Vacations are one of those extraordinary moments when you can travel wherever you want. It's that time of the year when one can finally stop worrying about everyday things and forget about your problems; not even money is meant to be a problem. However, even during your vacations, some minor inconveniences can happen, especially when packing your bags. Yes, packing our luggage is always one of the main issues of any trip since suitcases have limited capacity. That's why these essential and helpful hacks come in handy to save you not only a lot of room in your luggage but also from a headache. Keep reading, and you will soon become the king of organizing luggage.
Finding A New Purpose
There is something extremely satisfying about finding a whole new use for something - especially one that is better than their original use. And that is exactly what we have here. Not to mention, we can get it for free.
That's right, the shower cap, we can find these in just every hotel room we stay in. Well, why we're not using them for our hair, we can use them to protect our shoes. We don't even have to emphasize how they weigh nothing!
Utilize the Space in Your Shoes
While shoes can be a problem while packing, they can also be a quick solution to save you some space. Simply putting them in your travel case can waste too much room unless you think smartly.
From socks and underwear to cords or perfume bottles, there's a lot of space inside a shoe. But remember! Be sure to pack in good-smelling shoes, or you will regret it throughout the whole trip.
Play Tetris in Your Bag
When it comes to packing our suitcase, we always want to utlize the space as best we can. And now we have the perfect hack. Not only is it a solution, but it also becomes quite a fun game.
While organizing our clothes and toiletries, we can use packing cubes to seperate everything, while also playing a good game of Tetris to make it all fit. We are yet to hear of anyone saying this doesn't help!
No More Tangled Cords
Cords will inevitably make a mess no matter how or where you store them. They tangle up and break if they are stuck somewhere inside your bag, so keeping them separated is essential.
The most creative and clever solution is to put the cords inside a glasses case. It doesn’t weigh much and you probably already have one like that at home.
Plan Your Outfits
While we love a good vacation, we must admit we hate the part about figuring which outfits to take with us. It becomes an impossible task to muster, and we always feel like we get it wrong.
But this new hack has left us feeling relieved, as we finally have the answer! By preparing ahead, the trick is to pack full outfits for each day is a large ziplock bag and labeling them with the day's name.
Hold To Fold Clothes To Save More Space
We're always left with the trouble of trying to make the most of the space in our suitcase without crinkling the clothes, and desperate for a solution. Well, now we have one, and it couldn't be simpler.
A method that works for almost any type of clothing, the trick is to just roll the clothes. The clothes don’t get wrinkled and it also probably saves 10% of clothing meaning you can pack more.
Scale Down Toiletry Bottles
Just because we're going on vacation, we don't want to leave some of our favorites back home. Of course, we're talking shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer. We need to pack it, but it's always a tough task preventing them from leaking.
But it is these tiny bottles which are perfect to preventing that. It allows your to still take your favourites with you, to not rely on the hotel, and prevent any leakages.
Small Detail To Think Of Pre Flight
Once all packed and manage to close the suitcase we feel like we've achieved what we set out to do. But wait, what about all the shopping we’ll do during our vacation? Where should we put it?
Professional shoppers fly with empty suitcases, but most of us don't need one. It should be taken into consideration if you plan on buying some souvenirs for friends and family and planning everything properly as to have extra room left.
Hate To Pack? Not Anymore After Seeing This
We all love a vacation and everything that comes with it, except the part about packing. It always prove to be a nightmare and an unnecessary stress before a relaxing getaway, meaning we set off on the wrong foot. But no more of that.
All is takes is planning, planning, planning. The first step to packing well is to sit down with a sheet of paper and a pen and write exactly what you will need. Write every teeny-tiny detail and the process will become stress-free.
Here’s What Joey From ‘Friends’ Taught Us
We know, it sounds funny, but bear with us. Remember the episode of “Friends” where Joey wore all of Chandler’s clothes? So apparently he did have a point. It just took us 20 odd years to see how.
Obviously don’t wear all of your clothes but, when it comes to packing, tights and sweatshirts should be packed in a suitcase. As for jackets and "heavy clothes," they should be worn on the plane; you'll be surprised at how much weight you save.
Use What You've Got For Extra Space
If you're going somewhere hot and sunny, well, we're very jealous. But more importantly, you'll probably be packing some summer hats for the beach. While they do take up quite a bit of space, they can serve as another purpose.
With empty space in the hat itself, it acts as the perfect place to put small or thin things. And of course we like any way to save space, to this becomes a fantastic hack with any hat!
Lifehack Your Luggage with the Bundle Method
OK, this hack may sound a little weird at the beginning, but we promise it works. Have you heard of the bundle method? We hadn't either, but take a look at this work of art.
