Whether you’re looking forward to a weekend getaway or dipping your toes in the sand of some faraway beach, these pro packing tips will help you start off your summer vacation on the right foot, and make sure you do not overpack or even underpack!
1. Plan ahead.
Avoid packing pitfalls by only bringing items that you’re pretty sure you’re going to use, so be sure to plan before you pack. Lay out everything that you think you want to pack on your bed and take a good hard look, even planning your clothes out day by day. That way you can avoid over packing and save that precious suitcase space.
2. Spruce up your suitcase
Avoid an airport baggage carousel crisis where you’re struggling to identify your luggage from similar specimens. Label your suitcase carefully with luggage tags and make sure you pimp it out. Decorate it with ribbons, stickers or even colorful shoelaces so it’s instantly recognizable.
3. Take spare ziplock bags and use them to separate different groups of items
Phone charger, camera charger, adaptors, headphones, we all have so many wires and gadgets that are easily tangled or lost in a suitcase. Ziplock bags are the solution to this problem. Take some extras to cover yourself for in-flight liquids and use them to store electrical items, things for the journey home (house keys, parking ticket and car keys), medication and other loose accessories.
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4) Roll clothes and use vacuum compression bags
The ultimate suitcase space saver tip. To both save space and stop creasing, roll your clothes instead of folding them. For an even greater effect, you can also place them in vacuum compression bags. To use these bags, you put your clothes in, seal the bag, then squeeze the air out. This will leave you with lots more space in your suitcase and will prevent creases more effectively than folding.
5. Scale back on shoes.
One easy way to gain more luggage space? You only need one or two alternate pairs of these space hoggers. Though for some, it might be very hard to bring only two shoes on a trip, you should try and limit yourself and see how much space you can actually save! When packing, place shoes toe-to-heel in the bottom of your luggage along the edge, and make the most of the empty spaces inside your footwear by filling them with fragile items wrapped in socks.
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6. Make your carry-on count.
For ease of travel, choose sturdy, lightweight luggage that’s easy to maneuver and has built-in compartments and collapsible shelves for easy packing.
7. Understand your baggage limits
Baggage allowance can vary from airline to airline. Make sure you are aware of your limits before you reach the airport. Some carriers will allow you to check in two bags and the weight allowance also varies. Make sure to prepare ahead of time and avoid costly overweight charges at the gate.
