Packing is pivotal. Forget an essential item and you're left
disappointed and scrambling to find the nearest store in your
destination. Pack too much and you end up disorganized, burdened with
heavy bags, and hemorrhaging money to pay for pricey airline baggage
fees. So we thought it best to revisit the most basic—and most
useful—packing rules.
1. Roll, don't fold.
Many
travel experts—including backpackers, who must stuff months' worth of
clothing into a pack the size of a box of wine—agree that rolling is
superior to folding. Tightly rolled clothes take up less space than
folded ones. Plus, they're less prone to getting deep wrinkles from fold
creases.
2. Make a packing list
When it comes to
packing, procrastinators fall short. Start your packing process days or
even weeks ahead of your departure date; this gives you time to craft a
complete list, plus purchase any additional items you might need for
your vacation. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that
you never, ever forget to bring something important.
3. Know your airline's baggage-fee policy
Figuring
out the airlines' tricky and befuddling baggage-fee policies is key to
any budget-minded packing strategy. While most airlines permit travelers
to check at least one bag on international flights, the majority of
U.S. carriers charge big bucks for bags checked on domestic flights.
4. Use your personal item wisely
It's
standard for airlines to permit each traveler to bring one carry-on bag
and one personal item onboard planes. This personal item is subject to
specific size requirements (these vary by airline), but something like a
purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable.
5. Wash your clothes on the road
Laundry
facilities are one of my favorite parts about staying in vacation
rentals. If you know your accommodations will have free laundry
facilities, you're golden. You can wash and wear just a handful of
outfits for the duration of even very long trips.
6. Pack dual-purpose garments
If
it's two-in-one, it's one less thing to pack. Dual-purpose items, such
as pants that turn into shorts or a jacket that turns into a travel
pillow are worth their weight in airline baggage fees.
