Going away on vacation is most people’s summer routine. However, due to interruptions to global travel (a consequence of COVID-19) very few people have been abroad since at least 2019. It’s easy to forget small things in such a long time, like how to pack a suitcase perfectly for example.
If you are planning on going away then now’s the time to give yourself a quick refresher on proper suitcase packing. Failing to pack properly could lead to you going away unprepared, leaving important things behind at home.
This post will tell you some tips you can use to pack properly on your next trip:
Buying Quality Suitcases
Before you can pack your suitcase, you need to own one. The chances are you already do. However, if you are like most people, you probably bought yours for as little money as you possibly could. While cheap suitcases indeed do the job, they are not very effective nor are they particularly efficient. Buying durable hard-side luggage should be your main priority if you are going away. To find out whether or not the luggage manufacturer from who you plan on buying a suitcase, read reviews. A company’s reviews are without a shadow of a doubt the most effective way of determining whether they are worth buying or not. Avoid buying suitcases second-hand if you can as second-hand suitcases do not last as long as new ones do.
Packing By Colour
One of the easiest ways to pack a suitcase is to colour coordinate. Colour coordinating your packing can help you to ensure that you know where everything is. Alternatively, you can pack according to use, i.e., put t-shirts together and then sweaters somewhere else. If you do use a code to pack then the most important thing for you to do is to make sure that you remember where things go. Forgetting the locations of items you have taken with you is very easy but can ruin your trip or at least waste your time.
Individual Compartments
Within your bag, you need to make sure there are individual compartments where things are stored, i.e., a compartment for electronics and another for underwear. If you do not divide your suitcase into different compartments then you will end up packing it in such a way that it is hard to unpack later on. Packing your suitcase should not be a complicated or difficult task. It should be something that is done quite quickly, with relative ease. If you are struggling with efficient packing then individual compartments are the way to go. There are guides you can use online that can help with this kind of packing.
Bringing Extra Bags
One of the worst things you can do when you are travelling is not bringing enough stuff with you. Many people do not pack enough stuff because they want to save money. You can get cheaper airline tickets if you minimise luggage. However, reducing luggage just to save money will likely lead to you either under-packing or cramming everything you can inside your permitted bags. Overloading bags can lead to you having to unpack everything you have every time you want to take something out.
Sending Mail Ahead
One hack for bringing more than you can fit inside your bag abroad with you is to send mail ahead containing luggage that you cannot fit inside your suitcase. Sending mail ahead is only practical if you are going away for a long period of time. If you’re just going away for a few days or even a week then it does not make sense to send mail ahead. If you send mail ahead when you are not going away for very long you’ll end up spending a lot of money on postage and packaging and in addition to that, you might not even be there to receive it when it does arrive as international mail delays are very common.
Travel Companion Space
Going away with friends with family then why not ask them if you can put some of your things inside of their bags if they have room? Asking friends to put things inside their bags should not cause any issues between you provided that they have enough room. If they do not have enough room then you should not force them to give you space inside their bag. You may just have to pay for another bag to be checked in if you cannot find a way to make enough space.
A perfectly packed suitcase isn’t as hard to achieve as many people make out. If you are going away on vacation, follow this post’s guidance to ensure your suitcase contains everything you need.
