Packing hacks that work (and ones that don't)
With the plethora of 'packing hacks' available online, it can get confusing to sort out the useful from the useless. To make it easier for you the next time you pack for a trip, give these five hacks a try – and maybe steer clear of the other five. DO'S
1. Face value
What: Personalise your luggage cover with a huge photo of your face.
Why: To easily spot your luggage and prevent confusing it with others'.
Pro: Strangers definitely can't claim that it's their luggage (unless they look identical to you).
2. Layers, not bulk
What: Pack clothes that you can layer instead of bulky clothes.
Why: You can add on or shed some layers depending on whether you want to feel warmer or colder.
Pros: Space saving and easier to manage your body's temperature.
3. Split your wardrobe
What: Pack half of your own clothes in your own luggage, another half in your travel partner's luggage – and vice versa.
Why: Contingency plan for if one of the bags goes on a side quest sans owner.
Pro: Your missing luggage might be returned late (if ever), so you'll at least still have some of your own clothes to wear on the trip.
4. Stay fresh with sheets
What: Line your luggage with scented dryer sheets.
Why: To keep clothes smelling clean throughout your trip.
Pros: The sheets can also be used to freshen up musty hotel rooms and, of course, reduce static cling if you get to do laundry.
5. Insole swaps
What: Pack an extra pair of insoles to swap to when your feet start feeling tired from all the walking.
Why: The extra pair provides renewed comfort and support for your feet.
Pro: Space-saving as you won't need to pack an extra pair of shoes just for comfort reasons. DON'TS
1. The wrong layering
What: You wear multiple layers of clothes, which you then remove and put in a foldable bag after clearing the check-in process.
Why they do it: To avoid paying more for baggage.
Con: Looking like the Michelin Man will make you more conspicuous and suspicious to airport staff.
2. Carry coconuts
What: Pack coconuts in your carry-on.
Why they do it: Supposedly, to circumvent airlines' liquid restrictions – instead of just packing a much lighter empty water bottle that's refillable.
Cons: Airlines in Asia generally have lower carry-on weight limits (coconuts are heavy!) and prohibit coconuts onboard.
3. No fish, just vest
What: Wear a fishing vest, which has multiple pockets, and stuff every pocket with your personal belongings.
Why they do it: To avoid paying for carry-on or extra baggage fee.
Con: Some airports are stricter and require all pockets on your clothes to be emptied, so this will not work everywhere.
4. False fragility
What: Falsely marking your bag as 'fragile' to trick baggage handlers into thinking there are easily breakable items inside.
Why they do it: To get baggage handlers to give your luggage extra care.
Con: The oversaturation of bags with false fragile tags mean handlers are less likely to pay attention to them now, which can cause issues for luggage containing actual fragile items.
5. Pillowcase-turned-suitcase
What: Replace the pillow in the pillowcase with clothes that you can't fit in your carry-on or checked baggage.
Why they do it: To discreetly pack more while avoiding excess baggage fee.
Con: Airlines are cracking down on this by counting your pillow's weight as part of your available baggage weight.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
27-07-2025
- The Star
Try these 10 ways to reduce stress before and after your holiday.
