Travel & Packing Tips from Away.com Travelers

In June 2009, we ran a contest with our readers to see who could come up with the best packing tips for how to travel efficiently and effectively. Over 170 submissions later, and we were thoroughly impressed by the breadth of your collective traveling experience and packing know-how. So impressed, in fact, that we decided to publish all your wise words in one place. Thanks—and keep on travelin'! —The Away.com Editors

I put jewelry into little baggies, and then into the purses I'm taking so they're not scattered all over the suitcase. (Nicole Madril)

Get some of those Eagle Creek Packing Cubes or Pack-It Folders. These are my secret packing tip which has now been made public! (Ariana Emery Burgess)

Roll your clothes when possible to help stop wrinkles. Also, put name, address and phone number inside your luggage when checking just in case the outer tag falls off and your luggage gets lost. (Beth Anne Berman Seibel)

Tips for travel - I pack all my toiletries, etc in clear plastic bags for easy viewing. No more digging through every bag to see what's inside. It is a good idea to pack some small shampoo, etc; some of the "bargain motels" no longer provide them...I also bring an absorbent robe to compensate for the increasingly small towel size. Kudos to all who have suggested baggies - you can never have enough! Lastly, when I'm done packing, I cover all the clothes with a large plastic bag (dry cleaning bags work the best.) Believe it or not, this goes a long way in keeping wrinkles down. (Rita Svejda)

For longer trips where you are tempted to take too much: write up and print out a list of what you want to take. Gather everything and pile it all up, checking off each thing as you go. Reassess your choices and begin revision/deletion. Print revised list and check off each thing as it is packed. Put this copy in a plastic bag in the suitcase, and use to check it all back in on the way home. Especially good for children to learn to pack, and for pruning down the over packers. (Scott R Bowler)

Keep a travel bag of toiletries packed. When you are ready to travel you can just grab it. (Mary Beth M Issac)

String necklaces through drinking straws, this keeps them from becoming a tangled mess and they are small enough to be tucked anywhere. (Micaela Nofsinger)

Sounds trite but clean your home very well before you leave. Nothing beats walking into your own room and having everything in its place! (Janelle Bird)