The Art of the Perfect Suitcase. Make Lists, Roll Up Everything, or Create a Vacuum
There are those who wait for takeoff to feel like they're on vacation and those who get excited already folding the first clothes, in full "packing" fever. But, as eDreams - one of the main online travel agencies in Europe - reminds us, one thing is certain: half empty, packed or smart, the suitcase must be packed. And Italians, at least on this front, are not caught unprepared. One in four (25%) defines themselves as minimalists and perfectionists while almost half (43%) plans every detail with rigorous lists.
The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of eDreams Odigeo on 9 thousand interviewees in seven countries (Italy, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States), tells the little manias and strategies adopted before a trip, painting a curious picture of international habits.
Italy queen of the perfect listItalians seem to be masters of the ideal suitcase: 43% make a list and follow it religiously while only a quarter let themselves be guided by inspiration. 30% fill their luggage to the brim to face any eventuality but there is also a 25% who prefer sobriety and dryness and travel light, perhaps leaving room for some local purchases. As for timing, 63% start preparing everything a few days before departure while an anxious 21% even organize weeks in advance.
When the trolley no longer closes, Italians do not give up. One in two (51%) rolls up clothes to save space, 21% rely on increasingly fashionable vacuum bags and whose kits are available for a few euros including small pumps, and 20% opt for the "onion" strategy, wearing as many layers as possible. There are also those who invest time in looking for the perfect suitcase in terms of capacity and compartments (17%) and those who, at the last minute and without too many problems, treat themselves to an extra bag at the duty free (12%).
Young overpackers, elderly zenWhen it comes to packing, age definitely makes a difference. Young people between 25 and 34, the survey explains, are the most prone to excess (41%) while travellers between 55 and 64 are the most minimalist (28%). Gen Z stands out for two opposite and partly contradictory records: on the one hand, they are the ones who most easily forget something essential (19%), on the other, they are the most faithful to lists (47%).
Compared to men, women show a more anxious attitude (38% versus 23%) but also more methodical: they are the queens of lists (47% versus 38%) and tactical rolling (57% versus 46%). Young people also prove to be precise in folding clothes with care (32% among those under 25).
Not just clothes: Italian suitcases often contain unusual objects. 31% admit to bringing food with them, while 17% have checked in – or seen checked in – pet toys or remote controls. 16% have encountered objects so strange they are indescribable.
Other countries between anxiety and creativityThe Portuguese are the most anxious, with 44% filling everything to feel safe. The French and Germans, on the other hand, are not the most sober: they are among the least minimalist, with the Germans more inclined to excess (25%), followed by the Americans (24%). On the planning front, however, the British are the most dutiful (48% make detailed lists) while the French prefer to be inspired on the spot (36%). Moral? It doesn't matter if you roll everything up or dress like an onion: in Italy, packing a suitcase is a serious matter. But also a little fun.
Who is behind the survey?The survey was conducted by OnePoll for eDreams Odigeo between February 14 and March 13, involving 9 thousand travellers (one thousand from Italy). EDreams, founded in 1999 in Silicon Valley, is today one of the main global online travel agencies.
repubblica
