Travel Hacks That Will Change The Way You Pack

Here is our favourite and most useful pieces of packing advice:

Pack a Backpack

"If you're looking to travel light, a backpack suitcase is the way to go!" It's an excellent way to go if you like to streamline and avoid baggage claim like I do. Much lighter and more manageable. I can even leave it hanging on a restroom stall hook without fear of it being stolen!"

Packing Cubes: Make Your Own

"For packing, use 2.5-gallon resealable bags. Use one bag for clothing of the same sort or for each day's outfit. Sit on the bag to expel all excess air before properly sealing; it's a tenth of the cost of 'official' packing bags." 

Keep a Record of Your Prescriptions

"Keep an important set of all prescription drugs in a second handbag or carry-on when travelling outside of the country in case one is lost or forgotten." 

Make the Most of Your Partner's Bag

"In the event that your luggage is stolen or delayed, put an outfit of your own in your travel companion's suitcase." 

Carry a Healthy Snack

"Keep some form of light, dry food in your bag at all times." With the addition of hot water from the coffee machine, instant oatmeal may save the day in a hotel room. Nuts and dried fruits can also be useful." 

Prepare Ahead of Time

"About three weeks before a vacation, I start putting together 'possible' clothes/shoes/accessories. Put them in a closet in the spare room or a corner of your closet. When it's time to finish the final pack, you'll have everything you need in one spot. You can then easily choose what you want to take." 

How to Make a Padded Hanger

"Actually, this is an unpacking tip." Take a hand towel, fold it in thirds lengthwise, and lay it back to front over a hanger if you have a delicate fabric shirt or sweater that needs to be hung (like a shawl). Presto! "It's a padded hanger right now."

Simplify the Children's Clothes

"Collect the children's daily outfits and place them in Ziploc bags so that all they have to do to get ready each day is grab a bagged outfit."

Door Décor in a Box

"When I go on a cruise and all the rooms in the halls seem the same, I put a bow or a balloon on the door of my room to make it easier to find." When I exit the lobby, I simply look right and left to observe the bright decorating down the hallway."

Bring the Bling!

"Rather than carrying an extra outfit you'll just wear for a few hours, bring one little item of affordable jewellery or a scarf to spice up a travel outfit for a good supper."

Always Carry an Eco-friendly Bags

"If you're going shopping in Hawaii, bring a cloth bag; plastic bags are prohibited."

Carry a Poncho

"Rain ponchos eliminate the need for umbrellas. They keep me from getting wetter than umbrellas. They're from the dollar store. Two for the price of one! It has no weight and takes up no space. It dries in the hotel room, but it doesn't fold up nicely once opened, so I leave it at home while packing. In any case, the quality is disposable quality. They're fantastic for travel."

Make a Plan for your Outfits and take Photos

"Before you go on a trip, take images of the outfit combinations on your phone. It will help you save your time and space in your travel bag."

Double-pack

Pack everything you can't live without first, then delete 50–75 percent of what you thought you couldn't live without.

Use a Glasses Case to Store Jewelry

Pack jewels in an eyeglass hard case. Cases are tiny and easy to transport, and they protect valuables well. It's also simple to locate the jewellery you want.

Minimize Your Toiletries

My husband and I enjoy travelling from one place to the next. As a result, for a single vacation, we stay in different hotels. I bring a flat plastic foldable bag (mine came with my luggage) that has numerous pockets and hangs up to save time and space while packing and unpacking. I fill it with'samples' of toiletries, makeup, and even sample-size shampoo, hairspray, and conditioner from my hairdresser. Then I just hang it in the restroom when we get there. Voila. When we leave, I just fold it up and place it in my suitcase.