10 TIPS TO HELP YOU PACK LIKE A PRO

Nobody enjoys packing, but these clever hacks will make it as easy as possible. Bon voyage!

1 Use an app

Packing Pro (IOS, £2.99) creates a list of essentials based on where you’re going and for how long. Packpoint (IOS and Android, free) is similar.

2 Keep cables and wires tidy

‘Secure cables and wires individually with cable ties and pack in an easy-to-spot pouch so you can find it quickly in your bag,’ says Nicola Lewis, author of Mind Over Clutter. ‘Put your laptop and smartphone charger in your hand luggage for safekeeping.’

3 Roll don’t fold

Rolling prevents creases, saves space and protects delicate items. Clothes with the most wrinkle potential (such as linen) go around the outside, while clothes that are least likely to wrinkle go in the middle.

4 Use packing cubes

An alternative if rolling isn’t for you. ‘At your destination, simply pop the cubes straight in a drawer,’ says Nicola. Try the Antler cubes (£49 for a set of 4, antler.co.uk).

5 Keep shirt collars stiff

Place a rolled-up belt in the neck of a shirt to keep it firm.

6 Pack underwear in drawstring bags

Once you’ve unpacked, you can then use the bags to store clothes you’ve worn. This means they’re separate from the clean stuff and ready to wash when you get home.

7 Protect pleated garments

by rolling them lengthways into a pair of tights.

8 Stop dirt transferring from shoes

Those flimsy shower caps you get in hotels do have their uses – pop them over the soles of shoes before you pack them.

9 Check cabin baggage dimensions

These have changed for some airlines recently, so check your cabin bag

– if you’re taking one – is still suitable.

10 Take photos or scans of important documents

This will help keep passports, insurance documents and tickets safe in case you lose any paperwork. Email them to yourself so you can find important information quickly.