How to Bundle Pack for a Trip

You can do better than this!

With airlines charging travelers for additional luggage, it's the perfect time to learn how to pack effectively in one suitcase. Bundle packing is a great way to fit more into your suitcase with fewer wrinkles and less weight. Many people over pack for trips and find themselves lugging around heavy bags filled with things they will never even unpack. Planning your wardrobe in advance is the key to packing success. Once you have chosen your outfits, fitting everything into one bag is possible with a few simple tricks.

Things You'll Need

• Suitcase
• Tissue paper
• Color-coordinated outfits
• Gallon zip-top bags

Instructions

1. 

   Choose an outfit for each day you'll be away. Do your best to color-coordinate and mix-and-match pieces so a few items can be worn as six or seven different outfits.

2. 

   Prepare a space for bundle packing. You will need a big, flat space, like the top of your bed or a large table. Take a blouse or shirt and lay it out flat. Take a second blouse and lay it flat in the other direction, overlapping the first blouse at the sleeves. Take a pair of slacks and lay them flat over the two blouses. Repeat with another pair of slacks.In the center of the pile, either use some folded tissue paper, or place some rolled up socks or underwear to wrap the clothes around. Then take the sleeves of the blouses and fold them over the socks. Do the same with the pant legs which should fold over in the opposite direction. This will form a square and you can place the entire pile into one corner of your luggage. Repeat as needed until all clothes are packed.

3. 

   Pack shoes. Wear the bulkiest and heaviest shoes on the day you travel. Slide smaller, lighter shoes like sandals into gallon-sized zip-top bags and slide them in around the edges of your suitcase.

4. 

   Pack a plastic bag that can be used for dirty laundry so you aren't putting soiled clothes in next to clean ones. Also pack a lint roller and some of the stain remover products that come in wipes or pen format.

5. Pack at least one change of clothes in your carry-on bag. If your flight is delayed or canceled after you have checked your bag, it's a good idea to have one change of clothes on hand.

Tips & Warnings

• You probably won't see the people at your hotel ever again, so if you wear the same outfit twice in one week, it's not a problem.

• Pack practically for what the weather forecast predicts.

• If you are visiting family members, you can pack even less because you will have access to do laundry.

• Don't try to pack enough to cover ever possible situation. If it rains and you didn't pack an umbrella, you can buy one on the road for less than the cost of a second suitcase.

• Don't pack two bags and think you can sneak them through check-in. You will be charged a fee for your second piece of checked baggage.

Resources

• AAA Travel Info