If you are preparing to go on holiday, try following these tips to ensure you maximise the relaxation factor of time away from your work desk. After all, alongside the demands of daily life, some find being away from work is enormously stressful as you wind up in a rush preparing for your time off, then catching up on everything not done in your absence. Consider these ways to reduce stress and stay relaxed before, during and after your holiday. Before you go 1. Block time slots If you have a holiday approaching, plan to block periods of free time as early as possible, says Maike Sauermann from the IFBG, a German workplace health consultancy. Specifically, block time slots in your calendar when you do not schedule any appointments so you can complete your tasks before your trip. Ideally, that means you can start your well-deserved break without any unfinished tasks weighing on you. 2. Use smart email rules Many of us dread the flood of emails waiting for us when we come back to work but you can prevent this by creating smart rules before you go away. If someone is deputised to handle your work while you are away, set up your emails to be forwarded to them automatically during your absence. 'Your deputy can often decide which emails really need to be dealt with by you after your holiday and which do not,' says Sauermann. 3. Leave work devices at home Packing your tablet or laptop just in case? Don't do it. Sauermann says leave everything work-related in its place. If you wish, you can take a small pad of paper with you. 'If you think about work during your holiday, write your thoughts down,' she says. Then set your notes aside to help clear your mind while preserving any important ideas for later. 4. Distance yourself from your devices To truly disconnect from work life, you must also 'cut off' constant availability, says the IFBG. Try turning off your smartphone completely or switching it to flight mode while you are away. That should help you relax and protect you from the 'constant compulsion to stay informed', says Sauermann. 5. Do nothing for a change Once your holiday starts, are you busy planning family outings, cooking lunch or trying to get your finances in order? Don't. Do absolutely nothing on your vacation, says Sauermann. 'Above all, avoid doing too much that is related to self-optimisation or performance.' After a holiday, enjoy small moments of relaxation at work, like taking a longer lunch break, to help settle in better. — Pexels Returning to work 1. Avoid starting work on a Monday Back from your trip on a Sunday and being back at work on Monday is how many employees plan their holidays. But ideally, don't go back to the office at the beginning of the week. Better days are Wednesday or Thursday, says resilience consultant Petra Kruppenbacher in a contribution for the Initiative for New Quality of Work (INQA). Plan your holiday so that both the last and first workdays fall in the middle of the week so you only have a short working week. The prospect of the weekend ahead will keep you feeling more motivated and help counter any low spirits after your trip. 2. Allow time to settle back in You can also help yourself relax by taking time to settle back in after a holiday trip. Ideally, return home a few days before resuming work, says Kruppenbacher. That will give you time to organise daily life or household tasks and gradually adjust your sleep schedule to the work routine. 3. Set aside time to catch up If possible, take the first day after your return to get an overview and prioritise upcoming tasks, says Sauermann. 'Then take the next few days to calmly work through your tasks and get back into a structured work rhythm.' For this reason, your out-of-office message should not end on the day you return but at least one day later. 4. Hold on to that holiday spirit You don't want your good mood from your holiday to be replaced by a motivation slump, so enjoy small moments of relaxation in your workday, perhaps by taking a longer lunch break far from your screen. Thinking about a pleasant holiday experience or a fond memory helps maintain the positive holiday feeling for longer, say researchers. Sharing experiences with colleagues or keeping a small holiday-themed postcard where you can see it at your desk can also help bring your holiday spirit into your workplace and give you new energy to start a productive work phase, says Sauermann. 5. Plan your next holiday Plan your next short trip immediately after your holiday, says Kruppenbacher. Studies show that holidays help you relax even after just one or two days. So short breaks can definitely improve your well-being, too. – dpa
The Star
23-07-2025
- The Star
Packing hacks that work (and ones that don't)
Learn what to pack (and not to pack) for your trips. — Pexels With the plethora of 'packing hacks' available online, it can get confusing to sort out the useful from the useless. To make it easier for you the next time you pack for a trip, give these five hacks a try – and maybe steer clear of the other five. DO'S 1. Face value What: Personalise your luggage cover with a huge photo of your face. Why: To easily spot your luggage and prevent confusing it with others'. Pro: Strangers definitely can't claim that it's their luggage (unless they look identical to you). 2. Layers, not bulk What: Pack clothes that you can layer instead of bulky clothes. Why: You can add on or shed some layers depending on whether you want to feel warmer or colder. Pros: Space saving and easier to manage your body's temperature. 3. Split your wardrobe What: Pack half of your own clothes in your own luggage, another half in your travel partner's luggage – and vice versa. Why: Contingency plan for if one of the bags goes on a side quest sans owner. Pro: Your missing luggage might be returned late (if ever), so you'll at least still have some of your own clothes to wear on the trip. 4. Stay fresh with sheets What: Line your luggage with scented dryer sheets. Why: To keep clothes smelling clean throughout your trip. Pros: The sheets can also be used to freshen up musty hotel rooms and, of course, reduce static cling if you get to do laundry. 5. Insole swaps What: Pack an extra pair of insoles to swap to when your feet start feeling tired from all the walking. Why: The extra pair provides renewed comfort and support for your feet. Pro: Space-saving as you won't need to pack an extra pair of shoes just for comfort reasons. DON'TS 1. The wrong layering What: You wear multiple layers of clothes, which you then remove and put in a foldable bag after clearing the check-in process. Why they do it: To avoid paying more for baggage. Con: Looking like the Michelin Man will make you more conspicuous and suspicious to airport staff. 2. Carry coconuts What: Pack coconuts in your carry-on. Why they do it: Supposedly, to circumvent airlines' liquid restrictions – instead of just packing a much lighter empty water bottle that's refillable. Cons: Airlines in Asia generally have lower carry-on weight limits (coconuts are heavy!) and prohibit coconuts onboard. 3. No fish, just vest What: Wear a fishing vest, which has multiple pockets, and stuff every pocket with your personal belongings. Why they do it: To avoid paying for carry-on or extra baggage fee. Con: Some airports are stricter and require all pockets on your clothes to be emptied, so this will not work everywhere. 4. False fragility What: Falsely marking your bag as 'fragile' to trick baggage handlers into thinking there are easily breakable items inside. Why they do it: To get baggage handlers to give your luggage extra care. Con: The oversaturation of bags with false fragile tags mean handlers are less likely to pay attention to them now, which can cause issues for luggage containing actual fragile items. 5. Pillowcase-turned-suitcase What: Replace the pillow in the pillowcase with clothes that you can't fit in your carry-on or checked baggage. Why they do it: To discreetly pack more while avoiding excess baggage fee. Con: Airlines are cracking down on this by counting your pillow's weight as part of your available baggage weight.
