Packing Your Bags
To pack for a trip effectively, consider planning a packing list, rolling clothes to save space, using packing cubes, and wearing bulky items like coats and shoes on the plane to save luggage space. Think about outfits instead of individual items, and pack travel-sized toiletries.
Checked Bags
If your trip is taking you out of the country or on an extended vacation, you’re most likely going to need to pack a checked bag. The best way to pack and what to pack is one of the most important things to do before your trip begins. Here are some tips and suggestions:
Travel Capsule
Building a travel capsule keeps things organized and fresh in your mind when planning your trip. A travel capsule can consist of a portable garment rack, available on Amazon for as low as $20. The rack can breakdown and be stored away for later use.
When planning your wardrobe, instead of packing individual items, plan outfits for each day of your trip. This will help you choose clothes that can be mixed and matched, saving space and weight. Hang your items on the rack and compare which items can be mixed and matched with other items in your capsule. With just 5 shirts, 2 pants and one skirt or short, you can end up with 15 different looks. So, make sure each top goes with each bottom. Then you can pack one or two specific outfits if needed. At max, pack up to 7 pairs or underwear and 7 pairs of socks. If you’re on a 12-day trip, you’ll just need to wash 5 pairs each.
Packing Options
When it comes time to pack the bag, you have several choices; packing cubes, suction bags, the roll method and the lay flat method. Personally, I am not a fan of packing cubes, but it is a popular option. You can pack your outfits in day packs and only have to unpack one cube at a time, leaving the rest of the bag packed. The drawback is packing a bag inside a bag. When space is a minimum, packing cubes can waste some space inside your suitcase.
Vacuum bags are another option when you need to make more space in your bag. These can reduce the amount of used space in your bag by as much as 50%. The drawback is suctioning and opening these bags as you go, as well as the bags become stiff and they are not pliable to fill in the spaces of your suitcase. The time these are most beneficial is with bulky items such as puffer jackets, ski pants, sweaters or other bulky winter clothes.
The roll and flat method are simple and can make the most of the space in your checked bags. Items rolled tightly can fill in nearly every nook and cranny inside your bag. Have an inch to spare? Fill it with a pair of socks! Need something in between that dreaded roller bag handle inside the bag? Flatten out some shirts, underwear, socks or even sandals and shoes. Don’t forget, stuff your shoes with socks, toiletries or even chargers and cables. Don’t let any space go unused.
Remember
Never pack medicine, valuables, electronics, cash or designer clothes in your checked bags. Make sure these items are always in your carry-on.
Purchase a travel lock to keep your suitcase secure. Not only against theft, but it helps keep the zippers from breaking open and your bag arriving on the conveyor belt with your personal property out in the open for all to see! Make sure to purchase a TSA approved lock. These locks can be opened by TSA to check for any illegal items but deters others from attempting to access your property.
Most airlines have a weight limit of 50 lbs per checked bag. But a luggage scale and keep it in your luggage so you can weigh your bag on your return flight after buying all those souvenirs and trinkets.
Tip: Nearly all airlines offer a free checked bag when traveling abroad (except between US and Canada). Check your airline policy before booking, as I’ve seen people pay for a bag when it was already included in the fare. The choice to “add a bag” usually refers to adding a 2nd bag. This is for international flights only! Don’t make the mistake of paying $75 for a bag when it’s already included.
Carry-On Bags
Your carry-on bag should be used as your clothes bag if you are traveling for less than 5 days or to transport your most needed and valuable items. More and more airlines are measuring and weighing carry-on bags. This is more prolific in European nations. Don’t try and pack 10-days worth of clothes and toiletries in a carry-on by unzipping the expansion zipper; it won’t fit in the overhead compartment and they will probably charge you to check it at the gate. At that rate, you could have just packed a normal bag and packed more stuff or had extra space to bring back souvenirs or gifts.
Backpacks & Personal Items
All airlines will tell you personal items must fit and go under the seat in front of you. If it doesn’t fit under the seat and there is no room left in the overheads, your person item maybe forced under the plane. At that point you’ll lose access to your computer, reading material, noise canceling headphones, valuables or other much needed items until the plane lands at your destination. You may travel with both a backpack and a purse, you’ll just need your purse to fit inside the backpack when boarding the plane. If it doesn’t fit, they may, again, ask you to check one item or deny you boarding.