Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
With all the excitement of an upcoming holiday, the thought of packing might be dampening your mood, but packing doesn’t have to be a daunting or stressful process and can actually save you time whilst you’re away. Whether you are only going away for a few nights or your trip is a little longer, you can follow some top packing tips to ensure the process is easy and productive. Keep reading to find out how to pack your suitcase like a professional for your next holiday.
Tips for packing your suitcase like a pro:
- Make a packing list
- Use packing cubes
- Pack a travel steamer
- Plan outfits beforehand
- Roll your clothes instead of folding
Make a Packing List
The first place you want to start when you’re planning what to pack is by making a list. Making a list firstly means you’re less likely to forget something, but secondly, it means you can quite easily see what you do and don’t need, making sure you’re sensible about the number of items you are taking or will need.
Split your list into sections; one of the best ways to do this is to split the list into the sections in your wardrobe, such as a section for trousers, tops, footwear, accessories, etc. You may want to make a separate list of the things you won’t be able to pack until the day you leave, like your toothbrush, hairbrush and skincare, to name a few.
Use Packing Cubes
Packing cubes aren’t a new invention, but many people have yet to add them to their packing repertoire, and they can be a great space-saving essential. Packing cubes allow you to separate your items and use every inch of space, whether it is clothes, shoes, electronics or even toiletries. Some people even use them to divide complete outfits for easy access once they are away.
The blog These Four Walls explains a little more about the benefits of packing cubes in an article on their site: “Packing cubes are a total game-changer. They also help me to keep things organised, especially on multi-destination trips where I don’t have a chance to unpack at each place. I tend to use the largest cube for dresses, skirts and trousers, the two medium-sized ones for tops and the smallest one for underwear. Things such as pyjamas, which I need to access every day, then sit at the top of my case where I can get to them easily.”
Dividers or cubes are even more beneficial when you’re only taking carry-on luggage and need to save space for the essentials. You might even want to consider packing a spare one to use for dirty laundry.
Packing cubes are also a great place to store important documents and paperwork you might need whilst you’re away, like medical documents or your travel medical insurance paperwork, in case you may need it whilst you’re away.
READ MORE: Top Tips for Long-Haul Flights
Pack a Travel Steamer
Packing a steamer in your suitcase may sound slightly extravagant, but travel steamers come in compact and light formats nowadays and take up minimal space in your luggage. Having a steamer to hand will take the stress out of clothing that may crease and will allow you to rectify this once you arrive at your destination, leaving your clothing wrinkle-free and fresh.
Travel steamers often fold and have travel cases, allowing you to slot them into small spaces in your luggage.
Plan Outfits Beforehand
One of the best ways to ensure you don’t overpack and, in turn, have extra space in your suitcase is to plan your outfits before you travel. Firstly, identify items that can be worn multiple times on several occasions and then plan outfits around these staple pieces. You might want to prepare some nicer outfits for the evenings and some comfier clothes for travelling or on more relaxed days at your hotel or accommodation.
Bulky items like pairs of shoes can take up a lot of space, too, so find versatile shoes that can be adapted for day and nighttime outfits, as well as essential shoes like trainers and sandals. Use your packing cubes to split your outfits so you can grab them easily and quickly, allowing you to keep your suitcase neat and tidy.
Roll Your Clothes Instead of Folding
One popular top tip for packing is to roll your clothes instead of folding them, and there is a plethora of reasons why this is often a popular choice. Firstly, by rolling clothes, you are squeezing excess air out, which in turn takes up less space.
Secondly, rolling your clothes is a great way to keep clothes wrinkle-free, which is a common issue with folded clothes. As well as eradicating wrinkles, folding your clothes into your suitcase often allows you to find items quicker because clothes aren’t piled on top of one another.
If you are looking to pack fragile items, adding these into the middle of your rolled clothes is a great way to protect them without using extra packing items.
READ MORE: How to Keep Your Clothes Crease Free
While packing your bags and planning your itinerary, don’t forget to organise health travel insurance! It’s an essential addition to any trip that will cover any mishaps along the way. So, take a look at our annual travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions to get yourself covered for your upcoming trip for total peace of mind.
If you’re an avid over-packer, only take hand luggage when travelling or just want some top tips on how to pack better, then hopefully, this guide has given you some top tips on how to save space for your next trip.
For more travel-related articles, make sure you explore our blog.