Packing style, a key factor in the psychological profile of the traveler
Packing a suitcase is for many the most tiresome part of traveling. Thirty-five percent of Spaniards consider their style ‘anxious’, filling it with ‘just in case’, especially women (41%). The most popular technique for maximizing space and saving on checked luggage is to roll up clothes, according to an international survey conducted by eDreams.
According to the study, in which 9.000 people, in addition to rolling clothes, a trick followed by 63 %, it also often works to dress in several layers (23 %), use vacuum bags (18 %) or get a bag at some duty free to get extra storage (18 %).
Internationally, the roll-up technique is especially popular with Portuguese (61%) and American (61%) travelers, with the latter also the most likely to stop at duty free (20%).
Among Spaniards, travelers between 55 and 64 years old are the ones who most value folding clothes well to save space (71%), and young people between 25 and 34 years old find it especially useful to wear several layers during the trip (34%). By gender, women confess to using more of these hacks than men, specifically the layering trick (25% women vs. 19% men) and roll-ups (66% women vs. 58% men).
¿Less is more?
When packing, each person has his or her own style reflecting his or her personality. Thirty-five percent of Spanish travelers consider themselves ‘anxious’, meaning that they pack their luggage to be ready for any situation, especially women with 41% compared to 28% of men. Twenty percent admit to being ‘excessive’, i.e., willing to pay for extra luggage.
Other popular styles among Spaniards are the ‘forgetful’ (19%), who always leave out something they need when they arrive at their destination, and the ‘minimalist’ (18%), who prefers to travel with the bare minimum and come back with the most.Overall, Portuguese travelers are the most anxious when it comes to packing (44%) and Italians (25%) and Americans (24%) the most minimalist.
Preparation time
The time in advance with which travelers approach this task also varies greatly. According to the eDreams study, in general terms, 55% of Spanish travelers prefer to start organizing their suitcase a couple of days before their departure, a common pattern across all age groups, although it occurs more frequently among Spanish tourists over the age of 65 (81%).
The second most popular option among Spaniards is to start organizing their suitcase a few weeks in advance (27%) or more than several weeks in advance (10%). Finally, only 8% of Spaniards leave it to the last minute (8%), with the youngest, aged 18 to 24, as well as travelers aged 55 to 64, being the most likely to organize their trips in this way (11%). Beyond our borders, leaving preparation for the hours before traveling is also frequent among the Portuguese (16%) and Germans (14%).
Between perfection and improvisation
More conclusions. Forty-five percent of Spanñoles are ‘planners’, they use detailed lists to make sure they don’t forget anything. This is more common among women (50%, compared with 38% of men) and travelers aged 45 to 54 (48%). On the other hand, 25% of Spanish travelers adopt a 'free spirit' organizing their suitcase according to the inspiration of the moment. In addition, 23% define themselves as ‘perfectionists’. Outside Spain, this spontaneous style is also observed in countries such as France (36%) and Portugal (30%).