How to Pack Like a Pro: The top 8 packing tips for seasoned travellers
As the European summer beckons, here’s our quick study of the best packing tips for a stress-free break
6 min
We’re half way through 2024, and it is about that time where people start feeling the itch to book a spontaneous trip abroad. Perhaps you have your heart set on Rome, the eternal city, to take in the sights. Or maybe it’s a trip to the French Riviera to soak up the sun and stroll the promenade in Nice. Wherever you’re wanderlust beckons, it’s clear that Australia’s aviation sector has well and truly recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, with travel across the board returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the ACCC’s latest report.
So, if travelling is on your agenda—be it domestic or long-haul—for the remainder of 2024, there’s one underrated, unspoken skill you’ll want to have covered before jetting off: how to pack like a pro.
We’ve taken the liberty of speaking to professionals in the travel sector to unpack all there is to know about being organised ahead of your next big trip, and in the process, deciphering the age-old nuisance that is correctly packing for a holiday.
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1. Make a list
Whether you’re the organised type or not, curating a holiday “packing list” will not only save you time when it comes down to packing your suitcase, but the stress that comes with doing so.
“Always write a list before you start packing,” said Sarah Built, Etihad Airways Vice President of Sales, Australasia.
“Trust me, it’ll save you the headache of wondering if you’ve missed something, or worse, realising you have at your destination. It also helps to avoid overpacking, too!”
However, be sure to be ruthless when editing your packing list; you can’t bring everything with you, after all.
2. Pack for the season
It’s always wise to pack for the season. If you’re heading into warmer climates, don’t forget to pack breathable clothing. That could include sweat-wicking athleisure, as well as clothing made of natural fibres like cotton and linen. But consider how the temperature swings come early morning, or late at night. The same goes for the winter season – you’d be surprised how many people forget to pack thermals.
“Before you start packing, check the weather forecast for your destination, as this will help you pack smart,” says July founder, Athan Didaskalou. “And if the weather has some hot and cold moments, opt for natural fibres like merino wool – they’re excellent for layering and don’t get smelly as quickly. Choose versatile footwear and pack a cap for sun protection, warmth and bad hair days.”
The last thing you want to do is have to make an unplanned trip to the shops to buy clothing (possibly at inflated “tourist” pricing) that you may not have room for.
3. Capsule clothing can save space
Off the back of tip number two, packing for the right climate, incorporating capsule clothing is a great way to save space in your luggage — and ensure you get the most out of the clothes you take with you. The notion of a capsule wardrobe relies on having classic pieces that are interchangeable to create different looks without the need to take everything with you.
Think about staple clothing items that can be dressed up or down; for men heading to a warmer climate, double down on polo shirts that can pair over swim shorts, but look equally appropriate teamed with chino pants for the evening. For women, you can never go wrong with a classic wrap dress that can be adjusted to the occasion with well chosen accessories like scarves or costume jewellery that pack light and save on space.
You can also apply the 5-4-3-2-1 method, including five tops, four bottoms, three accessories, two shoes (a practical pair and a dressier pair), and one swimming costume.
“I’d also recommend packing clothing with universal colours,” said Ms Built. “That way, you can mix and match your outfits to last longer.”
4. Packing cubes will come in handy
Last summer, I witnessed my partner—who is otherwise a messy, free spirited traveller—become a master of packing seemingly overnight; it’s as if she became the Marie Kondo of suitcase packing. I soon discovered her secret: packing cubes.
“Packing cubes can be a lifesaver in ensuring your suitcase stays organised and repacking is easy,” said Mr Didaskalou.
Packing cubes are now available to buy everywhere from Big W to Antler, and not only save space in your suitcase, but will ensure a seamless, organised experience when travelling.
“Packing cubes are your best friend to save space, particularly for a long trip,” added Ms. Built. “I also find them useful to plan my outfits and keep everything together — it saves me rummaging through my suitcase later.”
5. Bulk up
If you’re not one of the lucky few that managed to snag a first or business class ticket, space—and the weight—of your suitcase should become a priority. To negate going over your weight limit and paying unnecessary add ons for luggage, consider wearing or carrying your bulkiest items with you, such as cumbersome shoes or a large coat. Keep in mind this could slow down your progress through airport security, so opt for zippers over laces for shoes and tied belts over buttons for coats where possible.
6. Keep your liquids and laptops at the top
This is a no brainer, but to save you a world of hassle upon arrival at your lovely destination, keep all electronics like a laptop and your toiletries separate, and near the top of your bag or luggage. Not only will this negate any unwanted damage should your cologne or toothpaste wreak havoc, but if you’re called upon to remove such items during security screening, you don’t want to be that person fishing around and wasting everybody’s time.
“I always recommend decanting toiletries into smaller containers,” said Mr Didaskalou. “It not only saves space, but also helps you comply with airline regulations.”
Check with your carrier as well as the destination airport what the requirements are before you leave.
7. Minimise your footwear inclusions
Sneaker-head or not, you really don’t need to bring both the adidas Sambas and a pair of Air Jordans. Be ruthless when it comes to packing footwear for your next holiday, and opt for shoes that are multi-functional. This will be a key factor in saving space—and weight—in your luggage.
“When it comes to shoes, I always pack a universal heel, a luxe sneaker, and a dressy pair of flats,” said Ms Built. “That way you’re covered for every occasion while still looking photo-ready on holiday.”
8. Above all, choose the right luggage
While all seven tips before you are practical in theory, they won’t come at all in handy should you not have the right type of luggage for travelling. It’s 2024; it’s time to bin your canvas two-wheel suitcase from high school and opt for modern day luggage that will have you saving on space, weight, and above all else, will ensure a smooth transit to your holiday destination that awaits.
