With the arrival of summer, everyone starts planning to spend their long vacation on a fun trip to another country. However, preparing and getting ready for this trip can take a lot of effort, and many people look for useful travel tips to benefit from.
That’s why, in this article, we will go over 25 tips that may help make the preparation process for your trip easier and more organized.
Travel Tips Before Your Trip
There are several travel tips that can greatly help you. For example, you should make a list of the items you want to pack, try to save space in your suitcase, place small items inside larger ones, and don’t forget your phone charger. Here are more important tips:
1. Make a Packing List
Making a list of the items you plan to take with you might seem unnecessary, but it’s actually an important step that makes your travel more organized and less stressful, instead of trying to remember whether you packed everything or forgot something.
This list is also useful if the airline loses your luggage and asks you to provide a list of what was inside.
2. Keep a Copy of Important Documents
In case your ID card, passport, or children’s travel consent forms get lost or stolen, keep digital copies of these documents on your phone so you can access them even without the internet.
You can also keep a copy on your USB flash drive, as long as it’s password-protected, so your information remains available even if your phone is stolen.
3. Bring a Laundry Bag
Don’t use a plastic bag for dirty laundry, as it will start to smell after just a few days.
Instead, bring a laundry bag with holes that allow ventilation. It won’t take up much space in your suitcase.
4. Save Space in Your Suitcase
If your suitcase is already tight and you plan to buy souvenirs during your trip, you can save more space by not packing your own shower products.
Hotels usually provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and hair dryers.
Anything else you need can easily be purchased from a local store when you arrive.
5. Use Packing Organizers
Using packing cubes or travel organizers is an easy way to separate socks and underwear from your shirts.
They also compress your clothes a bit, which helps save space in your suitcase.
6. Pack Matching Outfits Together
Put clothing items that match or can be worn together in sets, or coordinate them by color.
7. Bring Travel-Sized Toiletries
Toiletries can be bulky and take up a lot of space in your luggage.
To save space, buy travel-sized versions of your favorite products, or use small containers.
Also, get sample-sized versions of your favorite perfumes instead of taking the full bottle.
8. Mark Your Luggage
When traveling, your suitcase might look similar to others.
So, make it easy to identify by tying a brightly colored ribbon to it, attaching a noticeable tag, or writing your initials on a bright piece of tape.
9. Pack According to Weight
Keep your heaviest items—such as shoes and bags—at the bottom of your suitcase.
This helps protect your more fragile items from damage during handling.
If you’ve bought breakable souvenirs, place them in the middle of the suitcase surrounded by layers of clothing to prevent them from breaking.
Avoid the corners, as they’re more likely to get hit.
10. Use a Backpack Instead of a Suitcase
If you’re traveling for a short period, a backpack may be the easiest option.
It frees up both hands and makes moving around more convenient.
11. Charge Your Phone
If you forget your charger in the rush before traveling, you can use the USB port on the hotel room TV—most modern TVs have one.
You can also use a power bank to charge your phone while at the hotel or on the go.
This way, you won’t have to search everywhere for a power outlet.
12. Place Small Items Inside Larger Ones
Make the most of every bit of space by finding new places to store small items.
For example, put socks, belts, and other small things inside your shoes to utilize all available space.
13. Bring a Backup Map
Don’t rely solely on GPS apps to get around in the country you’re visiting.
GPS can sometimes fail during bad weather.
It’s better to print a map and directions to your destinations before you travel and keep them with you.
A printed map is also a good place to write down your hotel’s contact information and emergency contacts in case of an accident.
14. Check Your Luggage Weight
Avoid packing heavy items that make your suitcase exceed the airline’s weight limit.
Weigh your suitcase and adjust accordingly before traveling to avoid any extra fees or inconvenience.
15. Roll Your Clothes
Instead of folding your clothes the usual way, roll shirts and pants tightly into cylinders.
Rolling clothes saves a lot more space and helps reduce wrinkles.
16. Stay Prepared All Year Round
If you travel frequently throughout the year, it’s best not to unpack your toiletry bag. Keep one dedicated just for travel.
Pack travel-sized deodorant, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and other essentials.
This way, you won’t forget bathroom items when you need to pack quickly next time.
17. Carry a Bottle of Alcohol
If you have space in your hand luggage, bring a small bottle of alcohol sanitizer to stay clean while on the move.
You can use it to disinfect your hands, spray and wipe down surfaces before eating, and even clean public toilets before use.
18. Don’t Pack Too Many Shoes
Shoes often take up a lot of space in your luggage.
Don’t overpack; two pairs are usually enough—one casual pair and one dressier pair for formal outings.
19. Use Drawer Organizers
To save time and effort unpacking everything into the closet at your destination, use drawer organizers inside your suitcase.
You can simply take them out and place them in the drawers as they are.
This is an easy way to keep your belongings neat and separate.
20. Place Important Items in Front Pockets
To avoid having to empty your entire suitcase to find essential items, keep your sleepwear, first-day clothes, and painkillers at the top of your suitcase.
For example, if you’re spending just one night at a stopover hotel, it doesn’t make sense to unpack everything.
21. Share Clothes Between Bags
If you’re traveling with your spouse or someone else, pack some of your clothes in their suitcase and vice versa.
This way, if one of your bags is lost or delayed by the airline, you’ll both still have clothes to wear.
22. Use Resealable Food Bags
You can use resealable food bags to keep small items separate—like chargers, underwear, or socks.
23. Use a Waist Bag
Swap your usual handbag for a waist bag (fanny pack). They’re designed to be safer than regular bags.
Many come with secure, zippered pockets to store money, passports, and important documents.
They also prevent shoulder strain caused by carrying a traditional bag for long hours.
24. Protect Your Clothes from Dirty Shoes
Put your shoes inside disposable shower caps before placing them among your clothes to keep them from getting dirty.
25. Don’t Overpack Your Suitcase
Avoid overstuffing your suitcase. If it’s selected for inspection at the airport, staff may have trouble closing it again, which increases the risk of losing some of your belongings.
In Conclusion : Dear reader, we hope these tips will be helpful for organizing and preparing for your upcoming trip. By following them, your travel experience will be more comfortable and well-organized.
