Take several small bags – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Packing for a short (i.e., a week or less) spontaneous trip? Here are a few tips to help you out:

  • Pack a train case with your cosmetic, hygienic and medical necessities. The train case is the first thing you should pack. You do not want to forget any medication or toiletries.
  • Pack a small suitcase or duffel bag with a couple key items of clothing such as jeans or leggings that can be interchanged with multiple shirts.
  • Stuff a tote bag with books or magazines, a bottle of water and snacks so you won’t suffer from boredom.

Putting your items in separate bags allows you to grab what you need when you need it, and it makes packing the car (or living out of a small room) much simpler.

Pack garbage bags – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Many people who drive a small vehicle on vacation have found that the trunks of those vehicles will not accommodate more than one suitcase. Therefore, I pack my clothes in garbage bags rather than my suitcase.

It’s easy to arrange this soft package around some of the other, more rigid contents of my trunk. In addition to avoiding putting my clothes in suitcases, I also don’t pack my shoes in my suitcase but leave them free to be put between my other items.

Zip your panties – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

No need to buy fancy vacuum-packed bags for space-saving packing. Use one gallon-sized Ziploc bag for underwear, another for bras, and another for socks.

Fold (or roll) the items and put them in the bags (I can fit a week’s worth of each in one bag). When all items are in the bag, squeeze to force the air out, and zip it.

I put these in the lid portion of my suitcase, so security sees the bags clearly if they open my suitcase. Of course, an added benefit is that my things take up much less room than they otherwise would.

Wear (or carry) heavier items – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

Airlines find any excuse to charge extra fees. Not only do extra luggage fees now apply, but if the one piece of luggage you are checking is even slightly overweight, you can expect a hefty fee for that, as well. A quick review of your airline’s rules may save you fees prior to boarding. How to avoid fees all together?

  1. Wear your heaviest clothes such boots, coat, or sweater onto the plane.
  2. Carry your extra shoes or coat in your carry-on.
  3. Trade in your heavy-duty luggage (which can weigh up to 18 lbs) for a lighter, but durable, piece of nylon luggage instead.

Applying these tips could free up as much as 25 pounds in your suitcase!

Don’t unpack – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

If you are ever staying in a hotel room for less than a week you should never unpack. Yes, living out of a suitcase can be a hassle, but it also ensures you won’t leave something behind.

I’ll never again see that Transformer™ I left in the Paducah, KY hotel room when I was 11. I’ll also never see my favorite t-shirt, that comfy sweatshirt, or that old pair of jeans that were left in New Jersey in 2000.

I’ll never see them because I broke a cardinal rule of a short-term hotel stay: I unpacked.