Packing tips for couples
Drop luggage-related stress with these tricks for packing your way to a happy vacation
If you’ve travelled anywhere with your significant other, there’s a good chance you’ve run into some luggage-related stress along the way. Maybe you overpacked your one checked bag and had to scramble at the counter to stuff the extra weight into your carry-on. If you want to fight less on your next trip, the key is to pack less.
“You need less than you think,” Kit Dillon, an editor at Wirecutter, the New York Times company that reviews products, said.
“Your bag is lighter, you aren’t as preoccupied with keeping track of everything, and it’s easier to simply enjoy the present moment.”
Packing cubes are a must
If you’re unfamiliar, packing cubes are zip-up fabric containers, typically rectangular, which can help you better organize the contents of your luggage by compressing your clothes as you pack them.
“We swear by our packing cubes,” said Adam Lukaszewicz, a founder of Getting Stamped, a travel blog he started with his partner, Hannah.
Consider a new bag
If avoiding checked luggage is your goal, you may want to house your new packing cubes in a new piece of carry-on luggage.
For most travellers, Dillon recommends the Travelpro Platinum Magna 2 for its balance of size, price and reliability. Frequent travellers may also want to upgrade to the Briggs; Riley Baseline 22-Inch Domestic, which carries extra features, including expandable room. Both fit most standard overhead size regulations, Dillon said.
Consider a smarter wardrobe
“Lay out your daily outfits and only bring what you really need and bring pieces that can make several outfits,” Lukaszewicz said.
“Always pack layers and pieces you can easily mix and match no matter if you’re travelling to a tropical destination or off to the snow-capped mountains.”
Shoes are often a major space-drain, so it helps to decide in advance what you’ll actually need on your trip, rather than planning for every possible scenario.
Extend the life of your clothing
There are a few small items to include in your bag that can help you get multiple wears out of your clothing.
Start with packing a spot cleaning pen, said Megan Jerrard, who writes of her travels with her husband, Mike, at Mapping Megan. She also suggested travelling with a rubber stopper, a little bit of washing liquid and a line to hang-dry clothes.
Share your tech
The idea of not bringing your own cellphone is probably too traumatic to ponder for more than a few seconds, so we won’t go there, but we will offer some tips to keep it and your data safe while you travel.
But you might want to consider consolidating other devices like personal laptops, chargers and cameras. Dillon suggests investing in a plug-in USB hub that allows you to charge multiple devices at once.
You’ll save on space and make your airport experience a little easier.