Travel Like a Pro: 10 Packing Tips

Travel Like a Pro: 10 Packing Tips

• Get rid of the excess

          “Plan your outfits ahead of time so that you're bringing exactly what you                                           need and nothing extra. People always pack too many shoes. In the summer, I pack                     my running shoes, a pair of dressy sandals to wear at night, a pair of casual sandals                     that I can wear all day and double as beach shoes, and then I wear sneakers on the                       plane. No one ever had a better trip because they brought more pairs of shoes.

            

• Keep ‘travel kits’ at the ready

           “The key to making sure you have everything you need, as well as making sure you're not                        bringing extra crap that weighs you down, is maintaining what I call ‘travel kits.’ I have a small            sleep kit for long flights with things like ear plugs and an eye mask, a tech kit for all the small do- dads, and a toiletry kit. Keeping these items well-stocked means that all I have to do is throw those plus the appropriate clothes/gear—in a bag, and I'm out the door.”

• Consider how you hang and fold clothes

“The way you hang and fold your clothes when packing will make all the difference when you get to your destination. Hook & Albert’s Garment Weekender Bag offers garment-first functionality in a high-quality, fashionable piece. We spend the time to make sure your most delicate items are given the proper attention and care that they deserve along your journey.”

• Make a packing list

When it comes to packing, procrastinators fall short. Start your packing process days or even weeks ahead of your departure date; this gives you time to craft a complete list, plus purchase any additional items you might need for your vacation. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that you never, ever forget to bring something important.

• Never check essential items

It's terribly important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you. We probably don't need to tell you why you need to keep your passport and wallet on your person. But if the airline loses your luggage (or if a TSA agent gets sticky fingers), you'll regret stowing your expensive watch in a checked bag.

• Choose Travel Friendly Fabrics

Our Textiles Lab pros always recommend opting for knits and stretchy fabrics (like these Amazon Essentials t-shirts made with spandex). Even when these fabrics wrinkle, the creases will fall out when you hang them up. Woven fabrics (like linen or cotton twill) are more prone to wrinkling.

• Place Heavy Items At the Base

           Keep weightier things like shoes and books by the wheeled end of your suitcase. This placement helps your bag stay stable when upright, and stops other items from getting smushed. (GH experts like Away’s The Carry-On — it topped our Lab’s recent luggage test and has a 100-day trial period.)

• Layer plastic dry cleaning bags between clothes

The next time you pick up your dry cleaning, save the plastic bags. You can use them to protect delicate items from accidental pulls by layering them between your clothes. They help your clothing slide (not snag) when your bag gets jostled (and they help reduce wrinkling!).

• Avoid over or under packing

While you might be tempted to leave space for souvenirs, extra room means items can shift and crumple or break. Fill empty spaces with dry cleaner bags (and fill them later with mementos from your trip). It’s important not to over-pack either (especially if you’re only bringing a carry-on), since that’s a surefire way to create crease marks and can make it extra tricky to repack when you're going home — or heading off to another spot.

• Keep important medication in your purse

Even if you plan to carry on your bag, there's still a risk you could have to check it at the gate. If your meds are in your purse, you’ll have what you need even if the overhead bin space fills up and you end up having to check your bag.

#Travel India With Uncle Travels