Pack the Perfect Suitcase

packing-a-suitcase

Try this today

• Check the weather for your destination and make a list of the activities you’ve planned. Palepu recommends beginning to pack a full seven days before your trip.  
• Gather everything you need a week before your trip and then think carefully about what you can leave behind.
• Fold or roll your clothes, leaving what you’ll need first on top. Use every bit of space — tucking socks into shoes and packing them heel to toe at the bottom of the bag. 
• Some travel experts recommend the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” rule for a weeklong trip: 5 sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat. Obviously, beach trips and business trips require their own kinds of suits. 
• Use sealable bags for shoes (three pairs or less!) and others for toiletries. Newspaper bags and shower caps make great shoe bags.
• If you are taking toiletries in a carry-on bag, don’t forget to use a clear plastic bag and put them on top of your bag to avoid digging through your suitcase in security. Make sure any liquids are small enough to fit airport regulations. Consider keeping a packed Dopp kit with travel-sized toiletries and essentials like contact solution (if you need it), toothbrush and deodorant.

Why

If packing is one of your least favorite parts about taking a trip, you’re not alone. Americans report that packing is one of the most stressful aspects of travel — one survey by Wyndham Vacation Rentals found that half of the respondents said they would give up alcohol for a month or social media for a week in order to skip packing. (The survey didn’t say whether they would be willing to give up that alcohol on their vacations.)

 

Packing anxiety comes from the fear of not having what you need or want on your trip, but practicing proper packing can actually be a great problem-solving experience. You’ll use your brain power to analyze your activities and the weather, decide what you really need and then fold your clothes with origami-like precision. An added bonus: Fitting everything in a carry-on sized suitcase can save you a lot of money on some airlines.

 

Challenge yourself to leave behind the “just-in-case” items and don’t be tempted to bring as much as you are allowed, recommends packing guru Hitha Palepu, author of How to Pack Smart for Any Trip. Thinking ahead with a specific goal in mind – like smart packing — can solve problems before they happen on vacation.