How to Pack a Suitcase for a Week

Packing for a week-long trip seems easy enough. So easy that we sometimes push it off until the last minute without a second thought. And then we're left throwing together a wardrobe, paying overweight baggage fees and opening it at our destination only to find a spilled shampoo bottle.

Make one mistake or forget something and it could ruin an entire trip.

So instead of procrastinating, make a plan so you can pack a suitcase smartly and compact. Learn precisely how to pack a suitcase for a week so your trip goes smoothly.

The kind of trip you take may determine the type of luggage you need. There are hardside suitcases to withstand scuffs through baggage checking. Or you could choose a soft-sided duffel as carry-on luggage if you plan to travel light.

Check out Abt's Luggage Buying Guide to explore your options. For instance, the award-winning Tumi brand offers a variety of bags and travel accessories to suit every travel situation–from briefcases to carry-on luggage.

Also be sure to weigh your packed suitcase and keep it under the weight limit. Check out our TSA Measuring Guide for more information and to ensure your luggage is prepared to pass through airport security.

Consider your destination. Is it a tropical vacation in a warm climate? Or a business trip to an industry trade show? Make a list of the planned activities, such as tour excursions or dinners with colleagues, and beside each write down any special clothing or accessories you may need. It could be formal wear, swimwear or hats and scarves.

Also be sure to check on the destination's weather before your trip for the highs and lows, as well as the projected forecast. Don't go so far out that it could inevitably change, but maybe three days to a week before. If it calls for some rain, be sure to pack an umbrella. If it's going to be frigid cold and snowing, make sure to grab the thermals, along with a warm wool beanie and gloves.

Consider the color palette. If you're a fashionable person and know how to pull together a color palette, wonderful! But a good rule of thumb is to stick to basic blacks, whites and neutral colors and liven them up with accents.

Pick out a few bottoms like shorts or slacks–again, with your destination in mind–making sure that each works in several outfit variations. When looking at the closet, reach for dark-colored clothes and wrinkle-free materials.

For shirts, plan to reuse three to five, cycling through different coordinated outfits. It's easy to overpack, but remember that you can always switch up a look by using scarves, jewelry, sweaters, vests or ties. Even if your activities involve a lot of walking or if you plan to get dirty, if you're staying in a hotel, have some items cleaned also. No sweat!

Lastly, pull your apparel aside, ready to be packed. However, don't pack until the night before the trip. Any earlier and you can guarantee clothes will be wrinkled.

On the night before the trip, pack your suitcase. Lay shirts out flat, one on top of one another and fold in the sleeves. Next, staring at the collar and shoulders, roll the entire stack tightly and tuck it into the suitcase. The same concept goes for pants. Fold them in half, pairing the legs together, and then roll them good and tight. Rolling your apparel in this way does two things: minimizes wrinkles and saves space.

Slide shoes into plastic bags and place them at the bottom of your suitcase, lying on their side. To make use of every inch of space, also tuck away socks and underwear inside each shoe, as well as any space between. You can do the same with other accessories, such as scarves, ties or belts.

Whether it's checked bags or carry-on luggage, TSA has some regulations that you need to be aware of, so be sure to check out Abt's TSA measuring guide mentioned above. Generally speaking, place toiletries in a zip-top plastic bag to ensure leaks and spills don't carry over into your clothes.

Don't overthink it and overpack. Most people attempt to bring along an outfit for each day, but it's better to keep it simple.

One piece of advice is to actually preserve a bit of space to bring back souvenirs.