Get packed and go

Starting from family vacations to quick business trips, packing a suitcase has always been a troublesome necessity, especially when kept for the last moment. Early planning and a few extra steps can go a long way in shifting the entire dynamic of the trip and make preparations convenient and organised.

To make any trip as relaxing as possible, the first thing to look at is quality luggage — one of the most important investments a traveller can make. Then comes a list of must-haves suited for the journey to avoid over-packing. Then comes the actual packing.

Here are some things to keep in mind during travelling —

Family Travels

The initial concern, not only for family vacations but for any kind of travelling, is losing the luggage. A tactical way to prepare for the worst is to not use separate luggage for every person travelling. Rather, packing a few sets of every member's clothes within each case ensures that everyone will have something to wear should the unthinkable happen.

For a higher chance of the suitcase being found, a copy of personal details should be attached to every luggage.

When travelling with children, carrying a spare set of clothes for them in the handbag is a good contingency plan. An emergency travel kit consisting of spare clothes and wet wipes will always come in handy.

Clothes should be packed according to the number of days of the trip and the activities planned. However, if this means there is extra space in the luggage, there should be no rush to fill in the gap. Pack light and leave room for gifts and souvenirs!

Weekend Getaways

Weekend getaways offer a momentary escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Be it to get some work done or to have some time to reenergise, weekend getaways do require some packing and planning to make the trip worthwhile.

For clothes, packing neutral colours like tans, blacks, whites, greys can maximise one's fashion options while keeping a light luggage. All that would be needed is a selection of accessories to give every look a new dimension. Added to that, to make the luggage even lighter, why not wear the same outfit on both flights?

Depending on the purpose of the trip, comfortable clothes, the perfect book, a notepad and pen or binoculars for birdwatching, or laptop and cellular chargers, headphones etc. should be top priority on the list.

Romantic Getaways

Be it for a special occasion or just to reconnect, romantic getaways are always something to look forward to. A long drive to the destination, accompanied by a thermos of hot tea or a bottle of refreshing seasonal juice, light snacks like crackers and chocolates, and clean wipes, can set a comfortable tone for the trip.

Picking out outfits which are both chic and comfortable makes a big difference in how the evening could play out. Beauty and comfort should go hand in hand for the an ideal fairy-tale worthy romantic evening.

Besides that, carrying a few scented candles and perfume helps set a charming ambience. Why not also add a Bluetooth speaker to the list to play that special mix playlist?

Adventure

Packing for a bucket-list trip to Nepal or Thailand, an adventure many hundreds of miles away from home, requires some preliminary planning and organisation about what things to bring along.

Duffel bags are more appropriate for adventure trips due to their softness, making it a super-versatile option. Duffels with straps make rushing through one airport terminal or bus to another much swifter. These bags tend to be durable and 'smashable,' making them ideal for adventure travel.

The best way to pack a duffel bag is to put lesser-used items at the bottom and to place items which require frequent access towards the top. 

Lighter always compliments adventure. If touring multiple destinations through biking or hiking is part of the agenda, it is better not to have a bunch of stuff to move around. Synthetic clothing is easier to pack and take up less space. Clean socks, water bottles, a raincoat, a bandana to make a fashion statement or to act as a handkerchief, and a small rechargeable headlamp are noteworthy materials to pack.

Business

Travelling for business can be strenuous. Opting for a wheeled suitcase is more convenient for this. It may be more practical to have a bag ready beforehand in case of sudden business trips where there is not enough time to pack.

For clothes, keeping a set of home clothes to wear indoors, along with a set of formal wear for meetings is crucial. Neutral colours and a black belt, a set of formal shoes, a suit or blazer and maybe an extra pair of headphones would make good additions to the luggage.

Using shower caps to store shoes and keeping belts in the collar of formal shorts will not only maintain the cleanliness of other clothing articles but also retain the shape of shirts, making it easier to pull out and wear whenever needed. Other than that, softer fabrics and denim do not wrinkle easily and so should be placed at the top. This will keep one ready for business at any moment!

Last minute packing is guaranteed to leave one forgetting something. For any trip, it is important to pack appropriately, taking into consideration the destination, weather and the duration of the trip. Preparing beforehand and minimalistic planning helps any trip become lighter with more room for mementos, while helping to fall in love with travelling much easier.

Photo: LS Archive/ Sazzad Ibne Sayed  

Travelling Tidbits 

One of the top priorities while packing is a first aid kit consisting of plasters, antiseptic cream and ointments, bug repellent, painkillers, paracetamol and aspirin, because it is better to have and not need, than to need and not have at all. The last thing anyone wants to do on a trip is to be taken to a doctor.

Ziplock bags or separate smaller bags to pack an outfit for each day is more      efficient. It makes compartmentalising and unpacking easier. The extra work saves time and prevents dirty clothes from spoiling the clean ones.

Most importantly, hard and soft copies of passports, credit cards, driving licence, travel insurance and other documents is always good to have to ensure all round security!