TIPS FOR PACKING THE PERFECT SUITCASE THIS SUMMER
▶ Organisation experts and stylists tell Gemma White how travellers can make the most of limited space
Residents in the UAE tend to do a lot of travelling. Whether it’s trips for business, visits to your home country or holidays, suitcases in this region get a lot of use. While summer holidays are typically everyone’s idea of fun, packing for them comes much lower on the list.
Heading to places with variable climates inevitably means having to pack for all weather, in addition to planning for day excursions, evening dinners and other activities.
To make things a little easier this year, The National has spoken to an organisation expert and a stylist about their rules, tips and tricks for packing the perfect summer holiday suitcase.
Write a list
Whether you type it into your phone or write it on a notepad and stick it on the fridge, the packing list is your best friend when it comes to ensuring nothing is forgotten for your summer getaway.
“I always have a packing list if I am going on a business trip or on holiday somewhere new,” says Shelina Jokhiya, founder of DeCluttr Me.
“Then, I start taking out the clothes I plan to pack the week before and make a pile. During the week, I add or remove items from the pile, checking the weather in the location every day.”
Not sure where to start? There are several packing lists online that are available to download, as well as apps to suit all types of holidaymaker. PackPoint Travel Packing List checks the weather at your destination and allows you to share tips with other users, while PackTeo offers packing list templates for different types of holidays that can then be customised.
Check the weather and your itinerary
Dzovig van Kleef, a personal stylist and founder of Style Codes, says travellers should aks themselves certain questions before packing. “How long I am going to that particular destination and what activities are involved? Will I be laying on the beach, going hiking or sightseeing and visiting cities, or a combination? Knowing all of this helps a lot in planning outfits,” she says.
Putting together a rough itinerary before travelling means you can pack to ensure you follow cultural or religious customs at your destination. Having an idea about the kind of restaurants you want to visit will affect whether you pack for casual or high-end establishments.
“The main mistakes I see are packing too much, packing incorrectly and not factoring in the weather or considering the local culture,” says Jokhiya.
Choose clothes that multitask
Limited suitcase space need not mean limited outfit options. The best way to ensure pieces will yield the most wear is to plan ahead and pack more tops than bottoms so you can mix and match.
“Many of the clothes I choose are double duty; they can be worn night and day or the type of fabric makes them versatile enough to wear a few times, such as denim shorts,” says Jokhiya.
Van Kleef suggests buying slip dresses that are lightweight and can be worn as a beach cover-up during the day and at evening dinners.
“Remember, you don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe for your trip,” says Jokhiya. “You most probably have some great outfits you can wear already so take the time to really go through your closet beforehand to uncover any hidden gems.”
You don’t need all those shoes
Shoes take up a lot of space, even when they’re packed correctly, heel to toe and at the bottom of the suitcase.
“People carry too many shoes, especially heels, mules and boots,” says Jokhiya. “They take up so much room and are heavy. I take my trainers in my hand luggage and wear them when I land and wear flip flops in the airport to prevent having to take off my shoes at the scanner. Three pairs of shoes are sufficient, normally.”
Shoes that can work double duty, such as smart flats or casual loafers, remove the need to pack day shoes and night shoes, freeing up more space in your luggage.
“Don’t take heels for a summer holiday unless if you have an occasion and it’s necessary,” says van Kleef.
Packing cubes and flat pack clothing
Packing cubes not only create more space by compressing clothes, they also allow you to divide items into different categories.
“Once it comes to packing day, I love to use packing cubes to pack my clothes,” says Jokhiya. “I use one for underwear, one for tops, bottoms, dresses and nightwear or loungewear.”
Cubes can also be used to contain items, such as clothing, shoes or accessories for a particular outfiit. They are also good for helping to separate clothes belonging to your partner or children from your own if you share a suitcase, and also to keep clean and dirty items apart.
“Use packing cubes and roll clothes to help reduce the space they take up. Put smaller items into your shoes, such as jewellery, underwear, socks and toiletries in ziplock bags,” says Jokhiya.
When it comes to avoiding creased clothing when you arrive, there are ways to pack that can minimise wrinkles.
“Don’t fold,” says van Kleef. “Lay everything flat in your
Buy lightweight slip dresses that can be worn during the day as a beach cover-up and in the evenings for dinner
suitcase. I found this way much better in terms of space and for the garments when unpacking – they’re less wrinkled and it’s easier to hang them, especially if I can bring hangers with me.”