Staying organised whilst hitting the road or the skies is never easy. Whether you forget your essential swimwear, or you overpack causing extra fees, it can be a minefield trying to stick to the rules of the sky, whilst also remembering what you need. The key is to optimise your packing in marginal ways, which will overall create a more seamless travel experience. Ticking destinations off your bucket list can’t be done without the right packing, planning and organisation.
In this blog, we will share exactly how to pack your suitcase and hand luggage for a seamless travel experience. Take a look at the following suggestions:
Choose your suitcase wisely
Before you even start organising your packing, you need to choose your suitcase wisely. While a hard and heavy suitcase will keep your belongings safe, they often will take up a lot of your weight allowance. Instead, opt for a lightweight suitcase with built-in locks. If clothing and toiletries are your primary travel requirement, these suitcases will give you exactly the space you need. You can get ones as lightweight as just 3 kg, or if you have a larger baggage allowance and you’re sharing with a partner, anything less than 5kg would be considered a lightweight case. As mentioned, purchase one with a built-in lock so you rent adding any extra weight. Small changes with a big impact.
Go there with your heaviest clothing
For those of you who like to pack your outfits pre-planned ( I am guilty), you might want to consider wearing the heaviest outfit to the airport. This tip is more relevant if you are going to a hotter country, for example, your wedges, cotton trousers and shirt will weigh more than your bikini and summer dress. If you are visiting a cold country with thermals, you may need to bite the bullet and plan for the requirement of extra luggage. Wearing your heaviest shoes and clothing to the airport may seem like a headache at first, but it will kill some kgs and also have you looking put-together. There’s nothing better than looking good for the airport and enjoying refreshing drinks ready for your travels!
Decant your toiletries into travel-size bottles
This one may be obvious, but some travellers choose to buy their products when they reach the destination. This of course saves baggage, but it also impacts the environment for all the wasted products and plastic consumption. Do the planet a favour, and invest in some travel-size toiletry bottles to decant your favourite products into. In doing so, you can ensure you are using the best products for you while abroad, and also reduce the plastic waste in your destination. Once you have your bottles filled, be sure to place them into a secure, waterproof bag in the event of any bottles getting loose.
Roll your clothes, don’t fold
The age-old question of how to keep your clothing as compact as possible. For us, the rolling method will always be the go-to for its ability to whittle down the size, while also reducing any harsh creasing. Rolling may be the best option if you have a lot of smaller pieces of clothing, but for big coats and jeans, folding will have to suffice. Rolling can also be further optimised, as highlighted in the following point.
Packing cubes
Packing cubes can be a lifesaver when travelling. Bringing 5 different genres of bodycon dresses? Packing cubes will ensure all of your dresses are kept in the same place, and can quickly be transferred to hangers once you reach your accommodation. Pack each clothing genre into a cube. Start with trousers, shorts, and T-shirts, the possibilities are endless.
Bring a travel-size steamer
Worried about being too compact and causing too much creasing? If your accommodation does not specify if they have an iron, a travel-size steamer will work wonders. They will add a little bit more weight, but they can make all the difference to your travel attire. Be cautious that all the water is removed before you pack one into your suitcase.
Bring separate bags for dirty clothing.
The last thing you need is to get dirty clothes mixed up with clean ones when you are abroad. For this reason, it is always a good idea to bring separate bags to keep all dirty clothes separate. This may not be necessary if you have a dry cleaner available, but it is best to bring some bags just in case. It can be as simple as bringing bin bags (be cautious not to mistake them for actual garbage), or even dry cleaning bags.
Bottom line
Overall, packing for a trip can be an exciting part of the preparation. From planning outfits to checking off your essentials, it’s a great time to check you are 100% ready to travel overseas. Just be sure that your suitcase is light enough to not take over the weight limits, pack your clothing into organised cubes, and of course, opt for the roll method where possible to keep everything compact and easy to take out.