Travel packing tips and tricks

Did you ever ask yourself how to pack a suitcase efficiently? How to pack a suitcase faster? Well, I have to tell you that I always pack luggage in under half an hour and in this article I want to share with you my secrets on how to pack a suitcase for a week in 30 minutes or less.

Yes, you saw that correctly. 30 minutes or less. To be honest, it takes me around 20 minutes… And I pack my suitcase a day in advance – not weeks ahead. Let’s see how to pack like a pro in 30 minutes or less.

How to pack a suitcase for a week in 30 minutes or less

Plan your luggage – research

This step – which I know many people hate – is my best secret for packing a suitcase for a week in 30 minutes or less. This is, perhaps, the best travel packing tip.

First, check the weather for your travel. This way, you’ll know:

• what to expect
• what you need to pack
• what you need to wash/dry clean before packing

Knowing exactly what to expect in terms of weather will allow you to only choose the essentials!

Plan your luggage – think of essential items you’ll need – make a packing list

The second part about prepping your luggage is to take into consideration what specific items you’ll need based on where you’ll go. You’ll pack different things for a trip to the mountains that includes hiking than for a trip to the beach.

Obviously, the length of your trip is also a factor – because you’ll pack fewer items for a day at the beach than for a week at the same destination.

Make a list of what you need.

Scratch that.

Make a list of what you REALLY need.

Next on this list of travel packing tips and tricks it the recommendation to think about the minimum possible luggage you could bring.

Take into consideration your travel itinerary. Based on the things you want to do, add more or remove things from your packing list.

Create a possible wardrobe

Knowing how the weather will be and what specific items you’ll need based on your destination, you’ll then create a wardrobe for your trip.

Pro tip: pack items that can go together in different outfits (like a cardigan or something). Again, think of the minimum you need!

Create a packing list of all the things you’ll need

Yes, I know, you hate lists. So do I.

And I hated packing lists too until I left on a vacation without a few essential items. As I was on a budget on that trip, it wasn’t great that I had to spend a lot on those essentials.

So another pro tip to pack luggage faster is to create a packing list for each type of vacations/trips you take.

These will be your packing list templates in the future! This is how to pack like a pro: always have a plan and know exactly what you need to take with you!

For instance, here’s what I usually pack a week at the beach:

• bathing suit (or 2)
• sun lotion
• beach bag
• sun glasses
• hat
• beach towel
• 6 tops/blouses
• lingerie
• 2 pear of pants (one long, one short)
• one pair of sandals (backup)
• camera
• books to read
• a notebook (in my purse) plus a pen to write my thoughts
• laptop
• maybe a light jacket if the nights are colder
• jewelry – 1-2 pairs of earrings, 1-2 rings
• other gadgets if needed (phone + charger, maybe some earplugs, a stylus for my phone + voltage converter/adapter when needed)

How to pack a suitcase like a pro on the day of departure or a day before in 30 minutes or less

Well, I hope that the travel packing tips and tricks shared above showed you that it really is EASY to pack a suitcase for a week in 30 minutes or less.

Now, when it comes to packing techniques, it’s the old dilemma between rolling and packing traditionally.

I admit that apart from my lingerie, I don’t roll things. I don’t need to – even when packing a carry-on only. So I roll and fold – and it’s OK.

As I always pack the essentials for a trip – I choose, for this, minimalist packing as you’ve noticed from the recommendations and lists above – I have enough space for everything I need.

I admit that for me, light packing is very useful and I can have spare room for buying travel souvenirs. For example, if I buy a mug, then I can put it in the clothes in my suitcase, and it won’t break!

Another item on my travel packing tips and tricks list is to pack wrinkle-resistant fabrics. In this way, you don’t have to stress about ironing your clothes at the hotel and you’ll have a more stress-free holiday!

In fact, these recommendations for how to pack a suitcase for a holiday are meant to help you have a stress-free trip altogether.

With proper planning, you reduce the stress of packing and you are sure to pack everything you need.

Creating packing list templates, will help you reduce even more time prepping for your next trip in a similar location. If you have a packing list for a trip to the beach, then next time you only check the weather to see what you need to add/remove from your current list.

I hope you see how easy it is to pack a suitcase for a week in 30 minutes or less.

Yes, it takes practice. But then it gets even easier.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is to choose your essentials, to go toward minimalist packing. You don’t need to go to the extreme and you can add items that you’ll need – an evening dress if you’ll attend special events, etc.

But keep it simple! And you’ll get there – to pack like a pro!

photo sources: 1, 2, 3, photo 2 – pin1, pin 2, pin 3