Travelling is fun, but if you’re like most people, packing is very challenging. What makes packing a travel bag more difficult is when you only have limited space. If you’re worried about leaving behind something important because of your travelling bag’s limited space, there are possible things that you can do to maximize your luggage’s precious space.
Tips to Make the Most Out of your Travel Bag’s Limited Space
1. Organize Before You Pack
To make the most out of your luggage’s storage space, you should first organize your stuff. Planning what you need to bring reduces the chances of leaving something important. By laying out the things that you plan to take with you, you can assess what is essential and not. You don’t want to leave your swimsuit behind when you’re going on a beach vacation.
- To bring or not to bring: Knowing what not to bring is just as important as knowing what you should stash in your luggage. If you’re taking any medication, it is crucial not to leave it behind. You don’t need to bring too many handbags with you as these will take up plenty of space in your travel bag.
- Look at your itinerary: The trip’s itinerary helps you understand what you should and should not bring. If you are on a business trip, pack clothes that can go from day to evening. If your vacation is set in a tropical location, make sure to pack clothes that are not too thick or heavy.
- Select your clothes properly: Choose clothes that are in the same colour family so that you can mix and match as necessary. You should bring clothes made from lightweight material so they will not take up too much space.
2. Choose the Right Luggage
The right type of travel bag is just as crucial as organizing the things that you need to bring. Opt for soft-sided luggage since it can expand compared to a hard case. If hard case luggage is what’s available, you can use it, but you should pack very carefully to make sure all your items fit inside.
3. Arrange your Things Properly
As discussed earlier, a hard case offers less flexibility compared to a soft-sided suitcase. Either way, you must arrange your things properly so you can maximize the space of a small bag.
- Roll, don’t fold: Folded clothes take up more space than rolled ones. Folding also makes your clothes more likely to crease. However, dress shirts and clothes with stiff fabric should be folded to prevent wrinkling.
- Use the space inside your shoes: You can store your socks, mobile phone charger, perfume, and other small items inside your shoes.
- Do not pack bulky items: Consider wearing your jacket or sweater instead of packing it inside your luggage. Bulky items will take up too much space, so you should hand-carry them instead.
- Avoid bringing too many shoes: Shoes take up plenty of space in your travel bag, so limit the number of shoes that you bring to your trip. Aside from the shoes that you wear to travel, you can pack an extra pair but not more than that.
4. Bring Sample-Size Toiletries
Your toiletries can take up a significant amount of space in your luggage, so opt for sample-size products instead. If you want to maximize luggage space, you should bring multi-tasking products such as a bath gel that you can use as soap and shampoo. Hotels usually provide toothpaste and other essential toiletries, so you don’t have to bring too many things.
5. Buy What You Can on the Ground
To avoid checking in your baggage, you should consider buying items that you need on the ground. It’s very easy to purchase toiletries anywhere you go. You can also purchase rubber flip flops when you land so that you don’t have to pack them in your suitcase.
6. Avoid Last-Minute Packing
Packing at the very last minute increases the likelihood of overstuffing your luggage or leaving an essential item. If your flight is a week from today, you should start laying out the things that you will bring.
- Prepare a dedicated travel kit: Having a small package containing travel-sized essentials make it easy to stash the bag when your booking is last minute.
- Create a checklist: To make sure you do not forget any essentials when travelling, have a list that you can tick off each time you have an upcoming trip. Whether it’s your preferred bug spray, your favourite lip balm, or your comfy neck pillow, a checklist helps remind you of what’s essential to bring. Clothes, shoes, and accessories may vary depending on where you are going and how long you are going away.
Conclusion
Packing should not be a tedious task that takes away the excitement of your trip. By learning to maximize the limited size of your travel bag, you can bring all the essentials and some extra stuff to make your journey more enjoyable.
