Pack It In How To Maximize Your Suitcase Space

Pack It In â€" How to Maximize your Suitcase Space

So the plane tickets are bought, the hotel room reserved, and the dog sitter was called. All that is left to do before you leave for your vacation is to pack your suitcase. But when you are going away, especially for a longer trip, you might feel the need to take half your house with you. Here's how to maximize your suitcase space.

First, it is important to know what to bring. Your best bet is to bring layers â€" that way you are not trying to play weatherman and guess what the temperature will be. Stick with basic colors that coordinate so that you can mix and match. Consider taking a small bottle or samples of laundry detergent and doing hand washing in your room â€" or use the hotel's laundry service if they have one. Underwear and light clothing in particular will dry quickly. Try to save space and bring only one extra pair of shoes. Remember you will also have the ones that you wear on the plane. Choose neutral colors of makeup and only take the basics with you â€" not your whole collection. Consider buying travel sizes of your favorite toiletries, or getting smaller bottles and filling them from your supply at home. Or better yet, wait until you get to your destination to buy the basics. Chances are there will be a drugstore where you can buy things such as shampoo and toothpaste. If you are not on business, keep electronics like laptops to a minimum. Many places you can find cyber cafes or computer rooms where you can rent one for those quick email checks. Same thing goes for hairdryers â€" most hotels will have one available. Do not forget to clean out your purse â€" you aren't going to be able to use your frequent buyer or library cards while you are gone, so why take them with you?

Once you have decided what you absolutely must take with you, the next step is packing your suitcase. Start by putting everything out that you are taking with you bottles of shampoo up to your jacket. If you have more than is going to fit, now is an additional time to sort through and discard items that you will not really need or that you can easily purchase.

Next put all of the heavy items at the bottom of your suitcase. This includes, but is not limited to, your extra pair of shoes, toiletry bag, and large travel books. Double check as you are packing if this is stuff that you cannot live without. Also be cautious that you are not packing too many heavy items. You do not want to go over the weight limit and have to pay an additional fee.

Next, roll your clothes to reduce wrinkles and allow more to fit into your suitcase. If you are carrying multiple layers, roll light shirts inside of heavy ones for larger rolls with fewer wrinkles. You may need to fold some clothing in half in order to have a manageable sized roll.

Before you put your rolls in the bag, add anything that wasn't rolled. This would include heavy jeans or bulky sweaters. Limit the amount of these items that you take with you, as they are space eaters. If you are certain that you can purchase it at your destination, consider leaving it at home. Or try wearing these items onto the plane to avoid packing them at all.

Next, add in all of your rolls of clothing. Your suitcase should close easily. If not, unpack, and rethink what you are taking with you and what you can leave behind. If you have a bathroom scale, try weighing your suitcase to make sure that it falls under your airlines maximum requirements so that you are not stuck with additional fees.

Do not forget those outer pockets! If your bag is going on the plane with you, these are perfect for things like your tickets, passport, and/or wallet. If it is being checked, do not use these pockets for anything valuable, however they are great for that last minute reading material or map that you wanted to take with you.

With a little planning and a little organization, you will have a comfortably packed suitcase that will cover all of your needs. Happy traveling!