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With the new luggage rules for the low cost airlines companies we all need the BEST tips for packing luggage.

You are going on holidays, or on a weekend away or even on a business trip so what we all want the most is travel light.

Since November 2018, passengers will only be permitted to travel with one small bag (35cm x 20cm x 20cm) free of charge as cabin luggage. This is basically a ladies purse or a small backpack.

As bigger is the bag to check in, higher the fee that is applied by the airline company.

So if you want to stay within the lowest fee for checked in luggage, you can’t miss the tips for packing luggage on the standard small bag (55x40x20cm) that we have to share with you.

With this post we will just focus on the moment when you are packing your suitcase. Pre-packing trip plans like validate passport, travel insurance, bookings confirmation, foreign currency or vaccination will be covered in another post.

Let’s get started!

Plan

• First of all: YOU NEED a GOOD SUITCASE

With the travelling population increasing every hour, there is a increment of suitcases and luggage market. You have it in every colour, style and prices. Remember that when you are flying, the airlines and the airport ground agent teams are not the most careful people with your bag as they have tight schedules to load a certain number of bags in each aircraft.

Are you thinking about spending hundreds of pounds in a fancy suitcase so it can last forever? Think again!

When you are choosing a bag it is important to make sure this is resistant, comfortable and it fits the purpose of your trip. So our first tip even before starting packing is to plan which suitcase you will need for the trip you are doing.

Good does not (always) mean expensive!

For a weekend out or a business trip, a suitcase like the one below it is the PERFECT choice. It is available on AMAZON.CO.UK (click here) with next day delivery option (in case you are in a rush).

It is a good choice from a price/quality perspective, hard cover which makes the bag more resistant and durable and finally (I just love this one) it has 4 wheels which means a better balance and easier to push.

Check all the different colours and reviews on Amazon by clicking in the picture below.

• How many days are you going?

This is the next question you need to ask to yourself when you are packing luggage for your trip.

You might also need think about if this is a business trip and requires for formal outfits, or is this a weekend out and only casual clothes are enough.

Are you planning to go out for dinner? Then, remember to pack a more adequate outfit like a dress for the ladies or a shirt for the gentlemen. BUT keep it light.

Plan what to pack based on the days you are staying and attending to the answers to those questions above.

• How is the weather in the destination?

As one of the best tips for packing luggage, I found very useful to ALWAYS check the weather in the country and city of destination.

You do not want to be catch by surprise missing some gloves in the cold Berlin during February, just because you are flying from Portugal and there is 18 degrees in Lisbon at the moment.

Speaking of weather, it is also important to consider the time of your arrival to your destination.

You might be able to pack your jacket in your suitcase if you are arriving in the afternoon but if you will be arriving your destination early morning or in the evening, even during summer, you will thank me to have a jacket in hand when you get there.

Remember that airports are overheated with the air conditioners and there is an huge change of temperature from the moment you step outside the door.

• Plan what to wear

The combination of how many bottoms, tops, shoes or even accessories that you are going to take with you depends on:

1. Number of days you are travelling
2. Type of trip
3. Weather in the destination

Packing everything that come into your mind just because “we never know what we would fancy to wear in 3 days” it is not a good idea.

Trust me! I used to be that person: Pack my entire wardrobe for a 4 days trip and end up not wearing half, ending up travelling with lots of unnecessary weight and in the most unpractical way.

As quick tips for packing luggage for plan what what to wear think about the following logic:

1 bottom for each 2 days + (easily combined) 3 different tops = 6 different outfits (including a night/party wear).

Isn’t this amazing?!

• Don’t forget to plan others than clothes and accessories

As part of planning for packing luggage, it is important to remember what else do you need to pack besides clothes and shoes:

1. Documents (Passport, boarding pass, travel insurance, credit card, etc)
2. Foreign currency
3. Tablet or laptop; photographic camera
4. Good Travel book – Find More

And this bring us to the next step on the best tips for packing luggage.

Choose

So you have your plan in place including a list of how many things do you need to pack based on the logic explained above.

If you have a capsule wardrobe, the concept of combining a small number of clothes to get different outfits based on the minimalist logic the next tips are going to be peanuts for you.

If you are like I was and you will never know what you would want to wear in 2 days, this is how you easily choose what to pack for your trip:

• Neutral colours are essential for light packing – (white, cream, grey, black or any other light colour). Some people can think this is boring but you can always colour this up with accessories (like colourful scarfs for example). Don’t forget the basic tops as a MUST HAVE;
• Standard jeans or black jeans to mix it up with the neutral colours tops, t-shirts or sweatshirts;
• One jacket and one pair of shoes are enough for a 2 to 4 days trip – so you can wear it and you do not have to pack them;
• Pack an extra pair of shoes if you are planning to wear a different style during your trip, for example for a night out or a business meeting;
• Underwear is the one thing that it is never too much but it does not take much space, so don’t worry.

So your trip is planned, you choose what you need to take with you, now it is time to pack.

Pack

There are hundreds of different ways to fit 6 outfits in a 55x40x20 cm suitcase.

As tips for packing luggage, we are about to share with you one methodology which will allow your clothes to be organised by order that you will be wearing them and they will get to the destination so tight and well folded that it looks like it just came from the laundry.

Try and tell us if it worked.

Normally, the first think you wear when you open your bag is your pyjamas so leave it aside as it should be the last thing to go inside. If you are planning to open your bag to change clothes, follow the logic below but leave aside what you are wearing first when you open the bag.

Another important tip for packing luggage is to pack first shoes (if you are packing extra), bottoms and tops in the end. The tops should be tight and folded so it is ready to wear when you most need them.

Use the upper side of the suitcase to pack underwear, adaptors or phone chargers for example. Also the toiletries and accessories should be fit in here for better organisation

Check the examples below:

Close your suitcase. You are ready to Go!

Detailed tips for packing luggage and step by step ultimate guide coming soon.

Hope you enjoyed our post and comment below. Let us know if you find it useful and if any of this tips is new for you 🙂

Also, keep an eye on the blog as we will have a surprise offer soon! 🙂

Happy Week everybody!