Pack Your Suitcase for Vacation: Space-Saving Tips and Tricks That Not Everyone Knows!

The travel season is here. Are you traveling soon? Do you think how to pack your suitcase for vacation? Here we give you some tips and tricks on how to pack your luggage in a space-saving way to make your trip easier.

A holiday trip should be a relaxing experience, but the preparation can be stressful. It can be a hassle when it comes to packing your suitcase for vacation. How to pack a suitcase, what you should and shouldn’t take with you, sometimes it’s stressful and hectic and you run the risk of forgetting something or having difficulties packing if you don’t know exactly how to pack your suitcase properly. Of course, there are many tips to help you so that you can enjoy the trip and experience it as stress-free as possible. Continue reading!

Take a Suitcase of the Appropriate Size

How to pack a suitcase and how big should it be? If you pack a vacation suitcase that is too big, you run the risk of packing excess things. This makes your trip more difficult because you take things with you that you don’t need. Think about how long you’ll be traveling and choose a suitably sized suitcase so you’re not tempted to pack all those unnecessary extras.

Don’t take a suitcase that’s too small, though, because you’ll have trouble packing everything you need. If you’re really not sure what size suitcase you need, collect all the necessary items listed in a packing list and use that as a guide for the size of your suitcase!

Be Aware of Your Airline’s Weight Restrictions

Once you’ve packed the suitcase, weigh it with a hand scale to ensure the weight meets your airline’s weight limit. If the suitcase is heavier, think again about what you don’t need and remove excess items from the suitcase.

Check What Is Included at Your Holiday Destination

Before you start packing, check what’s included in your resort. If you use all inclusive then usually more things are included in the room and you have to cross these things off your packing list. For example, towels, or beach towels, shampoo, body lotion, soap and even toothbrushes are often included. Therefore, find out what is included in these inclusive services.

Pack Your Suitcase for Vacation: Prepare a Packing List

Think twice about what you want to pack in your bag. Taking the time to make a packing list a week or two before you travel is one of the best packing tips to ensure you don’t forget anything. You can create your own packing list before your vacation. Give yourself enough time to think it over. There are also plenty of packing lists on the internet that make packing less stressful. The packing list allows you to determine what to pack for a specific destination and in what quantity.

Collect Everything and Divide It into Categories

Gather everything you need to fit in your bag and organize it into categories: clothing (divided into shoes, tops, pants, jackets, outerwear, underwear and accessories), toiletries, electronic devices and other equipment. In this way you will have a neat bag and everything is in its place.

Pack Your Suitcase to Save Space: Roll Your Clothes

When you roll your clothes instead of folding them, you get two benefits: you maximize space and minimize wrinkles. This way of packing also helps you keep your suitcase tidy. What can you roll? Underwear, T-shirts, jeans, cotton pants, and knitwear are suitable as they do not crease when rolled tightly. Carefully wrap each garment around a central core, with underwear and T-shirts in the middle of the suitcase and large, tailored garments like blazers and dresses forming the outer layer.

Pack Travel-Friendly Fabrics

If possible, choose knits, wool and cotton fabrics, as these fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and versatile. Wrinkle-resistant fabrics are convenient when you’re traveling and don’t have time to iron. Some items of clothing can be used twice. If you have a long trip ahead of you, look for fabrics that resist odor and dry quickly so you can wear them multiple times and wash them in the hotel sink.

Packing Cubes Make Life Easier

A messy bag can ruin the desire to travel, which is why it’s a good idea to invest in packing cubes or compression packing cubes. These smaller pouches help you keep your clothes compact and organize your outfits. With packing cubes, packing is much easier and your suitcase is more organized. Packing cubes are really space savers, they compress your clothes and fit better in one compartment of a suitcase. Packing cubes also keep your clothes in better condition (less wrinkles, dry and clean) during travel, so you have less stress while you are on vacation and want to have fun instead of ironing clothes.

Pack Your Suitcase in Layers for Your Vacation

If you want to make the trip easier, pack the clothes you need first at the top of your suitcase. In this way you avoid having to empty the whole suitcase when you need something. This also saves a lot of time. Think carefully about which outfits you need first and pack carefully in layers and you will always know what is in the case and where.

Pack Toiletries Separately

Experts recommend having a separate toiletry kit for travel. Toiletries should always be kept on top of the suitcase in a clear bag, because you never know when air traffic control might want to check them. A pre-packed set of toiletries will ensure you don’t forget a toothbrush or contact lens case. To prevent leakage, you should double the plastic bag. When packing these items, try to buy travel-size products that will last for your entire trip. Smaller products are easier to pack and save space in the suitcase. If you want to pack less, get products with 2-in-1 functions, like shampoo and conditioner.

How You Should Pack Liquids?

Airlines are usually very strict with their rules for liquids on flights. As a rule, you can only carry items in a clear plastic bag in your carry-on baggage. Bottled liquids over 33 oz/1L must be carried in checked baggage. Follow these guidelines to avoid potential delays.

To prevent liquids from being spilled, you may place any liquids in your checked baggage in a sealed plastic bag. Place these at the top or sides of your suitcase for easy access should you need them.

Pack Shoes in Re-Sealable Bags

Packing can be neat and tidy if you put your shoes in a resealable bag instead of just putting them in your suitcase with your clean clothes. This is useful if you plan to go hiking or take long walks during your vacation and your shoes will get dirty. Pack two or three pairs of shoes for different occasions. Sneakers for travel days, sandals to wear to the beach or with casual outfits, and nice sandals or heel for chic outfits.

Keep your shoes at the bottom of your luggage. Also, pack a few extra bags for later. They will also be helpful for wet swimwear or other items you don’t want to mix with your clean clothes. It is best to pack your shoes in a different section of your suitcase than your clothes. Most hard sided suitcases have two separate compartments so you can do this.

Try to put the shoes on their side so they take up as little space as possible, and remember to stuff smaller items like jewelry, underwear, and socks in the shoes. This saves space in the suitcase.

How to Pack Fragile and Delicate Items?

You must pack fragile items securely. Wrap them in thick, sturdy clothing and place them in the center of your bag. The clothing serves as a buffer. If you are taking liquor bottles with you, secure them to the lower middle of the suitcase. If you have beach towels, this would be a good place to use them as a buffer.

In addition, everything that is delicate, such as formal wear or garments with fragile trimmings, should be placed on top so it doesn’t get squashed. Consider protecting these items even more in a compact garment bag that fits in your baggage.