By placing your heaviest piece of clothing on the bottom, you fold each other item inside one another - think Russian Dolls - and you then have all your clothes stacked together, wrinkle free and fit into your suitcase!
What Is The Right Way To Pack Glass?
Is it just ys or us perfume from Duty Free all the more desirable? Since most countries don't allow perfume to be kept in your handbag, we're always left wondering - "is this safe to put in our suitcase? Is it worth it?
Shattered perfume bottles in suitcases are a real pain, however, there is a solution, and it is much simpler than it appears. Wrap the perfume in clothes, put the bottle in a thick sock and wrap it in the other clothes.
Protect Your Makeup
If you wear makeup, you know you will need to save some space in your bag for it. But you also know the risks of traveling with it. Being on a plane or a car, the risk of breaking or ruining something like your makeup pouch is something we want to avoid.
Cotton pads are a great way to avoid any problems. Place one inside your compact to prevent powder from falling out or crushing and losing your products. Next time you travel, you'll be grateful.
Marie Kondo's Way
Love her or hate her, Marie Kondo is excellent at organization, and these days there's no escaping her. When it comes to packing tips, this is no different, Marie Kondo has her expert ways.
Fold one garment of clothing down the side, do the same to the other side and stop a little before the edge. Then after leaving a gap, you have yourself a basic stand up method which gives extra room in your case.
Safely Storing Your Jewelry
Traveling with jewelry can be tricky. Some don't like to wear it during the flight, and having it in the travel bag can also be a risk. Not only because it can be an expensive piece, but because of the risk of losing it or breaking something like a necklace when it inevitably tangles up.
An excellent option to save yourself from a headache is to put them inside a pill case. Your jewels will be protected from the other things inside the bag and camouflaged from curious eyes.
Shift the Weight in Your Bags
Although this seems like a no-brainer, a common mistake many people make is putting the heaviest items at the top of the suitcase, unbalancing it and making it more difficult to carry. It seems like an obvious tip, but it can make or break a trip.
There is nothing worse than arriving from your trip, opening the suitcase, and finding some items wrinkled, crushed, or broken due to having heavier things on them. That's why you must place the heaviest items at the bottom when preparing your baggage.
Fold Your Clothes Inside Out
Sometimes the craziest ideas are the ones that work the best. Have you ever thought about storing your clothes inside-out when packing your suitcase? Yes, you read it right. It might sound strange, but once you understand the idea behind it, you will realize how useful it can be.
This tip doesn't focus much on saving space in your suitcase but rather on avoiding a headache if there is any problem inside it during the trip. Let's say the shampoo bottle burst or your makeup breaks. In that case, storing your clothes backward and inside-out will save them from damage and undoubtedly look like a brilliant idea.
The Only Way To Fold Pants
Marie Kondo makes it to our list once again, this time in showing the best and only way we should be folding pants. You probably didn't expect to have to learn this skill again, but yes, there is a better way to fold pants.
If the seat sticks out, fold it against the pant legs, then fold the legs up towards the waistband, leaving a little hap before it. After folding it in half again, you'll have yourself pants that stand upright.
Military Style Rolling
The Marie Kondo methods aren't the only ones to learn when it comes to saving space in the suitcase. Folding clothes in a space-saving manner has many more methods than one might think.
First lay pants on your t-shirt, and then fold both sides of the t-shirt over them. Place your socks on the top of the t-shirt and roll it to look like a rolling pin. With the socks sticking out, you then place the t-shirt inside.
Protecting Your Hair Iron Tools
Traveling with a curling iron can be a big problem. Not only because they are sensitive tools but because they are not easy to locate due to their size. It becomes difficult to keep track of them in our own home; imagine how complicated it is inside your luggage.
Therefore, for travel and storing them at home, a good tip is to put them inside mitts, especially kitchen mittens. This way, a large part of the iron curler will be protected and cushioned against shocks, saving you from breaking it if something happens.
Contact Case to Store Foundation
Makeup can be troublesome when traveling. We have already talked about this and even given you some tips to make transporting it more manageable. Contact cases can be another alternative to traveling with makeup and save you some space in your cosmetic bag.
Of course, if you have the contact cases available at home, all you have to do is spread a little makeup in them. Only enough to use during your trip since we know that you do not need to take everything you have with you… or do you? Think, always think, we have to save space in the suitcase!
Saving Your Baggage From Rain
There are all kinds of suitcases, but rain can be a problem for some bags. Although many modern travel bags are made of water-resistant materials, there is still nothing more uncomfortable than arriving at a hotel or house and finding your bag soaked.
The perfect solution for these situations is to get a luggage cover. If you've never seen one, it is a fabric protector similar to a raincoat, which will prevent water from making your suitcase and everything inside wet. It's not the most beautiful or elegant solution, but it is undoubtedly the most practical.
