10 tips to pack like a pro

Everyone has their favourite hacks to make travelling easier. Here are mine, from 35 years exploring the globe.

#1 tip: If nothing else take a photo over EVERYTHING you pack.

Why?

If your luggage is lost or you think some items have been stolen, you have a record of everything that’s in your bags for insurance purposes.

While it’s a good idea to not take anything irreplaceable/super valuable on holiday – if you must wear your rings, take a picture of them as well (including any hallmarks on the inside) and a close up of the tags of any designer clothes items.
It’s handy for your next trip to a similar climate

Don’t forget to photograph what you’re planning to wear on your travel day, your hand bag/carry-on items and their contents.

2. While your phone’s out, remember to take a snap of your suitcase and a close up of the branding or any distinctive features. Store the picture on an easy to access part of your phone, in case your luggage goes missing at the airport. This helps you fill the lost baggage form.

3. Invest in an Airtag or similar tracking device, if checking your bags. This has been a lifesaver for many in the era of understaffing at airports during post-covid travel.

4.Remeber to take a photo of your passport and any visas. Not only handy if you lose your passport, it’s often easier to use mid-flight for filling in your number on immigration forms.

5. If checking in luggage, make sure to have at least a spare pair of undies and ideally a change of clothes with you in case your luggage goes missing. Or, if you’re like me, and tend to spill food and drink on yourself mid-flight!

6. I love packing cubes! Really, they revolutionised the way I pack. For a quick stay it’s easy to just pull the clothing cubes out of your suitcase, without having to unpack. 

I usually use a mix of packing containers, from cubes, a clear zipper bag from a large chain store that is perfect for liquids and gels and if it’s a tropical/swimming kind of holiday a fab wet bag for bathers.

Tip: I trialled compression packing cubes but didn’t like them. They wrinkled clothes too much. But still use the smallest one (Blue on left below) for underwear/bathers etc.

7. Ziplock bags are also handy if you don’t have cubes, want to isolate liquids (toiletries inevitably ooze), for packing supplements or to keep a bundle of items together, such as swimwear + goggles. Larger bags are good for clothes, it’s easy to squish the air out while closing to minimise their size. 

The small towel (bottom right) we call ‘Japanese sweat towels’. Similar to a face washer, squishes down easily into the smallest size ziplock. A lifesaver in the heat!

8. A universal adapter – especially if you’re travelling to multiple destinations get an adapter plug that can be reconfigured for every power outlet in the world. Ones with a USB slot are even better.

9. If you have quite a few devices that require power, or are sharing a room with family/friend, a double adapter or power board means you only need one adapter everyone can use the same outlet.

10. Invest in merino. Even if you’re not layering up for a cool climate merino is a traveller’s best friend. Merino socks can be worn for days without washing. Truly! I take 1 – 2 pairs of sports socks max, for wearing with my trainers even if I’m travelling for weeks with lots of walking. If it’s a cold climate I pack a thicker pair of full length socks to keep me warm (they’re great to wear when the temperature drops on planes) and leggings arcae a lifesaver.  Merino underwear is a revelation!

See what I packed for 3+ weeks in Vietnam, carry on only!

And one more thingS

Always check for stray pets before leaving home!

International travel: 3 weeks carry on challenge unlocked!

Wrapping up the carry on challenge with an overseas trip! 

We travelled on Vietnam Airlines international and domestic, in both economy and business (one of each), for a  23 day trip with no checked luggage. There were no problems on any of the flights, even the domestic economy leg where each piece was given a tag of approval before boarding.

Could I fit everything in cabin bags for 3+ weeks travel?

Surprisingly, there was more than enough room in my Samsonite cabin bag for clothes, shoes and sundries. I didn’t skimp either, with 2 swimming costumes, goggles, multiple pairs of trousers, 2 dresses and too many t-shirts! 

See my packing pro tips, on how I can pack so much into a little bag!

It’s amazing how much you can fit into a medium sized packing cube!

My trusty backpack contained additional warm clothes for the flight, liquids and gels, tech pouch and a few extra items to make the trip comfortable. Fitting under the seat in economy, it doubles as a foot rest on long haul flights.

As an old school contact lens wearer, I was concerned the liquids and gels limits may be challenging. But they weren’t. We even managed to squeeze in sunblock and insect repellent along with the usual toiletries. Keeping non-liquid items in a separate bag was super easy. I love my Black Chicken solid deodorant at times like this!

Pros: carry on only travel to Vietnam

• Hot weather meant no need for any bulky clothing, just a warm layer for the flight (though parts Vietnam can get cold at other times of year).
• No waiting for bags on arrival.
• Disembarking in Sydney was seamless and took less than 15 minutes from stepping onto the airbridge and into a taxi.
• Vietnamese train travel was easy, as bags fit into the snug overhead rack. 
• Enough space for luggage in the Ha Long Bay cabin and small hotel rooms.

