How to Pack Effectively for the Plane

Effectively packing for a flight can be the difference between an enjoyable, stress-free trip and an on-the-road nightmare. Forget an essential item and you’re scrambling to find the nearest store; pack too much and you end up disorganized and having to pay extra for a bag fee. Here are 10 fundamental packing strategies that every traveler should learn from Caroline Costello at SmarterTravel.com.

Roll, don’t fold.

Many travel experts—including backpackers, who must stuff months’ worth of clothing into a bag the size of a box of wine—agree that rolling is superior to folding. Tightly rolled clothes take up less space than folded ones. Plus, they’re less prone to getting deep wrinkles from fold creases.

Make a packing list

When it comes to packing, procrastinators fall short. Start your packing process days or even weeks ahead of your departure date; this gives you time to craft a complete list, plus purchase any additional items you might need for your vacation. Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that you never, ever forget to bring something important.

Know your airline’s baggage-fee policy

Figuring out the airlines’ tricky and befuddling baggage-fee policies is key to any budget-minded packing strategy. While most airlines permit travelers to check at least one bag on international flights, the majority of U.S. carriers charge big bucks for bags checked on domestic flights. Spirit Airlines—that notoriously customer-unfriendly discounter—even charges as much as $100 for carry-on bags.

Avoid bag fees with these packing tips

Before you begin packing, take a peek at your airline’s website and read its baggage policy. This is something you might even want to do prior to buying your plane ticket, especially if you’re set on bringing a checked bag or two. Consider flying on Southwest, which permits at least one free checked bag on domestic flights.

Know the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule

What happens if you don’t follow the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) 3-1-1 rule for carry-on luggage? If you attempt to bring a large bottle of shampoo or a full-size gel deodorant through the security line, a TSA agent will confiscate your stuff, holding you up in line in the process. So get familiar with the agency’s rules: All liquids brought onto planes must be in 3.4-ounce bottles or smaller and inside a single, clear, quart-size zip-top bag.

Use your personal item wisely

It’s standard for airlines to permit each traveler to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item onboard planes. This personal item is subject to specific size requirements (these vary by airline), but something like a purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable.

In her article, “Five Tips for Fitting it All in a Carry-on Bag,” Caroline Morse advises travelers to leverage their personal-item allowance, suggesting, “Forget wasting my personal-item allowance with a tiny purse. I’ll bring a larger tote bag that I can stash under the seat but will still give me extra storage space. This will come in handy for keeping all of the things I’ll need to be on hand during the flight within arms’ reach as well.”

Wash your clothes on the road

If you’re staying in a hotel, call in advance to see if laundry services are available and how much they cost. Travelers staying in properties without laundry facilities or taking cruises—cruise lines are notorious for charging an arm and a pant leg for laundry services—can wash clothes in sinks and hang them to dry. Pack a travel-size packet of laundry detergent and a sink stopper to clean your clothes in the bathroom sink in your hotel room. Some hotels have them now, but just in case, purchase a portable laundry-drying line with suction cups that attach to shower walls for drying.

Pack dual-purpose garments

If it’s two-in-one, it’s one less thing to pack. Dual-purpose items, such as pants that turn into shorts or a jacket that turns into a travel pillow are worth their weight in airline baggage fees.

Layer

This advice is twofold: Wear layers and pack in layers. First, your on-the-road wardrobe should feature plenty of layers, which will help you jetset through multiple climates in style and comfort. Second, the items in your bag should be packed in neat layers for easy screening. According to the TSA, “Pack items in layers (shoes one layer, clothes one layer, electronics one layer, etc.)” so that the security agent screening your bag can get a clear picture of what’s inside. The faster the TSA agent can screen your stuff, the faster you’ll get through the security line.

Never check essential items

It’s terribly important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage. Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, jewelry, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the plane with you. We probably don’t need to tell you why you need to keep your passport and wallet on your person. But if the airline loses your luggage (or if a TSA agent gets sticky fingers), you’ll regret stowing your expensive watch in a checked bag.

Use packing aids

To make your clothes even more compact, pick up an Eagle Creek Compression Sac. You can use it to shrivel your clothes into a tight, vacuum-packed bundle that takes up very little suitcase space. Other packing aids that can help you organize better and fit more into your bag include packing envelopes and packing cubes.

Best Countries for Travel in 2016

Few things can be as exhilarating as traveling to a new country. Need some ideas on where to go and why? Read on for LonelyPlanet.com’s list of the top 10 countries to travel to in 2016.

