Solving the Packing Dilemma: A Quintessential Guide for Travellers

Date Publish: Jan 15, 2015

The trip that you waited for so long is almost here and of course, you're as giddy as a child on Christmas day. You have one dilemma, however—packing.

Let's face it; packing for a trip can be one tough challenge, especially if you're the type who doesn't want to leave a thing or two behind. But as much as you would love to take your entire home with you, there's the reality that you can only take so much on your trip or you'll end up suffering the consequences.

So, how exactly can you be better at packing for travel?

• Choose the right bag.

There are different types of bags for travelling—from the hefty luggage to the handy backpack—so you really need to choose well if you want to enjoy your trip. The rule for most travellers is to stick to one bag that will fit in the overhead compartment of an aeroplane. Find more tips for choosing the best travel bag for you here.

• Keep it as light as possible.

This tip might be too overused but it does hold a lot of truth—it really pays to pack light. To achieve this, you have to begin with changing your mindset about packing. Stop thinking that you need to bring everything because you can always wash or buy new ones while on the road. Truth is, most of the things that you usually pack, especially clothes, don't really end up being worn. So, bring only the essentials—a few shirts, a good pair of jeans, some shorts and of course, your undergarments. Ask your accommodation in advance about laundry rates or if there are any laundry shops they can recommend. You can also wash your clothes if allowed and if you really need new ones, there are always a lot of cheap finds wherever you go.

• Be a strategic packer.

One of the first steps to successful packing is learning how to organise your things. Keep a checklist of everything that you need—from your toothbrush to your whey protein powder -so you don't miss anything. Once you're done organising your things, try to edit them out depending on the length of your trip and the space that's available in your bag. It also pays to learn how to fold and roll your clothes properly so they don't take up as much space.

Packing doesn't really have to pain. Instead of focusing too much on deciding what to bring, you can spend time researching about bed and breakfasts or sticking to your regular whey protein powder intake so you can get ready for your trip.