TIPS PACKING ESSENTIALS : TRAVEL LIGHT, TRAVEL PREPARED

1. Start your packing list several days before your trip so you have time to buy anything you’re missing.

2. Save your packing list on your computer or phone so you don’t have to create it from scratch before every trip. Consider saving multiple versions of the list for different types of trips (beach, ski, camping…).

3. If you’ve printed your packing list, tuck it into your suitcase right before you leave; that way, at the end of the trip, you can use it as a checklist to make sure you have everything before you head back home.

4. Throw a few plastic bags of various sizes into your suitcase. Larger ones can hold dirty laundry or wet shoes, while smaller ones can protect your phone or camera in case of rain.

5. Take photos of your checked bag and its contents. If it’s lost in transit, you’ll be able to show the airline what the bag looks like and provide a list of what’s in it for reimbursement purposes.

6. Love to shop? Pack a rolled-up duffel bag in your suitcase. On your way home, you can put dirty laundry into the duffel, leaving room in your suitcase for souvenirs.

7. Make sure anything that needs to come out of your bag at security—laptops, tablets, your bag of liquids/gels—is in an easily accessible place.

8. Put a luggage tag on your carry-on in case the airline forces you to check it at the gate. Make sure that any essential items you don’t want to check (such as prescription medications or pricey cameras) are near the top of your carry-on so you can quickly transfer them to your personal item if necessary.

9. Compression bags can help you fit more into your suitcase by squeezing out excess air. (Large zip-top plastic bags work, too.) Just be careful not to go over your airline’s weight allowance.

10. A digital luggage scale is an inexpensive tool to weigh your bags at home.

11. When packing your suitcase, place the heaviest items at the bottom of the main compartment (read: the side with the wheels), so your bag is less likely to fall over when you stand it up.

12. When packing a backpack, the heaviest items should be in the center of the bag, as close to your back as possible, to make the load easier to carry.

13. Stay organized by keeping related items together in baggies within your carry-on—such as snacks in one bag, sanitizing wipes and tissues in another bag, and sleep-related items (eye mask, ear plugs) in another.

14. Pack the heavy and/or bulky things first, then fill in the gaps with smaller and lighter-weight items.

15. Keep a dryer sheet in your suitcase. This keeps the bag smelling nice between trips, gives your clothes a pleasant scent during your trip, and offers a little whiff of home each time you open your suitcase.

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