Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means YBC® will earn a small commission if you happen to make a purchase. Thanks for the support.
I have done more travel than I can count this year. From Dubai to Los Angeles to Hawaii to Oman, I have literally been all over the world, and I’ve finally got my packing down pat. I pack my carry-on in a very specific way so I am organized and stress-free, and naturally, that’s trickled down to how I pack my suitcase as well. Here are my tips for seamless, stress-free travel when packing a suitcase.
Pin this image so you can refer to it later when you’re getting ready to travel
Start with packing cubes and a great suitcase. I use these packing cubes, which I’ve found to be perfect for my needs. There’s nothing really special about them, they’re just cheap and get the job done - and sometimes that’s all you really need. I have a bunch of different suitcases, but the ones I repeatedly grab for are my Salsa Air Rimowa and this Delsey. They’re comparable, although I would say the Rimowa handles better when you’re going through an airport or on concrete sidewalks. The Delsey feels more bulky and therefore might seem slightly more sturdy, but the Rimowa is really sleek, the handle is far superior to the Delsey (my Delsey handle just broke), and it does handle a lot better. My tip, if you were going to buy a Rimowa is to either purchase second hand (options below) or buy while you’re abroad. I bought mine in Germany, and because they’re manufactured in Germany, the price is slightly better. You also can get your VAT tax back upon departure at the airport, just don’t make the mistake I did where you check your bags first and then try to find the VAT office. They need to see the actual product you purchased, not just the receipt. Anyway, once you have your packing cubes and suitcase, roll all your non-bulky pieces and organize them in the packing cubes. My organization strategy varies depending on where I’m going and what I’m doing. For example, this past summer I went to Oman, which is a traditional Muslim country and therefore I needed to dress far more conservatively than I normally do, so I put all my Oman outfits in one packing cube. I was also going to Thailand on that trip but in Thailand I was there for a Namaslay® Yoga Teacher Training, so I just needed yoga clothes, bathing suits and loungewear. All of that went into one packing cube. Lastly, I’d finish the trip in Santorini, where people get a little more decked out, so I put all my dresses and jumpsuits in my Santorini packing cube. Other times, I will just organize by item - all the shirts go in one, all the pants in another, etc.
Once you’ve rolled all your non-bulky items, it’s time to look at the bulkier pieces you’re bringing. Sweatshirts and sweatpants are generally less bulky than, say, a heavy fall cardigan (see image #4). Set aside the super bulky items like the aforementioned cardigan, a robe, a coat, etc., and fold your mid-level bulky items like sweats as shown in image 2, and place them over the rolled items.
Zip up the cube, and place the cubes into the suitcase.
Find your bulkiest items and fold them as flat as you can. Then, drape them over the packing cubes.
Zip up the suitcase and you’re good to go!
Please feel free to share any suitcase packing tips you have down in the comments section below.