How to Pack Efficiently for Any Trip
Unleash the power of efficient packing and transform your travel routine into a seamless adventure, where time is on your side and every moment counts.
Is there anything worse than sitting on an airplane and watching someone attempt to shove a very packed suitcase into the overhead compartment on an airplane? We have all been in that spot, including yours truly, and it’s nerve wracking. You can feel everyone looking at you shaking their heads, making comments under their breath and wondering why you didn’t just check in your bag? Maybe it’s the $30 and up price tag to check in your bag. Maybe you wanted to save time waiting at the baggage claim. Maybe you’re afraid of losing your bag. All valid concerns, but there is a better way to pack. Here's some travel and packing hacks to make your travel easier:
According to an article on the Travel + Leisure website, you should be packing smarter. Some interesting takeaways for me:
Pack for a Week or Less
If you're staying at a hotel or renting a cabin, home, or apartment, chances are high that there's a laundry room equipped with a washer and dryer. In fact, some hotels go the extra mile and offer laundry services for their guests! While you'll need to allocate some time to get your laundry done, it's definitely worth it as it allows you to save space in your bag and keeps everyone's sanity intact.
Amazon Basics Lightweight Packing Cubes for Travel, 4 Piece Set With Double Zipper Pulls and Mesh Top Panel, 100% Durable Polyester, Medium, Black
Amazon Basics 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set - Medium, Black
No More than Three Pairs of Shoes
This can be done, no matter who you are. I tend to pack a pair of gym shoes in my suitcase, but the shoes I wear on my feet tend to be the shoes I generally wear. You might be going on a business trip on your own, so maybe you pack a pair of dress shoes and gym shoes? Or you wear a pair of loafers for the flight and pack dress shoes and running shoes in your suitcase? I also use a backpack that has a “shoe compartment” on the bottom, I don’t need nor use it but it’s good to know it’s there if it’s needed.
TravelWise Packing Cube System - Durable 5 Piece Weekender Plus Set (Silver)
The TravelWise 5-Piece Packing Cube Set is an essential travel accessory that allows clothes to stay folded and neat when packed in their own “small drawers”. Constructed with lightweight and durable nylon, these multi-sized packing cubes compartmentalize similar items such as shirts, pants, underwear, swimsuits, and electronic accessories to streamline packing and maximize all available space in your suitcase or bag. The breathable, open mesh panel allows you to easily view what’s inside each cube without unzipping them, so you won’t have to frustratingly search for missing items. Perfect for short and long trips, clothes also have less room to shift, which means less wrinkling and more time to relax on your trip. These travel packing cubes are available in 9 unique colors that allow each traveler to easily keep track of their own luggage. Two-way easy-pull zippers make opening and closing these luggage cubes simple and fast. Each set includes one small, medium, and large cube to organize different sized items.
Know When to Roll Them, and When to Fold Them
This is essential! Packing your suitcase is very much like packing a moving truck or even a truck in general. The key is to make the most of every inch of space available. Don't forget, you can neatly fold your socks and underwear. Remember when I mentioned having no more than 3 pairs of shoes? Well, here's a clever idea: fill the soles of your shoes with pairs of socks and underwear to maximize space! You can also utilize the area around the shoes for this purpose (just make sure your shoes are clean, of course). The article suggests rolling synthetic clothing, while cotton fabrics should be folded. And don't overlook the need to reserve space for toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, etc.) and any accessories you'd like to bring along (phone chargers, tablet chargers, etc.). Lastly, make sure to leave some room for souvenirs or anything you plan to bring back home.
Compression Packing Cubes for Travel - Luggage Organizer Bags - Double Zipper Packing Cubes for Suitcases (2-Pack, Black)
PACK FASTER & ORGANIZE YOUR SUITCASE BETTER - An assortment of sizes (2PCS, 4 PCS or 6 PCS Set) allows you to keep your personal items well-organized and pack much faster than before. When it's time to unpack, simply place these travel cubes into the hotel drawers or closet.
Carry On That Wayward Bag
Louis Siering IV
Packing Cubes for Travel-Extra Large Luggage Organizers 7 Piece Set-Ultralight, Expandable/Compression Bags for Clothes by TRIPPED Travel Gear (National Parks)
HOW MUCH DOES EXTRA LARGE SET HOLD? Extra Large packing cube holds approx 3 Mens Large Tshirts, Large puffy jacket, 2 long sleeve large shirts, one pair jeans, one pair mens pants. Large compression cube holds 2 mens tshirts, 1 pair mens pants, and 2 long sleeve shirts. Small compression cube holds about 8 womens shirts. Tube cube holds electronics, toiletries, underwear or swimsuits. Laundry bag is great for dirty clothes or shoes.
Although I usually opt to check my luggage, I can empathize with those who prefer to carry their suitcase on board. It's understandable, especially with the rising costs of air travel, including the fees for checking in your bag. Carrying your luggage on board saves time and eliminates the need to wait at the baggage claim. Additionally, there's less risk of losing your belongings since you have them with you at all times. Both checking in and carrying your suitcase have their pros and cons, but we can all agree that packing smarter is key.
