Did you know that you can store your bags with a luggage storage facility in San Francisco if you arrive early or are leaving late? Did you know that you may be able to avoid baggage fees, depending on what credit cards you use?
There’s a lot about luggage that you probably don’t know! That includes how to pack your luggage so it causes the least amount of stress possible.
Bag Packing Tips That Are Perfect for Your Next Vacation
Leave Extra Space in Your Bags
When you’re packing, you’re probably tempted to pack as many things inside your bag as you can. After all, it’s better to have something and not need it if you’ve got the space for it anyway.
That’s actually not the case. It’s much better to pack only what you need, leaving a little extra room in your luggage.
Not only does having a little extra space prevent you from trying to repack everything perfectly when it’s time to return home, but it also ensures you have extra room for souvenirs. When you save room in your bag, you can avoid having to pay to check another bag full of your vacation finds when you return home, and it prevents you from having to pay exorbitant fees to have your items shipped to your house.
Tuesday’s Travel Essentials: My New Backpack – The BackLight®18L From Mindshift Gear
Swap out Your Liquids for Solids
It’s normal for travelers to pack at least a few toiletries. It can be dangerous to rely on the hotel for your beauty and skin care routine. You don’t want to have to go shopping the second you land either.
Unfortunately, all those liquids can cause more trouble than they’re worth. Not only are there limits on the amount of liquids you can take in your carry on, but you also risk a leak that can ruin everything inside your luggage.
Swap out your liquid toiletries for solids instead. A few toiletries that can be purchased in solid form include:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Facial cleansers
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Lotion
Bag Packing Tips That Are Perfect for Your Next Vacation
Use Compression Bags
Whether you’re having trouble fitting everything into your bag or you’re looking for a way to free up a little space for souvenirs, compression bags can really help.
Soft items, like clothing, can be compressed down to a fraction of their normal size, freeing up a lot of room in your luggage. Hand rolling bags can provide you with a little extra space, but if you really want your belongings to take up as little space as possible, choose a vacuum bag and bring along a handheld vacuum for the return home. It also helps you to save cost on keeping your luggage at stasher luggage storage.
They can also help you find room for items you normally wouldn’t bring, like a favorite pillow or blanket.
Compression cubes can also be helpful. Although they won’t save you quite as much space as compression bags, they can be squashed to save a little room. They also give you the ability to organize your luggage, which is great if you want to keep liquids separated from clothing, or if you’re sharing a bag with a family member.
Roll, Don’t Fold
Another option besides using compression bags is learning how to roll instead of folding your clothes. You can actually get many more pieces of clothing in your luggage if you roll them instead of folding them like you would to place them in a drawer at home.
There is a trick to rolling your clothing, not only to save space but also to avoid wrinkles. Rolling bulky items like jeans and jackets can save you a lot of space, in addition to rolling your T-shirts.
Get Creative
You don’t want a square inch of space to go unused when you pack your suitcase. Not only does effective packing ensure you can bring everything you need, but it also ensures you have enough room for souvenirs for your return home. There are a few creative tricks you can use to free up room in your luggage.
Packing shoes in a suitcase is always a challenge, but you can make the most of it by rolling up items like socks and underwear and storing them inside your shoes.
If you like to wear belts, they can be rolled up and placed inside the collars of button up shirts. This is an especially effective tip for business travelers.
Don’t spend all of your time worrying about your luggage when you should be excited about your destination! Make sure you have room for everything you need, plus room to spare, by following the tips on this list while you’re packing.