Cons
None encountered on this trip! In fact, lost count of how many times I said ‘I’m so glad I did this’.

Potential cons

• Travel to cooler climates or trips requiring formal clothes could be more challenging
• If travelling alone, could be challenging squeezing all the baggage into toilet cubicle when in transit.
• May precludes big shopping trips but there was the option to check main bag in on return flight and take purchases on board in a tote bag.

Tips

A travel clothesline for hand washing (if avoiding overpriced hotel laundry services) means you can cut down on clothes. An Airbnb with a washing machine midway through the trip was useful for doing a full wash.

Think carefully about how many pairs of shoes you really need (yes, this may be a gender-biased statement). I only used my comfy Allbirds on long flights (to keep my feet warm) and am glad I chose them rather than my bulky ASICs, as I wore walking sandals the entire trip. 

As what you need (climate willing) for 3 weeks on the road isn’t significantly different to 3 months, will I ever need stowed luggage again?

What’s stopping you from going carry on?

Packing hacks: 5 days/1 day pack

As a woman I really hate those carry on packing videos made by men. Life is so much easier if you can fly in your professional clothes and happily reappear in the same outfit for days in a row. For some leisure time, just add a t shirt or two and a pair of jeans and/or shorts. Throw in a small dop kit/toilet bag and a bit of tech and you’re done. Day pack travel for a week or more – no problem!

While I’m relatively low maintenance, I’m not a minimalist. I tend to overpack a little for the ‘just in case’ moments, like thet time I went to a conference and spilled juice down my ‘good’ clothes before it even began!

But I hate the endless wait at the carousel plus the additional cost to check in luggage (hello post-pandemic Australian flight prices!), especially on a short trip. 

The challenge

My travel challenge this year is to fly with carry on only. A weekend away staying with friends interstate is relatively easy but add a couple of extra days and professional attire, as well as strict weight limits, it gets a little trickier. 

These interstate trips are just a warm up for the main event – will I be able to travel in SE Asia for almost a month with only carry on? Stay tuned!

The trip

Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Work (conference ) and play
Weather variable/ rain, sun, 13-28c 
Carry on luggage: Hedgren day pack 
Personal item: one small purse

Flying Australia’s strictest airline 

While the homeward flight was with Qantas (who have a more generous carryon allowance and a free checked in bag), my outward leg was on their budget carrier.

Jetstar is probably Australia’s most notorious airline when it comes to enforcing carry on limits. Most domestic tickets come with a strict 7kg (15.4 lbs) allowance, with both scales and a baggage sizer on prominent display at the gate. If caught exceeding the limit, they’ll hit you with a $50+ fee to check in your bag.

All Australian domestic airlines have a maximum height/width/depth limit of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (with some variations of sizing by shape), while Qantas has a generous 14kg weight limit (if spread over two smaller bags), Jetstar, Rex and Virgin are half that. All allow an additional ‘personal item’ such as a purse, though if being picky an airline can include its weight towards the total allowance. Bonza the newest carrier in our skies, has an 8 kg limit.

The bag 

Instead of risking an international sized carry on wheelie bag, I went for my old faithful day pack, for 5 days of work and fun. 

My ancient blue Hedgren day pack, has been long discontinued. I have a sneaking feeling it was bought it in the late 1990s. While I’ve splashed out on flashier upgrades, none have the space and versatility of this old faithful. No padding means you can pack more in and it still fits beneath the seat in front. Being short (under 5ft 2), it makes the perfect foot rest on longer flights. When flying internationally, the front pocket fits my passport holder and liquids and gels bag perfectly for easy access. 

What I packed

Medium packing cube:
4 pairs trousers 
3 short sleeved cotton tops
3 t-shirts 
light cardigan
1 pashmina (scarf)

Small blue compression cube:
4 pairs underwear
1 bra
2 necklaces
vitamins
Dental splint

Loose items:
1 pair of sandals
toilet bag with all the usual things
Bluetooth headphones
glasses
Small umbrella
Work tote (rolled up as small as possible)
Phone charger
laptop (1.4 kg) and charger

Personal item:purse
money, phone, sunglasses, mask

I flew wearing sneakers, jeans and long sleeved top, going from 30+c to a chilly and damp 16c on arrival.

Did my cunning plan work?

No problems boarding. Total weight came in at 8.5 kg (it’s the laptop that pushed it over) but being a backpack rather than a suitcase it wasn’t weighed.

I didn’t wear 1 top and 1 pair of trousers but always like a spare because I’m essentially clumsy.  So more or less spot on packing.

This is the Tardis of day packs! Most surprised the quilted tote could squeeze in as though soft is a bit bulky. Although was prepared to wing it to use as my ‘personal item if it didn’t.  Exactly what I did on the Qantas flight home, after being gifted a bottle of wine and various other conference goodies.