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Written by Savi, 62 Comments

We’ve previously penned down a list of EVERYTHING that goes into our suitcases in our post Packing For Long Term Travel

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Travel as much as you can

As far as you can and as long as you can

Life’s not meant to be lived in one place

 

What can I say! Travelling the world and seeing new places makes me SO happy every single day ???? 

A photo posted by Savi and Vid (@bruisedpassports) on

 

I’ve seen this quote working its way around the internet a fair few times now. While it sounds dreamy on paper, the reality is both fun and amusing in equal measures. After all it’s not easy to pack your entire life in a suitcase. I’ve already written a whole article on every single thing we pack in our suitcases but we recently upgraded our battered suitcases to Samsonite’s Cosmolite Spinners while we were in the US. I have to say these are some of the lightest and most well-designed suitcases we’ve ever used! I can’t wait to take them for a spin around the world 🙂 As I was packing our new suitcases, I thought I’d pen down 5 tips that will come in super handy if you, like us, enjoy travelling light.

Samsonite spinners for travel
Love our sophisticated Samsonite spinner

 

  • Packing Cubes

The number of times I’ve mentioned packing cubes on Bruised Passports is beginning to get kind of embarrassing. But I’ll say it again – packing cubes are godsent when it comes to packing. I wish I’d discovered them earlier. I use 3-4 of them every time I pack my suitcase – 1 for lingerie and swimwear, 1 for dresses, 1 for tops and trousers. This makes it easy to pick and choose outfits. It also keeps the suitcase looking neat and tidy, which can only be a good thing right? After all who wants to fumble through a pile of clothes when one has exactly 10 minutes to get dressed and rush out of the door – to see the wonders of this crazy world of course! 🙂

 

Here’s a photo of my 3 packing cubes snugly fit into one half of my suitcase:

Packing cubes are perfect for travelling - we love em :)
Packing cubes are perfect for travelling – we love em 🙂

 

 

  • Pack loads of Multi taskers

I touched on this briefly in my last post on packing for long term travel but this is one of my most frequently used travel hack. Pack lots of basics – black tees, white tops, striped dresses – go with everything. Also feel free to improvise – for instance you can use a sarong as a head-wrap, kimono, beach coverup, picnic blanket, or scarf!

 

Here I used my Mandala picnic blanket/sheet as a cover up:

 

Time stands still at sunrise over The Taj Mahal. That sun – I can’t even … ??☀️☀️

A photo posted by Savi and Vid (@bruisedpassports) on

 

bohemian fashion packing for travelling round the world
The same scarf can be used as a beach cover up, picnic blanket, and scarf

 

Pack for travelling long term
Basics go with everything: Same striped dress on 4 different days in Taiwan, Latvia, and Estonia

 

 

  • Resort to Cute Cases for EVERYTHING!

If there’s one thing I hate more than anything, it’s fumbling for something – it could be earrings or body lotion – in a suitcase full of things. So I don’t stop at packing cubes. I use a few cute & quirky cases for our toiletries, make up bits and bobs, medicines, and jewellery.

Packing tips bruised passports
A case for toiletries, a case for makeup, a first aid kit, and a case for jewellery – sorted!!

 

A case for toileteries, a case for makeup, and a case for jewellery - sorted!!
Have a case for everything – it’s a lil shortcut to a suitcase that stays neat even on long trips!!

 

 

  • Pack some winter warmers (even in summer!)

Here’s the thing – there is no bad weather, just bad clothes! You’ll enjoy a destination so much more if you’re well clad. If you’re travelling to Europe, US, Australia, or New Zealand even during summer months, chances are you’ll run into plenty of thunderstorms, grey days, and unexpectedly cold days Always pack a really warm down jacket and a lighter cover-up and you’ll be sorted, irrespective of what a country throws at you.

 

Packing for lapland finland
Told ya – the fun never stops when there are woollens at hand 🙂

 

You never know when you might need a woollie or two
You never know when you might need a warm cover up!!

