Roll clothes to save space, use tissue paper for delicate items, carry a power bank, pack sleep masks and earplugs, eat light snacks to avoid motion sickness, and add name tags to kids' clothes for safety while traveling
Roll your clothes instead of folding them flat. I used to be skeptical about this, but it genuinely fits more into your suitcase. Plus, you get fewer of those sharp fold lines that make you look like you've been sleeping in your clothes.
Packing something silk or easily wrinkled? Toss some tissue paper between the layers as you roll. Sounds old-fashioned, but it works.
Vacuum-seal bags are worth grabbing online if you're a chronic overpacker. You need a vacuum to suck the air out, but you can compress a week's worth of clothes into half the space.
Stop your shirt collars from getting squashed: coil up a belt and tuck it inside. Simple, and it actually keeps the shape.
Shoes go in fabric bags if you have them. If not, grab a couple of shower caps from your last hotel or use those disposable shoe covers – just pop them over the soles so you're not rubbing dirt all over your clean shirts.
You might find this helpful: How to Book Airport Classic Hotel & Travel: Save Time & Money
Carry a power bank. Seriously, just do it.
Flying? Check the capacity: IATA lets you carry power banks up to 100 Wh in your hand luggage without special permission. Between 100–160 Wh, you usually need airline approval. To work out the watt-hours, use this: (mAh × voltage) ÷ 1000. So a typical 20,000 mAh power bank at 5V = 100 Wh. You're good to go.
Forgot yours or it died? Ask the hotel front desk when you arrive – some lend them out. Airports usually have charging spots scattered around, and most cafés will let you plug in if you ask. Big grocery stores with seating areas often have outlets with different plug types.
Two quick ones: you can charge through your laptop's USB port or sometimes the TV in your room. Oh, and your phone charges faster in airplane mode.
Related reading that's worth a look: find eco‑friendly flight options and airlines
If you want to sleep on a plane or train, bring a sleep mask, earplugs, and something to wrap around yourself – a scarf or small blanket. Cuts out the noise and light, and honestly, the mask and plugs are useful in hotels too when the walls are thin.
Get motion sick? Don't eat a big, heavy meal before you leave – skip anything greasy, spicy, or fizzy. But don't travel on an empty stomach either; that can make the nausea worse.
A light snack an hour before works best. Fresh orange or grapefruit juice helps too. Drink water throughout, and keep peppermint candies handy.
Traveling with kids? Iron-on name tags are a lifesaver. Write your phone number on them with permanent marker and stick them inside their jacket or backpack. If they wander off, someone can call you right away. Takes the edge off when you're in crowded airports or new cities.
Bring a couple of small, quiet toys – a kaleidoscope, one of those sliding number puzzles, or a Rubik's cube. They don't weigh anything, and they'll buy you 20 minutes of peace in a check-in line.
Send yourself postcards from wherever you're staying. When they show up at home a week or two after you're back, it's like getting a little souvenir in the mail from your past self. Silly, maybe, but it makes me smile every time.
Keep traveling. The prep gets easier every time.
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