Trifter

Jet setting from one country to another can be overwhelming for inexperienced travelers. To this day I still can remember my first trip to Malaysia. Having struggled with my zippers on my luggage for what seemed to be forever it was becoming increasingly obvious that the contents of my entire closet weren’t following me to Malaysia! Thus, I decided that perhaps I wasn’t as knowledgeable as I thought. Packing a suitcase involves a little more planning than putting clean clothes inside, zipping it up and heading for the airport, bus terminal, train station or nearby taxi.  

Some experienced traveler’s will tell you to place your cosmetics and toiletries into plastic bags. Others will suggest limiting your wardrobe to as few clothes as possible in neutral colors that can be mixed and matched with each other to so that you have plenty of options when getting dressed. Yet, others readily share their secret tricks for rolling socks and underwear into cylinders, which they then place into plastic bags. And still other’s, like myself, will tell you the secret for successfully zipping your luggage closed without having to sit on top while doing so is careful folding and a well thought out design plan. Trust me it really is that simple.

Packing clothes involves a little more effort than tossing them into the suitcase. First you need to decide which method of folding you will utilize. Some traveler’s prefer to roll their clothes into cylinders before placing them inside the suitcase while others prefer to fold their clothes according to the style used in department stores. And of course there are some travelers who use both methods at the same time when packing for a trip.

After having folded you clothes you’ll want to place them in the suitcase in such a way as to minimize wrinkles from appearing when you arrive at your destination. This means heavy items like shoes and jeans should be placed at the bottom of the suitcase with lighter items on top. Underwear, socks, cosmetics, jewelry and other accessories that have been placed in plastic bags can be placed in between the piles of clothes and along the inside edges of the suitcase. Belts should not be folded or rolled but placed along the inside edge of the suitcase. In following these tips, you should have no problem getting that zipper closed.  

There is one last piece of advice I would like to share. Regardless of how tired you are when you arrive at your destination – unpack your suitcase. After spending the time properly packing your clothes it is best to unpack as soon as you arrive at your destination to keep wrinkles away or at least to a minimum.

If, unfortunately, you do discover some wrinkles hang those clothes in the bathroom with the door shut while you enjoy a much-needed hot steamy shower. Keep the door closed until the room returns to normal temperature and the wrinkles should disappear. If that doesn’t work, many hotels will provide you with an iron and small ironing board upon request.

One final piece of advice: always pack one or two outfits in your carry-on luggage. Why? If your luggage gets lost you’ll still have some clean clothes to change into.