Pack your suitcase: Packing professionals ALWAYS follow these tips and tricks
At the latest when a big holiday is just around the corner and it is not enough to just throw two or three outfits in your hand luggage, we all ask ourselves how to pack well and correctly. The answer: The smartest way is with a checklist – and a lot of system. Our little guide:
Pack your bags: think first & write a list
Just throwing clothes in your suitcase at random is rarely a good idea when traveling. Before you start packing, you should first think about what you actually need on site: What is the weather like at the holiday destination? What activities are on holiday? How often do you have to change clothes? A chic boutique hotel may require a nice dress for dinner, but definitely sturdy shoes for hiking. It also makes sense to check the hotel well before you travel: if the accommodation has a hairdryer in the room, for example, you don’t have to bring your own, which in turn saves space. If you now write a list and check off everything in order, you can be sure that you really don’t forget anything important. Tip: You can find our suitcase checklists for beach, active holidays and city trips further down in the article.
Pack your suitcase correctly: the best tips
Before you start packing your suitcase for the holiday, all the clothing and things that are on the checklist should be laid out clearly – for example on the bed. And here we go:
1. Pack your suitcase in the right order
Heavy objects such as books or shoes always go at the bottom of the suitcase, light clothes or blouses at the top. Anyone who takes this packing technique to heart not only prevents crumpled outfits, but also saves space.
2. Roll clothes instead of folding them
Delicate fabrics such as silk or linen in particular quickly crease in the suitcase. But packing without wrinkles is possible: If you roll up your tops, trousers, etc. tightly instead of folding them, you prevent them from creasing. A nice side effect of rolling: The technology also saves space in your luggage for the holiday. For insensitive fabrics such as wool, vacuum bags or special panniers for clothing are a great help because they reduce the volume.
3. Pad shoes with socks
Do you store pairs of shoes in plastic bags? Not a good idea, because firstly shoes are quite bulky as a pair and secondly they dent more easily. There is a different way of packing optimally: We recommend always placing sneakers & co. individually in the suitcase. Then you should fold your socks together and use them or other small items to pad your shoes – not only does this make optimal use of the space in your luggage, but the shoes also keep their shape. Extra tip: Disposable shower caps (available in almost every hotel) are the perfect alternative to plastic bags as a hygienic cover for the soles of your shoes.
4. Store cosmetics safely and well
Spilled shower gel or perfume in your luggage is as annoying as it is unnecessary. But what reliably protects against this typical suitcase mishap? You are guaranteed to have the solution to the problem at home: cling film! Simply unscrew the cap from the shampoo or bottle, place some foil tightly over the opening and screw the cap back on. The foil is now guaranteed to keep the liquid where it belongs!
5. Don’t push yourself to the limit
Never pack your suitcase full, especially when you go on vacation. Anyone who scratches the permitted maximum weight on the outward journey and has problems closing it is guaranteed to pay excess baggage on the return journey, because one or the other souvenir always ends up in the suitcase. The alternative: Take a foldable, space-saving and light travel bag with you: You can fill it with holiday souvenirs if necessary and use it as hand luggage on the return journey.
Packing your suitcase made easy: tips from prominent travel professionals
Designer Alex Eagle, art director Julia Restoin Roitfeld and model Margherita Missoni have created a limited suitcase collection for the New York suitcase label Away – they shared their ultimate tips and tricks for packing your suitcase with us.
Designer Alex Eagle: