Expert Tips for Efficiently Packing Board Games for Travel

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Traveling to gaming conventions often means bringing back several board games.
Each person has a 22 kg allowance for hold luggage, plus space for carry-on bags.
Use Travel Scales: Bring a small scale to estimate your luggage weight.

Traveling to gaming conventions often means bringing back several board games. Here’s a simple guide on how to pack efficiently.

Know Baggage Limits: Check your baggage weight limits. Each person has a 22 kg allowance for hold luggage, plus space for carry-on bags.
Use Travel Scales: Bring a small scale to estimate your luggage weight. It doesn’t need to be perfect but helps you stay within limits.
Choose the Right Bags: Weigh your empty bags and see how many board games each can carry. Focus on common sizes like Ticket to Ride and A4 boxes.

Punch and Pack: Remove punchboards from games to save weight and create nesting space. This is a key tip.
Discard Unneeded Items: Throw away anything that won’t affect gameplay or value, like unnecessary boxes, foreign rulebooks, or unusable inserts. Flatten cardboard inserts if space is tight.
Organize Components: Bag up game pieces, using existing bags or small papers to label them. This helps keep expansions separate from main games.
Nesting Boxes: Start with the smallest box and nest it in a larger one. Remove boards or large components if needed to create more space.
Weigh Your Bags: Weigh bags after packing. Consider adding clothes for extra protection around boxes while accommodating weight limits.
Handle Heavy Games: Place heavier games in your hand luggage, as they typically are not weighed.
Final Weigh-In: After packing, weigh all bags again. Leave some extra space for inaccuracies in your scale.
Use Your Accessory Bag: This bag is great for keeping essentials like snacks, water, and electronics.

Lay Out Boxes: Once home, open all boxes on a table or floor to identify components.
Sort Components: Add pieces to the appropriate game box. If unsure, place them in a “lost and found” pile for later sorting.
Complete the Sort: Check completeness of each game before contacting publishers about missing items. Sometimes pieces are in the wrong box, as experienced during the sorting process.

By following these steps, you can effectively transport your board games from conventions back home. Enjoy your games!