8 suitcase packing mistakes that could ruin your vacation

A poor packing job can mess up your getaway. Whether you’re flying out to Lahore for a cousin’s wedding, attending a business conference in Nepal or planning on cruising through Europe to attend the Formula One races, you need to pack smart to maintain your sanity during the trip. As compiled from Reader’s Digest, Business Insider, travelandleisure.com and USA Today, personal stylists and professional organisers share their tips for strategically filled luggage.

You have a ‘when in doubt’ mindset

“The biggest mistake is over-packing. People don’t know what they’re going to wear and are afraid to sacrifice stuff,” says Sarah Nelson, a professional organiser in Miami, Florida. Lay clothes out on the bed and mix and match outfits to see what works. Choose a couple of neutral coloured bottoms to pair with different tops. Coordinating your outfits around one or two shades ensures you always have something that matches. For extended trips, bring a few less outfits than the number of days you’ll be away. “Wear basics several times; no one will notice,” Business Insider suggests. 

Read: 8 Reasons you’re often always cold

You wait until the last minute

“Then you’re stressed and can’t think clearly, so you end up packing too many options and don’t have what you need,” says Dacy Gillespie, a StLouis-based personal stylist, who runs the website mindfulcloset.com. You must start packing a week in advance — slowly and gradually, packing outfits or gifts for family (if you’re visiting them or attending a wedding) beforehand. Make a list of the activities on your itinerary to determine what you need: comfy shoes vs flip flops, dressy clothes vs chilled out casual, etc. 

You forget to check your destination’s weather

Put the weather app on your smarthone to good use. “This way you won’t be stuck with all pants if it’s hot or no jacket if it’s cool,” says Nelson. But don’t take the forecast too literally, since weather does change. Professional organisers suggest packing clothes that you can layer easily, so you can throw on a cardigan or a lightweight shawl if, say, a cool rainstorm unexpectedly blows in. The last thing you need on a vacay is stress — something you wanted to escape from in the first place. 

You fold instead of roll

“Rolling is a great way to maximise space in a suitcase,” says Gillespie. Follow these steps from experts: First, fold the item of clothing lengthwise once. Then, roll tightly as you would, a tight scroll or chart paper. Lay the piece of clothing in your bag with heavier items such as jeans or sweaters along the bottom and near the wheels for balance. Light items, like pajamas or t-shirts, should be on top. For fancier items you don’t want to roll, place a piece of dry-cleaner plastic or tissue between each layer to prevent wrinkles. 

Read: 11 things a successful telecom company does

You purchase a whole new wardrobe for your trip

“Don’t try a new look on vacation!” says Gillespie. New clothes you’re not used to wearing may not fit as well or look as good as they did in the dressing room when you bought them. Instead, “make sure you stick with trusted outfits that you know for sure, you look good in,” she says. Pay attention to fabrics as well, especially if you’re attending a wedding or a business conference, knits and denim travel extremely well, while silk and linen wrinkle easily. 

You throw out your packing list

A packing list can help make sure you don’t forget anything important, but don’t discard it in the trash when you’re finished packing; in fact, save it. Make sure you slip it into a pocket of your suitcase and take it with you, suggest travel experts. Then when you’re ready to leave your destination, you can review the list again to make sure you don’t leave anything behind. Items such as watches, smaller accessories, shampoos and gadget chargers are very commonly forgotten. 

You forget about food

Vacations are notoriously tough for sticking to a healthy eating routine. That’s partly because you often don’t know where your next meal or snack is coming from, so you’re at the mercy of whatever you happen to encounter. If you’re staying at your foodie aunt’s place and want to avoid her delish but greasy nihari, stash your own snacks, such as protein bars, fibre-rich kaala channa or a mix of assorted nuts in your luggage to ensure you always have something healthy handy. 

You don’t factor in mementoes

You’re planning a getaway and you don’t visit the malls at your destination — impossible. Overdo it on shopping and your suitcase might not zip up on your way back home. Just to be on the safe side, “get a duffle bag that compresses into a smaller, easily packable pouch. You can easily throw it in the suitcase, and you’ll have another bag for your very likely-made extra purchases,” recommends Nelson.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th,  2015.

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