Packing can be stressful. Actually, it’s always stressful. From deciding what to wear, checking the weather, and then making sure it all fits in your allotted suitcases. As a frequent traveler, I’m sharing allll my best tips on packing for travel.
This guide to packing for travel is great whether you are packing in only carry on or a checked bag. These packing tips and tricks can be applied either way! Personally, I only ever do carry on so I have really learned to make the best use of the space I have.
Tips on Packing for Travel
After many flights around the world, in massive planes to tiny 10 passenger planes, I’ve mastered the art of packing light. If I do say so myself! Whether you need packing tips for carry on luggage or how to fit more in your checked bag. Here are my top tips on packing for travel that will make your life easier!
1. Get Organized
First and foremost, my number one tips for packing, you HAVE to be organized in order to pack light. I begin any packing situation with a list of outfits and necessities.
- First, check the weather at your destination
- Write out your activities by day and the expected weather
- Next, fill in the blanks with your outfit ideas
2. Plan to Rewear Items or Do Laundry During Your Trip
Next, look at that list you made and see where you can rewear things. Do you need 6 pairs of workout sets? No, plan to wash them! Can you make one pair of jeans work instead of 4? Nobody is going to see your outfit repeated except your travel partner. And nobody will know the difference in your photos.
Leisurely tip: I always like to wear dresses because it’s easy to throw on a complete look. You can wear a dress to dinner with heels and then dress it down with sneakers and a jean jacket to explore the next day. Get creative!
3. Have One Travel Outfit
This goes along with the previous tip, but you don’t need multiple different outfits for the airplane travel days. Plan to wear the same thing there and back home.
4. Wear Bulky Items
Speaking of your airplane outfit. Always try to wear bulky items. I’ve come real close to wearing my hiking boots on a plane before!
I always wear my tennis shoes on the plane since they take up the most room shoe wise. It’s more comfortable walking through big airports too, especially if you have to run to make a connection.
You can also carry a jacket, whether they make you put it on for boarding or not. It will save a ton of space!
5. Carry On Packing Cubes
Packing cubes for travel are a lifesaver for keeping your suitcase organized. They also help squeeze things in place. I highly recommend trying to see if it works for you! Bonus: your items will be tucked away nicely incase TSA needs to open you bag for any reason.
6. Try Rolling Your Clothes vs Folding
Everyone says to roll your clothes. It’s definitely worth a try and sometimes really helps. On the other hand, some items work better flat. You really have to try both ways to see what helps you most.
7. Use a Lightweight Suitcase with a Compression Pad
Make sure to use a lightweight suitcase. If you are checking a bag, you will be rewarded with more lbs to use for your clothing! If you carry on, it will be much easier for you to actually carry!
Mine has a great compression pad that really helps me maximize the space! The link below will give you $20 dollars off my suitcase 🙂
8. Take Advantage of Your Personal Item
Always take advantage of your personal item. Most airlines allow you to carry on 1 personal item and 1 carry on size luggage. My personal item is always a North Face backpack I’ve had since college. It fits so many things and is easy to put over my suitcase or on my back while going through airports. It always fits under the seat for me and is great to use while out exploring in a destination.
I usually fit a pair of shoes, makeup bag, toiletries bag, snacks, clutch, bose headphones, kindle, curling iron and my mini tripod. That is a TON of stuff!
9. Smart Shoe Choices
Shoes are always tough for me. The key is to find a few pairs that are neutral enough to go with most of your outfits. There’s no need to wear a different pair of shoes every day – none of the other tourists will notice or be impressed. I typically take a pair of white sneakers (they go with jeans or dresses), 1 sandal, 1 heel, and 1 tennis shoe for exercising. Versatility goes a long way.
10. Know Your Airline and TSA Requirements
A more technical tip, make sure you understand all of the requirements for TSA and your airlines. Your luggage sizes may work great for a domestic airline, but if you board a smaller plane to a remote island, it may not all fit.
11. Never Put Your Essentials or Meds in Your Checked Bag
This should be rule number one, really. If you have to have something, it needs to stay with you! It could be impossible to get life saving medicine in another country and certainly a headache to try!
12. Practice Packing in Advance
If I’m nervous about fitting things, I always practice packing my bag a week or so early. It’s much better to know what is going to fit so you aren’t stressed at the last minute. I’m usually so eager for a trip that I like to pack what I can early anyway. Call me crazy – this is actually pretty OCD of me.
13. Revert Back to Your List at the End
Finally, once you have packed your bags, revert back to your original list. Can you take another look and remove anything? I always find something I can take out. Honestly, I never wear half of what I pack for trips. Just like at home, I wear the same few things over and over!
Carry On Packing List
You are probably wondering what is okay to pack in carryon. Here are a few essentials to make sure you have in your carry on for any trip.
- Medicine
- Toiletries
- Tooth Brush
- Outfits
- Pajamas
- Shoes/socks
- Undergarments
- Jewelry
- Coat/Jacket
- Makeup
- Laptop/Tablet
- Liquids under 3oz.
Carry on Packing Cubes
I highly suggest trying out packing cubes for travel. I recommend starting with an inexpensive set to see what sizes you actually will use. Then, feel free to invest in a cuter, more personalized set!
The Best Suitcases: Tips on Packing for Travel
There are so many suitcases on the market these days. It’s hard to pick which one to use as you pack for trips. Be sure to consider these top things:
- Suitcase size
- Luggage weight
- Soft shell or hard shell
- Compression pad
- Easy to roll
- Will it get super dirty – (ie, white color suitcases)
Here are a few of my favorite choices on the market.
Carry on Luggage Sizing – Tips on Packing
For easy reference here is the typical sizing for luggage requirements. Be sure to check with your individual airline. For carry-on, you are allowed to bring one carry-on sized item and one personal item, free of charge.
- Carry On – baggage may not exceed 22″ x 14″ x 9″. There is no weight requirement! There is a limit of liquids, gels, aerosols. These must be kept to about 3oz and placed in a clear plastic bag.
- Personal Item – Must fit under the seat in front of you. Examples of personal items include: purse, laptop bag, camera bag, diaper bag, backpack.
- Checked Bag – Typically must be under 50lbs or 23kg total.
- Free Items to Carry On – in addition, you are allowed to carry on a jacket, duty-free merchandise, and special items like strollers, wheelchairs, child car seats.
Packing for Travel FAQ
Can you bring full size bottles in a checked bag?
Yes! You can pack full sized shampoo, toothpaste, soap or whatever it may be in your checked bags. Some people even carry alcohol in their checked luggage although there is a limit of 5 liters per person and must be under 70% alcohol by volume. The big concern here though is making sure it does not break or leak in your bag.
Is it better to roll or fold clothes in a suitcase?
Honestly, it depends! Sometimes you need to test both methods to see what works for your items and suitcase. I like to roll since I feel like it prevents wrinkles a little better.
How early is took early to pack for a trip?
It is never to early to stark packing for a trip! I mentally pack and start making a list months in advance. Then, I usually physically pack a week or so out to ensure all of my items will fit and then rethink if needed.
Safe Travels! and packing for trips 🙂
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