Packing a suitcase can be a tough task, especially when you want to leave some room for souvenirs to remember your amazing vacation. The best travelers pack as little as possible while still toting everything they'll need. Here are our hacks to make the most of your packing space. Buy a Lightweight Suitcase Invest in a suitcase that doesn't feel like a ton of bricks. This will save money on baggage fees and you won't feel like you're hauling an elephant through the airport. Also, make sure you love your bag! You'll get a lot more use out of something you love to pack. Pack in Reverse Order Think about it: the first items into your suitcase should be the last items out of it. Extra pair of pants? Pack these first. Pajamas you'll need the first night you arrive? These should be placed on top. Bring Travel-Size Toiletries No need to pack the entire shampoo bottle that takes up valuable real estate. Buy 3 ounce travel bottles from the store and fill them up. Prevent any spills from ruining your carefully packed clothing by double-bagging everything. Keep Snacks in Ziplock Bags Bringing your own airplane snacks is a helpful way to save money and avoid impulse spending. The cardboard boxes that your favorite treats may come in are bulky and hard to navigate when you're trying to reduce the number of carry-ons you'll need to take on your trip. Roll-Up Your Socks in Your Shoes With all the items in your suitcase, things can get pretty tight. Help preserve your shoe shape so they don't get flattened during travel. In fact, fill most of your holes with extra socks. Your feet do a lot of traveling on vacation, and extra socks are never a bad thing. Place Shoes in Bags Have you looked at the bottom of your shoes lately? Prevent dirt and grime from ruining your favorite shirt by placing them in a large ziploc bag or even in a grocery bag. Think Multi-function To reduce the amount of space you're taking up, look for wardrobe pieces that have different functions. If it rains when you are caught outdoors, will your coat and shoes be able to repel the water? Thinking about this ahead of time can help you make smarter packing decisions. If you are expecting rain on your trip, take a look at our rainy-day packing list for ideas. Bring Extra Grocery Bags Use grocery bags or tote bags to separate dirty laundry from clean clothes. Throw in a few dryer sheets to absorb some of the vacation clothes smell. Laundry Detergent Bring cheap, individual packets of laundry detergent so you can clean clothes on the go. Put Chargers and Cables in a Glasses Case Don't forget the chargers! Store these so they will not get tangled and are easily accessible. See more packing ideas: 5 Surprisingly Useful Items to Take with you on Vacation Now that you're a packing pro, book your next vacation with Exploria Resorts! Click on our Destinations tab at the top of the page to see all the vacations you and your family can explore.
