Suitcase Secrets from a family on the move (Part 2): Four More Suitcase Tips for Overseas Missions
Posted on August 14, 2025 by Phoebe Chan
If you thought plastic trunks, toy boxes, and iceboxes were all we had to say about suitcases … think again. Just like the packing process, there’s always more! After years of field-tested travel, we’ve picked up even more suitcase tricks for overseas missions.
Ready for round two? Here are 4 more tips to save space, sanity, and maybe even your car boot.
1. Hard-Shell vs. Soft-Sided Suitcases
Hard-shell suitcases
Pros:
- Water resistance against rain, spills, and even fish odours. We once flew in with soft suitcases only to find them smelling like the local catch!
- Rigid walls protect fragile gear.
Cons:
- More prone to cracking and damage especially in the corners if handled roughly — this has happened to almost all our hard-shell suitcases.
Soft-sided suitcases
Pros:
- Exterior pockets for easy access to documents, snacks, or water bottles.
- Built-in expansion lets you squeeze in those last-minute gifts from friends and family and things you forgot to pack.
Cons:
- Less protection from sharp impacts, moisture and animal excretions – Our luggage has also survived journeys with non-toilet-trained goats and chickens.
Bottom line: Choose your shell based on expected baggage handling, what you pack inside and local climate.
2. Luggage Straps & Bright Colours
- Spot your bag instantly by wrapping a bold strap or tie a brightly coloured ribbon around the handle. Against a sea of black and navy, you’ll never second-guess which suitcase is yours when you are eager to get out of the chaotic and hot airport after a long trip!
- Unique straps and colours help prevent someone else from accidentally claiming your bag.
- Stay organised on the road: Assign each category its own hue e.g. red for homeschool materials, green for medical supplies, blue for clothes. It also makes it easier when unpacking.
3. AirTags & Pre-Trip Photos
- Slip AirTags into your bags before check in. Even if local systems are slow and inefficient, you’ll know exactly where your luggage is (pending on internet connection!).
- Take photos of your luggage. If someone else needs to collect delayed bags for you, they’ll have instant visual references.
4. Travel Light, Return Loaded
- When we head back to our home country, we travel as light as possible — partly to make room for supplies and treats to bring back, and partly because fitting suitcases into a car boot (trunk) for a family of five is no small feat. With multiple stops and stays with friends and family, fewer bags make life easier.
- To avoid buying empty suitcases just for the return trip, we nest a smaller suitcase inside a larger one on the way out, then use both on the way back. And if you’re from Hong Kong, those classic red-white-blue nylon bags can be surprisingly handy. Just line them with strong rubbish bin bags to make them waterproof — they’re lightweight, cheap and cheerful, and nostalgic too. Another favourite trick: foldable duffle bags, which we covered in our blog post on Suitcase Secrets from a family on the move (Part 2):Four Creative Alternatives to Suitcases.
These little things have made a big difference in how we travel — and how we settle in once we arrive. Happy packing / game of Tetris!
Love,
The Sams
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