Whether it’s relaxing on a beach, cozying up to a warm fire in the mountains, or exploring a new city, vacations are exceptional breaks from the business of everyday life. Packing beforehand can be stressful, overwhelming, and heavily procrastinated. With our pack hacks, we will teach you how to pack like a pro so every part of your vacation — even the lead-up — can be enjoyable.
Top 10 Packing Hacks
Follow these packing hacks to efficiently pack everything you need for an incredible vacation:
1. Lay Out & Edit
If you too are guilty of overpacking, this tip is for you! Lay out everything you want and need to bring on your vacation. This will help you to see everything and ensure you do not forget something. Then go through and edit your selections. This is the perfect time to eliminate all items grabbed as the “just in case I need it” category. It is also a great time to look at everything and ask, “Will I really wear this?” Following this packing hack will help you become one step closer to lighter packing while not forgetting any essentials.
2. Rolling vs Folding
A widespread debate amongst travelers sparks from the question, “Is it better to roll or fold clothes in a suitcase?” We believe both are the correct answer! Both techniques for packing have pros and cons. Ultimately it is whatever works best for you. Rolling is best for softer garments and folding is best for stiffer ones. By using both techniques you will be able to fit everything needed in their suitcase for vacation.
3. Packing Cubes for Dirty Laundry
There is nothing worse than having to mix your clean clothes with your dirty clothes on vacation. Packing cubes are a great alternative to storing your laundry until you’re able to wash your clothes. They contain your dirty laundry in one place without contaminating your clean, unworn clothes. Pack an empty packing cube and fill it as you need. This makes your dirty laundry quick to wash once you get home — simply empty the contents into a laundry basket or straight into your washing machine.
4. What do you pack first in a suitcase?
Pack your suitcase so the clothes you wear first will be at the top and the clothes for the end of the trip will be placed on the bottom. This means you will be placing the last clothes you plan to wear first inside the suitcase (placing them on the very bottom). This technique will help you to stay neatly packed and organized throughout your trip. It will also prevent any stress that often comes from the hassle of searching for the clothes needed that day.
5. Shoes
Let’s talk about shoes! They are bulky, hard to pack, and take up lots of space. So how do you pack shoes? If your concern is that they are dirty and you don’t want to ruin your clean clothes, consider putting them in gallon-sized Ziploc bags. Place your shoes in last and line them against the sides of the suitcase. This will make sure they touch the least amount of clothes.
6. Toiletries
If you’re going on a long vacation, consider purchasing large bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and other toiletries once you arrive. These big bottles can take up lots of space and weight when packing! They can also cause trouble at the airport since the TSA limits the amount of liquid that can be taken onboard a plane.
If it is a shorter vacation buy small, TSA-compliant bottles and fill them with your fav product. Remember the 3-1-1 rule when flying with a carry-on! 3 oz or smaller containers all in 1 bag for 1 passenger! So you have to pack all of your toiletries in one bag and each passenger gets one bag of toiletries.
Make sure to pack your toiletries in a sealed bag too! This will help you avoid spills in your suitcase, which could contaminate all of your items.
7. Utilize All Unused Space
You will inevitably have bulkier items while packing. Utilize all of the space within them for smaller items to be packed! For example, socks or rolled smaller garments can fit inside of shoes. You can also place belts inside shirts with a collar. This also helps collars maintain their shape while traveling! Most suitcases have several pockets as well — place flat items in the pockets to utilize every inch of space in your suitcase!
8. Less is More
Pack clothes that can be used for multiple outfits! Bring a couple of pairs of pants and a couple of shirts that can be mixed and matched. Shirts can also be thrown over dresses to create an additional outfit. This will help save space when packing while still allowing you to wear different outfits each day!
9. Wrap Clothes Around Breakables
If you are traveling with breakable or fragile items, wrap the clothes you’re packing around the fragile item. Then, ensure the item is secured in a spot in the suitcase or bag where it can’t move. If you have the space, it might be best to place these items in a carry-on or personal item so you can handle that bag with caution.
10. Plane Prep
If you’re flying, it is important to review TSA guidelines to avoid bringing something on the aircraft that is not allowed. Packing the wrong items can lead to you being stopped at security, having your bags checked, or even lead to your temporary detainment. It’s also important to make sure all of your bags are within the correct weights to avoid additional fees.
We hope these packing tips help prepare you for an incredible vacation & that they overall make packing less dreadful! Read our other articles on traveling to ensure the best vacations ahead of you! We wish you safe travels!