Everyone loves to travel but there are many steps you have to take before you actually get to the dream destination. Aside from booking everything, you have to pack. This will probably be the last thing you have to do before you get on a plane but no one really looks forward to it.
Whether you’re going on a month-long vacation or spending a few days on an island, I have some packing tips to help you out. These are things that I learned from my mom while traveling with my family and some other tips I learned on my own.
Don’t let this task scare you, approach it head on.
Start early
Packing is a daunting task so you will surely be tempted to put it off till the last minute. I always see many of my friends waiting until the day before they have to leave. Personally, I start early. Usually a week in advance. I do this to make sure that I don’t forget anything. Also, if the clothes I want to bring are in my suitcase, I won’t mistakenly wear it before I leave. Starting ahead of time will also make sure that everything is neat and organized.
Get organized
Speaking of organization, there are many products you can buy to help you with that. Using packing cubes is a great way to start. Spacetastic has many options to choose from. You can get shoe bags and smaller pouches too. With a set, you can segregate everything however you want like type of clothing. It also helps to have pouches for different things like makeup and toiletries. Available on Instagram.
Know the limits
I also never understood how some people could go overweight with their luggage. If you don’t mind paying the extra fee, go ahead. But, if you’re like me and you want stay within the limits, here’s what you can do. I have a portable luggage scale. So, before I leave for the airport, I always make sure to weigh my suitcase first. This is especially helpful for when you’re on your way back. If you’ve done some shopping, this will help you find out if you’re over your limit. If you are, rearrange some things around. Available on Zalora.
Extra extra
For when my luggage does happen to be overweight, I have a solution for that. I always make sure to pack a duffel bag. I just rearrange my suitcase and figure out what can fit in the duffel bag. Don’t forget to check that the size of the duffel bag passes for hand-carry.
Value your valuables
As much as possible, I try to keep valuables in my hand-carry, and not in my check-in luggage. Whether you use a backpack or small suitcase, keep important things with you like electronics and jewelry. So, if your luggage goes missing in transit, at least your valuables are with you. Oh, I also pack an extra set of clothes just in case.
Lock it up
Almost all luggage now have built-in locks, but I still take an extra step. It’s always good to put an extra one on the zipper tabs. Check that the one you get is TSA-approved, like this one, so they don’t break it if need be. Available online.
Edit, edit, edit
Personally, I tend to overpack. Not in the sense of going over the weight but bringing too much stuff. Since I start packing early, this also give me enough time to edit down what I set aside. A few days before leaving, I go through everything again and start pulling out some stuff I feel I won’t end up using.
Art by Marian Hukom
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