The Star
19-07-2025
- The Star
Aizat Amdan, Lah Ahmad to perform at Selangor Travel Fair next weekend
Selangor Travel Fair 2025 is part of Tourism Selangor's initiative to welcome eight million tourists to the state this year. — Pexels The 2025 edition of the Selangor Travel Fair is set to take place from July 26 to 27, featuring plenty of travel deals and exciting performances by local artists. Taking place from 10am to 10pm at Central Market Kuala Lumpur, the first day of the fair will include the 'Surprising Selangor' concert. The concert, scheduled at 7.30pm on Saturday, will feature Lah Ahmad and Aizat Amdan – the latter is the singer of Surprising Selangor , the theme song of Visit Selangor Year (VSY) 2025. Padat (Perbadanan Adat Melayu dan Warisan Negeri Selangor) will also showcase cultural performances. The fair will additionally mark the launch of the new VSY 2025 theme song, Selangor Kan Ada! . It is sung by a "mystery singer", whose identity – along with the full video for Selangor Kan Ada! – will be revealed at the concert, as well as on Tourism Selangor's YouTube channel on the same day. Tourism Selangor CEO Chua Yee Ling said that Selangor Travel Fair 2025, which will serve as the VSY 2025 campaign's main highlight, '…will feature over 30 tourism exhibitors'. Among them are Farm Fresh, Selangor Fruit Valley, Padat and Tourism Malaysia. Chua, speaking during yesterday's Media & Influencers Hi-Tea 2025 event at Tamarind Springs in Ampang Jaya, also said that the two-day travel fair is expected to welcome 30,000 visitors. At the same event, state local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim shared his belief that Selangor will continue to play a pivotal part in the nation's tourism industry. This is especially so as the nation gears up for Visit Malaysia 2026. 'According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, in 2024 Selangor recorded the highest number of domestic visitors in Malaysia for four consecutive years, with a total of 34.5 million visitors. This proves that Selangor continues to be Malaysians' main destination of choice,' Ng said. To be held at Central Market KL, Selangor Travel Fair 2025 will feature over 30 tourism exhibitors. — FLOREY D. MIKIL/The Star As of March 2025, Selangor has recorded 1.77 million tourist arrivals, approximately 22% of its annual target. Domestic travellers make up 72% of these figures, while international travellers make up 28% – mainly from China (19%), Singapore (12%), Indonesia (6%), Japan (5%), and India (5%). Through VSY 2025, Selangor targets eight million (65% domestic and 35% international) tourist arrivals in 2025 with an expected tourism receipt of RM11.2bil. In related news, Tourism Selangor has also introduced the Visit Selangor Year Tourism Grant (Phase 2). Opened for application from July 1 to Oct 31, with a total allocation of RM300,000, the grant is offered in three categories: Discover Selangor Grant (valued at RM10,000), Splendid Selangor Grant (RM20,000), and Surprising Selangor Grant (RM30,000). The grant is expected to benefit 30 selected recipients. Application is open to various entities, including private companies or organisations, government-linked companies that are not receiving government bond funds, state government-affiliated organisations, and non-governmental organisations.
