Earlier in the year, I wrote about how to determine what luggage you need to take for your trip. By now, you may be enjoying the luggage in your possession and, like me, have some great trips planned. However, you might be experiencing a little bit of difficulty with getting everything to fit in a limited number of suitcases. That's completely normal and something that I also struggle with at times even though I spent five consecutive summers living out of my suitcases. Want to know how to be more efficient with packing your luggage? Here's five tips to help you get everything packed into the luggage you'll be taking on your next trip and be prepared for almost anything:
Tip #1: Start with the Essentials
Your essentials are the items that you would need to take for any trip: toiletries, toothbrush, underwear, medication, phone charger, and any other items you utilize daily. I can't tell you the number of times I've left my phone charger or other routinely used items at home. Essentials can be easily forgotten because their use is so routine. You may assume you already have these things accounted for. I recommend starting with these first to make sure they actually get packed.
If you travel frequently, I think it's best to have items like phone chargers, toiletries, and a toothbrush that are just for your travel needs. Keep these items in your luggage all the time so you can guarantee they will be there.
Tip #2: Pack a Medium or Large Plastic Bag
A plastic bag is helpful to pack because it's a versatile item. You can use this to keep dirty clothes or shoes separated from clean ones in your luggage. Another great use is for storing any wet or damp items and preventing spills. I keep at least one plastic bag in each piece of luggage I own –– something I learned from my mom who taught me how to pack my own bags at the age of three. You never know when you just need an extra bag to hold things for any reason!
Tip #3: Frequently Check the Weather
In the days leading up to your trip, frequently check the weather at your destination(s). Weather can change significantly at seemingly any given moment. You want to make sure you have the necessary clothing or other materials for whatever the weather will be. I prefer checking the weather forecast from local news stations for places I'm traveling to because they have closer eyes on what's happening and familiarity with the area. It's also important to check the weather because that can be a good indicator of what size bag or how much luggage to pack. Don't forget to monitor the forecast for your return home!
Tip #4: Know What Items are Restricted
Not everything is allowed to go in your luggage and what you can carry will vary by mode of transportation and destination. For example, carry-on bags have a 3.4 oz. or less rule for liquids, but that doesn't apply to checked bags. Food, alcohol, and other items (such as seeds) are not all treated equally when traveling between countries. Items that could potentially cause damage or harm generally should not be packed in carry-on luggage and there's specific rules for how those same items can or cannot be in your checked bags. If I'm taking a new mode of transportation or traveling on one I use less frequently, I always make sure to look online to determine what I'm allowed to pack in my luggage.
Tip #5: Don't Force Things to Fit
I get it. Nobody wants to pay for extra bags or to check a bag. However, I doubt you want to risk your luggage suddenly popping open if it bumps something or gets dropped at just the right angle by you or those who are handling your bags. You also probably don't want to get to the airport and unexpectedly be charged overweight baggage fees if you didn't weigh your luggage at home. If you're struggling to zip up your bag and can't get the job done by pressing down on it with your hand, it might be time to start looking at packing a few things in an additional piece of luggage or upgrading to a larger size. Are you fully committed to using that particular piece of luggage? Consider removing items because it may be possible that you overpacked.
If you're sure you didn't overpack and have everything you need, look up some different ways to pack clothes. There's a variety of ways to pack your clothes and a simple online search can give you step-by-step pictures and videos of all the options. Simply changing the way your clothes are packed in your bag can create that extra room you're in need of. I recommend testing out different packing methods to see what works. I use different methods depending on what I need to pack and my commitment to taking a limited amount of luggage.
Feel free to leave comments below, tweet (@KimiThoughts), or leave a post/message on Facebook (@KimisTravelThoughts) and share any tips you have for packing luggage or if you plan to use any of the recommendations from this post!