5 Tips for Packing Light
Take a few minutes to read the below post to start packing more efficiently than an airline pilot.
For most of my childhood and young adult life, I was the most inefficient packer when we were traveling. When I was 16, we took a two week trip to California. My suitcase was taller and probably weighed more than I did. My family made fun of me for days leading up to this trip for the size of my suitcase and the fact that it was filled with every type of clothing for a trip to California in August (jeans, sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts, shorts, tank tops, pajamas, workout gear, the list goes on). What my family didn’t realize was how different the climate was in California versus New Jersey in August. Even Northern California could vary significantly weather wise from Southern California, with their desert air dropping drastically in temperature when the sun went down. So the sweatshirts turned out to be essential and my whole family asked to borrow them to put over their shorts and shirts, but I digress.
In my 20’s, I went to Europe for two months and packed so much I could barely get my suitcase on and off the trains and planes. It wasn’t until I flew back to Miami from visiting family in New Jersey that I decided enough was enough. After an excruciatingly long time de-boarding the plane, I had to wait an additional 45 minutes for my bag to come around the baggage claim while a friend waited to pick me up. At that moment I decided I was going to figure out how to concisely pack so I never would need to check a bag again.
Below are 5 packing tips for your next trip so you don’t break an arm or bank account from the baggage fees:
Make a Packing List for Vacation
If you are new to traveling or new to packing efficiently, it may not be a bad idea to make a list. Packing lists widely vary based on the person, but you can incorporate some of the points below to start your packing list and let it snowball from there.
Medication: for yourself or your dependents traveling with you. Prescription medications that need to be taken on a regular basis are the most important item and may not be as easy to obtain in a different country. For all other over the counter medicines, most can be bought (or at least an equivalent variation) wherever you go. If it is an over the counter medicine that you know you might need, you may want to bring some with you to avoid the detours to drug stores (some examples would be Benadryl for allergies, Dramamine for motion sickness, lozenges, cold medicine, etc.).
Medical Related Items: Similar to medications, but this does differentiate a little bit. It may not be a medication, but keep in mind if you have situations such as sleep apnea that you need to pack a device for sleeping or different prescription glasses and such. You need to monitor these items just as closely as the medication as they sometimes can be difficult or expensive to purchase or repair. On a road trip, I forgot my retainer just weeks after getting my braces off and it would have cost me hundreds of dollars to replace, so I had to have the hotel ship the retainer to my destination.
Clothing: First and foremost, what is the climate of where you are visiting. If you are visiting Miami in the summer, your clothing choice most likely will be very different than if you are visiting the Swiss Alps in December. Not only is climate very important to your clothing choice, but also what type of trip you are taking and who you are going with. If you are taking a hiking trip with a significant other you may pack differently than if you are going on a girls trip with friends to Vegas. When I traveled alone, I knew I was more interested in sightseeing than fine dining or going to bars, so I tailored my packing to casual clothes and footwear. When I met up with my college friends in different cities, I knew we would be going out so I packed for going out bars. When I went away with my parents for a special occasion, I knew they would want to go to nicer restaurants for the celebration, so I packed fancier attire.
Footwear: This kind of falls under the same principles as clothing, but I don’t think people realize how important footwear is to a trip. If you are touring around a vast city, you most definitely want comfortable shoes and not heels or flip flops. Depending on where you are visiting, they may not even allow you in with flip flops. I had been turned away from bars for flip flops and the Vatican due to my clothing choice. Even if going for a girls weekend where the primary purpose might be hanging out at the pool, eating, and drinking, it still may be a good idea to bring a comfortable pair of shoes in case you decide to go to the gym or walk down the strip while in Vegas. Not having the proper shoes has definitely soured my trip (momentarily).
Products and Accessories: Depending on who you are, you may like to travel with makeup, body products (shampoos, soaps, creams, deodorants, etc.) or jewelry. I can’t harp on it enough to always be mindful of the items you bring with you, where you pack it in your luggage and remember to pack it up on the way home. Not only did I forget my retainer on a road trip, my brother lost his wedding ring on his honeymoon. These items are usually expensive and difficult to replace, so depending on the worth you may want to consider keeping it in a safe at the hotel or leaving it at home.
