Hi, I’m Abigail, foodie, wife and home chef in that order. My husband and I like to travel a lot.
Sometimes we would just get on our trusty Rover and go on a road trip. We eat along the way and discover many inspirations for our restaurant menu.
Other times, we splurge and get on an airplane. We have been to many places in Asia and Europe, and they are all beautiful, and the food just amazing.
Preparing for the trip is part of the fun, but packing an efficient suitcase can be a challenge.

Over the years, we have developed our own kind of system in doing it, and as we share it with you, I hope it gives you the travel itch as well.
Table of Contents
The FIVE ESSENTIALS When Travelling
This is fundamental information, but it cuts down to make it short and simple for you.
Here is what you SHOULD have in your luggage:

Clothes
Shoes
Toiletries
Medicines

Copies of documents
Also, depending on your preferences and habits, there are countless other items you want to bring along such as camera, camcorder, laptop, tablet or maybe a portable blender to help you make healthy smoothies and shakes during long holidays.
How To Pack
You got everything you will be bringing laid out on top of your bed ready to be packed.
Planning is essential because that helps you avoid unnecessary stress when preparing lots of luggage.
In the process of packing, we have to think about:
James and I have lightweight luggage we like to use a lot. It is not made of hard-shell as this material adds at least 2 kilos into your weight. We have baggage that has an expandable zip on the sides.
Here are some tips on HOW TO PACK LUGGAGE:

Roll clothes to avoid creasing them
Although in case you do, you can steam-iron them by turning the hot shower on. Make sure you don’t get your clothes wet; hang them on the shower curtain rod to be near the steam.
Maximize space
Maximize space by putting small items like socks or hankies inside shoes. For James, I put his belt in his shoes.
Vacuum seal your clothes
How can you fit 2 weeks’ worth of clothes inside your luggage?
The trick is to vacuum seal it by using foodsaver vacuum sealer with built-in handheld sealer.
If you think that is only done for liquid toiletries to avoid spilling, you would love to know I vacuum seal my clothes, too, so it shrinks and magically fits my luggage.
For smaller pieces of clothing, like underwear, I vacuum seal them together. Then I vacuum seal per outfit already matched together.
Seriously! Like one bag will have a pair of khaki shorts and pink shirt in there. Then I label it day 1, and so on.
Believe me, when I wake up wondering what time zone I am in, I don’t want to think about coordinating my outfit.
PACKING CUBES & COMPRESSION BAGS (my favorite accessories)
Packing cubes

Compression bags

However, since my travel issue is luggage space, and not organizing my luggage, I always choose to vacuum-seal my stuff and use compression bags.
CARRY-ON MUST-HAVE’S
Whether we are on a bus, in a car or on an airplane, I always have a purse beside me, big enough to fit these items inside because you have to be ready if you lose your luggage or is delayed in another flight.

Clothes
I always have a clean shirt and underwear in there. Once during a flight, I spilled drinks on myself, so that shirt saved my day.
Food
Not only because I am a foodie, but because I am capable of hurting somebody when I’m hungry.
Once during a group tour, our bus broke down, and I feasted on my crackers during the 1-hour delay in the middle of nowhere.
I always have a small bottle of water, candies and crackers.
Medicines
Overseas, I may not find my preferred brand of medicine so aside from having my own stash inside my luggage, I have in my carry-on at least two days’ worth of maintenance medicine, and one each for emergency med.
Original documents
I want to be able to leave when I need to so I always have with me my passport, airline tickets and other travel documents.
I know I risk losing it to a thief, but I’d rather risk that than be stranded in a strange place when I badly need to leave it. And yes, I have watched enough war movies.
LAST FEW TIPS

Always check your luggage weight
Label your luggage discreetly
And now, you are ready to take travelling to new heights. Enjoy!
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