Now that your vacation has been booked and the departure date is fast approaching, it might be time to start thinking about packing. Deciding on what to take — or not to take — on vacation can be somewhat challenging, and a lot of us are guilty of the I-never-ever-wear-this-but-might-need-it mentality (me included). If you're going on a long weekend, it might be worth learning how to pack light; and if you're going away for a week or more, Walsh has a few tricks that should make your packing more efficient. "Keep your shoes in a plastic bag or in a shower cap (available at most hotels), to prevent them making your clothes dirty or smelly," she explains. "Pack two tops for every pair of bottoms: this will prevent you from taking too much, as we are more likely to wear bottoms than tops again. Lastly, instead of taking a whole guidebook, just take photos of the pages you need on your phone to save the valuable space!"
As explained by Walsh, "Many credit cards (like American Express) include free air miles when you sign up." Although you could use them to book your flight, her advice is to "use them on cabin upgrades, as these types of flights are far more reasonable when you use miles compared to paying the full fare." Flying business class at an economy price? We wouldn't say no.
Going through security can take an awfully long time, but there are ways to make things a bit smoother — and all you have to do is prepare ahead of time. "If you have a tablet or laptop with you, make sure that it is easily accessible and ready to be placed on a tray during security checks," explains Walsh. "Make sure that all of your liquids are packed away in a see-through bag and that your suitcase is packed neatly. At one point or another, every one of us is likely to have their bag checked, so the tidier it is, the easier it will be to close it again!"
