Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’re about to head out on your first big adventure, everyone could use some tips and tricks to help them pack more efficiently. If you’re going on a road trip you have a little bit more flexibility, but if you’re traveling by plane or train, you might have some more restrictions to deal with.

Here are some tips to make packing for your next trip a breeze:

Make a list!

This might seem unnecessary, but it’s actually quite helpful. Start with categories like “Clothes”, “Toiletries”, or “Electronics”, and start listing. This is a good way to make sure you aren’t bringing too much if you tend to overpack. 

Think about restricting yourself to a carry-on.

It’s easy to overpack, but if you can keep everything you’re bringing in a carry-on suitcase you’ll find that there are many benefits. For one, you won’t have to worry about your airline losing your luggage, and when you get off the plane you can get going instead of waiting around at the baggage claim. The only negative is you have to make sure your luggage can make it through security, but with a little practice, this becomes easy. 

Make sure everything you’ll need at the airport is easily accessible.

For example, keep your identification in an easy-to-reach compartment so you don’t have to go digging for it when needed. If you have a backpack with a compartment on the straps that are large enough for your ID and money, take advantage of it! If not, a small belt bag can be a great idea. It’s helpful to keep your electronics and your liquids in an easy-to-reach compartment as you’ll have to take it out of your bag to get scanned through the machine by TSA.

Pack dryer sheets with your clothes.

This is an easy hack for making sure your clothes stay smelling fresh, and you can use them in your laundry bag later to keep your clothes from smelling too strongly. Speaking of which, make sure you bring a laundry bag. This can be a large ziplock bag, but having a separate place to keep your dirty clothes is something you’ll be grateful for later on. 

Packing cubes are a lifesaver.

Using packing cubes is not only a great way to organize your clothes, but you can get cubes with different levels of compression ability, which can help you pack more clothes. 

Roll your clothes when you pack.

While folding clothes is perfectly fine if that’s what you want to do, rolling your clothes will help you save quite a bit of space in your suitcase that you can use for other items, more clothes, or souvenirs you collect on your travels.

Once you’ve picked everything you want to take, put a few things back.

It’s so easy to overpack, but it’s helpful to bring less than you think you need. You’ll thank your past self when you’re boarding the plane and are able to lift your suitcase and put it into the overhead bin with ease!

Don’t buy too many unique packing accessories. 

There are a lot of cool travel accessories out there, but you don’t need them all. There are some items like a small portable clothing steamer that can be incredibly useful for a certain type of travel, but if you’re not bringing any clothes that need to be steamed, you don’t need the portable steamer.

Bring a reusable water bottle and some snacks from home for the flight.

These are helpful at the airport, on the plane, and when you’re traveling around your destination! Water bottles and snacks also tend to be expensive at the airport, so you can save some money by bringing your own. 

What’s the most helpful bit of travel advice you’ve ever heard? Let us know what makes your travel experience easier in the comments!

If you’re ready to start planning your next event, head over to thesocialsetters.com/startplanning to get started with one of our Social Setters!