Luggage and Packing Lists: Foundations of Great Travel

As a professional traveler, I believe that good luggage and a good packing list are the basic ingredients for a great trip.

Good luggage not only keeps your belongings safe and secure, but it also makes traveling way easier. Meanwhile, a good packing list ensures that you have everything you need to enjoy your destination.

Investing in good quality luggage (even if you buy it cheap at my favorite luggage bargain store) and taking the time to read packing lists from travelers who have actually been where you are going can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth trip.

Here’s a collection of my articles on both topics.

Bags & Suitcases

Packing Lists

A drawing of a pink and a blue suitcase sitting next to each other.

Articles about Buying, Cleaning, Storing, and Packing a Suitcase

Listen, if you want to avoid having a meltdown at the airport like I did in Rome circa 2019, invest in some good luggage.

Nothing puts a damper on your travels like your suitcase arriving in baggage claim in a plastic bag because the zipper broke on your inbound flight. 😭

But it’s not just about avoiding suitcase part malfunctions. Good luggage can actually make your travels a lot more enjoyable. With well-designed compartments and plenty of storage space, you can pack like a pro. When you know how to shop for luggage, you can get your hands on a bag built to withstand the bumps and bruises of travel.

Good luggage is designed with your comfort in mind, so you can roll or carry it with ease- but pro travelers know that making a suitcase last means treating it well. In these articles, you’ll learn how to store, clean, and care for your luggage so it stays new-looking longer.

6 Tips for Storing Luggage and Suitcases

For most travelers, a suitcase is a big investment. Keep your suitcase working hard for years to come by following these basic tips for proper suitcase storage. 1. Control humidity…

How to Clean a Suitcase

Suitcases can be a big investment. Help your suitcase last – and look newer for longer – by cleaning it regularly. In this article, I’m sharing my best tips for…

Suitcase vs a Backpack for Travel: How to Decide

In hostel common rooms, hotel bars, and online forums, travelers sometimes find themselves in a spirited discussion over one topic: the choice between a suitcase and a backpack. In the…

How to Store Backpacks | Tips & Advice

Whether it’s a schoolbag, daypack, backpack-style suitcase, or backcountry camping backpack, knowing how to store a backpack is essential to keeping your bag in great shape for next season and…

44 Packing Hacks for Easy Travel

Pro travelers make traveling look easy and low stress. Part of this ease is because, after many many flights and many many months spent overseas, traveling does get a little…

How to Pack a Carry-On Bag for your Next Flight

When we’re traveling by air, our carry-on bag is our lifeline – and this is never more true than on long flights. Air travel can involve a lot of stress…

How to Pack Jewelry for Travel

Traveling with jewelry presents challenges for most travelers. These challenges fall into three categories: 👚💍matching outfits, 🧳 packing jewelry in a suitcase, and 👮🏽‍♀️💎 staying safe as a tourist with…

Here’s The Cheapest Place To Buy A Suitcase

Suitcases can be expensive; in this article I share my tips for the cheapest place to buy a suitcase. I could tell you about online sales, discount stores, or even…

Packing Lists

Gather round, fellow travelers, and let me tell you about the magic of packing lists. They’re like a magic power to pack like a pro and avoid many travel mishaps.

There are two kinds of packing lists:

Basic Packing lists help you remember the essentials.
Destination specific packing lists, however, like I have included below, are all about thriving on location.

With a destination-specific packing list, you’ll know exactly what to pay for the destination you’re visiting, so you’ll have everything on hand to really enjoy your trip. The importance of insider knowledge on this kind of packing list is why I include one in just about every destination guide I create.

Using a packing list also means you won’t be that person at the airport trying to stuff all their belongings into their already overstuffed bag. You’ll have the power to pack efficiently, avoid those pesky baggage fees, move quickly through airport security, and have room to bring back the best souvenirs.