If I got a dollar for every time I wished my travel essentials would magically pack themselves whenever I was traveling, I would probably have a huge chunk of change by now. But hey, we live in the real world and that will never happen to us mere mortals. So, the best way to handle it would be to learn some smart packing hacks. After all, traveling is super fun, but when it comes to packing your suitcase? Not so much.

Folks, we have admit it; we need at least 15 (or more) outfits to survive a 3-day, 2-night trip. And did I mention a selection of shoes, bags, and accessories? And yes, let’s not forget makeup, skincare, and sanitary supplies too. The question still remains, how do you really fit in your entire closet in a 20kg piece suitcase? According to Lady Baltazar, a Dubai-based fashion and beauty influencer, the answer is really simple. “If you can’t pack light, pack smart.” She says that she loves dressing up as much as she loves traveling and what she’s learned after taking countless trips and hundreds of OOTDs is to really be smart with what and how you pack your suitcase.

Since Lady Baltazar has a whole lot of experience in all this traveling and packing business, she’s shared some of her smart packing hacks to get you ready for your next trip.

Smart Packing Hacks for Your Next Getaway

1. Plan your outfits

Number 1 and probably the most important part is to plan what you’re going to wear for the duration of your trip. Planning doesn’t only allow you to pack smart, it saves you time and energy on selecting your outfit one by one during your trip.

2. Use packing cubes

Packing cubes serve as your instant travel drawers while on a holiday. Not only is it one of the smart packing hacks, but it also helps you sort and organize your items according to type. You can easily pack your accessories, gadgets or toiletries without having to worry about forgetting where you actually placed them. Again, it saves you time and keeps your suitcase neat and tidy.

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3. Roll vs. Fold

It’s an old-age debate of which is actually better for packing. The answer is roll and fold. Rolling is great for thinner pieces of clothing like shirts and dresses as it saves space and helps make the clothes wrinkle-free. However, for bulkier items such as sweaters, it is best to fold them rather than to roll.

4. Travel-sized everything

Toiletries can sometimes take a lot of space in our suitcase. The best smart packing hacks for this? Bring travel-sized products or transfer everything you need into travel-sized bottles. This way, you get to bring all your beauty essentials with you on your trip without sacrificing to leave behind your favorite hand cream or hair styling cream.

5. Wear bulkier items

Another tip you can try is to actually wear heavier or bulkier items instead of packing them. Got a cute coat you really need? Wear it to the airport, it can get pretty cold anyway. How about those bulky sneakers you just can’t leave behind? Time to flaunt it! However, if it feels uncomfortable to wear, you’ll have to think twice especially if you’re taking a long-haul flight.

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6. Weigh It

If you don’t want the hassle of unpacking and repacking again in the middle of the airport just because of an overweight suitcase, make sure to weigh it before actually checking your bags in at the airport. Can you imagine leaving a carefully planned dress behind? Definitely not.

What smart packing hacks do you lean on whenever you are traveling? Feel free to share them with us mere mortals in the comments section.