If you are staying in hotels and you bring your own shampoo take/save all of the little bottles/soaps and drop them off at the local homeless/women's shelter when you leave.
re: hotel shampoos, while it might feel either wasteful or too stingy to take them home, it's actually mandatory in most countries for hotels to throw them out since it's a sanitary issue (even if they seem unused they could have been tampered with). so taking them is kind of the less wasteful alternative (other than maybe asking hotel staff not to put them in your room).
When traveling by air, wear a camera/fishing/hunting vest and carry your tech, toiletries, snacks, a nylon jacket, gloves, socks, maybe even a full change of clothes in the pockets. Some of the vests have a huge pocket in the back which would be great for a sweat shirt and pair of sweat pants folded flat. Since you wear it onto the plane, it should not count as baggage. You can roll it up and use it as a pillow or stuff it under the seat with your bag if you do not want to wear it in flight.
Even better than a camera vest are the ScotteVests, which have an abundance of inside pockets. I got lucky and picked up one at a thrift store for $3. I love it. Interior pockets make thieving less likely and what you are carrying less obvious. New, they are pricey, typically $150, but you can find used ones on eBay for about $50. The big plus is that you may find that you can carry what you'd otherwise carry in a small bag inside that vest. That's good, particularly if you are like me and have a tendency to forget that bag.
@@Inkling777 I totally forgot I was going to look into one of the Scottevest... I saw something online about them over a year ago but as I'm 1) female and also 2) don't want to spend that much on a silly vest with fisherman vest Pockets I forgot about it... Guess I'll have to keep my eye out in thrift stores! Question if you see this... does the FFA ask you to remove the vest and put it in bins... I assume so as you couldn't possibly walk through the Gateway setting off those alarms...??
I did that ( a diy out of a men's shirt which folds down even smaller than a vest I purchased from Big 5). I wore it to sightsee, museums etc. carrying from water bottle, tiny umbrella to small things like train tickets ( top breast pocket & was easy access). When I dont want to wear it, I aligned the armholes and carry it like a tote bag. I meant to wear it to carry extra heavy items on my flight from Paris to Italy but turns out, I didn't need it so I packed it. I even use it as a layer & it did help to keep me warm on one windy, freezing morning .
Bring your own reusable water bottle and/or thermos! Once you carry them empty through TSA you can fill up at water fountains for free (and avoid more plastic bottle waste). Repeat as needed for your whole trip. I pre-stage my themos with sugar and bring my own tea bags, then ask for hot water at whatever shop i get my pre-flight snack from. Not only do I have my favorite hot tea for the flight (apparently the water they use for tea/coffee on board is disgusting) but I have my favorite comfort tea whenever I want on the trip since I brought extra tea bags. Game changer!
Digging this tip, ThexImperfectionist! Thanks for sharing this with us. Pre-staging your Thermos definitely sounds like expert level travel to us. Being able to get your favorite drink while you're in the air really is a game-changer. 🙌 - Rebecca
I'm a big fan of using contact lens cases as travel lotion/gel containers! They're designed not to leak contact lens solution and so they work super well.
Dental floss. Great for cleaning teeth, useful for cording in a pinch. Had one of my zipper pulls break during a trip, made a makeshift pull out of dental floss until I got home. Can also use to secure zippers together if you loose your lock or if you don't feel like buying one.
What was the backpack seen at the 2:14 minute mark? For space saving inconvenience, I keep a small roll of my dogs biodegradable poop bags in my water bottle pocket. This helps me when I need to dispose of a banana peel or keep something wet away from other things in my bag.
it was already mentioned but i carry Ziplock bags in several sizes for every trip. Not just for packing but also as a place to put wet swimsuit while on the go... to hold small toiletries to prevent spills from getting all over and for general organization. I keep the bags in my suitcase year round. They last for many trips if not overstuffed.
