Packing for a long vacation can be tricky. Especially if you’re visiting multiple places, remaining organized can be difficult. The last thing you want to be doing is looking up vacation packing tips while you’re at the airport, or even worse, between cities.
Not to mention, packing and unpacking can become a hassle when you pack too much. If you pack too little, then you might need to make unnecessary stops to the store while you’re on vacation- and that’s no fun, now is it? Don’t worry, there are vacation packing tips for that!
You want to make sure you have everything you need without packing too much and ending up with a heavy suitcase or multiple pieces of luggage. Luckily, we’ve put together a few vacation packing tips that will help you pack your suitcase so that it is easy to carry and doesn’t weigh you down!
5 Vacation Packing Tips to Packing Smarter, Not Harder
Pack a Small Bag With Essentials for the Flight
Traveling can be stressful, especially if you’re worried about packing everything you need. One of our vacation packing tips to ease your anxiety is to pack a small bag with essential items for the flight. This way, even if your luggage gets lost, you’ll still have the basics.
So, what should you include in your carry-on?
A change of clothes is always a good idea if your luggage is delayed. You’ll also want to make sure you have any medications you need and any essential toiletries. Grab a water bottle to stay hydrated and some healthy snacks like nuts or fruit to avoid getting hungry during the flight.
Speaking of water bottles, here’s a reminder: bring a refillable water container like this to not only take up less space but reduce waste as well! You always want to make sure you’re packing smarter and taking care of our environment. Most airports, hotels, and even public areas will have water fountains where you can just fill up for free and go!
Make sure you steer clear of sugary or salty foods that can make you feel bloated. We all know that the gummy worms are tempting at the airport, but they can make you sick in the long run. Dried fruit, trail mix, and granola bars are perfect and won’t take up too much space in your luggage!
Bring along a book, magazine, or laptop so you can stay entertained during the flight. If you’re traveling with young children, don’t forget to pack some games or toys to keep them occupied. Invest in a good travel pillow to catch up on some rest and headphones to enjoy some peace during the flight.
Use Packing Cubes To Keep Clothes Organized in Your Luggage
Travel can be rough on your clothes. Between being crammed into a suitcase and dealing with different weather conditions, it’s no wonder your clothes often come out looking wrinkled and worn. Don’t worry, we have vacation packing tips for that!
Packing cubes can help keep your clothes organized and looking their best while you travel. By compartmentalizing your clothes, packing cubes help to prevent them from becoming wrinkled or creased. They also make it easy to find what you’re looking for, even in the middle of a hectic trip.
Not only that, but by using packing cubes, you can better visualize the outfits you want to wear and figure out what you need. You can designate certain cubes to things like jackets, undergarments, and pants! That way, you can assure yourself that you have all of the clothes you intended to bring.
And if you’re worried about space, don’t be – most packing cubes are designed to be lightweight and compact so that they won’t add too much bulk to your luggage. Packing cubes come in various sizes, so it’s important to choose the ones that will fit your luggage.
If you’re not sure, err on the side of caution and go for larger packing cubes. Label your cube to keep track of what’s in each cube, especially if you’re using different colors for different items.
Packing cubes are great for storing clothes, but you can also use them for other items like toiletries, electronics, and even shoes. Get creative and use them to maximize space in your luggage. This is why packing cubes are definitely on our list of best vacation packing tips!
Roll Clothes To Maximize Luggage Space
Another one of our vacation packing tips is to roll clothes. If you don’t want to invest in cubes, another way to maximize space in your luggage is to roll your clothes instead of folding them. When you fold clothes, they take up more space than when they’re rolled.
However, folded clothes tend to be bulky and uneven, while rolled clothes are much more compact. This technique works exceptionally well for items such as shirts and slacks. Start by laying the garment flat on a bed or table.
Then, fold the arms in and roll the article of clothing from the bottom up. This method will save space, but it will also help prevent wrinkles.
Choose Clothes That Are Easy To Mix and Match
When packing for a long trip, it’s important to choose clothes that are easy to mix and match. This is definitely a must on our list of vacation packing tips.
This will save space in your suitcase and give you more outfit options. To start, select a few basic colors that go well together, such as black, white, navy, and gray. Then, add in a few accent colors to spice things up.
Once you have your color palette selected, choose a mix of clothing items, including shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, and shoes. Try to choose items you can dress up or down depending on the occasion.
For example, wear seamless leggings with a t-shirt and walking shoes during the day and dress them up with flats and a blazer in the evening.
By packing versatile clothing items, you’ll be able to create a variety of different looks with just a few pieces.
Choose Wrinkle-Free Clothes
Last on our list of vacation packing tips, you want to make sure you have a versatile wardrobe that will be comfortable in various settings, but you also don’t want to spend your entire vacation ironing.
A good solution is to choose wrinkle-free fabrics such as polyester or nylon. These materials are easy to care for and won’t require any special treatment to keep them looking neat. Another advantage of wrinkle-free fabrics is that they take up less space in your suitcase, leaving more room for other essentials.
Final Thoughts – Are You Ready?
After reading some of these vacation packing tips, are you ready for your vacation? The more organized that you pack now, the less you’ll have to worry about unpacking when you get home. Whether you choose to roll your clothes or use packing cubes, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Don’t forget to pack a few healthy snacks and bring a refillable water container, too! This will have you feeling good both in and out of the airport. Also, remember to choose a few staple items that go well together and stick with them instead of randomly tossing clothes into your suitcase. We’ve all been there, it never turns out well!
Lastly, we hope you find these vacation packing tips helpful and that it makes packing for your next long trip a little bit easier. Bon voyage!
