TheUnstitchd
Packing before a vacation can be a slightly stressful undertaking. It can be hard to be certain that you’ve got everything you need, and with airline weight and size restrictions, it can be tricky to make it all fit.
But there are plenty of ways to pack better, smarter, and simpler. From thinking about the material of your clothes to just folding your belongings differently, travel experts know a few ways to make your pre-departure prep a whole lot easier.
So here are a few tips for first-time cruisers AND veteran explorers that will help make packing your bag a breeze.
Roll, don’t fold
Rolling your clothes rather than folding them kills two birds with one stone. It helps make the most of your space, allowing you to fit more in, and also helps to avoid creases in your garments! Roll everything up tightly, then slot pants, shirts, and t-shirts into a neat, Tetris-like pattern. Fit your more inconveniently-shapen items like shoes, belts, and other accessories around your clothes rolls, and away you go!
Use packing cubes
Packing cubes are a wonderful invention, making packing a far more satisfying experience and completely doing away with the chaos of a badly packed suitcase. Packing cubes let you stack your packing up in a neat, orderly way, avoiding the puzzle that is fitting irregular-shaped items in. They also make the vacation itself simpler, as you can pack cubes by day, by outfit, or by type of clothes, to make getting dressed in the morning a doddle!
Bring a fold-up bag
Packing isn’t just about getting to a vacation destination. It is also about getting home, which can sometimes be even trickier. All too often you get to the end of a trip and find that your perfectly packed luggage now just doesn’t close, thanks to vacation purchases and souvenirs. Bringing an extra fold-up bag in your main luggage gives you a whole load of extra flexibility and can make a big difference when it is time to come home. Pop in a couple of tote bags as well, as they will come in handy on days out.
Make a packing list
One of the simplest packing hacks is also one of the most effective. Make a packing list, and check your items in and out of your luggage, and everything will automatically go more smoothly. You won’t forget anything important, and you won’t leave anything behind in the hotel either!