Deciding how much you need to take is one of the hardest things to get right when planning a trip. Whether you are going for a short weekend break or a month long jaunt, finding the right balance and packing the right things can be quite challenging.

 

Will it be warm or cold, wet or dry, walking or partying? Sometimes you need to cater for all of these situations and still manage to get everything into just one case. You will need to consider luggage restrictions if you are travelling by airplane or coach, space restrictions if you are travelling by car or weight restrictions if you are backpacking or travelling by train.

Finding the right piece of luggage will help you to pack successfully. You will need a case that is not too big, but not too small; not too heavy, but sturdy enough to withstand the battering that it may receive during its journey and ideally one that you will easily be able to identify on the conveyor belt at the airport. Designer luggage is ideal for this purpose as it is often distinctive and can be matched to your handbag and hand luggage.

Of course, however large your case you will need to be careful when packing your clothes to avoid them becoming creased and unwearable. There are two ways you can avoid your clothes becoming creased; either roll your clothes instead of folding them before putting them onto the case or place layers of tissue paper within the clothes as you fold them.

 

Remember that you are not able to take large quantities of liquid in your hand luggage, so you will need to pack these into your case with everything else. Make sure these are in tightly closed bottles and inside a sealed plastic bag to prevent any spillage onto your clothes.

 

You will also need to pack any electrical items into your case, but remember that the voltage differs from country to country and you may need to take a travel plug and a voltage adapter with you.

 

Remember not to lock any cases that you will be checking in at the airport. If your bag is selected for a random security search, difficult access will mean that the airport staff will break the lock and possibly cause damage to your case. All airlines will have a weight allowance for luggage and an excess fee will apply to anyone who exceeds this limit. Most airlines will now allow one or two pieces of hand luggage, but liquids are still restricted to 100ml bottles and should be kept in a clear plastic bag, you wouldn`t want them to spill inside your luxury handbags.

 

Before you start packing, check what restrictions are applied by your particular carrier. Most of these restrictions do not apply if you are travelling by train or coach, but in these circumstances you will have to carry your luggage yourself, so be careful not to over pack.