That's great to hear, Stephanie. Glad the Ziploc system is working well for you. The wet swimsuit Ziploc is a great shout, and even better that it takes up zero weight and space if you don't need to use it. Thanks for sharing. 😊 - Rebecca
I always carry a couple of extra ziploc bags too. Most often, I use them for storing extra food on the go. Grab that extra croissant or bagel from the hotel breakfast bar, throw it in the ziploc and you’ve got a snack for later. When traveling in remote locations, I’ve brought along a PBJ to keep me going when food sources can be a bit risky. Has saved me (and a friend) more than once.
I carry various zip locks and plastic bags in my luggage and carry on when on the road as well and replenish them when I get back home. I also like to carry when using a lager suitcase one of those free reusable grocery bags we always seem to collect.
Yes, AL! That's an awesome way to keep those cables tidy, and even better that they usually come along with the cables in the first place. Thanks for sharing your go-to with us! 😊 - Rebecca
Great hacks. Some more ideas from my side: - instead of using compartment boxes and such stuff just save weight and volume by using the ziplock-in-a-ziplock trick: put small items in small ziplocks which are then put in a bigger ziplock bag. - if you possibly run into weight problems with your cabin luggage remove heavy items like powerbanks, laptop chargers and filled water bottle whiles q-ing and keep them in your jacket pockets or hands during check-in. Cargo pants might not be dernier cri in terms of fashion but come in handy in such moments - whiles purchasing electrical travel equipment ensure that everything can be charged by usb. Torch, cam, phone, electrical tooth brush, name it, everything is available with usb charging option. Then you can carry only one USB charger with multiple slots for simultaneous charging of all your devices, and you can charge everything with your power bank in case of power cuts as they happen often in Asia. Drop all but one of the long charging cables which come with your devices and use small ones (8"/20cm or so). Keep the long cable ready during flight since many new planes come with usb charging ports in the arm rest so you can charge during flight. - use a dual sim phone or even better a separate one for your destination country. Get a local sim for your data plan and check what the carrier's app can bring in terms of included benefits such as e.g. wallet for local digital payments, train and air travel booking options (!), special plans for entertainment like netflix, shopping and fast food delivery etc. If you go for the second option don't bring the smartphone with you but get the separate phone locally, everywhere in Asia you can purchase quite reasonable smartphones for 100 Euros or less and you can be sure that they run smoothly on your local carrier's frequencies and allow you to install country coded apps. You can still use your original phone for whatsapp etc. by using wlan and hotspot on the new one.
Love the idea of using zip lock with duck tape as a packing cube! I have so many makeup bags and small tech pouches that I'm going to use instead of buying tons of new ones
Pro Tip: Never, ever tell your Japanese friend that the sake cup present you bought them was stored in your shoes during your trip. If they find out, you’ll have guaranteed gasping of shock and horror. The equivalent would be like doing a Kramer and washing your dishes while your showering and telling your friends this after you invite them over for dinner.
I use ziplocks all the time, but I find that if I'm living out of my bag for a few weeks my clothes wind up smelling a bit plasticy. I've also used the smaller quart size bags to organize my clothing by day/outfit if I was going on a trip where I had specific items to wear each day (like a convention or cruise). I have an IKEA cubby filled with little bags and pouches and usually I can always find something appropriate. All those "free with purchase" makeup bags come in handy, and my husband uses an old (hey, it's now vintage!) lesportsac pouch of mine for his chargers and camera batteries. Another tip I have (but probably only really works in a suitcase) is to get one of those closet jewellery organizers with all the little pockets. You can slip it on a hanger in the hotel room to hang it, but the pockets are great for all the small things you need, not just jewellery as you can stick band-aids, q-tips, nail clippers, etc. in the little pockets. The one I have has one side with pockets, the other side with velcro loops ( to hold necklaces), but if you fold it carefully with the pockets on the inside, nothing falls out, or you could add velcro to the pockets to keep them closed. I struggle so much with finding a good tech bag for my stuff when we travel. I've tried the fancy ones and they don't fit everything in or they get funny bulges in them. I wear glasses though, so I do pack an empty glasses case, but I tend to stick make-up brushes in it if I'm packing make-up. But I like the idea of sticking cables in it. hmmm. I definitely