Packing smarter can make all the difference on your next trip! These packing hacks for travel will help you save space, stay organized, and avoid overpacking—whether you’re a carry-on-only traveler or packing for a family adventure.
After six years of full-time travel with nothing but our backpacks, we thought we had packing down to a science. But now, traveling as a family of four (with a toddler and baby in tow), we’ve had to rethink our strategy—because let’s be real, packing light with kids is a whole different challenge!
We’ve traveled to dozens of countries around the world. And over the years, we’ve picked up some game-changing packing hacks to maximize space, minimize stress, and keep our bags organized.
Whether you’re a carry-on-only traveler or just trying to avoid overpacking, these expert tips (plus our sneaky golden rule!) will help you pack smarter for your next adventure.
1. Use packing cubes
I will shout their praises until the day I die. Packing cubes help you stay organized, compress your clothing, and keep your suitcase from becoming one big ol’ mess.
Instead of rummaging through a pile of clothes every time you need something, you can easily pull out a cube and find exactly what you’re looking for.
We personally use different cubes for different types of clothing (tops in one, bottoms in another, underwear in a smaller one, etc.), and it makes unpacking at our hotel or Airbnb a breeze.
Bonus: They also can help you keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones!
2. Roll your clothes
Trust me, rolling instead of folding saves space and helps prevent wrinkles. Plus, it makes packing and unpacking quicker!
Pro Tip: If you use packing cubes, roll your clothes before placing them inside. It’ll maximize space even further, and you won’t have to deal with crumpled clothing when you arrive.
3. Pack as light as possible
There are so many trips where you won’t want to be stuck lugging a giant suitcase. Think about navigating the metro in Tokyo, hauling luggage over cobblestone streets in Europe, or getting on and off tiny boats in Southeast Asia.
We strongly believe you will feel so much freer and happier when you travel light.
Lay out what you think you need, then remove at least a third of it. If you find yourself hesitating over an item, you probably don’t need it.
→ Read Next: Check out our go-to travel gear so you can see what we personally pack so that we’re prepared but without unnecessary bulk.
4. Use Air Tags
We started using AirTags in 2021 and love the peace of mind they give us when we can see that our bags have arrived at the same airport as us. Just put one inside each checked bag.
We’ve also had the misfortune of lost luggage, but our AirTags allowed us to track them in real-time—at one point, we could literally watch our bags being delivered to our hotel!
If you’re checking a bag, this tiny device is a game-changer.
Budget tip: We usually find they are cheaper on Amazon than in the Apple Store.
5. Only pack enough clothing for 2 weeks
Yep, even if you’re traveling for 3 months!
It might seem counterintuitive, but packing for two weeks is the sweet spot. Anything more is just extra weight you’ll regret lugging around.
Obviously, if you’re going away for the weekend, only pack enough for that. But for longer trips, plan on doing laundry rather than overstuffing your suitcase with unnecessary outfits.
→ Planning to travel long-term? We created this long-term packing list that’ll be the perfect place to start!
6. Plan to do laundry on long trips
Book a property (like an Airbnb) with a washer and dryer, find a laundromat, or use the hotel laundry service. Doing laundry while traveling saves space and keeps you from overpacking.
Insider Tip: We bring laundry detergent sheets (which take up no space) for this reason. This way we don’t have to rely on the smelly, chemical-ridden detergent that we usually find in Airbnbs.
7. Think about your clothing as a capsule wardrobe
Try to pack items that work well together so they can be worn multiple ways. Neutral colors, mix-and-match pieces, and layers are your best friend.
This strategy lets you create different outfits without bringing a ton of clothing. AKA pack less and get more use out of each item. Yay for efficiency!
Bonus Tip: Choose lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabrics that dry quickly in case you need to wash something in the sink.
8. Follow the 20-20 rule
If you’re undecided about a particular item, this “rule” can help you choose whether to bring it or leave it at home.
Consider this: If you leave this item behind but realize you need it on your trip, ask yourself:
- Can I find it within 20 minutes if I need it? Or is it something rare that would be hard to replace?
- Can I buy it for under $20? Or would it be a significant expense?
If the answer to both is “yes,” you probably don’t need to pack it.
Thinking about packing this way really helps me pick and choose what I put in my suitcase.
9. Don’t forget a bag for dirty laundry!
A designated laundry bag will do wonders for keeping your clean clothes fresh and your not clean clothes, well, quarantined from the rest of your stuff. Plus, it keeps everything organized until you have access to laundry facilities.
You can use a lightweight string backpack (we did this for years!) or invest in an actual travel laundry bag (they’re cheap and pack down tiny).
Let us help you travel better…
Be sure to check out our Travel Planning Homepage for resources on everything you need to know about how to plan a trip, from packing to budgeting and more! Or you can read some of our favorite articles about planning your next trip below.
- How to Plan a Trip in 10 Simple Steps
- Expert Tips for Finding Cheap Flights
- Genius Tips for Booking the Best Airbnb
- Carry-On Packing List: What You Actually Need on a Flight
- Our Favorite Travel Essentials
- This is the one thing we NEVER travel without!
- Tips to Fight Jet Lag (that actually work!)
- How to Get an International SIM Card
→ Traveling as a family? Don’t miss our family travel articles!
What if the hard part was already done for you?
All you have to do is pack your bags!
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We want to hear from you!
We hope this list of packing hacks for travel was helpful and that you picked up at least one new tip to try on your next trip! We’re there any packing hacks that surprised you? What tips would you add to this list? Leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back from you!