Hot And Bold, Or Cold And Snug?
An effective packing strategy starts with information about the vacation, and of course the weather conditions. Knowing where you're going and what you'll be doing seriously helps with the packing, and we're here for it.
Of course we won't be taking swimwear on a hike up a mountain, but you get the idea. Stick to what will work on the holiday, and avoid the added items that usually come "just in case."
Carry laundry bags
Traveling is such a special moment in our lives that we often forget some fundamental things because of our enthusiasm. Of course, we pack the bathing suit for the beach and sunglasses to protect ourselves, but some items are just as important, and we cannot forget.
For example, laundry bags. Maybe in our house, we don't use them, but when we are traveling and have all the clothes together inside the suitcase, it is important to find a way to separate the dirty clothes from the clean ones to avoid confusion or bad smells.
Pack dryer sheets
We are constantly coming and going during our trips, and if it is summer, walking around during the day can mean bad smells, which generally are unavoidable. However, if you always want to smell good, there is a solution.
Getting a pack of dryer sheets can be a lifesaver in this situation. Useful and inexpensive, a simple sheet will help keep you and your clothes smelling good and provide a breath of fresh air, especially after a long journey. Of course, it is also always good to have deodorant on hand.
Avoiding leaking bottles
Although we have already recommended ways to avoid carrying bottles in your luggage, sometimes it cannot be avoided. In such cases, there is a risk of the bottle opening in the middle of the journey and spilling all the content throughout your suitcase.
A solution that is not only simple but inexpensive is that you put a plastic wrap atop the bottle when closing it. This little hack will prevent any liquid from leaking out and allow you to travel more relaxed whenever you carry a bottle in your suitcase.
The belt and shirt trick
You have to travel for work, and you have to wear various shirts and formal wear to attend your meetings. But of course, getting a shirt to arrive intact in a suitcase is a real challenge.
One solution to preserve, at least the shirt's collar, is to use the belt trick. This simple hack will keep a particularly wrinkle-sensitive part of the shirt neat. And the best part is that you can combine it with some other folding methods that we have shown you before.
Frozen packs for your snacks
We might want to eat something when we are traveling, but the options are usually limited since some snacks need to b refrigerated, which is not possible in the middle of a trip. For things like chocolates, we have a solution to keep them fresh and ready for when hunger shows up.
Frozen sponges. How? You might be thinking, but the trick is simpler than it sounds. You have to buy some sponges and leave them in the freezer the night before the trip. The next day you store them in a plastic bag, and voila, you have a cold pack for your snacks and can refresh yourself if necessary.
Compression bags
From rolling clothes to putting little stuff inside your shoes, there are countless ways to pack your travel bags, and so far, we have shown you some methods in this article. Another option, which you may not have considered, is compression bags.
If you don't know them, compression bags are, as their name implies, bags that remove all the air inside them, shrinking as much as possible and, consequently, taking up less space inside your suitcase. Combining this method with some of those that we have shown you previously will considerably reduce the space that your clothes occupy.
Straws can save your necklaces
Once again, we have to talk about jewelry. Yes, such valuable items can be protected in your baggage, although this trick is particularly handy for jewels such as necklaces; those little monsters always find a way to get tangled up with everything that crosses their path.
This hack consists of using a straw. Yes, a simple straw you can get at any fast food place. All you have to do is string the necklace through the straw and close it as if you were putting it around your neck. This way, there will be no chance of finding a knot when you open the suitcase upon arrival.
A pouch for your skincare
Bottles. Yes, we are talking about bottles again. We know how frustrating it can be to find an open bottle inside your suitcase. You have already tried the other options, but there is one more recommendation, which is extremely simple and logical if you think about it.
It is as simple as storing all the bottles together inside a unique bag. You can get any zippered makeup packs and put all your toiletries and skincare products in them. In the case of an accident, the liquids will be contained inside, and the stuff in your suitcase will be safe.
Bags within a bag
Not convinced about having to buy things like vacuum bags to save space in your suitcase? Remember how we talked about laundry bags earlier? Well, it's time to bring them to light again, because they can be very useful when preparing your suitcase.
If you keep your clothes contained in a bag, which you then put inside the suitcase, you can save yourself a little extra space. Of course, remember to use the above methods to save space inside the garment bag. It will be useless to use an extra bag if you are not going to try to save space somehow.
A luggage scale is key
It was a long and fantastic trip, but now it is time to go home. You packed all your clothes, the new things you bought and all the gifts to take to your family and friends. Everything is ready; you go to the airport, arrive at the counter, and they tell you that your suitcase is overweight.
