Packing tips for closing the distance.

[snow_girl]

I have a visa for the UK and will be closing the distance in three weeks. My luggage allowance only allows me one 20kg suitcase. I don't even know how to start cutting everything down to just a suitcase for a year.

I won't be packing socks or a hair dryer. But I have about 8 pairs of shoes I really want to bring (Each are equally important as the next!) and I love wearing hoodies, which also take up a lot of space in a suitcase. I know I can't possibly bring everything so I am going to have to weed a lot out.

How do you decide what stays and what goes? Any tips on how to fit as much in a suitcase as possible?

[Silviar]

It's worth paying the extra money for one more suitcase, but here's what worked for me:

Don't pack books.
Roll shirts tightly, pack pants flat.
Pack a few pairs of socks or undies by putting them in your shoes. Consolidation is key.
Pack lots in your carry-on. Stuff it as much as possible.
If you're really pressed for space, see if someone has one of those machines that plastic wrap stuff - it sucks all of the air out of those items, squashing them flatter than you or I could do, and allows you to pack more.
Bulky and heavy aren't necessarily one and the same - if you're pressed for weight, take your heaviest pair of pants/hoodie, and wear them or put them in your suitcase.

I actually think it helps to start packing two weeks early - you'll realize what's really important for you to take, and what you can leave. Oh, and take your newest stuff - toss the ratty-tatty stuff.

Good luck!

[rsvpnj]

I am also temporarily closing the distance. However, I am not bringing a carry-on luggage. I am shipping my items because it costs less and I won't have to carry it around. Is that an option for you?

[snow_girl]

I am also temporarily closing the distance. However, I am not bringing a carry-on luggage. I am shipping my items because it costs less and I won't have to carry it around. Is that an option for you?

If I can avoid it, its probably better. Shipping between Canada and the Uk isn't the cheapest.

[13000km]

I will be closing the distance around that time too, and I don't know where to start. /: Fortunately for me, I will be travelling with my dad and brother who will be there with me for one week and two weeks respectively and they've offered me the weight allowance they don't need. I do however have quite a large box of textbooks and study notes that I will most probably have to ship there, judging by how heavy it is. I don't know about clothes...all I have are summer clothes because we don't have any other seasons here, so I'll most probably be buying a lot of clothes when I get there. From past traveling experiences, putting clothes flat in large ziplock bags and squishing all the air out of them makes room for more clothes. All the best! (:

[mllebamako]

I would probably pay for the 2nd suitcase. 20 kg is nothing.

I start early, everyone teases me but it works. I write tons of lists and do a "trial pack" to make sure it all fits.

Lay things out in your room by category or list them by category so you can see if you have too much of one thing. Make sure each item matches with several other items.

Good luck!

[Tanja]

I would pay for the extra luggage. You can't fit a year worth of clothes and personal things in 20 kg.

[BlueCat]

Wear your heaviest, bulkiest clothes on the flight. It sucks, but I always wear my hiking boots on the filghts and simply take them off once we're in the air. I can't live without them as I do a lot of walking, and they'd take up too much room and weight in my suitcase so I just wear them. The same with a bulky jacket, even if it's too warm to wear it, wrap it around your waist or hang it on your arm, saves a tonne of space in your bag.

I agree with packing socks or undies etc in your shoes, I do that all the time. Also, rolling shirts really does help. I was skeptical, but it works. Otherwise, you can get those vacuum seal bags which give you more room, though I find it's then easier to go over your weight limit because you end up packing more in

I usually start planning my packing fairly early, and in the last week, I'm wearing all my really crappy clothes at home so that all the clothes I want to take with me are washed and ready to go and I can pack them, which gives me time to sort, and re-sort if I need to. Plus if you pack early, you have time to realise essentials that you may have forgotten.

Don't forget to take a spare set of underwear in your carry on in case your luggage gets delayed for some horrible reason.

[Élan]

Definitely pay for the extra luggage! My partner will be moving to the US soon. I'll be taking one suitcase for me and one for him. He'll be taking two suitcases for himself. We'll ship all our books. Everything else will be given away to friends: tv, video games, DVDs, sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, kitchen stuff. You may end up shipping some of your shoes. I'd pack the nicest/most expensive shoes and ship the sneakers! It's expensive, but remember it's an important one-time-only cost.

To be honest, the worst part for me about moving was not being able to take all my makeup. I have TONS of expensive cosmetics. They would have been ruined in my suitcase and I could only take so many items in my carry on.

[sam]

Trying to remember what I took with me when I moved here..
Errrr.. Definitely didnt need to pay for extra luggage like everyone's saying, and I only had a 15KG allowance.. (though I'm a guy, so maybe its not as hard for me? )

One canvas picture of me and Elina that I had
Tons of t-shirts
2 pairs of jeans
One pair of trainers (that I was wearing!)
1 coat though I had to buy another pretty quickly after arriving (got here on Dec 5th and at that time it's like, -15C here)
Boxers
Socks
Toilet stuff in one bag (toothbrush, razor(s), sponge, gel etc)
One of those plug things where you can plug it in the wall in one socket, and it gives you 6 sockets (UK plugs are different to Finnish so that was a great idea because of my laptop, phone, ipod, clock etc)
A UK -> Finland plug adapter so I could plug it in..
Laptop, phone, ipod etc
Rechargers for above
Oreos
Like, 6 bottles of Volvic orange and peach water haha
Elina's christmas present


Other than buying one more pair of jeans and some winter.. boots? for the deep snow that my trainers couldnt handle, I havent really bought anything else clothes-wise for the 5½ months I've been here
Well I bought some football shirts, but that doesnt count

[Dziubka]

I'd also pay for the extra baggage, but I'm a horrible packer and I always pack way too much.

Anyway, from my experience:
If you're not using a super special brand of shampoo/shower gel/conditioner/etc, that you can't get in the UK, then don't take anything. You can buy the stuff as soon as you get there and it saves you 1kg easily. Liquids are very heavy.

Put heavy things (shoes!) in your carry on. Usually carry ons don't get weighed, or even if they get you hardly ever excess the limit by only taking what you're going to need during the flight.

[princessmeg1328]

Here's a tip that I usually give anybody who is traveling. Remember that you're allowed a carry on and a personal item, like a purse or a backpack. Definitely take a backpack because it's bigger and can hold more stuff. That's where most of my things (besides clothes) go. Also, be sure to take anything of any kind of value with you on the plane.

[snow_girl]

My sister gave me a call yesterday and said I should use those air tight bags you suck the air out with a vacuum. I did and it's wonderful!! I managed to save so much space by putting my hoodies and shirts in them! I got mine for $1.25 at the dollar store but she said you can also use a garbage bag and tie it up after sucking out the air.

[Silviar]

My sister gave me a call yesterday and said I should use those air tight bags you suck the air out with a vacuum. I did and it's wonderful!! I managed to save so much space by putting my hoodies and shirts in them! I got mine for $1.25 at the dollar store but she said you can also use a garbage bag and tie it up after sucking out the air.

Oh good, glad you found those. I mentioned those as well - I never would have thought about them til my mom said something!