Smart Packing For Travel

Pack More in Less Space
Get the exact size of suitcase you're allowed less an inch for give and anything made of material put in a plastic garbage bag and suck the air out with your vacuum cleaner hose. It vacuum packs it down to a fraction of the size (of course that's kind of hard to do on the return leg!) Just don't use a razor blade to open the boxes...

Packing in Bundles
Pack clothing in complete bundles; i.e., one shirt, one pair of pants, one set of underwear, matching socks or hose, jewelry, etc. There will be no time lost trying to decide what goes with what, and children can be handed a bundle and told to go put it on.

Plastic Coffee Jars
When packing items that break (cologne), or spill (shampoo), I place them inside a plastic coffee jar. This is a double protection - from breaking and from spilling. Also place battery-powered razor in one, so that it does not break. Travel only with a backpack, and these things can get smashed if not protected.

Prevent Creasing Caused by Hangers
To help prevent creasing of suits and garments on hangers, roll up a small towel and place on the inside of where the garments will fold. This will prevent the horizontal crease caused by the fold.

Nalgene Bottles
Use mini Nalgene bottles to pack tolietries, especially when flying between different altitudes. They have screw-on tops so they'll never open, and they're practically indestructible, so they'll never break or explode (implode)!

Only Carry-Ons?
Try to only use carry-ons. If you have someone waiting for you at the airport, most of the time you can get out of parking lots before you have to pay. Also, you will hardly if ever lose your luggage. It keeps all valuables with you, and you know if your luggage made it on to the same plane you did.

Organize Early
Try to have everything packed, banking and housesitter instructions completed, at least 1-2 days before leaving on a trip. It will make leaving less stressful, since tending to unplanned details invariably comes up at the last minute.

Organizing with Zip-Lock Bags
When packing put all your clothing in large plastic zip-lock bags, expelling as much air as possible. This prevents them from creasing and absorbing moisture - especially helpful if travelling to a humid location or if something leaks in luggage during travel. The extra large bags are big enough to put 'combinations' in the same bag; your outfit is together and fresh to wear.

Pack Gallon-Size Zipper Bags
An easy, efficient way to pack your things: buy gallon-size zipper bags. Pack toiletries separate from clothes to prevent a shampoo explosion from ruining them! Also, pack clothes in bags, then sit on them and seal them - this vacuums all the air out and flattens your clothes for more space!