It's 11 p.m. and you have a 7 a.m. flight and haven't packed so much as a pair of socks yet. But you are in good company, as packing usually ranks right up there with doing laundry or cleaning the bathroom on most people's enjoyment scales. Packing doesn't have to be such a chore, though, and if you are pressed for time, you can get it done and done well with these 6 tips for quick packing:
1. Pack your shoes and large items first. Before you put your clothes and soft/flexible items in your suitcase, make sure there's room for the larger items by putting them in first. It is easy to mold clothes around large items as opposed to trying to stuff in your walking shoes, boots and work shoes last in crammed spaces.
2. Check the forecast before packing your clothes. Although meteorologists can be as accurate as fortune tellers at times, it will help you prepare better if you have a general idea of what the weather will be like. Bring a few basics that you can layer in case of weather changes, such as a plain colored jacket that matches a lot of your outfits, as well as shorts and pants for places with weather that is between warm and cool or subject to change at night. Also pack a poncho or rain gear if the forecast calls for rain.
3. Pack your vital clothes first. Save yourself extra suitcase space and time by packing what you know you will need first, starting with your wardrobe. If you're going on a business trip, pack your work clothes, and if you're going for pleasure, pack casual attire that suits the weather forecast. Keep your trip plans in mind and bring clothes to suit your plans, such as going to the beach, shopping or going out at night. If you have room at the end, you can decide if you want to pack extra outfits.
4. Keep a stash of travel-sized personal care items. This will make packing shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and toothpaste a breeze. If you don't already have travel-sized containers, buy some at your local drugstore or save hotel-sized bottles from previous trips to reuse.
5. Roll your clothes. Rolling your clothes will give you more room in your suitcase so you can pack more into a smaller space and not have to lug around a bunch of bags.
6. Pack your socks last. If you have a sock compartment still open after packing everything else, use it but if not, it is easy to stuff socks in around larger items. They offer the added benefit of cushioning delicate items such as electronics.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
