You think you know the drill when it comes to buying those airline tickets and heading out the door—throw some clothes and sunscreen in your bag and you are set! But that is clearly not the case.
RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION You’ll want to take into consideration more than just climate—think about your itinerary. Will you be walking a lot? Your need for comfortable shoes might rule out those cute sandals you were thinking about bringing. If you plan to visit cathedrals and chapels in European countries, remember dressing modestly is important—most won’t let you in if you are wearing shorts.
DOWNSIZE TOILETRIES
The bulky bottles storing your favorite shampoo and conditioner should stay in the shower shelves at home. The Container Store has plenty of travel-sized bottles to hold your favorite soaps and lotions. Or you can be a little adventurous and try the toiletries offered by your hotel or resort. They are often made with local ingredients and do the job just as well.
PLAN YOUR OUTFITS
You went to the trouble of planning your vacation, shouldn’t the contents of your suitcase get the same attention? Instead of throwing in a pair of pants here or a blouse there, create outfits for each day and night of your trip. Be ready to toss out any duplicate items such as two pair of dark jeans. Some travelers even go as far as to take a photo of each of their
outfits for reference!
ROLL IT OR FOLD IT
Now that everything is all set out and ready to go, how do you go about getting into your bag? Keeping wrinkles at bay is key, so if you have to sit on your suitcase to zip it shut, you might want to rethink your strategy. Experts say the best way to avoid wrinkles is to roll up items that will roll, and fold thicker clothes such as jeans and sweaters.