Traveling is one of the best ways to relax and unwind, but many people don’t necessarily like what comes before the trip itself: packing. Packing is usually a tedious process that involves various layout combinations when things don’t fit well enough on the first try.
However, luggage space only becomes a big issue for travelers who mindlessly throw their stuff into their travel suitcase. Most luggage can actually fit a lot more stuff than expected if people learned how to organize its contents.
Making the Most Out of Your Luggage
Not all trips are made the same, so even if you already have a list of basic things to pack in mind, you still need to tweak the contents of your luggage depending on your destination. Careful planning is especially necessary if you’re traveling abroad, particularly in a place with a different climate than what you’re used to.
Listed below are 5 tips that can help you become a space-saving packer in your future trips:
1. Minimize Toiletries
Most hotel rooms already come with toiletries, like soap, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, and toothbrush, so you don’t really need to bring anything of the sort. However, if you like the toiletry brands that you’re using, make sure that you transfer them in travel-sized bottles so they won’t take up too much space in your bag.
Rooms also provide bath and face towels. Unless you’re going to the beach where a light, quick-dry towel is handy, better skip the bath towel completely. It’ll only fill up your easy maneuvering bag faster than you realize.
2. Wear Your Bulky Clothes
If you’re traveling to a cold place where thick jackets are needed, wear those jackets on the way instead. This will not only help you save space, but it’ll also minimize your luggage weight as well. That way, you can go on an adventure in style!
As for shoes, always wear the heaviest ones on the way if you’re planning to bring multiple pairs. Make sure that you only take a maximum of three pairs with you – the one that you’re wearing, and two others, if you think they’re really necessary.
3. Roll or Fold Accordingly
When it comes to clothes, there has been a debate on whether it’s better to roll them or fold them. The best solution would depend on the clothes’ fabric.
For instance, clothes with soft fabrics, like t-shirts and shorts, are best packed when rolled as it minimizes creases. On the other hand, bulky items like jackets, button-down shirts, sweaters, and jeans are best folded.
Depending on how thick your suitcase is, you may even choose to file folded clothes vertically to maximize the space.
4. Go for Packing Cubes
If you want to keep your things in place, even as your baggage gets tossed around in transit, packing cubes are a great solution. They come in a variety of sizes, helping you become more organized during the process. Combine rolling and folding to make it easier to fit everything in your luggage.
Although packing cubes don’t exactly make more space in your bag, having them gives you a good visual cue of what you should and shouldn’t bring. It’s also a great way to encourage you not to overpack and stick only with what’s essential.
5. Pack Bigger and Heavier Items First
This may seem obvious, but sometimes people can get too excited about packing their clothes first that they forget they still have to pack bulky items. It’s usually hard to fit everything in because it’s hard to rearrange things when the heavier things are put in last.
If the heavy items are already inside, it’ll be much easier to adjust the layouts as you add the smaller things. You’ll find that your luggage will have no problem zipping up, and you don’t even have to force things to do so.
Always Think Ahead!
To make the aforementioned tips more effective, it’s highly recommended to plan out your outfits while you’re packing. This is so you won’t have to deal with too many random options during the trip itself.
If you already know what you’re going to wear for a particular day, then this will greatly minimize all the unnecessary extras that’ll only take up your much-needed luggage space.
Conclusion: Ample Preparation Can Save So Much Space
Like most things about your trip, preparation is key when packing your things. If you create your own packing game plan and apply it in all your travels from now on, you’ll be able to bring more stuff and even have extra space for souvenirs.