 

  • Fret a little less 🙂

In today’s day and age it’s easy to get carried away by seasonal trends and adverts telling us what to wear and what not to wear. Social media just adds to that pressure of being holiday ready – truth is you just need to pack whatever pieces reflect your personality well and suit you. Don’t hanker for that elusive holiday wardrobe and just throw together pieces from your suitcase and have fun with them – that’s the shortest recipe to a being a happy traveller 🙂

 

On that note, here’s how to rock bedsheets when you’ve run out of clothes – try this at your own risk 😉

 

 

What is your favourite packing tip? Tell us in the comments below 🙂

 

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Want to see a list of everything that goes into our suitcases? Read our Guide to Packing For Long Term Travel 

Want some travel fashion inspiration? Check out our Lookbook from New Zealand here

 

62 thoughts on “5 Packing Hacks and Tips for Travellers

  1. Great tips and I love the look of those packing cubes, genius! I’ve always wondered when people travel how they manage lol because I would assume you may pick up on the way too!

    1. Thanks 🙂 Packing cubes are a saviour – I can’t seem to write an article on packing without mentioning them 🙂

  2. So smart to pack something winter even during summer, you just never know, especially if you are traveling halfway around the world! Of course, those packing cubes are genius, wonderful tip. I love your Mandala picnic blanket/sheet, it is beautiful!

  3. I need packing cubes! I can *usually* fit everything in one suitcase but then it gets turned completely upside down upon arrival because I can’t remember where I’ve put anything!

    1. Hehe Laura – I hear you!! I’m hell bent on keeping our new Samsonite suitcases as clean as I possibly can 😉

  4. I’m a great believer in packing light, as often as possible I try to make do with carry-on luggage only. I think some of those packing cubes could help keep things organised in a tiny space.

  5. WOW! I love this post and everything in it! I love your style and just love all the tips! have i stressed enough on how much i love this post?
    I need to invest in the cube thingi! I always throw stuff in my bag like no tomorrow!

  6. Luved the simplistic yet utmost useful details 🙂 I read your previous post on packing too and wanted to know which travel Iron do you take along. I was trying to find one too , to pack along on my travels but couldn’t really find a compact suitable one. If you can let me know the one you guys use wd be super helpful 🙂 Thanks

    1. So glad you found our tips helpful Anu – it’s always the little things that help in decluttering. We have a Black & Decker iron that we picked off Amazon. You could also buy a portable steamer for your travels 🙂

  7. Thanks for the tips.

    After reading about packing cubes here at BruisedPassports, I bought them too and I am now hooked. Can’t imagine packing without them anymore. I have my family hooked to it too!

    All the other tips too, it has made travel packing so manageable and enjoyable!

  8. Hi savi & vid. ☺ i want to invest in a good packing cube. Have been reading a lot of reviews about products. Some said they were too small, some were of a bad qualityand stuff like that. So super confused. Would love to know which packing cubes you guys use?!
    Also just a suggestion – maybe it will help us readers like me in the long run. You guys can mention the product details of say ur clothes, packing cubes, suncreens etc or some stuff like that.

    1. Hi Prajakta,

      Thanks a lot for that suggestion 🙂 We’ll definitely keep that in mind!

      We have been using packing cubes from Cabin Max and they have been serving us well 🙂

  9. Hello Savi and Vid,

    Love the blog it’s awesome! Totally agree about having little bags for bits and bobs and make up to declutter. But also I think it’s also awesome to have a small bag with all tech wires we need with cameras, to phones and those of us that have to carry our laptops. I wonder how you pack your tech stuff. Especially with vid’s camera in hand.

    1. Hey Nars,

      All our tech stuff goes in Vid’s camera bag (handbag) – we’ve written about it in our post titled ‘Packing for Long Term Travel’ 😀

      Cheers

  10. Hi savi n vid,
    Well that was a helpful post but i had a curiosity, how do you deal with hectic long flights?
    And yes please keep up the good work with your posts about the places, loved how give in minor details about everything.

  11. Such a useful piece of information. Thank you so much Savi. Can you please also share a link to the packing cubes, I tried to look online but there are no reviews for almost every product, so can’t decide whether they are a good purchase or no. It would be great help if you can share. Thank you!

  12. I use Dakine luggage. They have built in packing cubes. The case is divided into sections with sides that can either expand or contract into the neighbouring section. I’m a huge fan and can’t imagine using any other case now. They’ve lasted well too.

    Stumbled across your site looking for California road trip itineraries. AMAZING. Really pining now for the day the current madness ends and we can all start travelling again. Stay safe everyone.

    https://www.dakine.com/products/split-roller-110l-bag

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