Packing your bag for a holiday, short break or even for a business trip can be a real chore. Add in packing for others, such as children and partners and you can soon be tearing your hair out in frustration. There you are; balancing choosing the items you want to take with getting them all into the case without squashing and creasing your favourite clothes. Let alone worrying about what you have forgotten and will your case be within your baggage allowance.

Read our top tips to make packing stress free.

1. Know your luggage allowance. It is vital that you know your hand baggage allowance and hold baggage allowances before you even start planning. Don’t forget that allowance for infants can vary from this so it is vital that you check out what you can take for your baby as well. Pick baggage that is light and sturdy for the job and ensure you maximise the weight allowance as much as the size of the bag.
2. Make a list – separate this into clothing (have a good think about the things you will be doing while you are away), toiletries, gadgets and accessories, books and guides, medicines and any other item you are going to need.
3. Assemble all the items you are going to need on your list and get ruthless. Most people travel away with far too many clothes, shoes and gadgets and gizmos that they end up not using or needing. So you end up carting weight around which is not only heavy but adds to your carbon footprint. Now get ruthless and remove everything that is not essential. You can buy every day items at your destination, wash clothes or use laundry services while you are away. Don’t even bother including those items ‘just in case’. You are unlikely to use them.
Only pack what you expect to wear, it's unlikely you'll need to take every item of clothing you own with you

Only pack what you expect to wear, it's unlikely you'll need to take every item of clothing you own with you

4. Once ready, it’s time to pack. There are three main techniques, folding, rolling and bundling. Here we demonstrate a combination of bundling and folding for best results. Line up things into bundles. Pack shoes (stuffed with things lie socks and tights) around the edges or bottom of your bag and wrapped in plastic bags. Pile up items such as underwear, shirts and tops into rectangle shaped bundles by folding them with those items that crease the most at the top. Place these into the case and get a flat surface to then lay items such as dresses, trousers and jackets on top. These should be laid flat so they stick out over the edge of the case and place shirts on top of them. Then place any delicate items on top of those and fold the lose edges over on to the top. Some people using tissue lining paper between layers.
5. Items such as toiletries should be packed tightly together into plastic sealable bags to prevent leakage. Try and ensure you decant from large bottles into smaller bottles that have enough for your trip. These take up less space and will weigh far less.
6. Books and guides should be placed around the outside of the case before putting your clothes in. Gadgets should be placed carefully in your bag, wrapped in other items to help prevent any damage if your case is dropped.
7. Plan to wear your heaviest and most bulky items.
8. Hand luggage should contain a change of clothes as well as basic toiletries should your checked in bag go astray.
9. Weigh your bags before you leave for the airport and ensure you are not over the limits. If you are and you cannot remove items to either wear or to place in your pockets, it will be cheaper to pre-book extra baggage on line rather than at the airport. And don’t forget to get a good lock for your case as well as something to help identify it such as stickers or a ribbon. Bear in mind that some destinations you are not allowed to have locked cases such as the USA.
10. Place all travel documents into your hand luggage along with any essential medicines. If you are traveling with your baby ensure you have enough nappies, baby food and other items for the length of your journey as well as things to entertain both children and your self. Remember that if you buy things at the airport you may not be able to take these on board without placing them into your existing hand luggage so be sure to have room for those duty free treats, books, magazines and gifts.

However, no matter what your accommodation tastes may be, one thing everyone has in common is that no one wants to pay a fortune for it. In fact, one of the best ways to take a cheap holiday is to cut down on accommodation costs. Since you have to stay somewhere every night, reducing this expense can save you a lot of money of the total cost of your trip. Next to finding a cheap flight, finding free or inexpensive lodging will have the biggest impact on your travel budget.

Luckily, there are a number of ways travelers can find a decent place to stay without forking over their entire vacation fund:

Couchsurfing
One of the best ways to get free accommodation is by staying with someone who lives where you’re going. Couchsurfing connects travelers with people in various cities that offer a free place to stay. Sometimes it’s a bed, sometimes it’s a couch, sometimes it’s literally just space. The goal of the site is to help travelers not only save money on accommodation but also learn about the local culture but being able to stay and interact with a local.

