19 Essential Travel Packing Tips
Packing for a trip can be stressful. Even more is figuring out you forgot something during your travels, or the airline informing you at check-in that one of your bags is overweight forcing you to cough up more money! To help minimize any of these occurring we have put together a few packing and travel tips for you.
Our Essential Travel Packing Tips
The right suitcase and a few helpful techniques will help you use less space, stay organized, and pack lighter, all while keeping your belongings safe. Here is an overview of our 19 most recommended travel packing tips:
1. Create a Packing List
A packing list helps you stay organized and reduce the possibility of leaving something behind. In addition to itemizing clothing items, be sure to also account for toiletries, cell phone chargers, medications, and any other items you need for your trip. If you are traveling with kids then a packing list is even more essential!
Remember to check your list again after you’ve finished packing your bags.
2. The Right Suitcase – Hard or Softshell?
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend buying a new suitcase if you already have one that will do the job, however, if you require one, or need to upgrade, here are some things to keep in mind:
Your two basic options are hardshell or softshell. Hardshell suitcases will be more durable and protect breakable contents inside better but they are usually more expensive.
Softshell cases on the other hand, with their flexible sides, are typically cheaper and easier to overstuff. This may be advantageous on road trips where there are no weight limits, but if traveling by air, overstuffing could lead to fees for overweight bags.
Tip: Consider the empty weight of your suitcase as the heavier a suitcase is the less headroom you will have concerning your weight limits when traveling by air.
3. Choose Wrinkle Resistant Fabrics
When it comes to travel, the key is to pack smart. One way to do this is to choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Not only will these fabrics save you time, but they’ll also keep you looking sharp throughout your trip.
When shopping for clothes, look for items made of synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, and spandex. These fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and generally easier to care for. Additionally, they’re lightweight and perfect for packing.
4. Build a Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of items that can be mixed and matched to create multiple looks. This will help you minimize the number of items you need to bring and maximize the items you already have.
When building a capsule wardrobe, start by choosing a few essential items. This should include a few tops, bottoms, and accessories that can be easily mixed and matched. Additionally, choose a few items that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
5. Roll Clothing Items Instead of Folding
When laying items into your suitcase, it is important to think about how to use your space efficiently. One way to do this is to roll your clothes instead of folding them. Rolling your clothes not only reduces wasted space but also helps prevent wrinkles. It can also be a great way to keep entire outfits together.
Start by gathering the items you want to roll. Then, fold them in half lengthwise and roll them up. When you’re done, place the rolls in a suitcase or packing cubes. Speaking of packing cubes…
6. Use Packing Cubes
While we don’t really use these, lots of people swear by them, so we have included them on our list. Not only do they help you save space by compressing the items inside, but will also keep your suitcase neatly and extremely organized.
7. Pack Clothes in Your Travel Partner’s Bag
If you’re traveling with a partner, you can save space by packing some of your clothes in their bag. This is a great way to help share the load if one of you is a little underweight for the airline.
Another reason why this is a great idea is if you pack a full outfit in your travel partner’s bag, in the unfortunate event of a lost bag, at least you will have another outfit to wear while you try to locate and recover your lost bag.
8. Pack Essential and Valuable Items in Your Carry on Bag
Most travel veterans know this one but it’s so important it bears mentioning. The essentials should include any medications, documents, and valuable items you may need. This will help you stay prepared in case your checked luggage gets lost.
As a photographer who frequently travels with photography and aerial drone gear, I always carry my gear in my carry-on bag. I would never advise packing expensive cameras, lenses, or other expensive electronics in your checked bag where the risk of damage, theft, or having your bag pulled and inspected by security greatly increases. Always pack these items in your carry-on bag. For my camera and drone gear, I use a hiking/camera storage backpack by Atlas Packs. They are not cheap but are customizable, extremely comfortable, and highly durable. Below is a picture with the camera storage compartment filled up for a trip:
9. Use a Shower Cap or Plastic Bag Over Shoes
Before a trip begins, everything going in the suitcase will be clean and neat. However, during your journey, you will certainly dirty up some things, especially shoes, so it’s important to think about how to keep other items from getting dirty. One way to do this is to place shower caps or plastic grocery bags over your shoes which will provide a barrier between the shoes and your other items.
Additionally, you can use plastic bags to keep your dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes. This will help you keep your suitcase organized and make sure your dirty clothes don’t get mixed in with your clean clothes.
10. Pack a Power Bank in Your Carry On
I cannot tell you how much of a lifesaver this can be on layovers! I highly recommend packing a battery pack for your phone or other electronic devices. This will help you stay connected and make sure you’re never stranded without a way to charge your phone. It can be a lifesaver in a crowded airport where everyone is clustered around a handful of outlets to get a charge.
Additionally, make sure to pack a few extra cables and plug adapters (if traveling to another country).
Tip: ALWAYS pack power banks and batteries in your carry-on. NEVER pack these in your checked luggage if traveling by air because it will be a sure way of getting your bag pulled by security and likely losing your batteries. These items must always be in your carry-on bag where they can be inspected by airport security.
