t's not as frivolous as it seems. Not all of us were born with Marie Kondo's organizational skills. When you travel, your suitcase is your home. If you make a mistake or forget something, you start the journey regretting it. If you don't study the increasingly unfriendly and expensive baggage policies of airlines, each one, by the way, different, it can cost you money. Because checking luggage means taking out your wallet in almost all companies.
Hence the importance of the carry-on, the suitcase we use as hand luggage, meeting the appropriate measurements and being able to pack just the essentials. For how many days? Up to seven, without any problem. Beyond those days, the experts' advice is common sense: "find a laundry." By the way, those who travel the most and know the most about this never check luggage. Which leads us to the first golden rule when preparing the suitcase: forget about the "just in case."
Alicia Iglesias, a professional organizer (@ordenylimpiezaencasa), says this is our worst enemy. "We tend to go overboard, but we have to be realistic. The important thing is to bring versatile garments. I really like Uniqlo clothes for this. Don't pack for New Year's Eve, but with neutral clothes that you can mix and match. A seasoned traveler, Iglesias only travels with carry-on luggage. "My daughter Martina, 10 years old, has already visited 43 countries." She advocates for the seven-day rule. "Seven sets of underwear, seven t-shirts, two dresses, and five pants (three long and two short). This way, the combinations are endless." For Alicia, the key is to plan the outfits. "It takes longer the first few times, but I already have my basic travel outfits and I usually wear almost the same thing. Big suitcases are not worth it."
When it comes to packing, there are two types of travelers: those who fold and those who roll clothes. Iglesias is in favor of rolling. Organization coach and presenter Vanesa Travieso (@ponorden), on the other hand, prefers not to roll clothes much. She recently went to Instagram to demonstrate how to fit everything needed for a five-day beach trip into a 35x25 cm backpack. "I take many flights and I hate paying for luggage every time." Her advice: carefully plan the outfit and use packing cubes, where she puts clothes "stretching them a lot, folding as little as possible."
These packing cubes, as they are called in English, are essential for avoiding wrinkles and saving space for many experts, including Hitha Palepu, the New York guru of packing. In her book How to pack, the author offers advice and answers to all possible questions, from the type of suitcase to rules for maximizing space. Also, lists of clothes for different types of trips (printable) and a whole plan to prepare for the trip that, according to her, should start seven days before traveling to avoid the "I think I forgot something" syndrome. "You plan the trip for months, right? So why do you pack the night before?". Yes, making a list is mandatory and, before that, check the weather!
The expert likes both rolling and folding. She uses both methods in the same carry-on, depending on the type of clothing. "Learn to love wearing layers to be comfortable throughout the trip," she writes. For Palepu, carrying a travel steam iron is essential. "It not only removes wrinkles from clothes but also refreshes them." Another necessary rule: knowing how to mix and match clothes. "Packing individual outfits is the main cause of overpacking." Accessories, by the way, are "your secret weapon" when you don't have access to your entire wardrobe. And what should we pack first in the suitcase? "Always start with the largest and heaviest items at the base of the suitcase, and then the lighter items on top. Layer by layer."