• Travel with bags that have unique patterns to identify them on luggage carousels.luggage in hotel room image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
  
  When preparing for travel, it is important to know a few tips when it comes to your luggage. You can end up paying extra weight fees and even losing your luggage altogether if you don't know how to pack and identify your travel cases properly. To avoid a bad start to your vacation or business trip, make a list of everything you need to pack, pay attention to any luggage restrictions that are in effect and travel with bags that are easy to distinguish from others.
  
  

Know How to Pack

• Make a list of everything you need to pack -- this will avoid any items being thrown into your suitcase that you don't necessarily need to take with you on vacation or a business trip. Keep all itineraries, travel documents and traveler's checks with you in a purse or wallet and never pack them with your checked-in luggage; suitcases can get lost along the way so don't risk arriving without the essentials.
  
  

Customize your Bags

• A lot of luggage is the same color and shape. Avoid having your luggage picked up by another traveler by making your bags stand out. Tie a brightly-colored ribbon or scarf to the handle of your luggage to identify your bags on a carousel in airports. If you are in the market for buying new luggage, purchase bags that have unique patterns or are differently shaped. Always attach tags to your luggage with your name and contact information in case your suitcases do get picked up by the wrong person.
  
  

Remember Restrictions

• Each airline you travel with will have certain regulations put in place when it comes to baggage. Always take note of how many bags you can carry on board and whether or not you'll be charged a fee for your checked-in luggage. To avoid delays in the security line, always follow the TSA guidelines when it comes to packing liquids in your carry-on luggage. Weigh your suitcases before you arrive at the airport; you might be charged a fee if your bag is over the limit. Remember that not only airlines have luggage restrictions, but train and bus companies also regulate how many bags you can take on board.