Packing is critical. If you forget any of the essential items, you’ll be disappointed and have to scramble to find the closest store at your destination. If you pack too much stuff, you’ll be unorganized, have to lug heavy bags around, and pay more for airline baggage fees. To help stop all of that, here are a few tips for packing for your vacation.

Roll – No Folding

Many experts in the travel industry – including those backpackers who stuff a few months’ worths of underwear and other essentials into a single backpack – agree on the fact that rolling your clothes takes up much less space than folding. Additionally, they’ll be less prone to getting those deep wrinkles from where they were folded.

Make a List

When talking about packing, procrastinators will fall short. Begin the process of packing days, if not weeks, before it comes time to leave. This gives you the time you need to make a complete list, as well as to buy any essentials for the trip, like a white bikini if you’re beach bound.  Making a packing list is a fantastic way to ensure that you never forget anything that’s truly important.

Know the Baggage Fee Policy for the Airline

Navigating the airline befuddling and tricky baggage fee policy is important when it comes to a packing strategy that’s budget-friendly. When it comes to flights out of the country – like to a gorgeous Caribbean destination or another country, most airlines allow at least one bag, but if you’re flying in the country, you might want to be ready to pay some big bucks for that same bag.

Before beginning to pack, you might want to take the time to look up the baggage policies on your airline’s website. In fact, you might even want to do this before purchasing your ticket, especially if you want to bring along a couple of bags that will need to be checked.

The 3-1-1 Rule | The TSA has a 3-1-1 rule that needs to be followed if you don’t want your stuff to be confiscated and possibly miss your flight because of them holding you up. This means that you’ll need to familiarize yourself with this rule. Any liquids that will be brought onto any plane need to be in bottles that are 3.4 ounces or smaller. All of these bottles need to fit in a single quart-sized zip-top bag that’s clear.

It’s also helpful to know exactly which items the TSA deems as liquids and gels, making them subject to this rule. This part can be a bit confusing. Foods like icing, mashed potatoes, and peanut butter are classified as gels. There are also certain make-up items, like aerosols, lip gloss, and mascara that are considered to gel. At the same time, things like liquid medication are exempt from this rule.

By following the guidelines listed here, you’ll be able to pack in such a way that you can fit more into less space, be sure not to forget anything, and be ready to be compliant with both airline baggage policies and TSA rules. Have a great trip