Posted on Friday, 9 April 2021

When it comes to organising hotels, flights, hotel transfers, buses and/or trains, good planning can make for a more relaxing and enjoyable holiday. The same goes for your approach to packing for a holiday. So whether you like to pack a week in advance, or tend to do it the day before departure, these packing tips should leave you more time to enjoy your trip.

How to pack a suitcase

When it comes to packing your suitcase for your vacation do you think ‘it's time to pack – help!' and panic pack? Or are you more meticulous in your approach? Either way we all want to get the maximium benefit from our luggage allowance, and the space in our suitcase, so what are the best tips on how to pack a suitcase for your holiday? 

1. Roll don't fold

Rolling your clothes instead of folding them should drastically reduce creases and wrinkles.

2. Use vacuum compression bags

These clever bags will free up a good deal of extra space. They are particularly good to vacuum pack clothes such as bulkier garments like jackets, as well soft toys, and can double as laundry bags when it's time to come home.

3. Place heavier items at the bottom

The best way to pack a suitcase, if you're packing heavier items, is to place them at the base of your suitcase. This will reduce the amount of pressure on your clothes (fewer wrinkles), and it will lower the centre of gravity, making your suitcase less likely to fall over.

4. Pack a mini iron

Not alweays at the forefront of your mind when it comes to deciding what to pack for a holiday, a mini iron can be a real asset. 's impossible to eliminate wrinkles altogether, so consider packing a mini iron. They usually weigh around 750g (1.6lbs) so won't add too much extra weight. Being small, mini irons will take a while to flatten out larger garments, but they get the job done eventually.

5. Place your next garment at the top

If you know you'll be going out for dinner or a business meeting soon after you arrive, it's a good idea to place the clothes you want to wear at the top of the pile. This way, there will be less pressure on the garment, reducing wrinkles. It will also be a lot easier to access.

6. Don't over - or under pack

Overpacking will increase the creases (and make repacking tricky), while under packing will give clothes too much room to shift around and wrinkle-up.

Other things to consider when deciding what to pack for holiday

7. Buy non-wrinkle clothes

Certain fabrics - such as spandex - are less likely to crease in transit, so you might want to add a few of these garments to your wardrobe. Other low-wrinkle fabrics include wool, lyocell and polyester.

8. Gather all your lotions and potions

If you are only intending to take carry-on luggage with you on your vacation, and not putting your luggage into the hold, your liquids such as shampoo and moisturiser must not be stored in containers with capacity of over 100ml. So don't even think about packing that 125ml bottle of costly aftershave or perfume! Keep all your liquids separately in a clear bag so you can show them at the security gates without any fuss.

9. Keep medication on-hand

Carry any important medication in your hand luggage for easy access. Make sure any prescription medication is permitted in your destination country - you may need to carry a doctor's note or prescription to show security staff upon entry.

10. Pack a mini medical/first aid kit

Pack a mini med kit with things like plasters, iodine, stomach (diarrhea) medication, paracetamol and ear plugs. This way you won't need to navigate a foreign chemist to deal with minor ailments.

11. Dress for air-con chills enroute

Even though it may be 30 degrees at your destination, the plane cabin temperature is likely to be much cooler. As such, opt for trousers and long sleeves over shorts and t-shirts. Alternatively, you could pack a blanket to keep you warm (it can also double as a pillow when folded).

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