gt; Be destination-specific. If beaches are the central attraction, focus on casual wear, swimsuits and slippers. &gt;&gt; You can&rsquo;t wear flip flops and swimsuits everywhere so sneakers, cargo pants with large pockets and some separates (blouses, skirts, etc) rather than dresses may be required. &gt;&gt; Go easy on the luggage. You can&rsquo;t go prepared for every eventuality and almost everything will probably be available wherever you&rsquo;re headed. &gt;&gt; If you plan to stay in hotels, remember to pack long-sleeved pyjamas &mdash; the air-conditioning can be fierce. &gt;&gt; Carry what you need to keep your child entertained but opt for books and colours rather than noisy toys. &gt;&gt; Basic medication is a must and if anyone in the family has a specific health condition, do remember to pack an ample supply of his / her medication. &gt;&gt; A backpack is essential for the baby&rsquo;s things and that bulky camera. Ditch this: &gt;&gt; Let fashion take a backseat. Opt for comfortable clothes instead. &gt;&gt; Limit the light-coloured T-shirts. Pack darker colours when travelling with kids, so stains won&rsquo;t show. &gt;&gt; A few snacks are alright, but it&rsquo;s good to let your child explore the local culinary traditions. <h2 class="footer_style"> Holiday with partner</h2> Chembur-resident Anuradha Shankar and her husband are determined to visit as many places as they can within India. Planning is the keyword when it comes to holidays, the 37 year-old says. Pack this: &gt;&gt;u00a0 Sports shoes are imperative for long walks. &gt;&gt; You want a good camera with you to record these moments. Don&rsquo;t forget to pack the charger, spare battery and memory card(s) with this. &gt;&gt; A map of the place is useful but also ask locals about places to see and dine at. &gt;&gt; Carry books to read up on the history of the place you are visiting. &gt;&gt; Have emergency contact details in your wallet. Ditch this: &gt;&gt; Carry Paracetamol and band-aids but don&rsquo;t go overboard with medicines. You&rsquo;re unlikely to need too many and they&rsquo;re best avoided on holiday, anyway, as you don&rsquo;t want to be drowsy. &gt;&gt; Clothes that are fancy or wrinkle easily are best left out. Jeans are your best bet &mdash; they can be worn anywhere and don&rsquo;t need to be washed every day. They come in handy whether you&rsquo;re exploring the terrain, riding the bus to a nearby attraction or dining at a nice restaurant. <h2 class="footer_style"> Solo holidayu00a0</h2> Horticulturist, Anusha Babbar, holidays on her own at least once a year, aiming to visit every national park she can around the world. She shares her packing tips: Pack this: &gt;&gt; Carry just two pairs of pants and don&rsquo;t worry about what you&rsquo;re going to look like. &gt;&gt; You&rsquo;ll need a good pair of walking shoes and a pair of floaters, but try to limit it to that &mdash; no more than two pairs of shoes. &gt;&gt; Carry a spare battery for your camera and the battery charger. &gt;&gt; A headlamp can be really useful. You never know where you&rsquo;re going to get stuck &mdash; your car could break down or you could be stuck at a beach on a moonless night. &gt;&gt; A light rain jacket is always good. If for nothing else, it may come in handy to protect your camera. &gt;&gt; A foldable hat is a lifesaver. &gt;&gt; Maps are crucial. Do research your destination well before you take off. Ditch this: &gt;&gt; Jewellery. You definitely don&rsquo;t want to be worrying about that. &gt;&gt; Don&rsquo;t carry suitcases. Opt for a backpack instead and one that has a zip that goes all the way around. Don&rsquo;t get a bag that only opens at the top because you&rsquo;ll have to pull out everything when you need something from the bottom. &gt;&gt; While you should carry basic medicines, keep that list short and simple.

This summer holiday, don't agonise over exceeding the check-in limit at the airport.   ANJANA VASWANI got frequent travellers to share their secrets to perfect packing for every   kind of holiday 

The pro's guide to perfect packing

Holiday with friends

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