Tips for packing your travel luggage

Packing for holidays can be the stuff of nightmares, from stringent baggage allowance to the stresses of deciding what to pack. With many airlines offering cheaper flights with just carry on baggage, it can seem like a good option, and on the plus side, you won't have to wait for your baggage to come when you land. However, packing light can come with its own challenges and requires some skill. So here we are with some tips to help you pack light and fit all your pressure items into a bag that can fit into an overhead locker!

Photo by Erwan Hesry

Bag Selection 

Select a suitcase that is lightweight and can maximise the space for clothes. Whilst hard suitcases are often ideal to protect the content of your bag, they often they add to your kilos, and are not necessarily ideal as a carry on if you are trying to maximise your kilos. Your best option is soft hand-held bags or a soft-sided material bag which will allow for more flexibility.Soft materials make it easier to adjust your packing needs without worrying about rigid limitations. After considering the advantages of soft hand-held bags and soft-sided material bags for their flexibility, it's crucial to choose the right size for your needs.

A soft shell cabin bag of 56x45x25cm size strikes the perfect balance between capacity and convenience, allowing you to pack efficiently for your journey without worrying about the weight restrictions of carry-on luggage. For shorter excursions, the more compact 40x30x15cm bag is a better option, while the mid-range 50x40x20cm bag is suitable for those on the verge of traveling, offering a spectrum of sizes that cater to varying travel needs.

Most airlines have size requirements for baggage or size expectations. The fines for having to check-in oversized baggage can be expensive so don’t get caught out! Here’s a list of the size restriction of some airlines:

British Airways: 56x45x25cm, Easy Jet: 56x45x25cm,Ryanair: 40x20x25cm, KLM: 55x35x25cm, Air France: 55x35x25 cm.

Make a clothing plan 

It is very easy to get carried away when packing things, we are often guilty of over packing outfits and shoes that never make it out of our suitcase. Shoes can be the most detrimental item in your bag when over-packed so be selective on what shoes you are packing.

Make a list to avoid packing unnecessary items, it's helpful to divide your clothing agenda to daytime wear and evening wear to ensure you have sufficient clothing for day time actives such as sightseeing, beach days or alfresco dining and equally for evening outings. Handy to make a list of each day and each outfit to avoid excess packing of clothes, shoes and bags.

Avoid packing unnecessary items and, remove items that are ‘just in case’ and keep that backlight!

 

Utilise toiletries in your hotel

If you're going on a short trip remove toiletries from your bag to make space and utilise toiletries in your hotel. Most hotels at the bare minimum will provide Soap and conditioner. And others may also include, vanity kits, toothpaste, creams, and just about anything else you want to order from the concierge, including hair straighteners.

Prioritise the items in your make up bag or shaving bag. Pick items that you really need or know you won't be able to get at your destination. Alternatively, you can buy items at boots in the airport, although you will probably be paying more for products then what you pay on the high street.

Utilise your second bag 

Most airlines will allow for a second handbag, laptop bag or camera bag. Place items, such as passport documents, delicate items such as jewellery and liquids in your second back where they are easily accessible, and leaving more space in your other bag for clothing essentials.

Photo by Yousef Alfuhigi

Packing technique

A packing technique is a key to maximising space and also protecting your clothing so they remain in good condition on arrival. Our favourite techniques include:

• Fold and Roll clothing to pack rather than folding. To save space and avoid creating your clothing.

• Alternatively vertically pack your clothing items which are compact and will offer the same saving on space.

• Roll your clothing into your suitcase.

• Pack items such as socks, underwear and jewellery into shoes to save space.

• Pouches are a good item to help compartmentalise your items in your suitcase. Pouches can be used to store charges, swimwear, make up items and other tech pieces.

• Keep liquids and documents in an accessible location.

Timing 

Pack ahead of time, don’t expect to cram everything in last minute and expect efficiency. Timing is everything, and also gives you time to think about what you are packing.

Happy stress-free packing…