As we approach the holiday season, you may be dusting off your suitcase in preparation for your next adventure. Packing to go away should be exciting, it is part of the anticipation – but for many, it is tiresome and feels like a chore. Nobody wants to arrive at their destination and realise they’ve forgotten an essential item, plus it can be a challenge deciding what to pack and how to fit it all in your case!
We spoke to Marie Bateson, APDO’S Volunteers Director and founder of Cut the Clutter, who shares her top suitcase packing tips to make packing an exciting experience.
- Start early, do not leave it till the night before and have a list.
- Lay everything out on the bed that you intend to take. Then reduce it! We always take too much, so consider the type of holiday you are going on. Is it a sun, ski or walking holiday? These all require very different items.
- Do not fold your clothes but try rolling them, they are generally not as likely to crease if you pack them this way. Delicates would be the exception and a combination of rolled and folded is also usual.
- Store underwear or small items in shoes.
- If you are going to be living out of a case, use lightweight bags and pouches. They allow you to separate categories and find things easily. You can also use them for the laundry to keep them together once worn. I like the fact that you don’t have to root to the bottom of the case to find things.
- I would suggest decanting products into small containers, rather than taking large bottles of things like shampoo and moisturiser. Or you could take travel sizes.
- Keep footwear around the outer edges of your suitcase as this gives a bit of strength to the body of the case if it is not a hard body shell. They do get thrown around a bit! If there is a risk of polish transferring to clothes or you have jewels on them, you could consider putting them in little bags first.
- Use a jewellery roll or a small travel box for your jewellery. There is nothing worse than tangled chains.
- Wrap anything delicate in clothes or beach towels.
- Get inexpensive glasses cases for your sunglasses if you don’t have a case.
- Use a tablet separator with days of the week on and fill it in advance, rather than taking multiple tablet and vitamin supplement tubs.
- If your suitcase is a standard size and colour – attach something to the handle of your case so you can recognise it on the conveyor belt, and ensure there is an address label.