Shoes take up a lot of room in a suitcase, yet they’re an essential item. But you can use a pair of shoes to your advantage easily. Just fold up some of your stuff really tight (socks, pantyhose, and bras for example) and stuff them inside.

If your clothes are always bursting out of the suitcase, that’s because you’re packing them wrong. The most efficient way is to fold them all together into a cube.

One shirt and a pair of underwear folded together take up the space of a pair of socks. And if you fold a pair of socks over them, then they’ll stay packed like that throughout your journey.

Traveling with button-up shirts can be annoying. They always get wrinkled, meaning that they have to be ironed when you get to your destination. But if you fold it like how shirts come in packages and line the collar with a belt, they stay smooth.

The liquid size restrictions on planes are a real headache. Some stuff is hard to find in travel-friendly bottles! One easy way of getting around this is squirting a bit of your vital liquid beauty products into contact cases. They’ll keep it secure and plane friendly!

Some supposedly travel-friendly bottles still manage to leak like crazy. But a thin sheet of plastic placed over the opening of the bottle and underneath the screw on top stops this from happening!

You won’t need to worry about your jewelry getting damaged when it’s in this.

Just thread the chain into a straw and clasp it on the other side. It’ll stop the necklace from tangling!

Simply put a lighter to one end of a straw until the two ends melt together. Let it cool. Pour some shampoo/conditioner/toothpaste in and then melt together the other end. You’ve got a one day dose of shampoo in the tiniest possible container!

Use the same theory as packing jeans. Fold the bottom of the shirt upwards slightly, fold in half, roll to over the first fold and then seal it up!

Just fold out the waist of a pair of jeans, fold the legs over each other, roll up the legs over one end of the fold and unfold the other half.

Using the same method as the shirts and jeans folding, seal up underwear. Only this time you have to fold it from the waist opening over the leg holes without making that little first fold. Then fold the two ends in on the underwear and roll the crotch flap over the folds. You’ll see an opening from the waist hole. Hold that over the entire underwear, and it’ll be sealed up good!

Hats are other items that, depending on the design, take up too much space. But if you fill the hat with soft items, such as underwear or socks, then it will use more space, and the socks will protect its shape.

It’s obvious when you think about it. The less a case weighs, the more stuff you can take with you! Weight restrictions on airlines are way too small, so a lighter case can make all the difference.

It’s a lesson in gravity that most packers forget, but your bag’s wheels will be on the ground when you’re walking. That means all your items will press down on that area. You don’t want delicate things there! Put them at the top of the bag.

The odds of getting a stain on your clothes is reduced if the clothes are inside out. It’s still a risk, but it’s much less likely to seep through to the front.

To save on bringing clothes that you won’t even wear, look at what you’ve got planned to do. Then you should only pack clothes that match those activities.

Shoes are dirty by their nature. They stomp through so much dirt, that it’s gross to think of packing them with all your other stuff. A shower cap can help keep your other things clean, however. Just put your shoes in one!

You can fold clothes after they’re in a dry cleaning bag. This allows you to keep the item from wrinkling.

It saves space and will let the cups maintain their form.

It stops the product from crumbling away.

It gives the item extra protection. And should the glass break, then it won’t get everywhere.

Two rubber bands, one for length and one for width, do wonders.

Not only will it protect the hair straightener, but it will also be a handy surface that the straighteners can rest on at the hotel.

If you’re only taking a small carry-on bag with you, be sure to wear the bulkier items while you travel so that they don’t take up space in your bag. For example, if you’re taking boots and a heavy jacket, wear them on the plane. It might be a bit of a pain going through security, but it will save you so much space in your bag.

It doesn’t hurt to remind airline workers and others that your items are precious!

Sarongs are a godsend when it comes to traveling–they are so incredibly useful! You can use them as light blankets on the plane or in a freezing airport, cover your shoulders when visiting temples or churches, and, of course, you can use them while at the beach or the pool. No matter where you go–pack your sarong.

If you’re an avid traveler and haven’t been using packing cubes–you’re totally missing out. Packing cubes can help keep things organized and tidy; for example, pack only shirts in one and pants in another. That way, you know exactly what to grab from your bag without unfolding everything inside.

Nearly every hotel, motel, or hostel offers soap or shower gel. So, there’s no need to take up space in your bag by bringing your own. The only exception to this would be if you require special soap for sensitive skin or if you plan on camping.

