Easy pitfalls to fall into when you are packing for your holiday
1. Not Protecting Electronics
Forgetting to close your iPad or laptop case is easily done, but a bump to the luggage can bend your laptop, and a stray plug can easily scratch your iPad’s screen.
Investing in a laptop sleeve, or even rolling a t-shirt around your fragile electronics, can prevent tears.
2. Overpack
Do you really need that eleventh top on your long weekend away? Extra luggage can be a pain to drag around the airport, and takes up valuable souvenier space.
When you are packing, consider how many pieces of clothing you will really wear. Coordinating a few tops and bottoms mean you can change up the look without needing a whole new outfit. Take some spares in case you spill bolognese all over yourself, but assume you will wear about the same amount of clothing as you would at home, or maybe even less on a poolside or beach holiday.
3. Use Fragile Hold Luggage
Expect your hold luggage to be launched from the hold to the baggage train, and make sure it can stand up to that treatment. Zips can come unstuck and catapult your clothes all over the carousel, so invest in a luggage tie to keep it shut. As a bonus it will help you identify your case on the carousel!
More and more airlines make passengers check their hand luggage when the light is full, so make sure your hand luggage is secure too if this happens, and don’t forget to remove and fragile or valuable items before your bag is taken away into the hold.
4. Just Cram It All In There
We have all sat on our suitcase to struggle it closed, just to pack that last perfect shirt for the holiday. But this not only makes your case heavier but can put strain on the zips or fastenings, making it more likely to be damaged in transit.
Packing light or wearing your bulkier clothes can help extend the life of your case and save your aching arms from carrying the extra weight.
5. Forget About Sharp Things
Left those scissors in your wash bag? Security delays can add a lot of time and stress to your airport experience so take the time to go through those hidden pockets to make sure you didn’t leave any scissors, or water bottles that might cause a problem at security.
6. Pack A Child In Hand Luggage
Really don’t do this.
