No Time to Waste: Savvy Packing Strategies for a Quick Break

If you’re planning a weekend break, you’ve probably got relaxation on your mind—and that means you won’t want to drag around a heavy suitcase with you.

But traveling lighter involves using some smart packing strategies so you only take exactly what you need and use up less space doing so. Here are some tips to get you started.

Get Some Help from Your Hotel

After you’ve booked your hotel, call up before you pack your bags and ask them if they can lend you anything once you arrive. Hotels will often do this for guests, usually when guests have forgotten essential items, but you can use it to plan ahead.

For example, if you stay somewhere like the SpringHill Suites Marriott on your next trip to Virginia Beach, you might be able to borrow a hairdryer, and you will almost certainly find some shampoo to use. So leave what you can at home, and travel lighter on your weekend break.

Check the Weather Forecast

One way to waste packing space is to take lots of clothing for cold or wet weather that you don’t end up using. To prevent this from happening to you, check the weather forecast before you go and only pack what you need for the weather you will encounter.

Download a Packing App

There are lots of packing apps that you can download to your smartphone or tablet, and these aim to help you pack smarter and lighter without forgetting anything.

Usually, you will enter in details about your trip, including where you are going, the nature of your trip, and any activities you will do, and the apps will then tell you what you need to pack.

Some apps you might want to try out include PackPoint, TripList, and Packing Pro.

Roll Up Your Clothes

When it comes to packing tips, one of the smartest ways you can save space in your suitcase is to roll rather than fold your clothes. Although your natural inclination may be to fold up your clothing, if you roll your items they are likely to take up less space—and they will probably be less crinkled when you take them out.

The best way to do this is to lay all your t-shirts in a pile and then roll them up together. You can then use string or an elastic band to fasten them.

Use Hidden Shoe Space

If you are packing any pairs of shoes in your suitcase, make use of the space inside these to pack smaller items. For example, you could keep items of jewelry, socks, and other small things hidden inside the shoes to use up the otherwise wasted space.

Carry Things with You

Finally, if you’re really pushed for space, why not just carry those extra items onto the plane? If you have a jacket with large pockets, you can easily store a few extra items on you so they don’t take up space in your suitcase.

Travel Lighter on Your Weekend Break

Follow these packing strategies to ensure you travel lighter on your next weekend trip. From taking only what you need to using smarter strategies to fit more in, follow these and you won’t have to worry about carrying around a heavy suitcase with you on your break.

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