Tips for packing your suitcase for a business trip
Packing your suitcase for a business trip needs a different approach than packing a suitcase for a vacation or a city break. After all, walking into a meeting room in a wrinkled suit gives anything but a good impression. As a business travel partner for many small and medium-sized companies, we have accumulated a lot of know-how over the years - also with regard to packing your suitcase. We are happy to share our tips with you in the article below.
Create endless combinations
As a business traveler, you often only travel with carry-on luggage. To save space in your suitcase, it is wise to make different clothing combinations when packing your suitcase. For example, consider a dark blue suit, neat blue pants and a white and dark shirt. So you can put on the combination: blue suit - dark shirt and neat pants and white shirt, blue suit - white shirt and neat pants - dark shirt. Ideal!
Prevent wrinkles
T-shirts, sweaters and pants
Choose to roll your clothes instead of folding them. Works perfectly! Just make sure the clothes are tight before you start rolling. Rolling clothes also saves space in your suitcase.
Jacket (and tailored suit)
Folding a tailored suit (and jacket) requires a completely different technique. The easiest way is to close the jacket buttons first. Lay the jacket down in front of you, back side up. Flip the first sleeve back and fold that same sleeve in half again, so that it lies neatly on top of the folded jacket. Repeat with the other sleeve.
Next, take a pair of pantaloons and fasten the button. Fold the pantaloons in half first lengthwise and then widthwise. Lay the pantaloons neatly on top of the jacket and fold the whole thing in half once. Now you should have a nice package!
Yet another way to keep your tailored suit wrinkle-free when packing your suitcase is by Rollor An incredibly handy gadget that will have your jacket neatly packed in no time. Rollor consists of a system of corrugated cardboard and foam which ensures that the clothes are not folded and no pressure is put on them.
Shirt
Use a belt against collapsing the collar of your shirt. Roll up the belt and place it between the collar. An added benefit is that you can immediately see if your shirt and belt are a good match. Win - win.
In the unlikely event that you have wrinkled clothes after packing your suitcase: no problem. You can always use your hotel's dry cleaning and laundry service! Also check your hotel room for an ironing board and iron; the better business travel hotels definitely have these.
Choose the right suitcase
Make sure you have the lightest possible suitcase on wheels and, in the case of a carry-on suitcase, a separate compartment for your laptop. That way you don't have to lug around several bags. Nowadays, there are even suitcases fully equipped with phone chargers, integrated scales and location trackers. This allows you to locate any lost suitcase quickly and anywhere.
Get smart with your toiletry bag
Use refill bottles of up to 100 milliliters that you can fill with your favorite perfume, shampoo, aftershave, day cream, etc. After all, you don't need a fullsize package during a short business trip. Put a pack of wet wipes in your suitcase so you can always freshen yourself up. Refreshing wipes are allowed in your carry-on luggage.
Wear a suit on the plane
As a business traveler, are you only away from home for a short time and will be on a plane after only a few hours? Wear your suit - if possible - already on the plane. That way you have the least chance of annoying wrinkles. Is there enough room in the luggage rack? Then put your jacket safely away. And don't forget to hang out your clothes immediately upon arrival, even before you enter the hotel bar!
