Eight handy packing hacks for your mid-year trip
Heading overseas this mid-year break? Perhaps it’s your first time out of Australia, or maybe you're a seasoned traveller who is looking for some handy hints on how to get the most out of your baggage allowance. Read on to learn hot tips on travelling light and easy.
Charging your tech
Along with bringing your phone, you’ll probably need a camera too, perhaps a tablet, and a Kindle if you don’t want to be carrying around heavy books. With all technology comes a charger, which can lead to way too many cords, particularly if you need an international adapter for each.
Instead, just take one universal adapter, then grab a power board with at least four sockets, they’re pretty light, can usually be crammed into the side of a suitcase, and it gives you four times the charging power from one outlet. Some of them even come with extra USB outlets these days.
Vacuum pack
Rather than sitting on your suitcase to get it closed, why not use a Space Bag? A popular item on home shopping shows of the 90s for home linen storage, now these can be utilised when heading overseas to help you cram in more. A quick vacuum pack will save you oodles of space but be warned, to repack you need a vacuum cleaner, so make sure you can access one on your travels before you pack way too much stuff.
Fold and roll
This should be your mantra when packing. As each item goes into your suitcase, repeat these words, “Fold and roll”. Fold clothes along one axis only so they go long, roll them like they’re a sleeping bag, and then stuff them into the bottom of your suitcase. It also means when you take something out, you don’t have to sort through layers of other clothes to find what you’re after, instead all your clothes are displayed like eggs in a carton: take whichever one you want without disturbing the rest.
How many clothes?
As a rough guide, take about a week’s worth of clothes. This means seven pairs of undies, seven pairs of socks, seven tops wear as a top, maybe two skirts and/or shorts, one pair of pants, a couple of jumpers, a warm scarf and don’t forget a couple of more classy items if you get invited somewhere nice for dinner (this means dresses, dress shirts, and nice shoes). Just think of what you’d wear in a week, and remember to do weekly washing.
Security
What’s the best way to avoid pick-pockets while overseas? You might think it’s money belts and stuffing important documents into undergarments, but this usually results in having to fish out sweaty passports and Euro dollars from unsightly areas, drawing attention straight to you.
Put your wallet in your pocket, but be more watchful than you would in Australia. Check directions on your phone, don’t grab out a massive map and stand on the street corner looking lost. You’ll be a magnet for pick-pockets. Europe is about as safe as Australia, with the occasional stolen camera or phone, so keep your wits about you. But really the best thing to do is fit in and you’ll leave with all the jewellery you came in with. When in Rome…
Backpacks
Are you planning on hiking the slopes of Mont Blanc? No? Then leave your backpack at home. You want something on wheels to help you get around the airports with ease. To keep excess baggage costs down you need one suitcase that holds around 20kg and another that holds around 7kg, both with handles, both with wheels, and rectangular so you can squeeze it into the airport buses and the taxis you’ll be taking.
Towels
Do you take a towel or not? Don’t be tempted by these microfibre travel towels. Instead, save a bunch of room and weight in your luggage and don’t pack one at all. Every hotel, motel and AirBnB will supply you with a clean towel. When towels are wet, they’re a nightmare to repack.
Alex Dick
Alex studies media at RMIT, is a freelance writer and photographer, and comedy fanatic. He’s a perfectionist, but is also lazy, so he lives in constant frustration of the imperfect world around him.