always grab the hotel freebie minis. They're great for quick overnights or trips with limited baggage as you can toss them. *edited to add* I also forgot about coin purses - It's one of those generic gifts I find I get a lot of and they come in handy for so many things. I have one I turned into a mini emergency kit with band-aids, etc, one that's a sewing kit, etc. And the best part is it could trick a pick pocketer in thinking they were getting your money! For my wallet, I use one of those ID holders (but a little fancier than just a clear holder) that holds my license, cc, and debit card. I keep it on a lanyard so it can be tucked under my shirt if I'm in an unsafe area. I just keep change and cash in yet another little zipper bag. I don't like putting things in my shoes unless they're in plastic bags because shoes are smelly ;)
Thanks so much for sharing your tips here, Rebecca. Digging your idea of using coin purses for different uses. It's super handy to keep those smaller items in check and organized and this sounds like a great way to do just that. The jewellery organizer is another great shout to keep your items organized once you arrive at your destination. By the looks of it (depending on what you pack inside) this kind of organizer will pack pretty flat in your case too, which is a great bonus. 😊 - Rebecca
If you have space, one of the $1 soap containers from any store that sells travel toiletries can hold a couple bars in it for soap and a shampoo bar (also assuming you’re okay with them mixing). I actually prefer those over designated bar soap containers from lush (I found that it was harder to get the bars out)
For the most part I pack in pouches, ziploc or stasher bags because they are flexible but I do pack one hard container. I pack a 1 to 1.5 liter rectangular Lock & Lock food storage box. I pack small items and socks into it. When I get to the hotel I remove the contents and use the bottom of the container as a tray on the bathroom counter for my toiletries. When housekeeping cleans they can pick up the tray instead of handling my toothbrush and the rest of my cosmetics. I put the lid of the box on the nightstand to catch my phone, jewelry etc. The box also gives me a container to pack fragile souvenirs like sea shells or Christmas ornaments.
it's always worth trawling the local pound/dollar/euro shops before a trip. They will often have 1 or 2 useful things for a pittance. Pouches, flip flops, liquid containers etc are often available. My current first aid kit I got in flying tiger over here for 1 euro. Also worth checking out when traveling if you have forgotten or need to replace something. I had a canadian dollar store sun hat for over 2 years until it was killed by a kilt-wearing frenchman's falling hotdog...
Great tips, Patrick. Thanks for sharing! Digging that you were able to pick up a first aid kit for only 1 Euro, that's a great deal and something that's always handy to have in your pack. Sorry to hear about your hats life coming to the end via a falling hotdog, that's definitely something that you don't hear every day. Still, glad you were able to get a couple of years of use from it (& possibly even more had it not been for the hotdog). - Rebecca
@@PackHacker well, said frenchman bought me a beer as compensation for the deceased headwear. The beer cost twice as much as the hat had. So it could be considered a sound investment.
@@kennethlawson1582 I fear I have oversold this story :). I was at a rugby game in japan in 2019 and there was a french gentleman sitting behind me. I guess he is a regular 6 nations rugby fan and seemed to wear something from the various countries in the 6 nations. he was wearing a kilt and eating a disgusting stadium hot dog. at some point during the game his hotdog - buns and about a half litre of ketchup and all - fell plum into the middle of my hat which I had set down beside me. He felt bad but i tried to tell him it was a 2 euro hat and wasnt a big deal. He insisted on buying me a beer, and what self-respecting irishman would turn that offer down? The stadium beers were ridiculously overpriced at about 7 euros each - actually more than 3 times the worth of the hat. Anyway I gave the beer a good home and the hat a sombre funeral (in a bin on the way out of the stadium)
The flying tiger first aid kit is amazing. I have mine for a couple of years now, carry it with me daily and it is just perfect. It comes lightly packed so there is still room for adding anything else you might need. Their travel sleeping kit is amazing as well. It has an iflatable pillow, eye mask and ear plugs.
I use dollor store pencil cases for small items. I found some with clear windows or mesh sides. When school starts they are very cheap. And vacuum storage bags are cool too
I've done that. Also store my more vulnerable tech eg. battery pack, in a $ store foam pencil case. I've even seen ppl diy a tablet protector with a larger foam pencil case 👍
A great addition to a mini first aid kit is a small tube of superglue. It's great for sealing up cuts, particularly on hands. It can even take the place of stitches.
