How to Pack Smartly and Spill-Free

· Bring medication in its original packaging, including the label with your name on it. Note that pharmacists might put the label for some medications, such as those in tubes, on the box the product came in, not on the product itself.

· Given that you likely won't need a 30-day supply of your medications on vacation, ask the pharmacist to pack them in smaller quantities in smaller bottles.

· Be aware that some items -- including teething rings, shoe inserts and vitamins -- contain gel and are prohibited.

Checked Luggage Tips

· Pack liquid and gel products in resealable freezer bags. They'll prevent leaks and will also aid inspectors who may search your checked luggage. Double bag them for extra protection.

· Transfer two or three days' worth of shampoo, lotion, etc., into leak-proof bottles, such as the Nalgene containers sold by Magellan's (800-962-4943, http://www.magellans.com/ ) and other companies. Sterilized liquids should stay in their original bottles.

· Leave room at the top of bottles for expansion during air pressure changes. Squeeze out excess air.

· To cart home that bottle of Jamaican rum or Tuscan olive oil, wrap the bottle in bubble wrap, put it in a resealable bag and nestle it in clothes in the center of your luggage. If you pack a few bottles, take their heft into consideration, as they could push you over the airline's weight limit.

You can also purchase a foam- or corrugated-cardboard-lined carrier box and check it with your luggage. Besides providing cushioning, the boxes regulate temperature. Wine that sits in 100-degree heat on the tarmac could overheat, popping the cork, says Grant Raeside, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance in California. Boxes usually cost around $1 per bottle at most wineries and wine shops. Pricier versions also are available through the company Wine Packs.com (800-372-3126, http://www.winepacks.com/ ).

· Tuck perfume bottles in shoes.

· Ship breakable liquid items home. Be careful to follow the stringent federal regulations on sending alcohol, especially whether you're permitted to send it to your state.

Space-Saving Tips

To make extra room in your suitcase, get creative:

· Wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane.

· Shift items around. If you usually put your shoes in checked luggage, tote them instead in your carry-on bag.

· Roll, rather than fold, as many items as you can. Or pack clothing in compression bags, such as those by Eagle Creek (800-874-1048, http://www.eaglecreek.com/ ), which push excess air out a one-way valve.

· An official searching your checked luggage will have an easier time zipping it up if it is packed loosely.

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MORE INFO: General packing tips can be found at Free Travel Tips.com ( http://www.freetraveltips.com/ ) and Smart Packing.com ( http://www.smartpacking.com/ ).

-- Elissa Leibowitz Poma