As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to slow down, many people are starting to think about taking a trip. Although they might not have their tickets booked, being prepared for when that time comes is key to having a successful trip.

The Scoop met with Addy Sporleder, a senior at Drury University who spent a semester at sea in the spring of 2019, to ask her how to properly pack a suitcase.

Addy was able to fit four months worth of clothes for her travels to Hawaii, Japan, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Mauritius, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, and the Netherlands all in two medium-sized suitcases. With her steps and techniques that she uses on her travels, packing for future destinations won’t be a hassle.

Step 1: Shoes

If your suitcase has pockets for shoes, place them in there. If not, set them in the base of your suitcase. Try to only pack a few shoes since they take up a lot of space. Think about the specific activities you will be doing. You may need tennis shoes, flip flops, or nice shoes for dinner. 

“Because most of my bags don’t have a special compartment for shoes, I typically start by putting shoes in the bottom of my bag. I select as few pairs as possible while accounting for the activities I’ll be doing.”

Step 2: Thin Clothing Items

Next, pack thinner clothing items. Fold and roll them as tightly as possible and place them between or on top of your shoes. If you have closed toed shoes, stuff the inside with these clothing items to fill every space.

“After selecting my shoes, I consider the different types of outfits that I’ll need. If the weather permits, I try to select thin items of clothing that can be easily rolled to maximize my space, such as t-shirts.”

Step 3: Sweats and Activewear

Make sure to grab comfy clothes to wear on your travel days in the car or on the plane. Place these items on top of your shoes, next to your t-shirts.

“In order to be comfortable while sleeping and traveling, I make sure to throw in at least one pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt, as well as activewear.”

Step 4: Makeup and Toiletries

Pack your essential toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, other hygiene products. Try to limit the number of products you take and use smaller versions of them as well. If you are staying in a hotel, they will most likely provide things like shampoo, conditioner, or even a hairdryer. Call the location you are staying beforehand to see what all they provide.

“I try to pack my delicate items, such as makeup and toiletries, in the middle of my clothing to avoid anything breaking during travel, particularly on airplanes.”

Step 5: Pants, Shorts, Swimsuits, Socks, Etc.

Grab a limited number of pants, shorts, and jeans and roll them tightly. Add plenty of socks and undergarments and pack a few swimsuits as well.

“Because the weather can vary, I make sure to include a few pairs of pants along with shorts and skirts, as well as a jacket and a few pairs of socks. If there is the chance that I’ll be swimming, I include a couple of sturdy swimsuits.”

Step 6: Jacket, Raincoat, and Umbrella

At this point, you should have all of your daily outfits packed. Be sure to grab a coat or rain jacket, but do not pack too many since they take up a lot of space.

“After selecting clothing for all different types of activities and comfort levels, I make sure to bring a precautionary raincoat and umbrella.”

Step 7: Jewelry

An easy way to prevent your jewelry from getting tangled in your suitcase is to lay them out on a washcloth, roll it up tightly and place it in your suitcase.

“To protect my final small touches, such as jewelry, I roll these items inside of a washcloth to avoid them becoming lost or tangled.”

Step 8: Masks and Other Safety Items

Especially during these times, it is important to be proactive and pack safety items such as Band-Aids, first aid kit, or even masks.

“To be proactive against COVID-19, I make sure to pack a few different face masks on the off-chance that I misplace one.”

Step 9: Last Minute Essentials

The final step to properly packing a suitcase is to fill the rest of the space with last minute essentials. A journal to track all of your adventures will be one of the most meaningful items you will treasure for a lifetime.

“Finally, I throw in any last-minute items that may come in handy, such as my iPhone charger, a journal, and sunscreen or bug spray.”