Although back-to-school banners are starting to decorate stores across the country, that doesn’t mean summer is over! There’s plenty of time left for beach days and vacays. 😎

If you’ve got a trip coming up and are looking for ways to simplify your packing process, smooth out your travel days, and spend more time actually enjoying your vacation rather than trying to figure out which bag has your sunscreen… this one’s for you 😉

Top 5 Travel Tips to Pack like a Pro

1. PACK AN “airplane bag” that’s always ready to go

Choose your favorite toiletries bag, and fill it with those mid-flight must-haves you’ll need throughout your trip. Hand sanitizer, tissues, chorded earphones, ear plugs, eye mask, portable charger, inflatable neck pillow, and dry shampoo are some of my essentials. Toss it all in your airplane toiletries bag and stow it in your carry-on whenever you’re not traveling. It will always be packed and ready to go into your personal item or leave in your carry-on! This will save you a solid 10 minutes. Every. Time.

2. NEST YOUR LUGGAGE

We are big fans of nesting luggage for a couple of reasons. First, it can save you a lot of space, especially if you have larger-sized cases, have a lot of them, or if you live in a small space (ahem, we see you NYC apartments). Secondly, nesting your luggage can make it extremely easy to pack because all your carry-ons, duffels, totes, and garment bags will be in the same place. You can choose your piece(s) based on your trip’s length of stay and occasion and get packin’!

3. PACK A GRAB & GO BAG FOR YOUR KIDS

Traveling with kids is a huge undertaking, so why not make it a little easier on yourself? Pack a bag with items that will keep your children occupied when traveling: crayons and coloring books, puzzles, figurines, books, etc. Swap out toys every so often so that every trip comes with fresh toys that they will be excited to play with!

Sage Wisdom: Choose these items wisely! Do NOT pack things that are going to bother fellow passengers. That means no repetitive songs, no bells, no loud noises, none of that. Don’t be the parent who lets their kid annoy other travelers.

4. Designate & utilize a resort-wear bin

If you’re anything like me, you have a handful of items that you only wear on vacation. Think floral dresses and shirts, cover-ups, water socks, swimsuits, and big hats. Collect all these items and store them in a bin in a less accessible spot in your home (the top of a closet, under your bed, etc.). Keeping all your beachy items in one place will make packing them as breezy as the weather at your tropical destination.

5. Invest in some travel accessories

We have a few tried-and-true product recommendations for items that will help make your packing, travel, and vacation easy and stress-free:

Packing Cubes: Separating your clothes by category can help you pack much faster, save space, AND help you find what you need quickly when you arrive at your destination!
Stasher Bags: These are extremely versatile and helpful for any trip. They can be utilized for toiletries, as wet bags for bathing suits, or for bringing snacks to the beach!
Hanging Toiletries Organizer: Not all hotel bathroom counter space is created equal. This hanging toiletries organizer saves you from running out of counter space and keeps all of your items within reach. Bonus - it can hold full-size products for your longer stays!
Hat Clip: Don’t worry about your hat getting crushed in your luggage, hang it off your carry-on instead!

If you’re interested in any of these items, check out the Sage Organization and Design Travel Essentials Wishlist!

Sage Wisdom BONUS: Try using an over-the-door organizer to pack your child for your next trip! Use each space or row to pack an outfit for each day. Roll or fold up the over-the-door organizer neatly into a suitcase. When you arrive at your destination, simply hang it and you’ve got all your kid’s stuff already planned out and ready to go! Check it out!

We love to travel here at Sage Organization and Design and we hope that these tips help you feel more at ease during your next trip! We’ve been using some of these tips for years now and have saved sooo much time, energy, and stress. These recommendations can help speed up your packing process, create a smoother travel day, and help you settle into your vacation spot with ease! Now, get out there and enjoy the dog days of summer! We know we will. :)

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