I use this site all the time, and I think it’s one of the greatest things to happen in travel. While I love the fact I can get out of hostels and hotels and save money, what draws me to the site over and over again is that I get to see the local side of a city. I get taken to parties, and restaurants, and sites that aren’t in any guidebook.

A lot of times, people are scared to couchsurf because they wonder if it’s safe. I was nervous about it at first, too. There you are, in a new city, with all your stuff — in a stranger’s home. What if they try to murder you in your sleep? What if they steal your stuff? However, I’ve found that people who are willing to open their homes to strangers tend to be very open-minded people, and are also usually former travelers. They know what you are going through. They want to help. Moreover, Couchsurfing is aware of this and take many steps to provide security. It offers various levels of verification and allow users to rate and leave comments on people’s profiles.

When I am looking for a Couchsurfing host, I use the following criteria:

There has to be a picture with the profile. This just shows me that it’s a real person.
The profile has to be filled out. It shows they are interested and involved. Most people aren’t going to spend the time to fill this out if they aren’t going to be comfortable with strangers in their home. If someone hasn’t bothered to fill out the profile, they probably don’t use the site and I simply move on.
They should have reviews. If other people have stayed with or have at least traveled with the host and had a good experience, you and your stuff will probably be fine. You might not get along with the host but at least you know they aren’t a creep. The more positive reviews, the better.
Verification helps. Couchsurfing offers different levels of verification. People can be verified by other travelers, with a mailing address, or with a credit card. Knowing that a person has been verified reduces the likelihood that they are going to be a crazy psycho killer. However, if someone isn’t verified but has a lot of reviews, that’s O.K. with me.

No matter what, you need to use your own judgment but I haven’t heard of any really bad couchsurfing experiences, besides the host being a jerk or a little anti-social. Usually, you end up talking with hosts over e-mail to get a feel for them and what they expect. If it doesn’t seem right, don’t do it! But once you couchsurf for the first time, you see that it really isn’t that bad. If you do it frequently, you’ll end up saving hundreds upon hundreds of dollars on accommodation and making friends around the world.

There are other sites that do the same thing — Global Freeloaders, Hospitality Club, and Stay4Free that you can also try out. They are all essentially the same thing, Couchsurfing is just the most popular.

Hostels
Hostels are another option for budget travelers. In hostels, rooms are dormitory-style with all the facilities shared. Many people think of hostels as a “young thing” and are not interested in sleeping in a dormitory. Yet people do not often realize that many hostels offer small rooms, singles, and doubles designed for solo travelers or couples. I have met people in hostels in their 50s and 60s. The myth they are dirty, gross places to stay designed for young people is wrong. Many hostels offer more amenities than hotels, the new ones are really clean, and as young people expect more comfort, hostels are cleaning up their ways. These aren’t the hostels you see in movies.

I think hostel dorms are the best value for budget travelers. The bigger the room, the cheaper the cost. Yes, you have to share a room with a lot of people, but if you are on a budget, it is your best way to save money. If you are traveling in a group, you could get one of the dorms for your entire group and not have to share with strangers.

While manu hostels are geared toward young travelers, and set age limits, some of the bigger international chains such as YHA and Hostelling International focus more on older or group travelers. But I’ve seen families, tour groups, and older travelers in hostels all over the world. A hostel is really for anyone who wants to meet other travelers, regardless of age.

Hostels are safe, secure, and cheap. Don’t overlook them — even if you’re not part of the young backpacker set. To book hostels online with no booking fees, go to Hostel Bookers. I tend to use them the most, simply because I’ve interacted with people from the company and they were nice and friendly. Moreover, unlike other hostel booking companies, they don’t have a booking fee.

Home Exchange
Another good way to get cheap accommodation is a home exchange program. This probably works best for older travelers who already own a home. These programs have been around for a long time but are growing in popularity due to good marketing and word-of-mouth on the Internet. Home exchanges are just like they sound — for a set amount of time, you swap homes with a family from another country. It’s a great way to live cheaply abroad.