11. Pack Solid Toiletries Instead of Liquid
Solid toiletries are generally easier to pack and take up less space. You also eliminate the possibility of a bottle rupturing and leaking all over the place. Everything from shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash tabs, and sunscreen can be purchased in solid form.
12. Stay at Places with Laundry Amenities
When traveling, it’s important to think about where you’re staying. If you’re going to be on the road for a while, it may be worth it to stay at a place with laundry amenities. This will minimize carrying around too much dirty laundry and can also cut down on the amount of clothing you will need to bring.
If you will be staying at a few different locations on your trip it may not be necessary to have laundry facilities at every destination. For instance, if you’re staying 3 or 4 nights in a few different places, consider booking at a location with access to a washing machine at every other destination.
Tip: Jess and I usually book Airbnb’s, VRBO’s, or hostels when we travel. Access to laundry facilities will be listed as an amenity with Airbnb and VRBO hosts, but it’s still a good idea to check with the host before booking. Also, unless absolutely necessary don’t worry about packing laundry detergent. This is best purchased at your destination.
13. Keep Your Bag Smelling Fresh with Dryer Sheets
A not-so-fresh smelling bag is a problem you want to avoid unless you want to be doing laundry more than you planned to! One way to do this is to use scented dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are a great way to keep your bag smelling fresh, especially in humid climates where clothes can lose their freshness more quickly.
Simply place a few dryer sheets in the bottom of your bag and you’ll be sure to enjoy the benefits of this simple travel hack.
Additionally, you can use the dryer sheets to freshen up your room. Place them in the closet or under your sheets for an extra boost of freshness.
14. Try the Pillowcase Hack
This is one you have to be cautious with and use a bit of common sense as the airline could give you a hard time. The pillowcase hack is nothing more than stuffing a pillow with clothing items and then taking the pillowcase onto the plane as a personal item.
Just know that it will be up to the airline’s discretion whether or not they will allow the pillow on the plane. If it’s an average or small-sized pillow that is not bursting at the seams and spilling its contents everywhere, you will probably be fine.
Lastly, try to use a pillowcase that has a zipper so there is no risk of the contents spilling out. A travel neck pillow is an option for stuffing compressible items such as t-shirts or a light jacket.
15. Should You Unpack at Your Destination?
We usually like to hit the ground running with minimal time wasted so we tend to leave our bags packed. Our general thought is if your suitcase is well organized and items are easy to find, why undo it just to have to put it back together again? But if you put value in making your hotel room or Airbnb feel like home with clothes in the closet and drawers, then by all means unpack!
16. Leave Room for Travel Shopping
I don’t think we have ever returned without something purchased while on our travels. If that’s you then you will have that much less room in your luggage, so plan ahead and leave some extra room in your suitcase.
If you are planning to do a lot of shopping though, there may not be a way around having to pay extra fees to the airline on your return trip. Since most airlines will charge you for a whole extra checked bag if your bag is overweight, you may consider just purchasing a cheap suitcase or duffel bag on your trip to not even worry about squeezing every ounce of space out of your primary suitcase. This is what me and Jess did in Italy when we came back with wine, salami, dried pasta, and olives!
17. Weigh Your Bags at Home to Avoid Airline Fees
Before you leave for the airport, make sure to weigh your bags. This will help prevent any excess baggage fees for overweight luggage. At home, weigh your bags and check against the airline’s bag weight limits published online. We recommend a digital scale over a mechanical scale, especially if you are cutting it close.
If you and a travel partner are checking two bags with the airline and one is a little underweight, you can take the opportunity to shift some weight to the other suitcase. If this is not an option then you can also consider the pillowcase hack mentioned earlier or transfer some of the excess to your carry-on.
If you are still overweight then you will have to either accept the extra charges the airline will levy, or you will need to cut some weight. Of course, it’s better to realize you need to make a cut before you arrive at the airport.
18. Wear Bulkiest Clothing Onto the Plane
If you’re traveling with a lot of bulky items, like sweaters and jackets, it’s best to wear them onto the plane or pack them into your carry-on luggage. This will save you from having to pack them in your suitcase and make more room for other items. Simple!
19. What to Cut?
What should you do if you find yourself in a situation where the bags you will check in with the airline are overweight? If you can’t spread the weight around to other bags (or a pillowcase) then you will have to cut something out. Here are some things to consider:
- Shoes are heavy. If you can eliminate a pair or two of shoes and settle on a pair that can be worn with multiple outfits this could save you a few pounds
- Reduce the amount of makeup and cosmetics in your bag. While no individual item may weigh very much, several items could easily add up to a pound or more.
- Reduce the amount of toiletries you are carrying and buy them at your destination. Sure, no one likes to have to purchase something at their destination that they could have packed before leaving, but it will be more cost-effective than paying for an overweight bag with the airline.
- Don’t take hairdryers, curling irons, and other bathroom appliances. If these items will be provided wherever you are lodging then don’t pack them!
Conclusion
Packing for a trip can be stressful, but with some careful planning, it doesn’t have to be. There are certainly other efficient packing tips out there but these are some of our most recommended. If you put these 19 essential luggage packing tips into practice you will be that much more prepared for your next adventure. Go pack and be happy!
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