You are so excited to be getting away for the weekend with your spouse, traveling to see your family, or heading out for a week-long vacation at the beach. So you start to pack without any planning; you just begin to put some shirts, pants, undergarments, make-up, deodorant, and other items into your suitcase in a random array. STOP!!! Instead, plan for your get-away in advance and pack your suitcase in an logical, organized manner. Keeping a few key factors in mind while packing will help alleviate some of the stress of traveling, avoid issues at the airport or hotel, and make for overall better travels.
Plan ahead for weather: Weather should play a large role in the type of clothing that you pack. Never assume that going to the beach in August guarantees hot weather and therefore no need for long pants. Always take the time to check the weather forecast for your destination. In our world of technology, this is typically as easy as a tap on your smartphone weather app.
Plan ahead for the length of the get-away: When packing think about the number of days worth of clothing you will need and any additional clothing necessary for events while on your get-away. Extra clothing or items might include swim suits and sun tan lotion for the beach, clothing for a nice dinner outing while you are on vacation, or jeans and a sweatshirt for cool nights.
It is very beneficial to pack in predetermined outfits based on the number of days and necessary outfits for your stay. Packing a stack of shirts, shorts, pants, and other garments practically guarantees that you will over pack. Planning predetermined outfits helps keep your packed clothing to an appropriate amount needed for the trip. Over packing can result in baggage restriction hassles at the airport, take up too much space in the car, or lead to fatigued muscles that will only slow you down. Pack light!
Plan ahead for travel restrictions: If you are flying to the beach, you must know the suitcase size and weight requirements in advance for your airline, and what can or cannot be carried on with you. The Transportation Security Administration has an extensive list of items that are prohibited from being packed in carry-on bags as well as items prohibited from checked bags.
If you are driving to your destination, travel restrictions could include the space that is available in your car or the space available at the hotel or in the guest room at your parents house.
Time to Pack Your Suitcase: Once you’ve done your planning, identified the clothing and items to pack, and decided which suitcase to take, it’s time to actually pack your suitcase.
First, set out all your clothing next to your suitcase. Properly folded clothing will pack more efficiently and take up less space than unfolded clothing.
Second, place larger clothing items on the bottom and stack up with the smaller items on top in a way that maximizes the use of the space available inside the suitcase. You may also want to consider packing cubes, mesh bags, or bags that allow you to vacuum out the air to reduce their overall volume. Rolling clothes can also save space and reduce the amount of wrinkles. If wrinkles are a concern, you may want to consider only purchasing wrinkle free clothes, or clothes include blends of synthetic fibers, like microfiber, which tend to be wrinkle free.
Third, take advantage of extra compartments in your suitcase to maximize packable space. Your luggage may have pockets you didn’t even know existed.
Fourth, pack toiletries in a small bag that can be incorporated into the suitcase. Inside the toiletry bag, liquid items should be kept in secure bottles and, as an extra safeguard against leaks, packed in a plastic bag.
Next, make sure you organize your travel documents into a secure fully-zipped pouch or in a zipper pocket that will stay secure.
Finally, make sure that your bags are manageable in size and weight. If you can fit all of your clothing and items for your trip into one suitcase per person, it will allow for greater mobility in the airport or hotel. Don’t forget to leave some space in your bag for souvenirs and gifts. As we said before, when in doubt, pack light!
Do you have a unique way to pack a suitcase or a travel story to share? Tell us about your packing strategies.
