The answer is, to help think ahead to the second time it will be necessary to pack your suitcase. Often very little thought is given to the end of the holiday when you have not yet begun the beginning. Yet at the end of the holiday there are often many good reasons why having extra bags with you will make a considerable difference.



For example, it has to be said that at the end of the holiday, our clothes, at least some of them, are not in best condition. Packing these up against clean clothes isn't ideal, and will only result in a greater volume of washing to be done when you return home. Having some carrier bags or bin liners in which to store your dirty items and then seal that bag will help to protect the other items in your case.

However, in addition to packing bags, another excellent tip is to consider packing boxes. When you are at the end of your holiday, looking at the gorgeous but fragile souvenirs that you purchased, it can become a real concern how to pack these in such a way that they will survive the journey. Often the solution is to place them in the centre of your case and surround them will all of your clothing. While this will to some degree help, it isn't the best solution and breakages will still occur.

Therefore, if at the start of your journey you pack some of your items in your case into plastic boxes, such as lunch boxes that have sealable lids, this won't take up any more room in your case, but once you are at the end of your holiday you will have a sealable plastic box in which delicate or fragile souvenirs can be placed. It is still a good idea to pack them tightly into these boxes using small squashable items such as socks, which are incredibly useful things to take for your packing, regardless of what you intend to wear on your feet. Then place this box with the souvenirs packaged inside it carefully into the centre of your suitcase when packing. This will give your items the best chance of all to remain intact during the rough and tumble of the average journey.

Another reason that it's often handy to take a few spare bags with you is to carry the extra bits and pieces that won't ft into your suitcase and need to be carried on by hand, or which are just not possible to pack into any kind of box or bag that will be safe and secure in your suitcase, possibly because of size.

In these cases, you need a strong durable bag with you to help protect the item. Often the kind of bag that is given to in gift shops will not survive the journey quite as well. Trying to carry a fragile, delicate souvenir in a carrier bag which is developing a hole, and with one handle broken, whilst simultaneously carting a suitcase, a shoulder bag and your entire family through an airport is not an experience that will add a positive feel to your holiday.

So give yourself a break, take a few carrier bags as they won't take up much room, and they may even be useful to squash in as padding around items to help protect them. At best they could provide you with a little extra piece of mind.