BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Cruises Packing Tips

What are some of your favorite packing tips, to help everything fit into your luggage and then into your cabin?

I think bringing your own hangars helps a lot <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

You can pack clothes really well if you roll them. Another alternative is placing folded clothes in a large, sturdy ziplock, pressing out the air, and zipping them shut. This gives you three times the space you would have with just folded clothes.

I tend to be the rolling type, but then none of my own clothes require ironing. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

I love rolling, I did a lot of camping growing up and that always seemed to work the best. Ziplocks are of course good for keeping things dry <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I am all for the shoe-hanger-over-door system to hold little items!

Try to coordinate everything; use microfiber clothing when possible; and rolling and stuffing works great. <G> With the way security checks luggage today, nothing is sacred - what was in the bag may be opened and now out of the bag!

Very true - I have a see-through toiletry bag that I've used for years now, so that when I travel on airplane they can just see what's in it. Clear packaging is very helpful.

I purchased a clear plastic bag for my last trip. I had an umbrella in my case and they opened the bag to see what it was. Just before we left home, I threw in another small bag and I didn't realize there was a pair of cuticle scissors in it. Well, needless to say, my carryon was picked up and opened and the guard went right to the bag and confiscated the scissors. He told me I could take them back to my car but I told him to chuck them. I guess whenever I board a plane now, I will be searched because my name is probably flagged.

I'm sure that compared to what other people bring on, your little scissors were qutie harmless! I always forget about a corkscrew or two in my luggage and have to hand them in ...

Travelers always liked to carry their Swiss Army Knives with them. They are taboo now for carry=on.

That's a very good point - and sort of sad. A safety knife is really important for camping, fishermen, and many others. They're even helpful if you're stuck in a car crash and your seatbelt is stuck. It's sad that we are so worried about safety that a simple Swiss Army Knife is now forbidden. Where is the trade-off? How many people are left in dangerous situations because they buried their Swiss Army Knife - vs how many terrorists would have used one to harm a plane?

Pity the poor person who likes to knit or crochet. You cannot take those on board a plane either.