How to Pack Christmas Gifts for Holiday Travel to Keep Them Safe

Santa might be able to transport holiday gifts on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, but for the rest of us, driving or flying is a more likely holiday travel scenario. And while packing up for a magical holiday celebration can be exciting, packing up and finding room for all those Christmas gifts never seems to get easier.

Do you fill an extra suitcase with packages, or try to stuff your gifts in and around your clothes and toiletries? What if the wrapping paper is torn—or worse, the gift breaks? We asked organizing experts to share the best methods for packing holiday gifts, and their answers may surprise you. Learn from the experts to use the best methods of packing and traveling with holiday gifts this season.

Meet Our Expert

• Ashley La Fond is a professional organizer and founder of the home organization company Of Space & Mind.

• Barbara Brock is a professional organizer and founder of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company.

How to Pack Gifts When Traveling by Plane

A lot of prep work goes into holiday traveling, especially if flights are involved. When packing and prepping for your trip, don’t forget about items you’re gifting to loved ones. Learn how to safely and efficiently pack Christmas gifts for stress-free holiday travel.

Ship to Destination

To save the hassle and potential for damaged gifts, Ashley La Fond, a professional organizer, recommends shipping gifts to your holiday destination. “Ship as much as you can to your destination,” she says. “Don’t pack things if you can easily ship them straight to your final stop.” Before shipping the gifts, check with your holiday hosts to make sure it’s alright that gifts are shipped to them, Once you ship the gifts, remind the hosts to not open the gifts if they are the gift recipients.

Related: The 59 Best Last-Minute Christmas Gifts

Wait to Wrap

Professional organizer Barbara Brock suggests shipping gifts ahead of time, but waiting to wrap them until you arrive at your holiday destination. Waiting to wrap them will avoid wear and tear on wrapping paper and bows. “If flying, I recommend packing some gift bags and tissue paper along with tags, and then upon your arrival, you can add the gift to the holiday wrapping essentials,” she says. She says tissue paper and gift bags are light and easy to pack. If you’re packing wrapping paper, cut a section of paper, fold it, and place it on the bottom of your suitcase to keep it flat.

While flying with packages isn’t prohibited, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) strongly encourages holiday travelers to ship packages to their destination ahead of time. If you do choose to fly with wrapped packages, use tissue paper and gift bags for easier access in case TSA agents need to check the contents.

Related: These Gift Wrapping Essentials from Amazon Will Help Make the Holidays Less Stressful

Be Mindful of Flying Regulations

If you’re flying with packages, make sure the contents are not restricted by the TSA. Gifts that include liquids, food, and certain metals may be prohibited or unwrapped and searched in the security line at the airport. For gifts with liquid, gels, and creams like alcoholic beverages or liquid beauty products, TSA only allows 3.4 ounces of liquid in your carry-on. La Fond reminds that candles, even though they are solid, can be considered a liquid. Because of this reason, TSA discourages flying with wrapped gifts in carry-on or packaged luggage.

Use Hard-Sided Suitcases

Successfully flying with breakable gifts starts with packing gifts well. La Fond suggests using hard-sided bags to protect the gifts from damage and pack them in between softer items. “Pack the outside of your suitcase with soft items like sweaters to add more cushion, then pack gifts in the center,” she says.

How to Pack Gifts When Traveling By Car

Even if you’re not flying, you still need to be careful when packing and traveling with holiday presents. If you plan to travel by car over the holidays, don’t just randomly toss your gifts into the back of your car. Take care to store them in a sturdy container (such as a clear plastic bin) so they don’t roll around or bump into things.

Pack Smart

While it may be tempting to casually stack gifts in the backseat of your car, Brock suggests thinking twice about how you’re packing gifts for drives. She suggests using a specific bag and packing method. “To pack wisely, position presents both horizontally and vertically in a dedicated bag or sack,” she says. “Minimize the space between packages as much as possible.” Packing boxes as closely as you can, without squishing or bending them, will reduce possible damage to boxes and the gifts inside.

La Fonda recommends using a flat-bottomed tote or large box to store gifts in the car. “This makes it easier to hide them and makes it easier to transport them when you arrive,” she says.

Add Extra Cushion

When protecting breakable gifts, many people think packing breakables in their clothes will protect them. Brocks warns that solely relying on clothes to provide cushion for breakable gifts isn’t a smart idea. “If you do pack gifts into suitcases, don’t rely on the clothes to add a buffer,” she says. Instead, she suggests wrapping gifts in layers of bubble wrap or newspaper to add extra cushion. “You don’t want anything to topple onto your gifts and ruin them before you arrive,” Brock says.

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens