If you’re planning a trip, one of the most important aspects is packing your luggage. It can be a challenge to fit everything you need into your suitcase, especially if you’re traveling for an extended period of time. Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks you can use to pack your luggage to save space. Here are some suggestions to help you make the most of the space in your suitcase:

Make a packing list

Before you start packing, make a list of everything you need to bring. This will help you avoid overpacking and ensure you don’t forget anything important. Make sure you consider the weather, activities, and any special events you’ll be attending during your trip.

Choose the right suitcase

Make sure your suitcase is the right size for your trip. If you’re traveling for a short period of time, you might be able to get away with a smaller carry-on bag. If you’re traveling for a longer period of time, you’ll need a larger suitcase.

Roll your clothes

Instead of folding your clothes, roll them up. This will save space and prevent wrinkles. Start with heavier items like jeans and sweaters, then roll lighter items like t-shirts and shorts around them.

Use packing cubes

Packing cubes are a great way to organize your suitcase and save space. They allow you to separate your clothes by type or outfit, and compress them so they take up less space. You can even use them to store accessories like socks and underwear.

Pack shoes strategically

Shoes take up a lot of space in a suitcase. To save space, pack them at the bottom of your suitcase, with the soles facing the sides. You can also use shoe bags to keep them separate from your clothes and prevent them from getting dirty.

Use compression bags

Compression bags are a great way to save space in your luggage. You can use them to compress bulky items like jackets, blankets, and towels. Simply roll them up, place them in the compression bag, and remove the air using a vacuum or by squeezing out the air.

Maximize the use of small spaces

Make the most of every inch of space in your suitcase. You can pack smaller items like socks and underwear inside your shoes, or use the space inside hats and other accessories to store small items.

By using these tips, you’ll be able to pack your luggage to save space and ensure you have everything you need for your trip. Happy travels!

Rum Dum, Goombay Smash, Bahama Mama—there’s no shortage of signature cocktails that come to mind when one thinks of the Bahamas. However, this Caribbean archipelago is also a severely underrated foodie destination. After all, there’s more to the Bahamian culinary scene than just conch—though the “queen” mollusk will be featured on this list in various incarnations (fritters, chowder, salad, and more). Read on for more signature Bahamian dishes to try during your next visit, as well as recommendations on where to try them. We recommend you wash this all down with a Sky Juice or a Bahama Papa.

Conch Fritters
8 conch fritters in a circle on a plate with a small cup of sauce in the middle. Every other fritter has a toothpick in it
Courtesy of Poop Deck East

You can’t visit the Bahamas without trying every variation of conch. The pink sea snail is native to the Caribbean and is a culinary staple throughout Nassau and the outer islands. We recommend the conch fritters, or the cracked conch, at Frankie Gone Bananas (either outpost in Nassau) or the Conch Shack on Baha Mar Boulevard in Paradise Island. Paula’s Conch Fritters and Creamy Calypso dipping sauce is the best starter on the menu at the Poop Deck, though they also serve cracked conch as an entree—why limit yourself to a single serving of conch per meal, anyway?

Rum Cake
Small rum cake shaped like a bundt cake on top of sliced and whole fruit like kiwis, strawberries, mango, raspberries, and peaches
Courtesy of Tortuga Rum Cake Company

Rum cake is a specialty in the Bahamas and Virgin Islands, and enjoying authentic Bahamian rum cake while visiting the islands is a treat that can’t be missed. We suggest visiting the Tortuga Rum Cake Company Company in Nassau (the final stop on the highly-recommended Tru Bahamian Food Tour, a culinary walking tour throughout Nassau). Wash it all down afterward with a handcrafted rum cocktail at the Talking Stick Bar at Towne Hotel, a charming boutique hotel just a short walk away in downtown Nassau. Order a rum punch and visit with the chatty blue macaw. The parrot has become a symbol of the establishment, and of the larger cocktail scene in Nassau in general.

Guava Duff
Closeup of guava duff on a plate with a white glaze over it
Jesse Friedman / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Our next suggestion is another Bahamian sweet: guava duff, a pastry made from one of the few indigenous fruits that preceded the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. You can often find the popular fruit at farmers’ markets or road-side stands, and the dessert variation is served wherever authentic Bahamian cuisine is on the menu. The Shoal Kitchen sells a particularly mouthwatering variety.

Johnnycakes
Johnnycake on a cooling rack
Courtesy of Nassau Paradise Island

From one baked Bahamian pastry to another, this breaded tradition is best enjoyed at the Bahamian Cookin’ Restaurant & Bar in downtown Nassau. The three-generation owned Bahamian mainstay is renowned for its authentic island cuisine. Sip Sip on Harbour Island also serves homemade johnnycakes with the Sunday boil fish special. Johnnycakes are fairly easy to make at home so your cravings will never go unsatisfied.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese
black plate loaded with cracked conch, coleslaw and baked mac and cheese. There is also a styrofoam bowl of peas and rice
Ellen Bulger / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

For another traditional side course, consider ordering the baked macaroni and cheese on the menu at any restaurant serving authentic Caribbean cuisine. The mac n’ cheese is also very popular at Frankie Gone Bananas, which also boasts such classic Bahamian side dishes as peas and rice and fried plantains. While there, order the coconut ‘n Kalik soup, too (a specialty infused with local beer).

Rock Lobster
Caribbean Spiny Lobster swimming in the ocean
Pola Damonte / Getty Images

This spiny Caribbean lobster is very different from what you’re used to enjoying up North. Unlike the Maine variety, Rock Lobster is clawless and often served broiled, or as an ingredient in fresh island salads. There are many ways to prepare it, though we recommend enjoying a no-frills entree of the shellfish, broiled with a side of macaroni and cheese. Order the fresh Bahamian lobster tail at Frankie Gone Bananas or the Poop Deck, the latter of which is also famed for its lobster linguini. Another inventive (and delicious) culinary option for Bahamian lobster? The lobster quesadilla at Sip Sip in Harbour Island is a favorite order at the famed establishment, which has achieved cult-like status (and international appreciation, thanks to a mention in the “Crazy Rich Asian” series). Accompany your meal with a Sky Juice, another Sip Sip signature, this time of the alcoholic variety.

Conch Salad
Conch salad in a white bowl with a slice of orange and two lime wedges
Courtesy of Poop Deck East

Much like ceviche in Latin American countries, the conch salad prepared in the Bahamas is stripped down to its rawest (and most favorable) form. For an education on the preparation of the dish, check out the chefs preparing the dish at the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay. This dish has establishments specifically devoted to its perfection: Consider visiting Dino’s Gourmet Conch Salad and Goldie’s Conch House in Nassau, or checking out the Stuart Conch Salad stand in Bailey Town. Order the conch salad at Poop Deck East, or if you’re in the mood for another conch appetizer, order the restaurant’s conch chowder. There’s no shortage of conch-crazy starter courses in the Bahamas, and you should also consider the conch chili on the menu at Sip Sip.

Boiled Fish
Bowl of boiled fish with a spoon in it at Sip Sip restaurant. There are people eating at tables in the background
Courtesy of Sip Sip

A staple selection on the Tru Bahamian Food Tours, boiled fish is known also merely as “Boil,” and is a flavorful serving of flaky white fish, served with potatoes and spices. Particularly popular during Christmastime, it’s a must-eat when visiting during the winter months. And when it comes to ordering Bahamian fish, we recommend the snapper or the grouper. Sip Sip on Harbour Island has a Sunday special of boil fish that is not to be missed, a weekly event featuring buttered grits and homemade johnnycake. Just another reason to not book your return flight until Monday afternoon.