The key to stopping bleeding is applying pressure. Hold the pressure for a minimum of 4-5 minutes hard enough to stop blood flow to the parts further downstream. You won't even need superglue or stitches.
@@paraagshah4153 That may stop bleeding, but after that, what holds the wound closed? Hence the super glue. Skills are always with you and therefore unnecessary to list for packing. You can forget superglue.
Yes! Awesome tip, Jade. Wearing or packing damp clothes is never fun, so using towels like this to help speed this process along is a great solution. 🙌😊 - Rebecca
I like to purchase light weight pencil cases to pack y small electronics and other goodies. best time to get these is back to school. I also like to use a small toiletry bag to hold my laptop accessories. It keeps them in one place and all together.
another trick for doing laundry is that when you want things to dry quicker, you can lay them out on a towel, roll up the towel and step on it/squeeze it to get the water out.
Great tip, which I use at home, too! Also, I have packed a quick dry towel, and that had helped, too. A Turkish towel with multiple uses (scarf, sarong, beach/yoga mat, etc.) is a good alternative. 😁
My handwashing technique: (started in Asia approx 25yrs ago and been perfecting ever since) do washing while you shower (put soap on your clothes first then step on them while you shower), rinse after you've finished washing yourself then step the water out, then wring (or continue to step water out of items that can't be wrung). Then wrap in a towel and wring, then step on the towel. They should be ready to hang up to dry by then. Hang shirts on coat hangers if possible, try to stretch out all wrinkles b4 hanging up to dry
Just a warning if u use the binder clip as a wallet remember to put the card with magnet stripe on the other side of the clip so it doesn't get ruined.
Great ideas here! Thanks! Re: the stickers for checked bags' easy identification, I have recycled "junk mail" stickers. 😁 I wash and save those containers with screw-on lids. I really like that wrapping items in a sarong idea. I will definitely use that soon. 🙂 That
I learned a good one from someone. If you have kids attach anything you don’t want to lose to someone or something else with a pacifier clip. It was life changing with my then 6 month old.
I loved the way you actually gave me a brand new idea of travelling with my money as i use a lot of cards and cash too. By the way nice tips for economy class ones.
I like to use old 35mm film spool cases for storing spare earbuds, pills, plasters (bandaids) etc.. Put a small hole in the case and the lid, slip through a split ring and hang from a carabiner.
Seal the seams and stitches with clear silicone and you won't have any problems. REI sells seam sealer, but there are other options. I even used automotive RTV on the inside of a hiking back pack.
RFID is mostly bs, the chances of you standing right next to the one person on the one street on the one corner in the one crowd your in is slim to none
@@RU-vidAIbot they can be within 5-10 feet from you and scan your cards in your pocket with or without the binder clip and you would not even know.If this is slim tonone this sounds like a travel destination with not that many people
When I travel I have an international bank card for online purchases that does not have a rfid tag. It's linked to my bank so I transfer a set amount and go.
I got an amenities kit from Delta about ten years ago when my luggage decided to head to Jamaica without me (I went one bag carryon only immediately thereafter). I've had to since replace the toiletries of course, but that toiletry bag that came with it is still in use. That thing is made ridiculously well.
Hey Kota! That's certainly a good reason to only travel carry-on after that experience. I think that's every traveler's worst nightmare. But it's great that there's a silver lining and your toiletry bag is still going strong. 🙌 - Rebecca
Yeah I still have a Cathay Pacific amenities bag from 20yrs ago that I still use - what I put in it changes regularly but it's still in good nick. These things hold up surprisingly well
I love this channel. You’re so concise and organized with so many helpful tips. I also use contact lense cases. I can get two weeks worth of crèmes and lotions using both sides. Thank you.
Just a quick note: I’ve noticed that some of the luggage restrictions of different airlines are outdated on your website( The one on Ryanair for instance) Btw I love the work you’re doing! Keep it up!
