Preparing for a Summer holiday: Part One

15 of the best packing tips

From liquids leaking to being charged for an overweight suitcase, we’ve all suffered from luggage nightmares that could have easily been avoided. For a stress-free packing experience, MOLLY MAID suggest you simply remember these top 15 packing tips and tricks.

1. Spruce up your suitcase

Don’t be faced with an airport baggage carousel crisis where you’re struggling to identify your luggage from its identical neighbours. Label your suitcase carefully with luggage tags and make sure you ‘spruce it up’ by decorating it with ribbons.

2. Take spare freezer or sandwich bags and use them to separate different groups of items

Phone and camera chargers, adaptors, headphones – we all have so many wires and gadgets that are easily lost in a suitcase. To prevent this problem, bagging them are the answer. Take some extras as well as the ones for your on-flight liquids and use them to store electrical items and things for the journey home.

3. To avoid stains – pack light coloured clothes inside out and put disposable shower caps over your shoes

Ever packed light clothes and found a stain on them when you arrived? Never have this problem again. Always make sure your light coloured clothes are packed inside out, and secondly keep the disposable shower caps you find at hotels and use them to cover the base of your shoes.

4. Roll clothes and use vacuum compression bags

Don’t arrive at your holiday destination and be faced with a pile of ironing. After laying out your clothes in advance of packing and to save space and stop creasing, roll your clothes, then place them in vacuum compression bags. To use these bags, put your clothes in, seal the bag, then squeeze the air out. This will leave you with lots more space in your suitcase and will prevent creases more effectively than folding.

5. Luggage scales will save you money

This is the secret weapon to help you avoid being charged unnecessary fees at the airport. Invest in some luggage scales and make sure you weigh your bags on both legs of the journey to see how close you are to reaching the weight limit. Consider wearing some of the heavier items and shoes or cutting down on what you pack in the first place. Replace heavy toiletries with travel size bottles.

6. Use empty cosmetic bottles and tubes to hide money

To avoid the worst case scenario of being robbed, it’s best to be inconspicuous and avoid flashing the cash. If you’re alone on the beach and you go for a swim, hide your money in an empty lip balm container.

7. Use cling-film and tape to prevent liquid leaks

We’ve all suffered from the disastrous liquid leak in our luggage when we arrive at our destination. To prevent this, take the lids off liquid bottles and add a layer of cling-film. Then when you put the lid on, use clear tape to seal the gap where the lid joins the container. Now you can travel without the worry of any spills.

8. Make- up tip to stop powder and eye shadow cracking use a layer of cotton wool

Here’s one for the ladies. To prevent your pressed powder or eyeshadow from cracking during your travels, place a flat cotton wool pad in between the pressed powder and the lid.

9. Put scented draw liners/fabric conditioner sheets/a small bag of dried flowers in your suitcase to keep everything fresh

It’s important to keep your clothes smelling fresh, especially if you’re on a long trip. By taking a small bag of dried flowers/fabric conditioner sheets/scented drawer liners, you’ll keep your clothes smelling sweet throughout the trip.

10. Holiday packing lists

Have a little notebook especially for your travels and title each page with a different holiday type. For example, this could relate to season, length of stay or style of holiday. You could have pages for ‘weekend break’, ‘beach holiday’ or ‘winter ski holiday’. Spend 30 minutes brainstorming and making a packing list under each page. Remember to accessorise and always pack versatile clothes that make up several outfits.  Always have this little book next to your passport, so when you go away, you will never have any mind blanks and will always remember the correct things to pack.

11. Have essentials in your hand luggage

Make sure all your valuables are in your hand luggage and always pack a spare change of clothes in your hand luggage too, just in case your checked bag is lost/delayed. If travelling with children, consider their needs also including emergency medicine and snack food.

12. Make use of ’empty’ spaces such as shoes

You need to make use of every little space you can. Roll tops/underwear/socks and other small items and stuff them into your shoes to make sure every possible space is filled and pack heavy items at the bottom.

13. Photocopy pages of your guidebook or take your e-book reader

Rather than bringing heavy books – just photocopy the essential pages that you need. It’ll save space and reduce weight. Or, if you have an e-book reader, just download the book instead.

14. Buy a lightweight suitcase

Buying the most expensive designer suitcase is more likely to attract thieves at the airport and on your travels. It’s better to be inconspicuous and go for a lightweight option.

15. Have a little bag full of these random but useful essentials

It’s a good idea to have a freezer or ziplock bag of the following: sticky tape, string, sewing kit, cable ties, spare luggage tags, padlocks, safety pins, pens, tissues, ear plugs, universal bath plug, pencil sharpener, mini LED torch, tweezers, mini scissors, mini calculator (ideal for bartering).

See Full Bio