Phone chargers, laptop charging cords, and headphones are often tossed in our luggage haphazardly at the very end. Please don’t do that–it can cause them to break at the seam near the surge protector. Instead, use a small makeup bag or purse to keep them all wrapped and separate from all of your other clothes and toiletries.

It’s probably tempting to keep some face wash in your carry-on and some contact solution in your purse, but make it easier on yourself by keeping liquids all in one spot–especially if you’re carrying on. By keeping liquids together in one area, it will make it so much easier to go through security.

Nothing is worse than going to check a bag and they tell you that it’s over the weight limit. Each pound that is over the limit can cost an exorbitant amount of money. Prevent this stressful fiasco by purchasing a small luggage scale. That way, you know exactly how much weight you’ll be bringing.

Lay out your jewelry on a sheet of Glad Press’n Seal then seal it all in place with another sheet. It’s almost like vacuum-packing but without the need for a vacuum sealer. It will prevent your necklaces from becoming tangled and your earrings from becoming separated.

Another great way to keep jewelry separate and organized is by placing them in an empty plastic mint container. This won’t prevent any tangling, but it will keep all of your jewelry safe and sound in one spot.

Fasten earrings through the holes of a button before packing them. This handy little trick will keep the pair together and prevent you from missing a stud or a backing.

Sometimes new purses or shoes come in cloth bags. Hang on to those bags because they are so useful when it comes to packing. They’re perfect for keeping delicate clothing like bras, underwear, lingerie, or slips protected in your bag.

If you’re bringing your favorite bottle of perfume along with you on your trip, the last thing you need is for it to break open spilling perfume and broken glass everywhere. Keep it safe with a little bit of cushion by stuffing the bottle into a thick sock.

If you don’t want to bring an entire bottle of lotion with your, or perhaps the bottle is in your checked luggage, you can keep a small amount with you inside contact cases. It’s the perfect amount to keep in your purse to use when your skin gets dry on the plane.

Keep a pen or two in your carry-on luggage when traveling abroad. You’re going to need to complete immigration and customs forms–flight attendants do not give out pens to fill them out. So, be sure to bring your own.

If a backpack is what you’re carrying for luggage, you’ll want to be sure to invest in a rain cover if it didn’t come with one already. The last thing you’ll want is to be caught in a downpour only to have the rain seep through the bag getting everything wet.

This is important for international travel. Before packing your non-prescription or prescription medications, make sure that they are legal and allowed in the country you are visiting. Be sure to look up any documentation that they may require or you could end up finding yourself in big trouble.

When packing for your trip, you might be on the edge of whether or not to bring something. If it takes too much space or could be too messy (toiletries, extra batteries, etc.), ask yourself if you can buy whatever it is locally. You could always by it at your destination.

You don’t want to put sweaty or stinky clothes next to your clean, unworn clothes when you’re packing. Keep them separate with a mesh or canvas bag. Also, this way you know what needs to go to laundry and what can still be worn.

If you’re traveling with a group or as a family, consider using matching luggage tags, so they’re easy to spot when you’re picking it up at the carousel. The brighter the color or zanier the pattern, the better!

Place a dryer sheet inside your luggage to keep the bag and all of your clothes smelling nice and fresh. When you open it up after a long trip, it will smell like it just came out of the dryer.

If you’re worried that the luggage handlers aren’t going to be very gentle with your bag, mark it as “fragile” and it’s possible they’ll be a bit more careful. Even if nothing in the bag is actually fragile, it may cause them to be nicer to your belongings.

Even though we advise against packing your own soap (there’s just no need), we suggest to fold your bar of soap in a wash cloth if you have to bring it. This way, it will prevent it from getting all yucky in a plastic bag.

Frozen sponges are a great way to keep your plane snacks cold. Not to mention, you’ll get through security without an hassle. Just put the frozen sponge and your snack in a Ziploc bag together and you’ve got you’re own portable freezer,” recommends Hopscotch the Globe.

Instead of packing multiple toiletries or items, ask yourself if your hair conditioner can accomplish the same thing. For example, condition can be used as shoe polish, shaving cream, and makeup remover.

Sometimes we end up in hotels or hostels that seem a little rough around the edges. To help make yourself feel good about where you’ll be laying your head at night, bring your own pillow case.

