Ask yourself what you need from your clothes. Is it a beach or city break? Do you need a smarter outfit or is that just-in-case evening dress really taking up valuable space and can be left behind? Prioritise things that offer dual function: a plain swimsuit can double as a top with a skirt or trousers. A sun hat you can roll, (1, below) or a baseball cap are more useful than a wide-brim hat that will get battered in transit.
Always pack a tote bag for supermarket runs or souvenir shopping sprees. An organised backpack with a compartment for your laptop and water bottle, (8), makes life easier, as will a cross body bag for your phone and passport – Topologie’s, (9), come in a multitude of colour options. Put an adaptor on your phone charger before you travel, so you don’t forget it. Regular travellers will benefit from investing in a universal global adaptor that fits any plug in any country plus USB and USB-C charging points (£34.99, robertdyas.co.uk).
When it comes to the suitcase itself, don’t get caught out with an oversized bag at the gate – make sure you check the airline’s cabin baggage dimension allowance before you travel. Look for luggage that is lightweight and easy to spot on the carousel, Nere’s pastel Bondi collection (main image) fits the bill (Cabin case, £99, medium, £129, large, £139). Or give the viral ‘under seat’ bag a whirl (£15.99).
Travelling with coat hangers is a pain. Solve the problem with a few handy fold-up travel ones, (10). Stop raking through your case to find a pair of pants or a clean T-shirt by dividing your clothes into logical groups with packing cubes (above, left). Give creased clothes an instant refresh with a hand steamer that doubles as an iron when used on a flat surface, (11).