Make this holiday season as stress-free and fun as it’s supposed to be by streamlining your packing routine once and for all! There are so many pros to packing like a pro. Picture this.
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Before your flight, you’ll be skipping the $25 checked bag fee at the airline check-in desk. After that, you’ll be able to waltz right through security since your belongings will be easy to see and inspect if needed. In the airport you’ll be able to navigate to your terminal easily with your light as a feather carry on, and easily access whatever you need at all times. Then once you’ve landed at your destination after a long, exhausting flight, you’ll be able to avoid the baggage claim wait and head straight to your home away from home, with the peace of mind that the airline has not had a chance to lose all of your precious belongings. Knowing that a travel experience can be this relaxing, it’s hard to think that there is a good reason to do it any other way. If you’re ready to take the plunge, here are a few tips to get you started.
Stick to the Essentials
No matter how long your trip is, most travel experts agree that the way you pack should stay as streamlined as possible. Clothes can be washed. Forgotten items can be purchased. Routines can be flexible and optimized for your schedule abroad.
As for clothing, bring basics that can be layered, combined and mixed easily. Sticking to a color palate, whether it’s black, whites and grays, or fifty shades of blue, will ensure that every piece you bring will be able to coordinate with everything else, and enable you to maximize the number of looks you can create. Bring a couple statement pieces and small accessories to dress up an outfit for a dressy occasion, and you’ll be ready for anything.
Eliminate your “wishful thinking” items, like clothing you never wear at home, or accessories for activities that you never do at home either. Unless you’re specifically going to a work out retreat, if you know you rarely make it part of your routine to run 5 miles at home, or on a hotel gym treadmill, maybe the bulky running shoes and jogging outfit can stay at home.
Maximize Your Space
Once you’ve ruthlessly eliminated all of the extra items, pack in a way that will maximize your space and enable you to find everything quickly. Experts have various methods that they all swear by, but the general idea is to put the heaviest, bulkiest items, or items that you won’t need to access frequently, all the way at the bottom. After that, layer small items in between the spaces that the bulky items have created. Lastly, pack your most frequently used, lightest items at the top so that they will not be crushed by everything below, and so that you can easily access anything you need to.
Modular systems like Eagle Creek’s Pack It line are traveler’s favorites for clothing, since they can be used to categorize and sort clothing, and then stack perfectly together and zip up for easy packing, storing and unpacking.
Invest in Quality Luggage
When you’re running down the hallways of an unfamiliar airport, racing to make your connection, the last thing you want to worry about it a heavy, cumbersome bag slowing you down. Look for rolling luggage that is lightweight and durably constructed so that you don’t have to worry about exceeding the weight limit, or having everything fall apart mid-flight.
Take a Load Off
If this is your first time attempting to streamline your routine, congrats to you! Once you have a few rounds of carry-on only travel under your belt, you will surely see the major benefits of such a stress-free experience. It takes a couple rounds to fully sink into any routine and refine the details, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you happen to forget something. Unless you are headed to a remote village on a forgotten island, you will be able to purchase anything you need, and it’s the perfect opportunity to go exploring your destination city.
If your destination is PC Housing, rest assured that you will be assisted with anything you need.