I love using PATH water bottles instead of a heavy water bottle. PATH is a bottled water company that uses sturdy reusable aluminum bottles instead of cheap plastic! The bottles are much lighter than most reusable metal or plastic water bottles you can buy and only cost about $2-$3 including the water.
A quick tip for people, if your toothbrush is a hassle in the toiletries, get yourself a steripod. They are sold at target and Walmart too I’m pretty sure. They protect the brush part of the toothbrush so you can just toss it in with your clothes and not have to worry about it
I may not be able to use it without cleaning, but I always have a banana tied around the handle of my bag and since I'm a smoker, I have a lighter leash attached to the arm (highly recommend if you can't help losing lighters)
One of the best ways to save money is to fix your own meals with a small camping stove. Along with breakfast, you can put a soup mix in a thermos, add hot water and you'll be ready for lunch on the go. Also, if exchange rates make some countries more expensive than others, buy food where its cheap and take it with you into that pricey country.
Hey Michael! Thanks for the tips! Just be careful about bringing food across certain borders. Some countries have strict rules. Thanks for the comment! - Austin
Hi purchased Aer pack 3 use it as every day back pack without going to gym, just like the design looks of it ,hope it works out for me. Thanks for your reviews
I love it! Gonna try to remember that 1 I made a note in my travel diary (I used to keep a diary of my travels, now I keep 1 of all the tips and tricks I hear 😆)
Well, on Babbel you can learn some Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portugeuse, Russian, Turkish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, Danish and Indonesian. Any other language you might need.... You're out of luck. Babbel is of no use to me at all. In my case, I travel to Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and India and Sri Lanka. Babbel does not cover ANY of the languages of those countries. No Mandarin, no Khmer, no Vietnamese, no Thai, no Hindi, no Sinhala
I use the Wise Visa card for travel. It works everywhere and uses xe exchange rate for any currency with minimal commissions. As for the phone, pick one with good battery life and fast charging! Good picture quality, some water resistance and a bright screen are also a plus when you spend a lot of time outdoor.
He does it for free because... fashion! Also, we don't accept money from gear brands to feature their products. I'll drop a link with more info on our rating system. - Austin packhacker.com/about/rating-system/
I totally forgot that airlines allow a carry-on bag and a personal item. If you have everything in one bag, the personal item bag can contain anything you purchase on the trip.
Did you all seriously just make the comment that Hotel shampoos we're not environmentally friendly after suggesting using a ziploc bag as a packing cube? Am I the only one who sees the irony there? 😂 Although you win major props for the Planet Express patch Quick Hotel drying your clothes suggestion, use the hair dryer that's provided
I don’t advise people to use ziplocks, but they are reusable and repairable. Some people wash their ziplocks for continuous reuse. I even have ziplocks in my camping gear that came with my used items. I’ve added duct tape when needed when it has ripped. It can be fairly sustainable, especially compared to making new purchases. But it should be a mindful decision.
@@PackHacker any more info on it? I’m having trouble finding it on Google? Do the bags stay compressed until I open it again or does it slowly let air in. I’m considering trying this instead of brining my vacuum sealer in my luggage next time thx!
Hey Heathen Wolf, we recommend checking out some compressible packing cubes. They come in super handy especially for thicker items like sweaters and hoodies. We'll drop some links below for you to check out. Packing Cube Guide: packhacker.com/guide/best-packing-cubes/ Peak Design Packing Cubes: packhacker.com/travel-gear/peak-design/packing-cubes/ Eagle Creek Pack-It Specter Compression Cubes: packhacker.com/travel-gear/eagle-creek/pack-it-specter-cubes/ Gonex Compression Packing Cubes: packhacker.com/travel-gear/gonex/compression-packing-cubes/ - Rebecca
Heathen Wolf, how do you fold your hoodies? I tend to fold the sleeves in so it becomes a rectangle about the width of the hood when it lies flat, and then I roll it up and tuck it into the hood. This turns it into a sorta thick water bottle sized and shaped package that I can fit in the bottom, top or side of most of my bags :)
