Going away for Chinese New Year? See how Calvin Wang, Jessi Chloe Chen, Edwin Pun and Victoria Tang-Owen stay organised while on the go
However much we love going on vacation, packing for it can be daunting and time-consuming on most days. Add to the fact that this Chinese New Year holiday might be the first time on a plane for many of us since the start of the pandemic, and you have a whole new set of worries. Luckily, we asked four jetsetters in the Tatler community including Victoria Tang-Owen and Edwin Pun to tell us their most useful travel tips. From which suitcases to buy to how they keep their clothing fresh and crease-free after a long-haul flight—these pro packing tricks will ensure your travel experiences are as seamless as possible.
Calvin Wang
What is your go-to suitcase to travel with?
I prefer simple and discreet-looking luggage like the Tumi Alpha 3 or the Rimowa Classic collection. They last long, they don’t attract attention and you can stuff a lot of things into them. I also always have an expandable duffel bag handy, especially when I travel to places where I know I may shop.
How do you keep things in order?
I like to fold and categorise my things into four quadrants when I pack. I try to fill each of the quadrants with smaller items such as T-shirts, sweaters, socks, underwear and caps. It’s like playing Tetris. When all four quadrants are at even height, I then pack my larger jackets and coats on top of them.
I also pack extra clothes in my carry-on luggage for the first two days after my arrival. I do this just in case my check-in suitcases get delayed or lost. I also place an AirTag in each of my suitcases to track their whereabouts.
Do you have any pre-flight packing rituals?
I run through the entire itinerary of my trip to plan ahead on what to wear on day one: morning, afternoon, night—and so on. This way I know how I need to look every day. I then try to condense the number of items I need to bring to create the maximum number of looks. Doing this makes me travel with much less luggage. I used to pack two suitcases for a week-long trip. I would end up carrying extra things that I never even wore. I prefer to keep things concise now.
How do you keep your items fresh after a flight?
When I don’t have access to an iron, I usually hang my clothes in a steamy bathroom. It helps to reduce creases. I have also recently started placing scented paper in my luggage so that my clothes smell pleasant after a flight.
Any other tips for packing like a pro?
1. Plan for the expected weather conditions.
2. Plan based on the events you are attending and the people you are going to meet so that you know what outfits to bring.
3. Always pack your first-day outfits in your carry-on.