“If you’re someone who loves to shop, opt for an expandable suitcase,” said Mr Didaskalou. “This will help you not pack too much on the way over, but give you that extra space to expand when you need it.”
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Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to build a business without building a team. As AI takes over coding, customer support, marketing, administration, and other day-to-day tasks, a growing number of solo founders are scaling startups to millions in revenue with few—or even no—employees. While the trend is lowering barriers to entrepreneurship, it is also reshaping hiring, raising questions about the future of work and how businesses will grow in the AI era.
5 min
Ben Broca launched a company last December that offers AI tools to entrepreneurs. He’s already added 10,000 paying customers and is on track to bring in $10 million in revenue this year.
One thing he hasn’t added: any other employees.
The 40-year-old is part of a class of entrepreneurs who are launching, and then often running, new companies on their own. Artificial intelligence tools answer Broca’s emails, help write and debug code, field requests from customers, sign up new subscribers and grant refunds when issues arise.
Broca relishes his ability to make whatever decisions he wants on his own, often from his sun-drenched Sausalito, Calif., living room. “I think compromises make lukewarm results,” he said.
Once upon a time, running a business of a certain size required a team. AI is turning that assumption upside down, and more aspiring entrepreneurs are going it alone.
An analysis by the payments company Stripe shows there are thousands of solo operators on the company’s platform that are generating over $1 million in revenue, with their ranks doubling between 2023 and 2025. The number of solo operators crossing the $10 million threshold nearly tripled in that same span.
In the past, people without business contacts or particular savvy might not have known how to get their ideas off the ground, said Ernie Tedeschi, Stripe’s chief economist. “Now, AI can be a built-in business partner,” he said.
AI’s ability to handle various administrative tasks makes it potentially useful for launching solo businesses in many fields. But the technology’s ability to also handle key tasks in tech, like coding, make that field a particular hot spot.
Analyzing Census Bureau data, Bank of America Institute economist Taylor Bowley found that among all industries, new business applications in the information sector have seen the biggest percentage increase—nearly 45%—over the past year. At the same time, the rate of information-sector applicants saying they plan to hire workers has experienced the sharpest decline of any measured industry.
This Census dataset doesn’t track solo-operated businesses. But the numbers broadly show—in tech and beyond—that applications are flat among businesses likely to hire workers, but generally rising elsewhere. Economists say that’s a strong sign that solo operators are on the upswing.
“The bar for getting started has never been lower,” said Julian Weisser, who runs a San Francisco-based accelerator for solo founders working in tech. The accelerator—which offers founders seed money and mentorship in exchange for an equity stake—attracted 4,500 applicants for 10 slots made available in its most recent cycle, nearly five times the number it drew when it launched last May.
Going it alone with AI can still be surprisingly expensive. Broca said he was losing money on many customers’ accounts while paying to access Anthropic’s Claude to run his clients’ requests—that AI company, as well as others, charges based on usage. He has since switched to free open-source AI models from China.
Broca said he has raised $30 million from investors and, at the same time, has saved millions in salary since he hasn’t needed a team of software engineers.
Another risk: If it’s easy for one entrepreneur to launch an AI-assisted business, copying them can be easy, too. This creates anxiety for founders like Troy Johnston, who runs an AI-assisted business alone in Orlando, Fla.
“Everybody has the sword and we all have the ability to unsheathe Excalibur now,” said Johnston, 40, who used AI to code an app that helps people get the most out of credit card benefits. The company makes around $3,000 a month in profit, with no employees, and is continuing to grow.
What one-person businesses will mean for the labor market remains to be seen. Polling has shown Americans are worried that AI will replace jobs, and top economists are wrestling with that possibility, too. But AI is also creating lots of new jobs, and the go-it-alone entrepreneurs show how the technology can both open doors and limit employment opportunities.
“If everyone’s hiring less, but you get four times more firms, what does that do to head count?” said Rembrand Koning, an associate professor at Harvard Business School who studies entrepreneurship. He co-authored a recent study that found that among 50,000 startups the researchers examined, those focused on AI tended to operate with 25% fewer employees.
Koning also believes a soft hiring environment that’s left some people mired in long job searches has encouraged more to try their hand at launching businesses.
Some founders cite different motives. “It’s a perfect storm of post-pandemic burnout and a re-evaluation of one’s priorities, and also booming AI and a sense of what’s possible,” said Samir Ahmad, 39, who lives in Breinigsville, Pa.
Two years ago, Ahmad decided to leave the corporate job he had worked at Verizon for almost two decades to start a solo coaching and consulting business. He had been seeing social-media posts touting the ease and virtues of AI, which he used to chart a business plan and help with marketing. “It was like my chief of staff, a second in command,” he said.
The business ultimately petered out within months, though, and Ahmad is now back to a full-time corporate role with a utility company.
For Claire Vo, 41, AI helped her turn a passing impulse into a business. She was working full-time as a tech executive when she tapped AI in late 2023 to help code an app that would help her manage documentation and design for new products, with customers ranging from financial services to healthcare firms.
“I was copying and pasting from ChatGPT,” said Vo, who lives in San Francisco.
She put the app online for $1 a month, and within weeks people downloaded it thousands of times. Nearly three years later, Vo’s company—which she ran solo for nine months before hiring an engineer—now has 100,000 users and is on track to make seven figures in profit this year. AI handles the company’s marketing, sales and customer support.
While AI is a shortcut, Vo said her network and credibility in the industry were key. “I think people over-index on how easy AI is and under-index on how much I did to get to this point,” she said.
As interest rates, inflation and market sentiment fluctuate, investors are being urged to focus on data, not panic.
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