Ahead of the pack
There’s an art to packing your carry-on bag, and this is it,
For some travellers, the mere thought of packing a carry-on bag can sour even the most potent vacation anticipation. But packing light can also be a creative endeavour that helps build excitement for your upcoming getaway. And with fees for checked bags on the rise, it makes economic sense to master the art of packing a carry-on. Here are some tips on how to save space — and your sanity.
Get in the minimalist mindset
If you tend to overpack, begin by thinking about why you’re travelling in the first place. Doing so may help you focus on the sights, sounds, scents and tastes you’re about to experience, instead of the many outfits you’re unable to cram into your bag.
“When you’re travelling, it’s more about you seeing the world than the world seeing you,” said Pauline Frommer, co-president of the Frommer’s travel guidebook series and Frommers.com, who has not checked a bag in more than 20 years.
Pack colours that co-ordinate so you can bring fewer items yet still have options, like wearing the same pants with various shirts. Darker colours mean a stain won’t render something unwearable.
And invest in some technical clothing that will keep you warm without being bulky, is easy to move in, has pockets for necessities like glasses and cellphones, and resists water as well as odours so it can be worn more than once. Many outdoor apparel brands make clothes that are great for hiking, yet sleek enough to dress up when the sun goes down. Just pack some eyecatching accessories.
Choose your bag
To determine the bag that’s best for you, ask yourself how you’ll be using it. Will you be carrying it long distances, through subway turnstiles and city streets? Or will you typically be rolling off a plane and into a car?
Bags with wheels tend to be less taxing on your body; however, if you’ll be taking public transport or flights of stairs, a backpack or lightweight duffel can keep you hands-free and may make for smoother transitions. Also, consider the things you’ll be bringing. Structured, harder luggage is often best for keeping dress clothes wrinkle-free and organising unwieldy items like high heels. That said, a soft duffel bag without wheels has a better chance of being able to squish into an overhead bin.
Carry-on bag dimensions vary by airline, so be sure to check your specific airline’s size and weight requirements, including those of any connecting carriers.
Know when to fold ’em
When it comes to packing your clothes, the question is: Should you fold them flat or roll them? Nerissa Settie, the butler executive at Raffles Doha in Qatar recommends rolling because it uses less space and results in fewer creases. That’s easy enough with T-shirts, but what about a suit jacket?
The butlers at Raffles Doha turn one shoulder of the jacket inside out and then tuck the opposite shoulder inside it, aligning the sleeves and then folding the jacket in half while inside out, which minimises wrinkling and protects the outer layer of the jacket. Or wear your blazer on to the plane, something Settie suggests because jackets and jeans take up a lot of space and weigh more.
Pack heavier items like shoes at the bottom of your bag and stash socks and jewellery in them.
Clothing should go towards the top to reduce creases created from weight, with jackets going in last, Settie said. You can also protect from wrinkles by putting skirts and blouses in plastic dry-cleaning bags before folding them flat and placing them at the top of your bag.
Borrow and buy
Call your hotel or vacation rental to find out if items like hairdryers and sunscreen are provided so you don’t have to pack your own, and ask if they have washing machines or offer cleaning at reasonable prices.
And don’t pack for every eventuality. Buying practical things can be great fun. It’s an opportunity to talk to residents, try regional products and bring a few treasures home, thanks to all that room that’s left in your bag.