Most people don’t do this because they worry about security — but remember that the other family is trusting you with their home, too. Sites that facilitate home exchanges usually have various levels of verification and security similar to Couchsurfing. Families talk to each other over phone and e-mail, and there’s no commitment if you find that it’s not right for you. Most people who do this are like-minded, so the chances of something going wrong are slim. Moreover, the family sends a few people to check up on you when you arrive. You can get all the comforts of home (hot water, laundry, etc.) while in another city, without paying for it.

For more information on home exchange, check out Home Exchange. This website was featured in the movie “The Holiday,” which did a lot to alleviate people’s fears over home exchange and bring this travel option into the mainstream. Some of the other home exchange websites are: Seniors Home Exchange, IHEN, and Home for Exchange.

If swapping homes isn’t your thing, then consider house-sitting as an alternative. In exchange for watching and cleaning someone’s home while they are away, you’ll get a place to stay in the area you are visiting. Good house-sitting sites include: Mind My House, House Carers, Luxury House Sitting

Short Term Rentals
Similar to home exchanges, rentals allow people to stay in furnished apartments while away. These apartments can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and provide many more amenities. They are great if you plan to spend a week or more in one place. You’ll get all the comforts of home without spending a fortune.

You can find a lot of rentals in Europe and Australia, where apartments tend to be rented on a week-by-week basis. If you are in a city long term, this is a better option than a long-term hostel stay. To find apartments to rent, check out sites like Craigslist, or Google “short term apartment rentals” or a similar phrase.

Another option, especially for older travelers, are timeshare rentals. Timeshares are a great rental option because you’ll receive the same comforts as you would in a regular apartment rental — like washers and dryers, kitchens, spacious living rooms and multiple bedrooms. You’ll find that most of the rentals online are offered at prices lower than or similar to most hotels and resorts.

credit cards America is a credit card loving country and you’ve probably seen all the ads for bonuses if you sign up with this or that credit card. Credit cards are omnipresent in modern day society. People use them to pay for everything from cars to groceries to sticks of gum.

Travel credit cards offer a great opportunity to earn free points that can be redeemed for airfare, hotels or cold hard cash. In the race to get customers, credit card issuing companies partner with various travel brands (or just simply offer their own card) that entice consumers with sign up bonus, loyalty points, special discounts, and more. Their desire to get you the consumer is really your gain. By milking the system, you can tons of free air tickets, hotel rooms, vacations, or even cash.

With so many options to choose from, it’s hard to know which card is the best out there. And the truth is that there is no perfect travel card – they all offer different benefits that fit different people. I personally use two credit cards: Citi AAvantage card and a Capital One card. I use the AA card for all my US purchases so I can earn frequent flier miles as American Airlines and their alliance partners are the airlines I tend to fly most. I use the Capital One card not because I want any of their points but because there is no foreign transaction fee when I use it overseas so I save money.

However, whenever I choose a new credit card, I always look for a few things:

A huge sign-up bonus – Most of the time, the points are worth at least a free domestic flight. The American AAdvantage card offers 25,000 miles just for joining. That’s a free round trip domestic ticket or miles that can be used for an upgrade. United Airlines gives you 30,000 miles for signing up. Delta offers miles AND elite status miles when you sign up. Those alone are enough miles for a free plane ticket in the United States. Don’t join one that doesn’t, otherwise it will take you ages to get a free flight. Lately, in a bid to get more people to join their card programs, many airline and hotel-specific cards are offering bonuses between 60,000 and 100,000 points, which can help get you tons of free flights. For UK residents, the new Virgin AMEX has a good airmiles card that gives you one miles for every pound spent. I simply won’t sign up for a card that takes without at least giving me 30,000 points when I sign up. Otherwise, it takes too long to get to a redemption.

Points per dollar – I want a card that gives me the opportunity. Most credit cards offer one point for every dollar spent. However, the good credit cards will give you extra points when you shop at specific retailers, or, if it is a branded credit card, with a particular brand. This will help you earn points a lot quicker. I don’t want just 1 dollar to equal 1 point. I want the ability to get two or three points every time I spend a dollar.

