Before you embark on that big trip, brush up on your packing game.
The first step of your journey is packing for it. What you bring of course influences your wardrobe and overall travel experience. Save yourself the stress of ill-prepared luggage and brush up beforehand on the latest packing tips. There is so much advice out there on the best way to pack a suitcase, so it can be overwhelming at times. It doesn’t have to be though. Packing a suitcase should not be a stressful experience at any time. With adequate preparation and a few well intended tips, you will soon be a suitcase packing pro.
Of course everyone’s travel style is different, and you might naturally be a minimalist or an over packer. If you light to travel light, then this greatly influences your packing strategy. There is a vast space difference between that 9 inch x 14 inch x 22 inch carry on and your massive suitcase. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall on, you will benefit from these helpful tools. Gone are the days where you have to worry over what to bring. Here are five tips for less stress when packing your suitcase.
5 Tips On How To Pack A Suitcase:
1. Verify The Suitcase Size You Need
The first thing to decide when planning the best way to pack a suitcase is just how big your bag is going to be. Obviously, a 10 day vacation is going to constitute a larger suitcase than a weekend business trip. Once you know the length of your trip, you now can plan accordingly. The larger your bag is, the more you will likely bring. A good piece of advice is to use a hard shell suitcase to lessen your chances of overpacking. There is no room to stuff extra items into your hard sided suitcase. Also if you are practicing minimalism, consider fitting everything you need into a carry-on. Some of these professional travelers have the art of carry-on packing mastered.
2. Check Your Itinerary
One of the first steps to bringing the wardrobe you need is researching your destination and trip details. This helps avoid bringing any unnecessary items as well as being underprepared. If you aren’t planning on partaking in formal dinner parties during your trip, then there is no need to bring those three cocktail dresses. It might be cold where you live, but your destination may be extra hot and humid. You don’t want to be that person dripping sweat while digging through a suitcase filled with sweaters. Avoid any fashion fails by doing your research beforehand. Of course, the temperature often changes without warning, so it is okay to bring an extra jacket or pair of shorts. These “just in case” items are always a good idea, well, just in case.
3. Lay Out Your Items Before Packing
To avoid the inconvenient hassle of digging through your partially packed luggage to make sure you included something, lay everything out beforehand. Use your bed or the floor as a canvas and lay out everything from your wardrobe to your accessories. This allows for the chance to observe your trip clothing selection, and then take out and add items accordingly. Be picky when it comes to what to bring. A helpful tip about the best way to pack a suitcase is that most people bring more than they need. If you don’t think you will get to that eighth pair of tube socks on your weekend getaway, then leave them behind. The less wasted space, the better.
4. Polish Your Folding Game
You’ve probably heard various tips surrounding the best folding methods for packing. Some people promote rolling clothes, while other fold them into squares. If you are like myself, and no good at origami, you likely want a simple explanation and minimal steps. I wish this was simpler, but there are many pros and cons to consider when planning how to pack your clothes. Rolling your clothes is traditionally the most space saving method, while you pay for it with more wrinkled clothes. If you like to bundle your clothes together based on outfit combinations, this is slightly more organized but takes up more space. The verdict? It really is a case by case situation (pun totally intended). If you are tight on space, then roll it up, but if you have room to spare, then fold if you can. Plastic zip bags are also a clever trick for a little vacuum seal action.
5. Remember The Small Details
When tackling the best way to pack a suitcase, the little things make all the difference. Don’t neglect your personal hygiene products or forget to verify the particular airline requirements. If you are using only a carry-on, be sure to check the size of your liquids and keep your items in a separate plastic bag. Write out your checklist beforehand of your usual daily cosmetic routine to ensure you include everything from your contact lens solution to your daily multivitamin.
Now you know how to pack a suitcase.
That wasn’t so bad now, was it? Since you made it through this article, you are now fully prepared (we hope) for packing success. With these five tips, you can break the packing process into easy, understandable steps for the best way to pack a suitcase and stress free travel. Kick off your next adventure with a perfectly packed suitcase, with only the essentials of course.
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