17 Essential Packing Tips from Seasoned Travelers

At Dinogo, our team shares a profound passion for travel. Whether on assignment or exploring the globe during our personal time off, we've collectively packed and unpacked our bags countless times. It's safe to say that many of us have become packing connoisseurs over the years. We've also gained valuable insights from professional organizers, flight attendants, and other frequent travelers. Here are our top travel packing tips to make your journeys as efficient and stress-free as possible.

1. Create a Travel Capsule Wardrobe

The core concept of a capsule wardrobe is to streamline your closet to just 30 clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create numerous outfits. You can apply this decluttering strategy to your suitcase to minimize what you pack. Wendy Mak, an Australia-based professional stylist who authored a book on the minimalist style, suggests this approach: 'Multiply the number of tops by the number of bottoms you plan to bring, and that will give you the total number of outfits you can create, provided each top coordinates with each bottom. That's the key.'

‘You could easily travel with just six tops and four bottoms, giving you 24 stylish outfits, as long as all 10 pieces work in harmony,’ Mak shared with Dinogo in 2017. 'By adding two or three jackets for layering, you'll expand your options even further.'

2. Rolling vs. Folding Your Clothes

The classic debate: Does rolling or folding your clothes maximize suitcase space? Aislyn Greene, Dinogo’s associate director of podcasts, consulted her flight attendant mother for insights: 'If you pack folded clothes flat, you might be wasting valuable space. Rolled garments fit snugly into the nooks of your luggage. Moreover, rolling is preferable for items that tend to wrinkle.'

On the other hand, Japanese organizing guru Marie Kondo employs her KonMari Method to file-fold her clothes into neat vertical stacks at home, which transfer seamlessly to her suitcase. 'This folding method not only keeps clothes tidy and wrinkle-free but also optimizes suitcase space,' Kondo shared with Dinogo in 2019.

After testing both techniques ourselves, we discovered that a blend of rolling and folding yields the best results. Ultimately, choose the method that feels right for you.

3. Incorporate Packing Cubes

Regardless of whether you fold or roll your clothing, packing cubes (like those from Cotopaxi mentioned above) help maintain a tidy and organized suitcase.

Interestingly, both Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer, the co-founders of The Home Edit organizational brand, are passionate advocates for packing cubes. However, they employ them in distinct ways: Shearer organizes her items into cubes based on categories, such as daytime attire, sleepwear, and undergarments. Conversely, Teplin assigns a separate packing cube for each outfit—sometimes utilizing three or more cubes for a single day—organizing types of outfits by color, like marble-patterned ones for pajamas and black ones for workout gear.

'Joanna and I have our own methods, but if her approach works for her, that’s great; I’ll stick to what works for me,' Shearer remarked to Dinogo in 2021. 'The system that suits you best is the right one for you.'

4. Avoid Using a Single Large Bag for Toiletries

Rather than relying on one bulky dopp kit, Shearer and Teplin suggest dividing your hair care, skincare, and makeup into separate toiletry bags. This way, you won't have to rummage through your cosmetics just to locate your dental floss at night. If multiple bags aren’t your preference, consider a kit with distinct compartments, like Calpak’s Clear Cosmetics Cases, allowing you to designate one side for hair products and the other for skincare and dental essentials.

5. Transfer All Your Toiletries into Travel-Sized Containers

Leaving the full-size shampoo bottle behind isn't solely about adhering to TSA’s liquid regulations for carry-ons; it also prevents you from wasting space with unnecessary products. “If you really pay attention, you might be surprised by how little shampoo or face wash you use in a week,” explains Jessie Beck, Dinogo’s associate director of SEO and video. “Instead of hitting the 3.4-ounce limit, I aim to pack just what I’ll need, with a little extra. For a week-long trip, that typically involves transferring shampoo and conditioner into 1.7-ounce bottles by HumanGear, face wash and cream into 0.56-ounce containers by Cadence, and using tiny sample bottles I’ve repurposed for makeup. It all adds up and allows me to cut my toiletry bag size in half.”

6. Organize the Rest of Your Items, Too

Kondo insists she never travels without a bento box-style case for her jewelry. “Upon reaching my hotel, I designate the case as my jewelry holder,” says the expert in organization. Both the Cuyana Travel Jewelry Case and the Away Jewelry Box feature interior bands and elastic pockets to keep rings, earrings, and necklaces neatly organized and untangled.

For organizing smaller items like chargers and cords, we recommend Baggu’s 3D Zip Set, which comes with three versatile pouches in different sizes.

