An topic over on the Holiday Truths forum caught our eye about the way in which people prepare for their holiday – and particularly who gets the all important job of packing the suitcase.
Now for some – like me – packing would be made a lot easier if it was simply a case of chucking everything in and slamming it shut, but that’s also something that would be grounds for divorce.
So we decided to put together some top tips to help you avoid World War Three, and to make sure that packing the case doesn’t become an issue…
1: Prepare
It might sound stupid, but have a think about what you need before you start. Make a list if it helps or lay out everything on the bed before you start you start to pack so that you can see if you’ve missed anything.
There’s nothing worse than closing the case and then hearing the dreaded ‘Have you got this?’ and you can’t answer…
2: Cut the creases
You’ll see that quite a lot of hotels offer irons in the rooms but lets be honest, the last thing you want to do when you arrive on your holidays is to start with the kind of jobs you’ve happily left behind at home.
So try rolling your clothes before packing – it’ll reduce the creases and also leave you more space. Using vacuum packs could also increase the space available – and also prevent against spillages…
3: Split things up
If you’ve got two cases then don’t just pack all of your belongings in one and all of your partners in another. Hopefully you’ll not have to worry about losing a case en-route, but if the worst was to happen splitting your stuff between the two means you’ll always have something to change into.
4: Travel heavy
If you’ve got something heavy that you’re taking with you, even if it’s just a pair of shoes, then travel in it. That way you don’t take up valuable weight in your case.
5: Consider what you need first
Have a think about what you plan to do when you arrive at your end destination. If the plan is to head straight for the pool, then there’s no point putting your cossie and towel right at the bottom of the case…
6: Don’t go full
You might want to try and cram everything in before you go, but bear in mind that you might want to then bring some gifts back – and you’ll need to put it somewhere…
7: Watch those liquids
You can’t take liquids in your hand luggage but at the same time, you need to make sure they’re safe in your case. Avoid getting shower gel or sun cream over your clothes by investing in some ziplock bags that seal them away just in case of an accident. You might also want to consider leaving toiletries at home and just buying at the airport on arrival.
8: Keep the important things to hand
Obviously you need to have your passport on you rather than in your luggage, but if you have other important documents to take with you – such as insurance forms – then have them in your hand luggage where you can easily access them.
9: Stand out from the crowd
We’ve all done it. Got to the airport and wonder who has the suitcase covered in bright pink and yellow stickers. But you saw it didn’t you? Do something to make your case stand out from the crowd and then when you get to the baggage carousel you won’t be stood trying to work out which plain black case is yours.
10: Get some scales
It doesn’t cost much to pick up a set of scales that you can use to weigh your luggage – it’ll save you money at the airport if you know your case isn’t too heavy. At the same time, make sure you know what your luggage allowance is so you don’t pick up costly charges.