The last thing I pack before a trip is my makeup bag. I'm always running behind, so I inevitably throw things in a bag in a panic and forget something I need, and take at least three things I don't. I have a couple of trips planned, but there are always road trips and weekends away that come up last minute, so it's good to have a bag on reserve ready to grab at a moment's notice, or at least have the travel-friendly products hashed out so I know what to take in a rush.

Moving never goes exactly as planned, no matter how prepared you think you might be. Movers arrive late, you run out of packing tape — or, like me, you drop and break your laptop because you didn’t realise it was sitting under a stack of clothes you’re hurriedly throwing in a box. Inevitably, you’ll forget something.

Dear Lifehacker, I'm moving soon, and I want to make sure my beloved computer makes the trip safely. I could trust the movers with it, but is that wise? What's the best way to move a computer and all my gear?

When we moved last year, the majority of our belongings made it to the new place unscathed. The only casualty of note was my bed frame, an IKEA buy from a few years earlier that we were incapable of taking apart on our own and the mover claimed could be moved as is. It could not, and shortly after they left our place we discovered that it had essentially been ripped in half in their attempts to get it into our second-floor walk-up.

Necklaces are pretty much the only kind of jewellery I wear — my hands swell too randomly for rings and my earlobes reject earrings! — but delicate, tangly chains make packing them for trips more than slightly annoying. Unless you wish to spend your trip untangling necklaces, throwing them in a bag — even one with separate compartments — simply does not work.

Packing, for me, can be a weeks-long process. As soon as my flight is booked (sometimes sooner) I begin thinking of every piece of clothing and accessory I could possibly need, lest I be stuck in a cold restaurant without a jacket or out at a trendy bar without a statement piece. Sure, it’s fun, but it also isn’t the most efficient use of time.

These days I tend to travel at least two weeks out of every month, which means, amongst other things, that I’ve become a pro at living out of a suitcase. I know exactly what I need to pack for a week away and how to pack it so it all fits comfortably in my carry-on so I can avoid checking a bag at the gate.

The biggest moderately recent add-on to my arsenal: A thin duffle bag I lay at the bottom of my carry-on before I pack it.

Over the years, readers have given travel tips for cities all over the world. But some tips keep popping up for city after city and should be part of your general travel habits. Not every tip works for every city, but you should run through this checklist next time you're headed somewhere new.

When's the last time you went on a holiday and felt confident that you'd packed everything you needed? For some of us, travel means spending the first night away from home at a Kmart or Big W, buying the sunscreen or thongs (or jacket and thermals) we should have put into our suitcases.

Whether a day trip or a transnational odyssey, if you’re bringing along an infant (yours, we hope), packing the dreaded nappy bag is a rite of passage.

I just returned from a five-day trip to Paris, on a budget airline that charges a fee to bring a carry-on. I’m cheap, so that means everything had to fit in a small bag under the seat in front of me. Friends, I did it. You can, too.

I just returned from a trip to Europe with my husband's extended family. It was the first time we travelled out of the continent with our five-year-old, and despite a couple of time-change-induced meltdowns, I'm happy to report it was a net positive experience.

I'm can't yet say I'm a pro at globetrotting with kids, but I've been obsessively stealing tips from parents who are - particularly those who've mastered the art and science of packing. With this holiday, here are some things I'm so glad I brought along, and some that I wish I had thought of.

I travel a good bit, so I've started to reach a point where not too many travel "hacks" surprise me. However, this week a friend of mine made a suggestion I was surprised I hadn't thought of before: splitting your checked items across two suitcases with a friend.

The heart of the family road trip is the never-ending potential for spontaneous adventures. Along your drive, you might spot a cool adventure playground or a lake with a rope swing or an Instagram-famous spot. When you stop, you'll need the right clothing and gear.

As that failed group project in Mr. Palazzo's 10th grade history class taught me, sometimes we do not work best in teams. In addition to class projects, that goes for getting ready to take a family trip, as well.

When some people go on holiday they bring back magnets or postcards. I bring back booze. For a long time I was just bringing back beer to give as gifts or share with friends, but that eventually evolved to spirits as well. When I went to Scotland earlier this year my home whisky collection ended up getting a huge upgrade.

No one enjoys packing clothes for a move. And for formal dresses, shirts and other articles that need to stay on the hanger, the process is even more annoying. Luckily, If you have some garbage bags handy -- particularly ones with the discrete straps -- you can pack and protect your fancier clothes in quick fashion.

Most of us tend to overpack when we travel. You might as well toss in those extra shirts, chargers and camera gadgets because you never know what you might need, right? Of course, you then end up not using half the stuff you bring. If this sounds familiar, consider a "luggage audit" next time you travel.

A bottle of wine is a common gift, but if you have a little travel between the bottle you want to give and the person you're giving it to, you want to make sure it survives the journey. Grab a pair of socks -- here's the easiest way to do that.