Unusual travel tips to simplify your life

From resealable plastic bags to rolling your clothes, here are some unusual travel tips you haven't thought of that can make your next vacation simpler than ever.

Rather than folding your clothes, try rolling them. This packing method reduces clothing creases and wrinkles, and helps save space in your suitcase. If you must fold some clothes, use tissue paper to prevent wrinkles.

If you're travelling abroad (or even just within Canada), you may need to bring paperwork including your passport, copies of your driver's licence, flight timetables and other trip schedules. The trick is to scan these items and email them to yourself and/or save them as files on your tablet, phone or laptop. That way, if one of these items gets lost or stolen, you'll have handy electronic backups. In some cases, electronic copies may be all you need — and less paperwork means more space and less hassle.

Resealable plastic bags may very well become your best friends. Use them to pack your outfits for individual days or to store brochures, flyers, menus and business cards. You can even store your camera in a bag during rainy weather and take crystal-clear pictures without risking water damage to your equipment. A plastic bag also keeps cords, chargers, electronics, money, your passport and other key documentation dry.

If resealable plastic bags aren't your thing, use your eyeglass cases and pill boxes to organize jewellery, cords and other odds and ends. A Tic Tac box makes a handy container for storing hair clips. You can also re-use miscellaneous mini bottles for liquids.

Planning ahead goes a long way toward preventing damage. Prevent discomfort at the airport by skipping the first (and usually longer) bathroom lines. Head further inside the building for shorter lines.

Thinking outside the box and using everyday items in quirky ways can help save you unnecessary stress when you travel. Plan ahead and get organized, and you'll enjoy a much more peaceful travel experience.