Usability – I’d like to define this as the ability to use the card anywhere. Many cards, especially those that are specific to an airline, limit your ability to use your points with certain retailers, airlines, or merchants. You don’t want to be tied to a specific airline, hotel chain, or certain travel dates. Get a card that will let you use those earned points anytime, anywhere. Even if I get a branded credit card, I want flexibility when redeeming points.

Moreover, all of these travel credit cards offer great perks. Many will give you elite loyalty status or other extra perks. Most good credit cards give you extra points when you shop at specific retailers, or if it is a branded credit card you’ll get extra points with that particular brand. This will help you earn points a lot quicker. You’re going to shop anyway, so why not earn something for doing it? These cards are meant to get people to be loyal so they throw in lots of perks in hope you stick with them and not a competitor. I got 5,000 AA miles by opening a Citi checking account. I got triple miles by buying some clothes from Gap just by seeing it in their mailing list. Many cards also offer elite status with their credit cards, which is great for free upgrades and priority benefits.

Annual Fees
No one likes paying annual fees for credit cards. Many of the fees for company branded credit cards range from $50-$95 per year. I pay an annual fee. For those who travel a lot and fly a lot, I think it is worth it to get a card with a fee. Fee-based cards tend to give you a better rewards scheme, where you can accumulate points faster, get better access to services and special offers, and get better travel protection. With these cards, I have saved more money on travel than I have spent on fees.

Foreign Conversion Fees
All credit card companies — except Capital One, the Chase British Airways card, and Discover — will charge you a 3-10% foreign currency conversion fee. That fee can add up over a long trip and can cost you hundreds of dollars. There’s not much you can do to avoid this fee. It’s the cost of using a card abroad. You can simply hope to minimize this fee. It’s best to buy everything online through the U.S. version of each website so you will get charged in U.S. dollars and avoid the conversion fee. Whenever possible, you should always try to do this for whatever your home currency is.

Which Credit Card Should You Get?
Now that we know why we should get a card, we need to figure out which one we should get and we have a lot of options to choose from.

To answer that you need to think about why you want to use the card. Are you interested in loyalty to a brand, free rewards, or avoiding fees? Do you want to milk the rewards and bonus system to get free flights or do you just want a card that won’t charge you a fee for using it at that restaurant in Brazil? Is elite status the most important perk for you?

I can’t answer those questions for you. If you are on the road for business a lot, then getting a hotel card, like the Starwood/AMEX card, would be perfect for you. You would get a lot of hotel points, free stays, discounts at other retailers, and you could also transfer those points to airlines for free flights.

For those who only care about price and not brand loyalty, a general rewards credit card like a Capital One or AMEX card would be best. You will still get points for free flights and discounts as well as cash-back, but you wouldn’t get any of the elite benefits. However, by getting a general travel credit card, you would have access to a wider range of brands and companies than if you had a brand-specific card.

If you don’t want to be bothered with points, miles, status, and everything else involved, then you should simply get a card with no transaction fee. Don’t worry about anything else. While credit cards can be a great way to get free stuff, that process requires a lot of work. I once asked my father why he didn’t do any of the tips I give him and he said “I can’t be bothered doing it. It’s too much effort.”

While that is a waste because he is missing out on free stuff, he echoes a point a lot of people feel: they just want it simple.

However, if you are willing to do a little work, you can use credit cards to gain tons of free miles and reward points before you on your trip to keep you in free flights and hotels for a long, long time. I sign up for multiple credit cards and whenever a company offers a new deal, I jump at it. This keeps me flush in frequent flier points. I’ve fly first class numerous times thanks to free sign up bonuses. I’ve gotten countless free hotel rooms and access to first class lounges.

Below are some travel credit card options. Scroll through them and decide which one is right for you.

http://www.creditcards.com/airline-miles.php (US)
http://www.creditcardfinder.com.au/travel-rewards-credit-cards (Australia)
http://uk.creditcards.com/travel.php (UK)
http://www.rewardscanada.ca/topcreditcard2009.html (Canada)

No matter which credit card you choose, remember that your card should work for you. Do your research first. Then choose the right travel credit card so you can start earning points faster and get your rewards sooner.