7. Use Dry Cleaning Bags (and Socks!) to Avoid Wrinkles

“To keep blazers, trousers, and dress shirts free from wrinkles, pack them in the plastic bags provided by your dry cleaner,” suggests Joe Diaz, cofounder of Dinogo. For protecting his ties from creases, he shares this smart tip: “Roll them up and tuck them inside your socks.”

Alternatively, if you frequently travel for work, think about investing in a blazer or business attire that resists wrinkling altogether. Bluffworks is a favorite brand of ours for technical workwear crafted to withstand the demands of travel.

8. Plan to Do Laundry While Traveling

Traveling with just a carry-on is achievable—even for extended trips—according to former Dinogo editors Bailey Berg and Mae Hamilton in their guide to one-bag travel. Instead of bringing a full set of underwear and socks for each day, they suggest packing fewer pairs and washing your unmentionables in the hotel bathtub or using a wash bag. These biodegradable, pocket-sized detergent sheets make it easier, but a simple bar of soap will do the trick too.

9. Consider Investing in Merino Wool

Bringing along a few pairs of merino wool socks or T-shirts is a smart move; thanks to the hydrophobic properties of wool fibers, odor particles struggle to cling to wool clothing, allowing you to wear them multiple times before needing a wash.

10. Carry a Carabiner

Even the most committed one-bag travelers can find themselves short on space at times. A carabiner attached to your bag can come in handy; it’s perfect for holding an extra pair of shoes, a water bottle, a hat, or a jacket.

11. Opt for Multi-Purpose Travel Accessories

Streamline your packing with multifunctional accessories. For instance, a multi-port charger—like the Anker 3-in-1 737 Charger—features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. This allows you to charge your laptop, iPhone, and another device all from one charging brick. It not only conserves space in your tech pouch but also means you only need one plug in your hotel room.

In the same vein, a quick-drying Turkish cotton towel can dry you off after a swim and also serve as a beach blanket, double as a sarong, or help clean up any spills you might encounter.

12. Bring Your Own Blanket

It's unlikely that airplane blankets get reused without being cleaned first—especially if they're wrapped in plastic. If you find the thin, sandpapery feel of constantly washed fleece uncomfortable, we completely understand.

"I always travel with a Lingua Franca travel set. It’s made of cashmere and includes socks, a blanket, and an eye mask. Because airplane blankets are gross. This blanket? It’s mine," Katie Sturino, founder of the bodycare brand Megababe, shared with Dinogo in 2018.

We’re also fans of the sleeping bag-style travel blanket by Rumpl, perfect for those seeking extra warmth on cold flights.

13. Wear your bulkiest items while traveling

Alternatively, you can forgo a travel blanket and simply wear your bulky winter coat on the plane to stay warm in that chilly cabin—and free up space in your suitcase. (We also suggest wearing your biggest shoes or boots while flying to maximize packing efficiency.)

14. Pack lighter by choosing a smaller bag

"We’ve all been guilty of adding an extra T-shirt or book simply because we have the room in our bag," Beck explains. "One of the best strategies to avoid overpacking is to opt for a smaller bag. If space is limited, you're less inclined to toss in extra items just because you can. Personally, I use the Charlie 25 by Remote Equipment, which is originally a commuter backpack but serves wonderfully for travel as well."

15. Shower caps are incredibly handy

Got your shoes dirty during your travels? If you haven't gotten reusable travel shoe bags to keep your luggage tidy and clean, a quick solution is waiting in your hotel bathroom. Greene suggests using hotel shower caps as shoe covers. "They're particularly great for running shoes that might get muddy. Plus, they’re everywhere, so you won't ever be without one," she notes.

16. Planning to shop? Bring extra luggage

Even if your packing routine is flawless, you might still find souvenirs you can't resist. One option is to travel with a suitcase featuring expandable zippers, but sometimes the best thing you can pack is an empty suitcase or a collapsible duffle bag.

"I love foldable bags for those times when, um, I end up shopping a bit too much," says Breanna Rhoades, Dinogo’s human resources director.

If you're determined to avoid checking a bag, another packing tip that Kondo swears by is to leave 10 percent of your luggage empty. This way, you'll have space for new treasures and souvenirs on your way back.

17. Always keep your bag packed

The simplest way to prepare a suitcase is to, quite literally, keep it packed at all times. "I usually have a suitcase ready with clothes, so I’m not always unpacking and repacking," Kat Woodruffe, a British Airways pilot, told Dinogo in 2018. If your travel wardrobe isn’t as predictable as a pilot’s, at least think about keeping your toiletry bag permanently packed. Just transfer your favorite toothpaste, makeup, and skincare products into reusable containers and store them in your toiletry case so it’s always good to go.

Further contributions by Jessie Beck, Mike Arnot, Aislyn Greene, Danielle Walsh, Mae Hamilton, and Bailey Berg.