Everyone loves to travel, but few people enjoy the packing that goes along with it. Preparing for a trip doesn’t have to be a headache. There are simple and efficient ways to pack your bag that will make your life easier before, during, and after your travels. Check out these top travel packing hacks that will save you time, stress, and money in overweight baggage fees:
1. Roll & compress clothes
Folding is out. Rolling is in. Rolling your clothes before packing them in your suitcase reduces the amount of space your items take up. Even better, pack your rolled clothes in reusable and compressible plastic bags. These handy travel bags squeeze out all the extra air, saving you even more space. It also spares your clothes unsightly wrinkles and saves you the hassle of trying to find an iron and look presentable when you reach the destination.
2. Separate dirty laundry
This is an especially good tip if you’re traveling to multiple destinations and not staying in one place. Keep your dirty laundry separated during your trip so your dirty clothes don’t mix with the clean ones. Make sure you pack a smaller, lightweight bag inside your suitcase to use for dirty laundry on your return trip. It can be a light canvas bag or a reusable compressible bag. You can even check the hotel closet and take the bag they’ve provided for you to do your laundry on-site.
3. Fit your toiletries in creative containers
Just because your favorite hair product or toothpaste comes in a certain container doesn’t mean it has to stay there. Think about it. If you’re going away for one week, do you really need three months’ worth of moisturizer? The answer is no. If one of your essential products takes up a lot of space, get creative and see if you can repurpose a smaller container
4. Wash your clothes with shampoo
If you’re going on a long trip (or one with lots of dirty, outdoor activities), there’s no avoiding the fact that you will need to do laundry. To avoid lugging around a tub of detergent, we suggest substituting it with shampoo and multi-tasking by washing your clothes while you’re in the shower.
5. Wear a money belt
It might seem like an unnecessary item, but a money belt is worth the peace of mind. Even though many people can’t stand it, I still use [a] hidden money belt anywhere I travel. They might be a little corny, but money belts are lightweight and can be worn on the plane, taking up no extra space in your luggage. Plus, you’ll feel secure that your credit cards and documents are safe from pick-pockets.
6. Untilize sunglass case
An empty sunglasses case is the perfect storage unit for cables, headphones, and small charging devices. It also keeps these similar items altogether in one place, making them easier to find and less likely to get lost or damaged in the bottom of a purse or backpack.
7. Use a packing cube as a carry-on
Packing your clothes and other items in packing cubes will make you feel like the most organized traveler on the planet. These zipped cubes come in different sizes and make it easy for you to categorize your things. You’ll never have to go rifling through a suitcase again. Bonus: they can also be slipped right into hotel drawers, making unpacking in your destination a one-step process.
8. Leave items that you can find abroad
A few things are better left at home. Consider the objects that your hotel may already provide: soap, hair dryers, towels, and so on.
9. Protect breakables
You can always ask for the “fragile” bag tag, but it’s not a guarantee that your bag won’t get dropped or handled roughly during the journey. If you’ve got breakable things like perfume/cologne bottles, a camera, or pottery souvenirs (for example), wrap them in a scarf, sarong, or sock. Pack them in the middle of your suitcase and surround them with additional padding like a sweatshirt.
10. Prepare to balance your bag
You’ve seen it, or you’ve lived it. Nothing’s more annoying than taking your hand off your luggage for a second only to have it topple over. It causes frustration and disorganization and is just plain irritating. Avoid this by packing your bag in a balanced fashion — your heaviest items (like shoes, liquids, bottles, or hefty souvenirs) at the bottom of your bag where the wheels are and the lightest items on top — and your bag will behave itself when you turn your back.
