If you have any fragile items that aren’t being brought as carry-on, place them in the center of the bag on top of the heavy-roll layer to protect the items from breakage.
Your shoes are excellent opportunities to nest items in unused space. Always make use of additional zippers, sacks, and little nooks in your particular suitcase to get the most space out of it.
It’s also a good idea to check carry on restrictions. TSA has limited all passengers to one carry-on item and one personal item, which can include a purse, small backpack, camera bag or book bag. You typically do not have to pay for carry on.
For example, you’ll probably want to bring a jacket that is suitable for most weathers instead of bringing one for rain, one for cold weather, and others for various purposes. Bring clothes that can be worn for most occasions. If you can, try to only bring one pair of shoes. Taking extra shoes tends to take up too much space and can cram your suitcase. When in doubt, go with a good pair of sturdy all-purpose shoes.
If you’re going somewhere long term, it’s usually a good idea to bring at least five or seven pair of socks and underwear to keep yourself from having to find laundry facilities more often than every week.
It’s always good to have layers, even if you’re expecting good weather. You don’t want to get caught in unexpected downpours and have no clothes to prepare for it.
A good sweater is a versatile choice. It can help keep you warm in the event of cold weather, and can look formal enough for a nicely dressed evening, plus it’s way more portable than a full suit or another dress.
If you think that your bottles of shampoo might leak, just tape the cap individual bottles, then remove it when you arrive. If your vacation is between one to two weeks long, don’t bring those huge toothpaste squeezers. Opt for the travel size. If you use an electric toothbrush, small ones can also be purchased in most stores.
