Going on a holiday is the perfect way to shake off the mounting stresses of daily life and just kick back and enjoy some much-needed relaxation. However, the packing element of a trip away is never fun. It can be stressful trying to work out how to fit everything you need, the 10 extra pairs of underwear (you just never know), and that really nice pair of shoes you might wear on that special night out.
In an effort to ease the stress of your packing woes, we teamed up with the folks at Travel at 60 to provide the best insider tips and tricks to ensure you’re properly packed and ready to go for your next trip.
Travel at 60’s Chief Commercial Officer Wendy Harch writes:
“The secret is packing some one-way clothes.” I will readily tell everyone whenever the topic of travel packing tips comes up. Although this tip requires an explanation, most people think it’s a great concept!
The idea is to do a wardrobe clean-up just before you go on a holiday and then wear clothes that were destined for the second-hand store on your outbound flight, as pyjamas or underclothes in the first few days that you’re away.
You can then leave the dirty clothes behind as you go. This means you won’t be lugging around as many dirty clothes, making room in your suitcase for things like shopping, and when you return home, your wardrobe is ready for any new things you purchased while you were away! This also works incredibly well as layering of underclothes when heading to cooler destinations.
Armed with thinking this is such a fabulous packing tip, I set out to find out what other packing tips might be out there by asking the well-travelled team at Travel at 60, and they didn’t disappoint!
Some believe it’s all in the planning. Alastair says to “write lists, lists, lists. Put it all in writing a couple of days beforehand, and gradually work through it at your leisure.” This will ensure no last-minute panic as you inevitably realise you have a lot to do in a small amount of time.
Brianna recommends planning your outfits on the bed prior to packing. “This will ensure you have items that readily mix and match and prevent overpacking.”
Supritha gets ready well in advance. “Save up samples of beauty products to use when you’re travelling. They take up less room and you’ll feel like you’re treating yourself with good products while you’re on holiday.”
The age-old debate of roll versus fold is ignited by Kelly, with her tip to “roll up shirts and stuff them in small areas” Karen agrees with Kelly and highlights that “if you roll your clothes, ideally by type – t.shirts together, less space is used and there is no need for ironing at the other end.”
The inside of Jenny’s suitcase must look pretty neat as she recommends “individual little bags to separate undies, shirts, trousers etc to make it easy to find things and keep clean separate from dirty”.
Having spent many years working in airlines, Lysanda reminds us to “wear the heaviest item on the plane if you’re worried about excess baggage to reduce check-in luggage weight”.
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination to find a shampoo bottle has leaked in your bag. Kelly gives us a practical tip to “enclose bottles that might leak into zip lock bags and stuff them into your shoes”.
Ever practical Martyn reminds us to “make sure you take conversion plugs and mobile phone chargers”. Some great multi-country conversion plugs on the market these days take up minimal space and are super practical.
Do you have any packing tips you would like to share?
Are you in the roll or fold camp?
The Travel at 60 team can book any holiday option you might be interested in, including flight quotes to get you there and back! Call the team on 1300 414 198 or email us on team@travelat60.com for a quote for your preferred holiday!