Whether you are travelling on a business trip or taking a family beach vacation, arranging the contents of your suitcase is important to ensure nothing gets too wrinkled and you have room for everything you need. Many people tend to over pack, which just creates more work for you. Lugging around a heavy suitcase at the airport is no fun, especially when you really only need half the contents for your trip. Here are great packing tips to follow for the next family beach vacation you plan:

• First, make a list of everything you think you need to bring on your trip. Keep in mind where you are going, what activities you plan on doing and whether or not you’ll have a washer and dryer available while on the trip. After the list is complete, go back through and eliminate things you really don’t need to bring. Choose your shoes wisely. Go for pairs that can be dressed up or dressed down. Wear your heaviest pair during travel and pack two pairs or less. If you’re paranoid you are forgetting something, just remember, if you arrive at your destination and realize you left something behind, odds are if it’s an emergency and you need it, you can buy it at a local store.

• Make sure to pack travel size toiletries. Pack lotions, shampoos, and powder makeup in individual plastic bags so if there is a spill, it doesn’t get all over your bag and everything else, and airline inspectors can see the contents easily. Packing toiletries in a pocket of your suitcase or in a makeup bag is the best way, and it also makes it easier to keep track of everything during your trip.

• Pack whole outfits, not just a shirt here and a pair of pants there. You don’t want to get to your destination and see that you didn’t bring anything to wear together. Plan your outfits for each day of the vacation, this will make it easier to determine what you need. Make sure to consider that you may need a day outfit and a night outfit on some days. If you’re going on a family beach vacation, you probably don’t need too many day outfits, just bring two swim suits instead and re-wear day outfits if you aren’t at the beach as much as you thought.

• To start packing, lay everything out on your bed. Fold each clothing item in half, starting with the heavier items like pants and jackets. Roll each item tightly until you reach the end; you should now have a tight cylinder that you can neatly place in your suitcase. This rolling method helps to prevent wrinkles and allows you to fit more things in your suitcase. If something is unable to be rolled because it’s a delicate item, place it folded on the bottom of the suitcase or hang in a separate garment bag. Fill your shoes with socks and underwear, if possible, to save space.

• After you’ve loaded your suitcase with your clothing items, it’s time to stuff your shoes along the sides. You may also stuff your belts along the sides.

• Find a place in the center of the suitcase for your toiletries bag. Being surrounded by other items will reduce the chance of anything being squished and spilled.

• After you’ve fit the smaller items in all the available space between items in the suitcase, cover the surface of the suitcase with a dry cleaning bag. The slippery surface of the bag won’t allow anything to stay in the same place long enough to get too wrinkled.

• Make sure to wear any nice jewelry during travel and if you’re planning on checking your bag, you should keep all jewelry in your carryon. You wouldn’t want your family beach vacation to be ruined because your favorite necklace was stolen.