Vacations are a fabulous thing... getting away from your daily stress and relaxing, seeing new places, meeting new people, eating too much and drinking too much, and just having a good time. The only problem with vacations is getting ready for them, and for me that always starts with the dreaded packing of the suitcase. It never fails that I wait until the night before I leave to start, pack too much and forget something (usually a phone charger, which I now have in multiples!). If you're like me, never fear! There are some new travel gadgets and packing tips that will get you ready to take off in no time.

If you are looking for some of the best travel equipment, suitcases and paraphernalia, look no further than Tumi at Miracle Mile Shops. Tumi's new suitcase line, Vapor, is made out of poly-carbonate plastic (sounds impressive so far!) that is super strong and super light. Perfect for us over packers! For instance the 29" suitcase weighs only 12 pounds... that means I can stick 38 pounds worth of stuff in the suitcase before I have to pay the overweight baggage charge! Tumi also has packing cubes to help keep your clothing organized and wrinkle-free. And, they have this cool Mobile Power Pack that holds 5 charges that can be used for your cell phone, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, iPod, iEtc. Plug it in before your trip and you are ready to go!

If you are a Brighton Collectibles collector, they have suitcases, cosmetic bags, totes, pouches, cross-body handbags that are perfect for traveling and you can get them so they all match! Perfect for those of us who are OCD or like to have matching accessories. You can get these travel goodies in traditional Brighton fabrics and designs, or if you are feeling wild, they have a coated canvas collection that is available in zebra print with red leather trim.

Now we need to talk about what goes into these new suitcases. With almost every airlines charging for luggage, we all need to pack smart. Here are some tips so you can maximize your vacation wardrobe and minimize your pre-trip stress:

 -  Pick a neutral palette and bring lots of basics. If your entire vacation wardrobe is neutral (black, khaki, white), you can mix and match pieces to create different outfits so you don't have to bring as many items. White House/Black Market and GAP are great stores for these pieces

 -  Plan your outfits around your shoes because they take up a lot of space. Start with 2-3 pairs of shoes and work all of your outfits around them, not the other way around. You will most likely need walking shoes, shoes that can take you from day to night, and shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits. Miracle Mile Shops has 31 stores that sell shoes from Champs to Wild Pair, so we got you covered.

 -  Traveling is not the time to bring full sizes of shampoo, lotion, etc. They take up way too much room and they get heavy! Visit Sephora, Bath & Body Works and The Body Shop at Miracle Mile Shops to get travel-sized versions of your favorites. They even have 3-ounce bottles that you can stick in your carry-on bags.

 -  Bring a collapsible/expandable tote bag for souvenirs. This can be placed inside of your suitcase or can double as a carry-on bag and a purse when you get to your destination. Check out Tommy Bahama and Betsey Johnson for cute versions.

Most importantly, enjoy your trip and don't worry about forgetting anything. If you're coming to Vegas, you can always stop at Miracle Mile Shops to pick up what you left at home.