Let's face it, packing for a vacation is never easy. And with so many factors at play—from the length of your trip to your changing itinerary—it's easy to overpack or underpack, especially if you leave it to the last minute. To help you get going again, we've compiled an ultimate all-in-one packing list which you can download here.
While we can't do all the packing for you, we've got you covered with useful travel hacks courtesy of your fellow travelers...
Go light on the luggage
1. Use packing cubes
These durable and lightweight bags allow you to group similar items (think: underwear, accessories, beachwear) and pack them together in one cube. This makes for easy unpacking and repacking.
"Everyone from the U.S. seems to love Amazon basics or Ebags. Higher priced cubes from Eagle Creek and Osprey are also very well-reviewed." - Ceetine in the Travel Gadgets and Gear forum
2. Roll, don't fold
Rolled-up clothes take up less space and help prevent wrinkling. However, for heavier clothing like winter jackets, you'll save more space by folding them or laying them flat at the bottom of your suitcase.
"I have been on a 3-week trip and never once used an iron. The trick is to smooth as you roll and roll as tight as you can. I just leave them rolled until I'm ready to wear them. You will be amazed how simple it is." - texsun59 in the Las Vegas forum
3. Place the heaviest item at the bottom
Always pack your heaviest items at the bottom of the suitcase. A top-heavy suitcase runs the risk of toppling over. Frequent budget airline fliers will also know that the best way to shrink your luggage is to wear your bulkiest clothing on the plane.
"Wear your bulkiest item(s) of clothing on the plane. A sweater, jeans and sneakers take up way more room than T-shirts, slacks and sandals do. This lets you take a smaller bag/suitcase." - MusketeersPlus2 in the Tripadvisor asks... forum
Be ready for worst-case scenarios
4. Pack an extra set of clothes in your carry-on
While lost luggage is pretty rare these days, baggage delays are still common, even if your flight is short and direct. Pack an extra set of clothes (especially a change of socks and underwear)—this is also useful during a layover if you want to freshen up.
"I always pack a swimsuit, a complete change of clothes, all meds, lotions, sunscreen, and anything else you would want in case your luggage gets lost or delayed. This has happened to us before and we were able to carry on as though nothing happened and enjoy beginning our vacation." - Bips in the Hawaii forum
5. Share suitcases if you're traveling as a family
Another approach is to make sure you have each person's essentials in every suitcase, in case some bags get delayed or go missing.
"We always 'mix-pack' our cases so that each person has some of their stuff in each case so if one of the cases goes missing, we all have something remaining. We have had cases going in one direction whilst we have gone in another so this works for us." - fjab in the Family Travel forum
6. Bring a socket extension
If you're traveling with someone, or with family, the last thing you'll want is to fight over the limited number of charging points in the hotel room. Bring along a socket extension so that you can juice up multiple devices in one go.
Pack for the season
Packing for winter
7. Pack layers for cold weather
Instead of one bulky winter jacket, go for lightweight layers that won't weigh down your suitcase. A thermal shirt will keep you warm when layered with other pieces of clothing, including scarves. You can always add or remove layers depending on how cold it gets outside.
"I bring clothes that dry really quickly, so I can wash them easily and I can get away with packing really, really light. The goal for me is to never check bags." - BlueSparrow in the Tripadvisor asks... forum
8. Choose down over wool
Skip the fashionable wool coat and go with a puffy down jacket. You can stuff your jacket into your daypack as an extra layer of warmth on super cold days, use it as a pillow on the flight or roll it into a little pouch to save space.
Packing for spring
9. Look out for pollen season
Pollen particles rise with warm air on midday afternoons and shower down again when the air cools at night. While outdoors, keep a small tube of Vaseline handy to spread on the inside of the bottom of your nose, which can act as a trap for some pollen particles. A good pair of shades can also keep the pollen out of your eyes.
"It's weird, but we're used to it. (Pollen) might cover your parked car windshield in a matter of a couple of hours at its worst. Just bring a light jacket and you should be fine." - panchopup. in the Road Trips forum
10. Bring clothing for changing weather conditions
Traveling in spring can be especially tricky—your destination can be chilly, warm, wet or dry, or even all four in a single day. Your best bet? Bring clothing that is breathable, insulating, sweat-absorbing and quick-drying to prepare you for those abrupt weather changes (merino wool clothing is a good choice).
"In a word, layers! We wore mainly lightweight travel-type pants and long-sleeve T-shirts, or a T-shirt under a light jumper. It certainly can warm up during the day and if you're walking, you could still get warm but by evening it would cool off." - cravingescape in the Japan forum
Packing for summer
11. Use resealable bags to keep out the bedbugs
Apart from your usual insect repellent, bring along a few resealable bags when visiting the tropics to prevent bedbugs (it's peak season!) from hitching a ride in your luggage. Use these bags to stash your dirty clothes, and wash them in hot water the moment you arrive at your next hotel.
12. Use spray bottles to beat the humidity
We get it—humid countries (think many parts of Southeast Asia can get you feeling hot and sticky within minutes. If you can't park yourself in front of an A/C unit, the next best thing is to bring a water spray bottle to mist your face while exploring under the hot sun.
Packing for fall
13. Pack for erratic weather
Fall weather can sometimes seem unpredictable, with its sunny days, chilly evenings and the occasional afternoon downpour. Make sure you pack a loose-fitting waterproof rain jacket or windbreaker that you can take off or tie around your waist when needed along with a few pairs of woolen socks.
"Be sure to pack a raincoat, a waterproof scarf, a small folding umbrella and gloves, and layer clothing type. I wear mostly dark slacks for the dirty metro rides and lighter tops but not white (only because I don't want to be washing clothes all the time). For nice dinners I bring one nice black dress and some colorful scarves." - Discover
