A LITTLE-KNOWN hack when packing for your holidays has been revealed – and it means you may never have to pay for extra baggage again.
The 10-£10 travel rule helps you to decide what’s necessary to bring on your holiday and what’s not.
When travelling it is feels right to stuff your suitcase “just in case”, but regret often creeps in when you reach your destination.
Heavy luggage may be holding you back on your travels – like opting to take a taxi instead of walking or worrying about repacking and losing items.
Less baggage means only needing to take carry-on which saves not only money but time with no checked bag fees or waiting at the dreaded luggage carousel.
The 10-£10 is designed to help you choose what is actually important to bring and what isn’t.
The hack’s premise is that if you can get your hands on the item you “need” upon arrival for less than a tenner and within 10 minutes – don’t bother packing it.
Cheap and small necessities like a toothbrush or deodorant that are definitely used do not fall under the travel rule.
But large “just-in-case” items should be brought on arrival given that the’re under £10 and can be bought within 10 minutes.
Some 10-£10 examples could include a book, first-aid kits or weather items like a bulky umbrella, travel expert Sally French says.
But it’s important to note that the rule is a guideline rather than a rule – and sometimes finding 10 minutes on holiday, if you’re with children, can prove to be incredibly difficult.
It comes after a study found one in three travellers admitted they have no idea how to pack a suitcase efficiently.
A poll, of 2,000 people, found 26 per cent have resorted to sitting on their suitcase to close it and 11 per cent have faced baggage weight penalties.
More than half (56 per cent) have suffered a packing disaster as a result, such as broken zips (21 per cent) and toiletries leaking (20 per cent).
Another packing frustration is crumpled clothes, with 64 per cent willing to do anything to avoid clothes getting creased while travelling.
And 76 per cent would ‘love it’ if they could unpack a suitcase to find nothing needed ironing.
SAVVY PACKING
In response to the findings, Lenor Crease Releaser, which commissioned the survey, worked with former A Place in the Sun presenter and expert packer, Danni Menzies, to share her top tips for savvy packing.
Danni said: “As you prepare for your summer holiday, packing effectively can make all the difference and make everything run much smoother.
“After years of travelling, I’ve picked up many packing hacks along the way.
“Rolling clothes can also be a great way to save space and avoid crumpled clothes.”
The research also found that 31 per cent consider packing their case to be more stressful when going away than remembering to lock up the house (28 per cent) or catch a transfer on time (24 per cent).
But 56 per cent always seem to overpack, with 36 per cent only likely to wear up to 69 per cent of what they’ve brought.
And 45 per cent always pack their bags much more neatly on the way to their vacation – with 26 per cent simply stuffing everything in without a care, on the return journey.
Nina Lumsden, from Lenor Crease Releaser, which has more tips and tricks on @the.laundry.hub, Instagram and TikTok channels, added: “Even if you’re the most experienced packer, often when you take your clothes out on the other side they’re creased beyond recognition.
“When we’re enjoying our holiday, no one wants to be doing chores, such as ironing.”
It follows this travel expert’s clever trick using tape that makes packing so much easier and keeps everything in one place.
And this packing expert has revealed how to pack enough luggage that is still under 7kg.
DANNI MENZIES’ TOP TIPS FOR SAVVY HOLIDAY PACKING
- Decide on a capsule wardrobe – make your clothes work for you
- Decide your make-up looks in advance to streamline your make-up bag
- Wearing multiple layers and/or your bulkiest clothes so you don’t need to pack as much
- Use packing cubes for effective packing
- Stuff socks in shoes so they don’t get squashed
- Put toiletries in socks so they don’t leak onto clothes
- Put shoes in shower caps so dirty soles don’t cause a mess
- Pack from the corner inwards
- Put heaviest items by the wheels
- Line the suitcase with water-resistant items
- Decant full-sized toiletries into small things
- Keep your essentials in a carry-on tote