To get a lot of miles without actually flying, you need to use credit cards. Leveraging a frequent flier program as well as credit card offers can get you free flights and upgrades within just a few months. If you don’t want to join an airline specific card, you can still apply the same principles, it will just take you longer to see the benefits.

I spent a good hour picking out my first pack, and that was also after hours of online research. So that you don’t do the same, here are a few tips to make your search go quicker:

Three Things to Consider:

Size: Your backpack should be both proportional to your body and comfortable enough to allow you to carry about 20 pounds. If your backpack is too big or too small, the weight won’t be balanced properly and will cause you back pain or maybe even make you topple over. You don’t want a skyscraper rising from your back. Your bag should also be big enough to carry about 20 pounds because, in the end, you’re going to buy stuff and things shift and aren’t always packed well. (But remember — I’m a big proponent of “pack light,” so pack less and you back will thank you.)

Style: Maybe I’m being vain here, but let’s face it — you have to look at this backpack for a long time. Get something that you at least like looking at. Try out as many different styles as you can before you make your decision. But make sure you don’t sacrifice usability for style. Get something you like, but also something useful. It sits in the hostel for most of the time anyway. Don’t get the best-looking but most useless pack.

Material: While it does not need to be 100% waterproof, make sure your bag is made out of a semi-waterproof material so everything doesn’t get wet in a drizzle (many packs come with tarps you can put over them in case of a severe downpour). Moreover, make sure the material won’t stay wet long and thereby get musty. I look for material that is a little thick but somewhat lightweight.

Things your Backpack SHOULD Have:

Front Panel Loading
A lot of backpacks are top-loading (you get in from the top), but when you need something in a hurry, this can be very inconvenient. Front-loading packs are much more convenient, as they zip around the length of the pack. This allows you to get into any part of your bag without having to take out all the stuff you packed if you need something at the bottom. It simply makes everything easier and more convenient to reach. Plus, it makes repacking your bag much quicker. This is not so important if you have a very small pack, however.

Lockable Zippers
Make sure each compartment has two zippers so you can lock them together. If your pack doesn’t have two zippers, you can always get Pacsafe, which wraps a metal mesh around your whole bag. (Though this can be quite heavy to carry around.) While am not really worried about people breaking into my bag and stealing my clothes at my hostel, I like locking up my zippers when I am traveling. When I’m at a hostel, everything is in a locker. When I’m on the road and flying, everything is in that bag and I don’t want people putting stuff in the bag or taking stuff out.

Multiple Compartments
You don’t want to keep all your stuff in one place. Make sure your bag has multiple compartments so you can break up (and hide) your belongings. Moreover, this helps you get to everything easier. All my clothes are in the main compartment of my bag, my shoes are in the front compartment (so they don’t dirty my clothes), and in the top area of my bag are my flip flops, umbrella, and books. It saving me from digging around.

Internal Frame
Who wants big, ugly rods sticking out? Not me! The majority of backpacks today are internal-framed (the rods are built into the bag), but some are still external (the rods are separate from the actual pack). Make sure you buy the internal frame. It not only looks better, but the rods won’t get caught on anything and your bag is also slimmer making moving around easier. Additionally, internal-framed packs tend to be lighter as the frame is composed of a lighter alloy.

Padded Hip Belt
Most of the weight you carry will be on your hips, so you’ll want a padded belt to make supporting the weight more comfortable. It should also be adjustable so you can tighten it for extra support.

Padded Shoulder Straps
These make carrying your load more comfortable, as the weight of your pack will be pushing downward on your shoulders. This helps also take pressure off your lower back.

Chest Strap
This helps move the weight forward a bit and distributes the weight evenly across your upper body, making that walk up the hill to the hostel much, much easier. It also takes a lot of the pressure off your shoulders.

Contoured/Padded Back
A lumbar-shaped pack makes carrying it more comfortable, as it helps distributes weight more evenly.

In the end, you will have to try on a variety of backpacks to see which one is the perfect fit for you and matches the size needs of your trip. The above tips are good but in the end, you just need to go with what feels right. I can simply tell you after trying out a lot of packs and even road testing a few, I found the best backpacks have a lot of the above criteria.