So you planned a trip and the time has come to pack your bags. Some of you start packing days in advance. Others of you pack just the night before. Whatever your preference is, you may have asked yourself questions like “Is there a better and more efficient way to pack? How can I maximize the space I have? Can I fit everything into a carry-on?” If this sounds like you, keep reading for our 21 travel packing tips before leaving on your next adventure. You’ll see that there’s many ways to simplify your packing and use less space, but still include everything you need. So without further ado, let’s begin…
PACKING YOUR CLOTHES
- Roll, don’t fold! We start with the classic space-saving technique of rolling your clothes versus folding them. You’ll be able to pack more clothes this way and also keep them wrinkle-free. Win-win!
- Use packing cubes. This is one of our favorite travel packing tips. To help you maximize space with your rolled clothes, use packing cubes! You’ll be surprised how much you can fit in a cube. Most sets come in various sizes to split up your clothes by category (shirts, pants, underwear, etc). Additionally, it’s a great way to keep your suitcase sorted. We like that we can quickly look through or empty a bag and still keep our clothes contained and organized.
- Choose clothes that are easy to match. When traveling, we try to pack versatile clothes that can work with a variety of outfits. Bring tops that can be paired with the same few bottoms. Not only will you end up packing less, but if you happen to get an article of clothing dirty, you’ll still have several outfit options to choose from. Mix and match!
CARRY-ONS VS. CHECKED BAGS
- If you’re flying, try to only have carry-ons. Why should you try to fit everything into a carry-on if you have a nice and roomy suitcase? First of all, many airlines now charge for checked bags, so avoiding these fees can help reduce the cost of your trip. Secondly, you can maximize the time on your trip when you don’t have to wait at the baggage claim. You also don’t have to worry about the airline losing your luggage, which can obviously cause a stressful situation. Sure, it may be a little annoying to pack liquids in TSA-approved sizes to bring your carry-on through security. But we think the benefits outweigh this minor annoyance. And remember, in addition to your carry-on luggage, you get one personal item. If you use a backpack as your personal item, it is another way to maximize your carry-on capacity. Just make sure your backpack fits under the seat in front of you!
- Consider using a travel backpack vs. a suitcase. Speaking of backpacks, we recommend utilizing a travel backpack instead of a more traditional suitcase. There are several kinds available, but we love our Tortuga Setout Divide backpack. This backpack opens like a suitcase, which makes it easy to pack and organize. It’s also comfortable to wear and has a hip belt to take the weight off your shoulders. Most importantly, it’s small enough to be a carry-on! With a backpack, you don’t have to worry about wheeling your suitcase everywhere, especially through inconvenient areas. It’s also a lot less obvious that you’re a tourist when you’re not rolling your luggage around. Once we made the switch, this is a travel packing tip we can’t stop recommending to others.
- Be strategic with shoes. Shoes can take up a lot of space in your luggage, especially when you’re trying to limit yourself to carry-ons. They are big, bulky and can’t be rolled like a t-shirt. As with clothes, pick shoes that can be paired with many outfits. Also, choose shoes that don’t take up a ton of room. If you’re a woman and need to pack some fancy attire, consider skipping the high heels and go with some nice flats instead. Also, to save space, wear the largest shoes you’re bringing to the airport. For example, if you’re going on a beach vacation, wear your shoes through the airport and pack your sandals in your bag.
- Keep things fresh with a dryer sheet. Shoes can be stinky. In fact, luggage itself can be stinky if it’s been sitting in storage for a while. To keep your clothes and other items smelling fresh, throw a dryer sheet into your bag. Your nose and any other travel companions will thank you.
- Have to check a bag? Look for airlines with no bag fees. Sometimes, you can’t avoid checking a bag. Maybe due to the length or nature of your trip, a large suitcase is the only way to fit everything you need to bring. On one of our trips to Boston, we knew we wanted to check out Tree House Brewing Co. Located about an hour outside the city, this is an incredibly popular craft brewery, best known for their New England style IPAs. They do not distribute, which means you must come to the brewery to purchase their highly sought-after beers. Because of this, we knew we wanted to bring some cans home but wouldn’t be able to stow them in a carry-on. So we decided to fly Southwest since they don’t charge fees for checked bags. When you know you have to check a bag, remember to compare prices between airlines with and without bag fees. Sometimes, a cheaper flight may end up being more expensive due to these extra charges.
- Pack essentials in your carry-on. If you have to check a bag, bring your essentials in your carry-on just in case your checked luggage gets lost. These include things like toiletries, glasses, medications, phone chargers and any documents or tickets you need for your trip. You don’t want to deal with the possibility of missing bags AND not having travel essentials.
OTHER PACKING TIPS AND IDEAS
- Make a list of things to pack the morning of. Sometimes, essentials can’t be packed until the day you’re leaving. Maybe you have to use your phone charger overnight, or you need to pack your glasses and contacts case in the morning. Whatever it may be, having a list of things that still need to be packed will ensure you don’t miss anything, especially if you’re in a rush.
