10 Travel Packing Hacks
Who loves packing for a trip? Maybe I am just speaking for myself, but I wish my packing could magically happen for me to squeeze everything I need in my suitcase and carry-on luggage. Since we travel so often, I thought I would share packing hacks as reminders or suggestions to try for your next trip.
1. Create a Travel Checklist
I highly recommend you to create a travel checklist to reference after you packed everything to make sure you are not missing anything. Will and I have a list we created in an Evernote document that we reference. If you do not have one, you can easily create your own or reference travel lists from sites like Flight 001 Travel Checklist or Travel Checklist.
2. Compact Your Clothes
You want to make sure you use up as much space in your suitcase as you can and you have to find a way to compact your clothes. We currently use packing cubes similar to these TravelWise Packing Cube System on Amazon. We used to use something like these Ziploc Vacuum Seal Clear Storage Bags, but I found them to wrinkly my clothes and be tacky to pack as it would suck out all the air and be in an odd shaping around my clothes. Some people also suggest rolling your clothes instead of folding it and I personally still stick to folding it as it is easier for me. Another tip is to use dryer sheets when you pack your clothes to keep it staying fresh, especially for longer trips.
3. Pack Your Own Utensils & Thermos
When we travel, we love going to local grocery stores and when we pack our own utensils, it makes it easier for us to eat breakfast in our hotel or snacks on the go. A thermos is also best used to keep hydrated when you are traveling to refill your water when you have it available at your hotel.
4. Bring Extra Bags
You will thank yourself during the emergencies when you need an extra bag. When we travel, I always make sure to pack grocery totes (shopping), ziploc/plastic bags (anything wet, souvenirs), and a laundry bag (dirty clothes). It comes in handy as a safe than sorry situation to be well-prepared.
5. Organize Your Wires
How many tech things do you bring that need to be charged? For us, we have iPhones, iPads, tablets, headphones, extension cords, portable phone charger, and more. The best way to organize them are with some kind of taco cord. Will received American Airlines cord organizers from a travel expo he attended and they are great!
6. Bring an Emergency Kit
Ever since we got food poison on a trip in Dubai, we always carry a custom emergency kit. Our current kit includes:
- Emergen-C
- Hydration Tablet
- Immodium
- Ginger Candy
- Band-Aid
7. Pack by Outfits
I typically pack my clothes by pre-planning what I am doing each day and decide what I want to wear in advance. Then, I pack extra outfits to be able to change into if it is hot weather or change to a fancy dinner outfit. This saves so much time when I am actually on the trip to not have to worry what I am wearing and just pick an outfit already pre-packed.
8. Pre-Pack Travel Essentials
Once you travel more, you will realize there are essentials that you always pack with you. Recently, I bought a hanging travel organizer from the Vera Bradley Outlet store in Florida. It is similar to the Iconic Hanging Travel Organizer (shown left) It is great to organize the travel essentials I typically leave in here for my trips including Q-Tips, lotion, bobby pins, hair scrunchies, tweezer, nail clipper, scissors, sewing kit, spare contacts, travel toothbrush and toothpaste, travel comb/brush, and spare floss. Other essentials, I pack in here before the trip are facial moisturizer, deodorant, and jewelry.