You probably have a good idea of what the season is and what it is like in general for your destination. However, the weather has been unpredictable worldwide. Check to see if where you are going has been experiencing unseasonable weather. This way you can pack clothes that may be more appropriate.

Every airline has a baggage fee policy and they can sometimes be a little tricky to figure out. Often the policy can be found online. It is worth reviewing it as they can be super expensive and it may help you decide on eliminating some of the heavier items that you were planning on taking with you.

Nobody wants to do chores when they are away on holiday. But, to wash a few clothes is not difficult
and takes no time at all. Determine if where you are staying has laundry facilities or if there some close by. If so then you can pack clothes that are wash and dry and you will need less of them.

It is worth buying a few outfits that serve multiple purposes. Like a long sleeve jacket where the arms can be removed. Or a pair of pants that can be turned into a pair of shorts.

Packing and dressing in layers will be helpful in reducing the weight of your luggage and helping to determine which clothes to take with you. When you pack in layers the suitcase goes through screening much better, and you can get through customs quicker. When you are traveling to several destinations where the temperature varies dressing in layers makes it easier to adjust the clothing.

Having one small travel bag that carries your essentials like your toothpaste, brush, and deodorant
will help you quickly access these when needed and you won’t have to dig through your case to find it.

No matter how hard you try you will probably end up over packing. A good suggestion is to first
pack everything you think you want to take with you, then go through it again and reduce it by half.

For your carry on bag you may want to buy a soft sided bag as you can get more into it. It will also be flexible in its shape according to what you pack in it.

You can look at your health kit as being your first aid kit. It should contain common items that you may not be able to easily find at your destination. You may want it to have items such as medications for fever, dysentery,
pain relievers and antibiotic ointments.

One of the hardest things to pack is shoes. Choose shoes that can be worn to different functions. For example a pair of sandals that can be worn casual but are also fancy enough to be worn with dressier outfits.

Normally when shopping for toiletries most want to buy biggers sizes because they have better pricing. When traveling buy the sample size. They are easier to pack, and there is usually just enough in them to last for
a holiday.

Take along jewelry that can be used for multiple purposes. For example elastic type bracelets
that can be used as hair ties. Or earings that can be clipped onto shoes to dress them up. Or a necklace that can also be used as a ruler.

Some clothes are really bulky and take up a lot of room in the suitcase. The compression bags are
great for these. All of the air is sucked out of the bags allowing them to be flat and compact. They take up a lot less space and more clothes can be taken.

It is common to roll clothes when packing, and some say that rolling them in tissue paper helps to reduce the number of wrinkles that some clothing ends up with.

Knowing this rule can save a lot of time and less hassles. Liquids that are going to be carried on planes but be in 3.4 ounce bottles or smaller and be transported in a quart size zip top bag that is clear. Check for the latest updates for the TSA rules regarding liquids.

By matching up your outfits prior to packing you can cut down on the number of items you need. For example choosing on pair of neutral colored pants means you can choose two or three tops to go with just the one pair. Apply the same concept to shorts and dresses. Take a few light accessories to change the look of an outfit. This way one outfit can be worn at least three times and look totally different.

Most suitcases come with a internal strap for holding clothes securely. A lot of people ignore using these,
figuring that the suitcaseis packed so tightly anyway. But strapping them in prevents even small shifts that can cause wrinkles.

If you are packing for a holiday then chances are you will want to bring back some soveniers. Make
sure you reserve enough room in your suitcase for bringing these back home.

It is very common for most people to want to buy a few new items of clothing when they are away. Thinking
about what potential purchases may be made ahead of time can cut down on the number of items that would be packed. For example, if you are thinking about buying new jeans, then there is no need to pack a pair to take with you.

These are really handy to have as they can be easily set up over the bathtub and can be used to hand wet
bathing suits on.

Have a couple of these single packages along with you are great if you want to do some hand washing
of light items so you won’t need to pack as many of those items. Or if a mishap takes place and you need to quickly launder it.

These are lightweight and versatile. THey can be worn outdoors and then easily cleaned up to be worn indoors instead of having to carry slippers with you.

If you are on prescribed drugs you will need to take enough with you to cover the time you are away.
It is also a good idea to take a prescription of these with you in case you lose your medication.

This is always handy to have so you can convert any of your electronics to the power source that is available. For example, your hair dryer, or your travel iron.