HOW TO PACK LIKE A PRO: 7 EXPERT-PACKING TIPS
I don’t know about you, but I used to loathe packing. Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that help me hate it a little less. Some of these tips seem obvious but I promise they make a big difference.
Plan your outfits
My husband and I are polar opposites. He waits until about 20 minutes before we need to leave for the airport to shovel some clothes into a suitcase. I, on the other hand, have learned to plan every.single.outfit. This means pulling everything out of my closet that I might want to wear on vacation, then trying things on to see what I love at that particular moment (because I’ve learned that the outfits I may have loved last season don’t fit right anymore or I’m just over them!) The obvious yesses go in a pile on the bed, the maybes go into a separate pile on the bed, and the ew - no ways! go in a heap on the floor (ain’t no way I’m hanging them back up before vacation!) I make sure I have a variety of styles, depending on the destination, and I plan the exact jewelry, shoes and accessories I will wear with each outfit. By the way - a scarf or shawl in a fun print or some colorful earrings can instantly change up a whole look. Planning my outfits ahead of time helps ensure I don’t overpack, but I always weigh my checked bags before we leave the house to make sure I’m within the airline’s limit - just to be safe! This luggage scale (#ad) is the best I’ve found so far!
Use packing cubes
I am a big fan of packing cubes to organize my outfits. Depending on where I’m traveling, I either organize my clothes by item type (all shirts and tops in one cube, pants/bottoms in another, swimsuits in another, etc.) or by day (one cube to hold the full outfit and accessories I plan to wear on each day of the week). My kids pack themselves now, but when they were little, I used color-coded packing cubes to help organize their things. Each child was assigned their own special color; this made it easier for them to quickly identify their stuff in our larger family suitcase. If you haven’t used packing cubes yet, they’re a real gamechanger! I’ve tried multiple brands and these are my current favorites (#ad).
Place dryer sheets in your suitcase
Suitcases inevitably start to smell about halfway through a trip because you’re carrying your dirty clothes with your clean clothes (and especially if you’re carrying your kids’ dirty laundry in your suitcase!) I’ve learned to layer a few dryer sheets between outfits to keep clothes smelling fresh. As an added bonus, dryer sheets help control static electricity so you’ll be less likely to experience clingy clothes.
Bring an extra bag
I have a bit of a shopping problem. One of the ways I like to experience new cultures is to buy all the things - especially handcrafted goods made by local artisans. And because I rarely leave room in my suitcase to bring these amazing finds back home, I’ve learned to pack a lightweight, foldable duffle. This allows me to bring back any souvenirs or extras I buy on vacation. My husband is in the military so we get extra checked bags for free on most airlines, but even if we didn’t, it would be worth the extra $50-$75 to check a bag of goodies back home. I like this nylon one by Gonex (#ad) as it folds up super small but is durable enough to check on the way home if needed.
Review TSA and destination airport rules
Airport security guidelines change often, so it’s best to review the latest regulations before your next flight. For flights originating in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, governs these rules. Check out the TSA website for the latest. As of this writing, each passenger is allowed to carry-on 1 quart size clear plastic bag of liquids - with each liquid limited to 3.4 ounces or less per container. You should also review TSA’s list of prohibited items. But what many people don’t know is that other countries have their own airport regulations that may be even more strict than the TSA. For this reason, it’s important to check both the TSA guidelines and the regulations in place at your destination airport. For example, London’s Heathrow Airport is known for having some of the most stringent requirements for carry-on luggage, with some items, like mascara and certain deodorants, counting as liquids and therefore required to fit within the quart-size liquids bag.
Take a plane organizer
A seat-back organizer (#ad) like this one by Travelon will make your flight more enjoyable because everything you need in-flight is at your fingertips. I use this to keep my earbuds, chewing gum, tablet, phone charger, snack, pen and small notebook handy. This saves me from having to dig around in my larger plane bag to find these items, and helps ensure I don’t leave anything behind in the seat-back pocket at the end of the flight. I love that I can grab this one organizer out of my bag and have everything I need instead of trying to juggle seven different items.
Make a packing list and check it off as you go
Rounding out my top packing tips is an obvious, but important one: Make a packing list and check it off as you go. Do not trust your brain to remember every item you’ll need on this trip - especially if you’re packing for kids and other family members, too. I use the Notes app on my phone to create a packing list and then check things off as I add each item to the bag. The good news is, once you create a packing list, you can reuse it for your next trip. Sure, you might need to adjust a few items based on your destination, but the bulk of what you need will be the same. My top can’t-leave-home-without-it travel items? Earplugs, sound machine, small fan (can you tell we have a snorer in the family?!), portable charger, chapstick and wrinkle release.
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