Guest Blogger: Holiday Packing Tips to Help you Fit More & Forget Less

 Guest Blogger #246, Entry #749, November 8, 2011

Traveling is awesome, isn’t it? The prospect of visiting a new place and discovering what it has to offer you is enough to get anyone all excited and raring to go. However, before you hop on that plane, there is the not-so-small matter of packing. No matter how much you have to bring with you, packing is always a not-so-pleasant choice. There is no going around it, though. Packing properly can save you a lot of headache during your trip. As much as I dislike packing, I have learned a lot about it, albeit the hard way. Allow me to share some of the most effective packing tips I have learned thanks to that thing called experience.

Check the regulations as to how many bags are allowed

Knowledge is power

At least when it comes to airline rules and such. I still remember having to move around clothes, spreading them between bags just so we could take the bags as hand carry luggage. The reason? I didn’t think to double check the regulations. I thought I knew the limit, but they had just changed rules in the month prior to my trip. The moral of the story: always check the rules.

Having the right suitcase is key

Even occasional travelers ought to have more than one travel bag. For long haul flights where you need to check in luggage, a sturdy suitcase is a good idea. It is a cliche, but even with suitcases, you get what you pay for. No need to get a flashy designer model, but a good suitcase can keep your things well protected. For flights where you only need cabin luggage, choose a travel bag that is made of light but sturdy material. The weight limit is very strict, and you want your clothes and things to make up the bulk of that weight – not your bag.

How and what to pack?

Image via: Flickr

To fold or to roll?

People will swear by their own packing methods, and I am no different. I highly suggest that you figure out which way of packing your clothes works best for you, but for me, rolling gets a lot more in a suitcase. This is particularly effective for me as most of the clothes I pack are pack and wear – just shake them loose upon arrival, hang them, and they’re ready to go. Rolling the clothes into little tubes free up considerable space, and make unpacking easy as well.

Consider having laundry done during the trip.

If you are spending more than a week at your destination, it might be better to consider having laundry done instead of packing enough clothes to last the entire duration of the trip. This will make packing an easier task, and you will not even have to worry about going over the weight limit at the airport. Packing should not be such a tedious task if you think about how doing it properly can prevent problems later on. Oh, and before I forget, some say packing lists are overrated, but trust me, they can save your butt!

‘Noemi is the community manager at Blogsearchengine.com a web portal that features various blogs from all over the internet. It’s the perfect place to promote your blog’

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