2.1+tips+on+packing+a+suitcase

1. Work out which are your essentials, and this should be kept in your hand luggage. Keep liquids down to a minimum as they are much stricter than they used to be with medications and liquids at security. Sun-cream should be put in your main suitcase, and not in your hand luggage. Drinks should be bought after security checks in the supermarkets near the gates. If your wear glasses take one pair on board with you and any spares in your main suitcase. If you wear contact lenses, wear disposable ones so you can take them out at any time and dispose of them if needed. This is so you don’t need to take the solution or cases with you in your hand luggage. Also pens, pencils and puzzle books are always good as well as books and small toys or colouring books for any children you may have with you. Also pack a jumper, toothpaste/brush and deodorant. You may be delayed and therefore need to freshen up or keep warm. It is also a good idea to carry some snacks like biscuits in your hand luggage however buy snacks after security checks. Remember in the UK any liquids, medications / creams or lotions should be in a 20cm x 20cm, re-sealable, transparent plastic bag and each bottle, cream or liquid must not exceed 100ml – even if the content is only half full. Your hand luggage must be small and you must be able to easily access it. These Barbie or Action Men small suitcases ARE NOT HAND LUGGAGE and they are a nuisance to other passengers. You shouldn’t use them as they take up more space than needed. Ones that zip down the middle are fine for hand luggage.

2. When packing a suitcase, always use at least one towel to cover the lining of your suitcase. You may wonder why, well baggage in the hold are not really handled with care therefore your suitcase could get ripped or get damaged. What will be more embarrassing than picking up a broken suitcase with your underwear hanging out? On top of this the towel will keep anything in if it were to rip or tear.

 3. If you have multiple suitcases, let’s say because you are a family travelling. Most families will have big, medium and small suitcases. If this is the case pack most of your heavy items in the smaller suitcase. The smaller suitcase weighs less and holds less things thus the weight would be smaller than putting all your heavy items the large suitcase which can hold more stuff. If all your suitcases are the same size, put large items in each one and equal them out. Place them near the bottom of your suitcase so that they can be carried easily. Put your heaviest shoes on when flying and put your light shoes near the bottom of your suitcase when packing. Class your shoes as heavy items.

4. If you have multiple suitcases, don’t use that suitcase just for you. Mix and match clothes from your friends, partners and family’s suitcases. Make sure there is at least a t-shirt, trousers, socks, underwear and swimwear in each suitcase. This is just in case if one of suitcases goes missing, you have at least one pair of clothing you can change into and still have a good time while waiting for the missing bag. 5. Put all your sun cream, lotions and medication in a plastic container and place it in one of your suitcases. You know where everything is when you get on holiday, and it’s much easier to put things into a container at home after shopping for holiday essentials than leaving it dotted about everywhere so you first have to find it when packing your suitcase and then find room to put every individual bottle in any space you can find. You will also know that you won’t have forgotten anything important if you stored it in the container.

6. Take half used shampoos and body cleansers to avoid carrying unnecessary weight. You don’t need a big bottle of shampoo, since how long does a big bottle of shampoo last? I wash everyday and my big bottle of shampoo lasts at least 6 months. 7. When actually packing your clothes, make sure the suitcase is width ways and with any trousers or jeans pack them to right hand side of your suitcase and pack them on top of each other. Then start with any shirts you have a pack them to the side of your trousers and fold them neatly with the arms folded inwards to save space and pack them on top of each other too. What would be even better is putting all your shirts into plastic bags once ironed then this is much easier to pack them in your suitcase and it will avoid any t-shirts or shirts from getting wrinkled.

8. Next comes the underwear and socks and you can lay these on top or in any gaps in-between the shirts and the jeans and in the edges of the suitcase. Think how many days you are going for on your holiday and then half that number. That is how many pairs of socks and underwear you should be taking. Think about it, half of your time you will be in the pool or lying on the sun bed with no shirt or underwear on. Just your bathing suit. It’s unnecessary to take so much underwear. If you need to wash them, you can easily wash them in the bath or the sink in your hotel room.

9. Lastly place any dresses on top of your suitcase and left over towels on top of your jeans and shirts. 10. It is advised, that you photo-copy or scan your passports as well as writing the name of your hotel where you are staying at, your home address and phone numbers on a piece of paper and place the piece of paper on the very top of your clothes in your suitcase. This is in case your suitcase goes missing. Security will need to break into your bag to see there is nothing incriminating in the bag and the piece of paper can tell them where to send it back too.

Remember to keep your passports and tickets next to each other ready on top of your hand luggage so you don’t forget them. It is surprising how many people don’t bring their passports with them to the airport.



Hope you have a good time on your holiday and don’t forget to write me a postcard

Have a great time!