14 tips to pack like a pro

If you are never sure what to take with you when you go on a trip, what type of suitcase is convenient or what is allowed or not in hand luggage, today you will find out. At Skyscanner we know that packing can be a hassle, so we've put together a good list of tips so you can leave home with peace of mind knowing you've got everything.

Keep reading and discover with us tricks to pack like a true professional.

1. Choose your ideal luggage format

Before starting to put things inside, it is worth stopping to think about what type of luggage is best for us for the trip we are going to make. Depending on the destination, the transport that we are going to use, the temperature that we will find ourselves in, the restrictions of the airlines or our way of traveling, we will be more interested in one thing or another. Thus, if you do not plan to move too much from one place to another, it will be more practical to carry a common suitcase; while if you plan to vary the destination a lot, use different types of transport or walk through slightly complicated places (mountains, beaches, steeper areas...) the most convenient thing is that you opt for a backpack.

In addition, it is also important that you consider the size. Keep in mind that clothes for warm climates take up less space than winter clothes, so if you go towards summer, better choose less bulky luggage with which you are more comfortable. Finally, if the airline with which you are going to fly charges fees for checking in, make sure you pack a suitcase or a backpack that meets the requirements that it indicates to carry it in the cabin of the plane.

Click on the photo and check the size and weight of hand luggage allowed according to the airline

2. Make a good list

Sit down and think about everything you need to take with you for this trip. It is much more practical to make a list of what you are going to take than to walk like crazy from one side of the house to another taking things without stopping. One of the best tricks to pack like a professional is to do it calmly and with time in advance, so that you can buy things that you are going to need and do not go crazy on the last day. Make that list and let it mature, surely a few days later you will come up with more necessary items. When you're ready and sure you're not carrying too much, get to work!

Click on the photo to get inspired with these 7 cabin suitcases recommended by Skyscanner

3. Create clothing sets

Once you have the list made, it is time to reduce it quite a bit. We always tend to carry too much and carry things that we end up not wearing. To pack properly, take what you normally wear, not what you would like to wear and that you always have cornered at the end of the drawer. Being comfortable is important and this is not the time to experiment. A good trick to pack is to make clothing sets, that is, take clothes that combine with each other so that you do not stop wearing something because it does not match the other clothes you are wearing. Thus, if you are only going to travel for a few days, you can make daily outfits using several items for several days. If it is a long trip, pack with shirts, pants, dresses, skirts or shoes that can go well with each other. Also, think that laundries exist all over the world and that clothes can be washed and thus you will avoid going too heavy.

Click on the image and find out how much you know with this test about what can and cannot be carried in hand luggage

4. Assemble the puzzle well

One of the most important things to pack like a pro is to place things well inside the luggage you have chosen. In general, it is better to always put the heaviest items on the bottom, such as pants, toiletry bag and shoes. Remember to put the shoes in individual bags to be able to take advantage of the space and not stain the rest. Also, make everything fit much better and wrinkle less by rolling all the clothes in the form of a tube. If you wear cashmere or silk garments, place them at the top of the suitcase to avoid wrinkles, as well as shirts, suits and evening dresses.

In the event that you carry a backpack, try to put what weighs more in the center of the backpack and distribute everything you need well so that there are no free spaces and that it acquires an uncomfortable shape for your back. If you are going to be moving a lot, the most comfortable thing is to leave the things that you are going to use the most, such as pajamas or the toiletry bag, in the upper part of the backpack.

Click on the photo and discover curiosities and anecdotes with the hand luggage of travel bloggers

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5. Organization is perfection

It is very likely that you will not be in a single accommodation on your trip, so avoid having to pack over and over again by having everything organized. It is especially important in the event that you travel with a backpack, since in those cases finding something in particular is usually more difficult. Our expert advice is that you use cloth bags that serve as compartments. In this way, if you need t-shirts you can remove this compartment knowing that what you need will be there. Do the same with underwear, accessory items like chargers, plug adapters, etc. and thus you will avoid having to repack your luggage.

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6. Wear the bulkiest

If your suitcase looks like it's going to explode or if you're traveling only with hand luggage, it's best to take the bulkiest with you while you're on the transport. You do not need to wear several clothes but, for example, if you go to a cold destination you could carry the coat outside and with the largest shoes so that they do not occupy so much volume in the suitcase. It never hurts, especially if you are a shopaholic, to leave some space in your luggage to carry something that you can find along the way. So it is better to avoid the moment of having to sit on top of the suitcase to be able to close it, right?

Click on the picture and discover how to travel light

7. Carry a couple of empty bags

Perhaps you had never thought about it, but one of the key things when packing is to carry at least a couple of empty plastic bags. One of them can be used to carry dirty clothes and the others never come in handy in the case of having wet clothes or very stained shoes, for example.

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8. Protect electronics

If you travel with a laptop, camera, tablets, electronic books or similar, you want to pack well if you don't want to end up destroying them. The best option is to get a suitable carry-on bag or backpack and not check these items on the plane. Thus, it is already possible to find specialized photography luggage on the market that also includes padded laptop compartments so that nothing can happen. If you have no choice but to carry any of them inside your checked bag, remember to put them in the heart of your luggage, surrounded by clothing that can mitigate any impact.

Click on the photo and take note of these 10 tips to avoid losing your suitcase or having it stolen

9. Separate liquids well

Do not end up with a suitcase full of soap and protect well all the liquids that you are going to carry. If you travel with hand luggage, remember that they must be carried in individual containers with a capacity of less than 100 milliliters and inside a transparent plastic bag with a capacity of less than one liter. This bag must be shown when passing the security check. In the case of checking them in the luggage, remember to close them well (it would even be advisable to seal them with tape) and carry them in plastic bags so that they do not come out.

Click on the image and check out these 10 surprising things not allowed in carry-on luggage

Keep reading: All the things you can't carry in hand luggage (and the ones you can)

10. Your documents always with you

Remember that without documentation you do nothing, so protect it well and always carry it with you. An even better option than having it inside your hand luggage is to get an interior fanny pack or document holder that allows you to hide your passport, national identity document and money from thieves.

Click on the image and find out the charges for checking in a surfboard

11. Carry “whatever” clothes in your carry-on bag

If you are worried about what might happen to your checked luggage, a good tip for packing your carry-on bag is to pack essential items. A change of clothes, a small toiletry bag and the most valuable items should be put in your hand luggage.

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12. Wrap up warm

Perhaps you are going to a beach destination but it never hurts to wear a warm outfit for what may happen. It is often cold on airplanes and the blanket on long flights may not be enough. Also, in some areas of the world such as Southeast Asia, buses look like real freezers. Do not forget when packing your suitcase to take warm clothes with you for this type of case.

Keep reading: 10 tips to enjoy a flight of 8 hours or more

13. Think that "the world does not end"

In the same way that it is very important not to go too loaded, it is also not to be overwhelmed when packing. Think that the world is full of shops, pharmacies and supermarkets where you can get what you have left at home.

Keep reading: Charges for checking in a bicycle

14. Travel safe

When you have everything ready, do not stop thinking about security. Thus, it is important that you close your suitcase well and that you do not forget to use a padlock so that no one can open it while you do not have it in sight. Some suitcases come with their own lock but on others you will need to buy one. The best thing is that you get one with a numerical code so you don't have to think about where you put the key. Also, if you are going to take a long flight, you may be interested in using the airport sealing services so that your luggage arrives intact.

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Keep reading if you want to have a perfect trip:

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