There is no worse experience. You don't know what to do. You hardly managed to get everything inside the suitcase. There is only one option left, to pay the fine for excess baggage. To avoid these problems, it is essential to always have a luggage scale on hand to know exactly how heavy your suitcase is to redistribute your things correctly.
Do you really need everything?
When the holidays come, and we start packing, we think of all the things we need, and we add a few more just in case something happens. But, at the end of the trip, you realize that you didn't need everything that you took.
That's why many people tend to give the same advice: Select everything you think you will wear. Once you have chosen the clothes and all the items you want to put in your suitcase, cut everything in half, and pack only that. You are going to realize that you packed more than you needed.
Remember the first-aid kit
During travel, it's always better to be prepared. So while many people don't do it, having a first aid kit in your suitcase can be significant in the face of any unforeseen event.
It never hurts to have a small medicine cabinet with essential items from band-aids to medicine for a headache, especially in a foreign country where medicine might have another name or be more expensive. Always be sure to check which drugs are allowed and prohibited in each place.
Get some plug adaptors
Depending on which country you are in, the electrical connections may change or have different voltages. There is nothing worse than arriving at the hotel and finding that you have no way to charge your cell phone or computer.
To avoid this problem and having to go out and find a shop where they sell you an adapter, it is advisable to buy and take a universal adapter with you before traveling. These items usually include connections for practically anywhere in the world, so no matter where you go, you can always plug in your electronic devices.
Keep your valuables with you
Another obvious tip, but it never hurts to repeat it, is to keep your most valuable objects safe during the trip. We have all heard about someone whose suitcase was opened, and their most precious objects were stolen, and we never want to be the ones who have to tell that story.
Therefore, as evident as it may seem, an important recommendation is to always keep your most valuable objects with you. Whether in a handbag, or a backpack, everything with monetary or sentimental value, if it doesn't break the airline's rules, it is safer with us in the cabin.
Leave the towels at home
It is an utterly unnecessary item on a trip, but many people still carry towels in their suitcases. Towels usually take up a lot of space, and if you travel with someone else, it will mean that you have more than one. But why bother bringing towels?
Whether you go to a hotel or an apartment that you have rented, bringing towels is completely unnecessary because these places always offer, among other things, these types of items. Even if you think you need it, you can save a lot of space in your suitcase if you leave your towels at home.
Remember to bring a portable charger
During vacation, we usually spend the whole day outside the hotel. We go back and forth visiting places, and in these times of social media, cell phones have a lot of use, especially to take and share photos with your family and friends.
Having a good portable charger at hand is always necessary to stay connected and not find your cell phone having little or no battery charge in the middle of the day. Portable chargers are great items that can offer you several full battery charges.
Put a fragile tag on your luggage
We can never be entirely sure, but one way to make your suitcase a little safer and for the airline to treat it a little better is to add a “fragile” tag. It is something that people don't usually do, but travel experts always recommend it.
It is assumed that if your suitcase has something fragile, the airport staff should move it around more carefully. Another advantage is that, in general, all bags marked with a fragile label are usually the first to leave the baggage carousel, so you will be saving a bit of time when you arrive.
Get organized with your friends
If you are traveling with several people, each of you will be carrying a suitcase, or at least you should. That means that if you are organized within the group, you can take advantage of all the available space so that no one has to leave anything behind.
Either because someone in the group has fewer things or is more organized, it never hurts to check among your friends to see if there is a place available to keep that item or garment that you could not put in your suitcase.
Have a copy of your documents
Travel documents are very important. Be it your personal documentation, passport, or hotel voucher, nothing can go missing. You always carry them with you in your backpack or handbag everywhere you go.
However, losing them somewhere is a risk that no one wants to take since the last thing we want is to find ourselves in another country without any documentation. That is why it is essential to have at least one copy of each important document you have somewhere in your luggage in case something happens.
Don't forget your Kindle
Reading is a common activity during a vacation. After a tiring year, we finally have the whole day off to ourselves, and there is nothing better than lounging on the shore of a beach while we read our favorite book.
However, a book can be weighty and large, taking too much room in the suitcase. And the last thing we want, as we have been talking about throughout this article, is to take up unnecessary space in the bag. That is why having a Kindle- which is small and light and allows you to have all the books you want- is an excellent alternative during the trip.
Bring a power strip
Last but not least, there's a tip equally important, almost as much as that of the universal chargers, and it goes hand in hand with the chargers. And it is always to carry a power strip in your travel bag.
It has happened to all of us. We get to the hotel room, only to find out that there is only one plug in the room and another in the bathroom, but we have too many things to charge. The solution, of course, is the power strip. You can convert a plug and avoid taking turns to charge each electronic device with just one of them.