Summer is here, which means suitcases have been dusted off, and many are preparing to travel. Be it to a different city or country, by road or by plane, there’s one thing every trip has in common, packing. Here are a few packing tips that will not only save you time upon your arrival; they will also help minimise stress before your journey.
Roll, don’t fold:
The rolling method saves the most space during packing. It also prevents clothes from getting wrinkly. It’s very simple, fold your clothes in half vertically, roll them into a sausage shape, and place carefully into your suitcase. You will automatically have more space to place other, bulkier items, and rolling allows for up to three layers of clothing in one suitcase
Charger storage:
How often have you lost your charger while on vacation? Be it for your cell phone or tablet, chargers are travel essentials. Don’t dump them into your suitcase; place all your chargers into an old sunglasses case or a pouch to keep them all together. Make sure you secure each one individually with a rubber band so they don’t get tangled.
Belt it up:
Gentlemen, this one’s for you. Instead of rolling your formal shirts, fold them. Roll up your belt and place it in the collar of your shirt in order to keep your collar crisp, and your belt in place. You’ll be killing two birds with one stone!
Scan your documents:
This is a no brainer. Sometimes, luck won’t be on your side. You may lose your passport, or your wallet might be stolen. Prepare for any mishaps beforehand. Scan all your documents such as passports, ID cards and visas and email them to yourself. This way you will have a digital copy in the case of an emergency.
The container conundrum:
As passengers are no longer allowed to hand carry liquids aboard flights, there is always the fear of leakage. In order to keep your mind and clothes at ease, ensure your containers are sealed. A simple way to do this is unscrew the bottle, place some cling wrap over the opening, and screw it closed. This is a fool proof way to prevent your shampoo, or any other liquid, from leaking on your flight.
We hope these tricks make your packing experience easier. Bon voyage!
Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2014.
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