The world is coming out of lock-down and many people are thinking about venturing further afield again. Perhaps, you’re off to visit family on the other side of the world. Maybe you have a 2-day business trip to Europe on your agenda… or just a well-deserved holiday and change of scenery! Below, we’ve shared a few tips & suggestions about how you can pack successfully when going away on a trip.

Work or play?

Unless your occupation is something like ‘professional surfer’, you’ll need to fill your suitcase with smart shirts, jackets, ties and trousers/skirts. If you’re a business traveller with this kind of work attire, a garment carrier is a wise investment; it ensures that your suit (and therefore, you) arrives at your destination looking fresh and uncrumpled. This is especially useful if you’ll be travelling straight to a meeting direct from the train station, airport or ferry terminal.

Think about the weather

If you’re lucky enough to be heading to a Greek or Caribbean island for a fortnight of almost guaranteed sunshine, stock up on beach t-shirts to take on your trip… and don’t forget your sun protection! Shorts, slippers and swimsuits will be the order of the day, however, pack a few fashionable dresses, tops and trousers if you plan on eating out in the evenings. Many restaurants have a semi-formal dress code that means you’ll need some smart attire.

Skiing or snowboarding holidays mean you’ll need to pack a completely different wardrobe. Clothes such as padded jackets, jumpers, bobble hats and thermal under-layers will keep you warm on the slopes.

Maybe you’re more of a culture vulture than a beach bum. Make sure you pack a pair of shoes or sandals that a comfortable for walking the long distances between museums, galleries and music venues. Again, some venues such as places of worship require you to wear modest attire.

Carry on, or luxury luggage?

If you’re going on a weekend-long trip it should be easy enough to get away with just carry-on bags. This will save you so much time not having to hang around in the baggage reclaim area.

We have a great piece of advice if you plan on travelling ‘carry-on only’. Wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes to travel in if you can. This plan works better if you’re going from a colder place to warmer climes. Put on your chunky jumper, big boots and overcoat to board the plane to your destination and back again. When travelling from a the tropics to temperate conditions,  you can always wait until you get to the airport before donning your heat-retaining layers, rather than feeling like you’re melting whilst getting there.

Stand out from the crowd

If you do have to put your baggage into the hold, there’s a simple trick you can use to help you quickly spot your bags on the luggage carousel. Tie eye-catching ribbons or bandanas around the handles – it will help to distinguish your items from all the other boring grey, monochrome suitcases on the conveyor belt. The less time you have to spend in the waiting for your bags, the sooner that you’re out of there and getting on with your trip.

Be security minded

You should always have a small, secure bag that remains on your person at all times. In it should be anything valuable or essential that, if lost, misplaced or stolen, would prove to be a catastrophe. Items such as your travel money, credit cards, passports, ID cards, expensive jewellery, keys, medications and mobile phones & laptops should be kept safe and close at hand.

If you have any additional ideas about how to pack successfully when going travelling, share them below in the comments section.

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