Whoever came up with that golden nugget of travel advice to "take half the clothes and twice the money" obviously wasn't travelling on my budget. Sure, we'd all love to stock up as we go, but the reality is that ? unless you're Donald Trump ? if you want it while travelling you're probably going to have to pack it in before you leave.

Easier said than done.

If you simply have to squeeze in that fourth pair of shoes or favourite woolly jacket you're going to need some help squashing it all in the suitcase, so we asked Cellini, one of the world's top luggage companies, for some packing advice. Here's what they suggested...

  1. Make a list of everything you plan to take. You may want to start your list a week ahead of time, so that everything will be clean and organised when you depart.
  2. Wherever possible, only pack what you can carry yourself. Too much luggage can slow you down and drive you nuts at the airport trying to manage it all.
  3. Don?t overstuff! Overpacking causes wrinkles. Choose only clothing and travel items that you really need. Pack limited colour combinations.
  4. Use leftover plastic bags from dry cleaners by wrapping each item of clothing in a separate bag. This works wonders in eliminating creases.
  5. Separate clothing with tissue paper that has been sprinkled with perfume or cologne. The tissue will guard against wrinkles and the scent will linger.
  6. Inter-fold items together, such as pants, jackets, dresses or skirts. Close all buttons, snaps and zippers and then layer the clothes, allowing folded garments and sleeves to hang out on both sides.
  7. When possible, select only clothing that is easily washable and can drip dry. Limit jewellery and accessories to those that you can wear with a wide range of outfits.
  8. Choose shoes sparingly ? only one pair if possible. You can tuck socks and underwear, or belts inside shoes to save space and help shoes to keep their shape.
  9. If you are travelling with your family, mix their clothing throughout each suitcase, just in case one case is lost.
  10. Place any small items ? such as vitamins, prescriptions or make-up ? in separate sealable plastic bags. Do this for items that can open up and spill whilst in transit, such as shampoo.
  11. When packing suits, it is best to place two or three suits on top of each other on the bed, with the fronts facing upwards. Fold the bottom of the jacket up to meet the collar.
  12. Shirts are best packed folded, as they are when you buy them from the store. Place them on top of one another, with collars alternating at opposite ends.
  13. Shoes should be packed last, with the heels placed in the corners of the case.
  14. If your case does not have a tie compartment, these should be rolled to avoid creasing.
  15. Place a copy of your itinerary inside each piece of luggage. This way if one of your bags is misrouted, the airline will be able to find you quickly.