Getting ready for a trip can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to packing. According to a survey, 65% of Americans said packing is the most stressful part of their trip. The other stressors included overpacking and not having the necessary travel essentials.
Assess the available space in your suitcase
Before you pack up all of the necessary items for your trip, make sure that you thoroughly assess what you need to bring. Look at:
- the size of your suitcase
- the amount of space available
- whether you’re checking your bag or carrying it on
If you’re planning on traveling alone or for a short trip, carrying on may be the ideal choice. However, if your list of requirements is longer than usual, you might need to pack a checked bag.
The standard carry-on bag for domestic travel in the US is 22′′ x 14′′ x 9. This is small enough to fit in an overhead compartment of a plane.
Prepare Your Packing List
Getting organized is a process that can take years for most people, especially frequent travelers. Having a list of all the necessary items can help you pack up and keep everything organized.
Depending on the length of your trip and destination, your packing list may need to be changed. For instance, if you’re planning on traveling to a tropical destination, you might need to pack a hat and sunscreen.
Or, if you’re going to a destination with plenty of wildlife and snow-capped mountains, you might need to bring along some winter accessories.
Roll your clothes instead of folding
Rolling clothes can help you save space in your suitcase. Folded clothes tend to take up more surface area in your suitcase, which means you’ll end up with more clothes stacked higher.
Rolled clothes can also help fill in the gaps in your suitcase, which will allow you to take full advantage of the available space.
Create a strategy when arranging clothes
After you’ve rolled your clothes, it’s time to create a plan for where each item will go in your suitcase.
Place heavy coats, clothes that are over the knee, and pants near the bottom of the suitcase. Then, drop in lightweight items such as shirts and pants.
Heavy clothes can also help keep your suitcase upright when it gets tossed. They can prevent it from tipping.
Use a toiletry bag
A toiletry bag is a must-have for any travel, especially when it comes to keeping all of your essential items, such as medicine and hygiene, in one place.
This travel necessity should be made of water-resistant materials which are easy to clean.
Due to the presence of liquid-based products, such as sunscreen and shampoo, spills can occur. The material of the bag should also be water-resistant.
A toiletry bag should also have multiple pockets to allow you to organize all of your items easily.
Pack travel-sized
Invest in travel-sized containers and increase your packing game. While it may seem like a no-brainer to pack a regular-sized bottle of shampoo at home, packing a full-sized one can use up valuable luggage space.
If you’re on a tight budget, try traveling-sized bottles of your favorite products to save money. If you have extra money, buy bite-sized toiletries such as toothpaste from the store.