Begin your journey

Africa’s unsung success
Botswana can be described as democratic, progressive, enlightened and invigoratingly wild. Botswana’s journey from poverty to become one of Africa’s most stable, thriving societies is inspirational. The country celebrates 50 years of independence in 2016 and there’s a lot for it to shout about, not least the way it has balanced economic growth with protecting its natural riches. Prepare for a severe case of slack-jawed-with-awe syndrome when you visit.

Japan’s new horizons
Japan might be number two in this year’s rankings, but it’s always number one for travelers in search of an otherworldly experience. Nowhere else on earth exemplifies that dog-eared ‘modern yet ancient’ cliché like the land of the rising sun. Tokyo’s successful bid to host the Olympics in 2020 has raised the temperature of a feverish city amid a blur of new development, but beyond the suburbs Japan remains as elegant and enticing as its graceful wooden temples.

Celebrate our national parks
The National Park Service—the “best idea America ever had”—turns 100 next year, so lace on your hiking boots and finally make time to see some of the country’s 59 national parks and hundreds of historic landmarks. You’ll marvel at the miraculously well-managed surreal and spectacular landscapes, from earth-rending canyons to alligator-infested swamplands to belching geysers.

Palau—the Pacific’s greenest secret
Palau is unquestionably one of the most magical diving and snorkeling destinations in the world—and it’s fighting to stay that way. This far-flung Pacific archipelago has turned 100 percent of its marine territory into a sanctuary in a bid to protect what has been dubbed a ‘Serengeti’ of the sea. Excessive face mask-wearing might leave you with a temporary red mark, but the fish, coral and other critters in these nutrient-rich waters will leave you truly goggle-eyed.

Latvia is shining for its silver anniversary
It’s taken Latvia 25 years to shrug off the fetters of Communism, but this Baltic treasure looks ready to shine for its silver anniversary. The country is resuscitating ancient traditions, restoring crumbling castles and manor houses hidden in its pine forests, and transforming its once stodgy cuisine into cutting-edge New Nordic fare. Seductive Riga, meanwhile, has built on its reign as a European Capital of Culture with improved infrastructure and a round of renovations as its population continues to grow.

Australia—‘nuf said
The strength of the Aussie dollar over recent years has made a trip down under a tough proposition for travelers on a budget. But with the currency faltering and petrol prices also on the slide, 2016 could be the perfect time for a road trip. You’ll want to gawp at the mega sights, naturally, including the Great Barrier Reef and Tasmania’s pristine wilderness, both of which face growing environmental threats. See them now before compromises are made.

Cultural capital crowns Poland’s rise to the top
Recession-defying Poland has superpowers – while the rest of Europe descended into the doldrums, visitor numbers here climbed and there’s no end to the boom in sight as Wrocław prepares for a stint as European Capital of Culture 2016. Kraków will have a turn in the limelight too when the Pope arrives to celebrate World Youth Day, and new air routes to Kraków, Szczecin, Katowice, and Gdańsk means this is a destination on the rise.

Uruguay: more than a buffer state
An estimated three million foreign visitors will arrive in Uruguay next year—but it’s a wonder it isn’t more when you grasp what the “Switzerland of America” has to offer. Sandwiched between Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay has become a progressive society that boasts a small but perfectly formed capital in Montevideo, pampas where you can act out a gaucho (cowboy) fantasy, and nightlife on sea amid the glamour of Punta del Este. Expect that three million to rise.

Chill out in the Arctic
Greenland has the world’s lowest population density, but those that brave this chilly chunk of the planet are not short of diversions: see the midnight sun glimmer on glaciers, sail among breaching whales, dogsled the tundra, and watch the Northern Lights dance across the ice sheet. In March 2016, Greenland will host the Arctic Winter Games, the largest event of its kind ever, along with a festival of song, food and dance. What better time to visit this Arctic wonderland?

Fiji got its groove back
Listen up: the route to paradise just became a little easier. Pleasure-loving Fiji has recovered its equilibrium at last after a coup and constitutional crisis, and travelers will soon benefit from an upgrade to the country’s Nadi International Airport. So what will it be, then? Idle at an upscale resort, try the latest extreme sport, or focus on the classic pursuits of diving, sailing and angling as you soak up what this tropical archipelago has to offer.

Source: The LonelyPlanet.com’s “Top 10 regions