Food: Are you driving or flying? Both scenarios you may want to bring some snacks but what you can bring and how much can widely vary depending on your mode of transportation. I have taken a lot of road trips in my life. Initially I would buy a lot of non-perishable items like granola bars, trail mix, candy, cereal, muffins, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, etc. As I got older, I still loved a good road trip snack but wanted healthier grab and go items such as fruit, veggies, string cheese, nuts, or dried fruits. If flying, you won’t be able to bring liquids more than 3.4 ounces. Typically they even make you throw out your water and drinks that weren’t purchased from duty free but most dry items are okay. I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and brought it in my carry on. My one recommendation would be a plastic baggy and not tin foil, which will most likely set off the baggage check for a check.
Gear: Depending on your mode of transportation and the trip, you might need to bring different gear with you. Whether you are hiking and bringing hiking supplies with you, or a golf trip where you need a set of clubs. Make sure you have a rough idea of the type of trip you are going on and the gear you might need to bring with you or rent when you arrive.
Documentation: Depending on where you are traveling to, you may need a passport and visa. At the very least a license or ID card for documentation. It would be a good idea to also make a copy of your documentation in case of an emergency. It doesn’t replace your official government identification, but it’s good to have in a worst case scenario. It may also be a good idea to have printed or digital copies of your hotel, travel tickets, rental car, and/or tour confirmations.
Pack in Advance
Packing in a rush (unless you are used to it and thrive in chaos) usually sets you up for failure, stress, or at the very least forgetting things. You don’t need to pack weeks in advance (unless you are moving, which is a whole different post and method of packing), but a few days prior to start getting your luggage down, items in order, check list organized, clothing cleaned, etc. It helps you plan out what you will be bringing and what not to use in the few days leading up to your trip so you don’t need to stress on added laundry or additional minutia.
The Buddy System
If you are traveling with a spouse, family, or friends; utilize that to your advantage if one of the members have packed less and you need to add a few more items or distribute weight to not be charged added fees from the airlines. If you are traveling with your kids, don’t forget about all of that little kid luggage space. Their clothes are usually very small and don’t need the whole suitcase.
Be Realistic
You may need a few extra items in case you do something you didn’t account for, something happens like you spilled a drink or got sick, but be realistic about it. If you are going away for 5 days maybe bring a few extra pairs of underwear and a couple additional outfits, not 20 extra. With that said, I have been on the other end where I didn’t pack enough. Long story short, I needed to fly across the country for a funeral so I packed for this one event, how many days I would be gone, and the different things we would be doing. During this trip there was another unexpected funeral I needed to attend so instead of 3 days, 1 funeral, and 2 services; I would be gone for 9 days, 2 funerals, and 5 services. I had to wash my clothing several times and also accept that the clothing I was wearing for certain activities may not have been ideal, but it was the least of the problems.
Be Flexible
You may forget your lucky hat, your preferred mouthwash, or enough pairs of socks. Most places you go will have most basic items you need. I went to Panama City, Panama once, checked into the hotel and immediately realized I didn't pack any socks for the 7 days I would be gone. Sure, I was in another country where I didn’t know the language, my way around, the currency conversion rate, etc. but I didn’t let it phase me. I knew I would be able to find socks and if for some odd reason I wasn’t, I can deal with it.
As Anthony Bourdain once said
"Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that's OK. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind."
Conclusion
Once you have been efficiently packing for awhile, you won’t need to make as many lists or go through as many steps, it will just become second nature but giving yourself a good foundation is key. It is also key to remember that travel (unless for work) is a luxury and not a necessity. Like in life, not everything will go right so take things with a grain of salt and enjoy the ride.
Whether it’s your first time to London, you haven’t been in awhile, or your first time out of the country, check out my friends post for Plan a Trip to London: 4 Travel Tips for First Timers. Also, for more travel tip, check out my post for a Solo Female Traveler.