- Bring some large plastic resealable bags. You never know when some resealable bags may come in handy. Plus, they don’t take up any space so throw a couple in your bag. One practical use would be to hold wet swimsuits to prevent the rest of your clothes from getting wet. Another use would be to store snacks that did not come in a resealable container. You don’t want to open your bag and find your bag of Cheetos spilled all over!
- Bring a water bottle. Sure, you can get bottled water. But in many touristy places, and especially in airports, you’ll be paying a premium. Save some money (and the environment) by bringing your own reusable water bottle. Many airports have filtered filling stations to top your bottle off before boarding the plane. Also, don’t forget to bring multiple bottles depending on your destination. You may want a lot more water if you’re going hiking in the desert or walking around Disney World on a hot and humid day. On trips like these, we like freezing our water bottles the night before. That way, we have cold and refreshing water as the ice melts throughout the day. If you don’t like the taste of tap water, bring some flavor drops or packets. And don’t forget to bring purifying tablets or filters if you’re going camping at a site with no access to clean water.
- Check what’s provided by your hotel. It’s important to pack the necessities. But to maximize space, you don’t want to pack any essentials that will be provided. If you’re staying at a hotel, you probably don’t need to pack things like towels, shampoo and soap. Some rental options may even provide certain amenities, so read the listings carefully.
- Do some laundry. Will there be laundry machines available where you’re going? Maybe the house you rented for a week has a washer and dryer available. If so, you can plan on doing some laundry during your stay and reduce the amount of clothes you need to bring. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you bring detergent or confirm that there will be some available.
- Empty your wallet. Most people don’t need to bring everything they have in their wallet on a trip. Therefore, we suggest removing anything that you won’t need until you come back home. You probably don’t need to bring every credit card you own or your work ID badge (unless you’re traveling for business). Take out the non-essentials so if you lose your wallet, you minimize what you need to track down. But also, remember to bring some cash if you know it’ll be needed, such as tipping a hotel shuttle bus driver.
- Breakfast and snacks. Bring some dry breakfast options or snacks from home if you want to avoid paying for higher-priced options at airports, gas stations or hotels. For this reason, we typically try to choose hotels that offer a free breakfast. If your lodging does not offer a complimentary morning meal, oatmeal packets and granola bars are easy things to pack that are both budget-friendly and healthy. Don’t forget to also bring some snacks to enjoy during flights or road trips. Some attractions like the theme parks at Disney World allow you to bring your own food in. While it’s fun to splurge on a Mickey-shaped pretzel or ice cream bar, you don’t want to have to buy an expensive snack every time someone gets hungry. So remember to plan ahead for food… your stomach AND wallet will thank you!
ELECTRONICS & TECH
- Opt for eBooks. Like many people, we prefer being able to hold a real book and turn physical pages while reading. However, books can take up a lot of space. So when we travel, we take the digital route instead. Not only can eReaders and tablets hold a ton of books, but you also don’t have to worry about covers and pages getting folded or damaged in your bag.
- Know the right voltage. Something to keep in mind when traveling internationally is to check the voltage that your destination country uses for electrical outlets. If it is different than your home country, you will need to bring an adapter. Click here for a full list of countries and their plug types, voltages and frequencies. Don’t find yourself in a situation where you can’t charge (or worse, fry) your electronics!
- Figure out international phone plans. This is not really a “packing tip”. But it’s something you’ll definitely need to think about if you will be traveling to another country with your phone. On some trips, it may not be necessary to be connected to a mobile network all the time. Maybe the hotel Wi-Fi will suffice your needs. But on other trips, having access to data or calling is a necessity. If that’s the case, be sure to check with your provider and add an appropriate international data plan to avoid outrageous charges. Another option would be to get a local SIM card for your phone when traveling abroad. Either way, we suggest turning on airplane mode when you’re not actively using your phone in another country. That way, you’re not accidentally using data and can use Wi-Fi if necessary.
- Download offline maps. Again, not really a “packing tip” but still important. Many of us are dependent on our phones for driving directions. Unless you have a separate GPS unit, you will need a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection to load maps and routes. If you are going to be in another country or an area where you’re unlikely to have reception, be proactive and download offline maps of relevant areas. You don’t want to get stuck somewhere with no idea where to go. Click here to learn how to download offline maps on the Google Maps mobile app.
AND FINALLY...
- Leave some room for souvenirs. Lastly, make sure you leave some space for any things you may collect during your trip. We’re not huge souvenir people, but even we usually bring something home to remember our trip by. But at the same time, don’t be like Michael Scott from “The Office” and bring 2 empty suitcases just for souvenirs!
Bonus Tip: We want to throw in a bonus tip for those who are like David. Even though he double and triple checks before a trip, he still stresses out about whether all the lights are turned off, doors are locked, the garage door is down, and that the gas range isn’t on. To avoid second-guessing yourself, take photos of these things right before you leave.
YOU HAVE THE PACKING TIPS. NOW LET'S GO TRAVEL!
There you have it: our 21 best travel packing tips. We hope these help you to efficiently pack for your next vacation. Whether you’re road tripping or flying, we wish you a safe and fun adventure! Do you have any other travel packing tips? We’d love to hear them! Leave your tips in the comments below and be sure to check out our other Trips and Tips.