Packing smart for a trip is essential. Landing at your destination and realising you forgot to pack important items can stress you out and cause you to waste time finding a store that has the product—valuable time that you could have otherwise spent exploring your destination.
Smart packing enables you to pack only as much as is required. Bearing the weight of heavy luggage often comes in the way of enjoying a vacation to the fullest. You want to remember your travel destination for its vistas, not your ’baggage’ for the hassle it caused you.
I know what I am talking about because my husband and I just returned from a 6-month trip to South America and Europe. We just carried one medium-sized suitcase between the two of us and two daypacks. You can read all about what we packed.
Continue reading for some immensely effective travel packing tips that have transformed our travels for the better.
1. Make a Packing List
Packing lists are essential if you want to avoid forgetting to pack essential items. There have been instances where my friends come to a hotel staycation without a swimsuit or to a hiking trip without proper shoes. In both cases, we were unable to acquire the mentioned necessities and either had to cancel plans or. Such situations can be avoided if you have a packing list handy during the process and check off each item you place in your bag.
2. Carry One Set of Clothes in Your Carry-On
We hear about airlines misplacing people’s luggage all the time. I am so glad this hasn’t happened to us, but if it does, we will be prepared, and so should you.
Firstly, always get travel insurance to cover lost luggage.
Secondly, and more relevant to this article, pack one complete set of clothes (top, bottom, underwear) in your carry-on so that in case of a mishap you don’t have to run helter-skelter for a store and ruin your intended plans. This set will also be useful if something spills on your clothes while travelling and you need an immediate change of clothes. Better to be equipped for either eventuality, than be uncomfortable during your travels.
3. Roll Your Clothes
Roll your clothes instead of folding them. This helps save space and makes everything quite visible in your bag. However, if you’re carrying bulky items like jeans, tracks, or shirts that may crease, don’t roll them.
4. Pack Fewer Clothes
Aren’t we all victims of overpacking? We need seven outfits, but we carry 15. Just in case! Then, during or after the vacation, we realise we’ve hardly used 4-5. However, that doesn’t change our packing behaviour because we don’t take any steps. Just that you’re here, reading this, is good validation that you are tired of overpacking. I’ll give you some helpful travel packing tips to pack fewer clothes, which work brilliantly.
- General Rule: 3 tops and 3 bottoms can give you 9 different outfits. Remember to pack tops (shirts, tanks, and t-shirts) that go with all your chosen bottoms (skirts, trousers, jeans, and shorts). This way, you can pack less and have a different look every day of your trip. So carry only 2-3 bottoms and 4-5 tops. Unfortunately, dresses usually have only one look. So either buy dresses that can be worn in multiple ways or accessorise differently; belts work like a charm.
- Cut in Half: This is a simple and time-saving method if you are an overpacker. Select your clothes by applying the general rule above (tops and bottoms that go together) and laying all these clothes in front of you. Now put half of these back in your wardrobe. Yes, half!
- Pack by OOTD: This can be tedious, but since I love the planning process, I am more than willing to do it. Packing by outfit will not only help you pack only the desired number of clothes but also help you not be fickle-minded about what to wear during your trip.
Go over each day of the vacation, checking what activities you will be doing. Pack an outfit for each day accordingly (repeating clothes per the general rule). Only those items you have a plan for should make the cut. Pack one extra outfit, just in case. Just one! No more!
- Be Prepared to Do Laundry: Do not pack clothes for more than a week’s wear, no matter how long your trip. It is better to repeat clothes or do laundry on a long trip than carry your entire wardrobe and lug a heavy bag around.
5. Pack in Packing Cubes
Pack your clothes in packing cubes. I’ve been using packing cubes for a few years now, and I think they’re heaven-sent! If you’re on a long trip, it will make finding things and unpacking/packing extremely convenient. It will also help in compressing your clothes or making more clothes fit in a smaller bag. Though it is better not to overpack a cube, repacking will be quite annoying at your travel destination.
Typically, I use one medium-sized packing cube to fit all my clothes and carry no more. Check out this set of packing cubes – it very similar to the Amazon ones I use.
6. Minimum Pairs of Shoes
Minimise the number of shoes you carry, as they take up a lot of space and can significantly increase the weight of your bag. Carry at most three pairs of shoes: hiking or sports shoes, walking shoes (anything comfortable you would wear daily), and flip-flops. Avoid heels if possible. Instead, carry dressy sandals or ballerinas that are comfortable enough to pass off as your daily walking shoe.
7. Stuff Your Shoes
To save space, put your socks and/or underwear in thin bags (plastic, zip-lock, or mesh) and then stuff the bags in your closed shoes. We always carry sports shoes or hiking shoes for trips, and this one really helps save space. You can also put breakable souvenirs inside your shoes for an extra layer of protection.
8. Carry Multi-Use Clothing and Accessories
Multi-use clothing and accessories can be a game-changer. For example, a versatile scarf can be used as a sarong for the beach or at temples to cover legs/shoulders, used as a make-shift towel, keep you warm, or change the look of your repeated clothes. So many uses for just one product!
Another interesting example is a wallet that has a detachable strap. You can use it as a wallet in your day bag and attach the sling to make it a sling bag that you use when heading out for drinks in the evening.
9. Packable Bag
A packable bag can be super helpful as it can be folded small and stowed away when not in use.
- It can serve as an extra bag for shopping, snacks, and souvenirs. Your saving grace when space runs out in your main bag.
- It can be used as a beach bag/day bag if your usual day bag can’t serve the purpose or it’s a nice one you don’t want getting dirty.
- If you’re someone who travels with a backpack, then a packable backpack can serve as your main day bag.
Check out these foldable backpacks:
Tripole Foldable Backpack: I use this one and really appreciate how sturdy it is plus the water bottle holders.
FATMUG Travel Backpack: With more colour options
10. Travel-size Containers
Save all the travel-sized containers you have and refill them on every trip with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, and detergent. If you run out of a product on the trip, then buy a small bottle of it at your destination.
If you don’t own small containers, then buy a set!
Tip: Avoid carrying coconut oil or products that have one of its main components as coconut oil because it will probably leak. If you have to, put it in a zip-lock bag for a layer of protection.
Also, get a toiletry bag that is water-resistant. You don’t need to buy big and bulky ones, but something that is just the right size for you. This Travalate Toiletry Bag size is perfect for us. It fits our travel-size toiletries and my makeup.
11. Leave Some Space
This is the most essential travel packing tip. Never pack your bags to the point of bursting. Leave a little space for souvenirs and snacks or any other items you may want to buy during your vacation. Also, after you’ve worn your ironed clothes they will open up a bit, thereby they will take more space than they initially did. So you will always need a little extra space in your bag, even if you don’t intend to purchase anything.
12. Versatile Use of Cosmetics
It’s better not to carry your entire makeup kit on vacation. I used to carry mine and realised I hardly use any make-up when on a trip. I never have enough time or patience for it. It’s better to carry just a few versatile products.
- Carry a maximum of two lipsticks. A shade for the night and a shade for the day.
- You can use lipstick as a blush and maybe even eyeshadow (depending on the colour) or get a lip and cheek tint like this one.
- Kajal (Kohl) can be used as eyeliner. Though you may need a waterproof eyeliner if you’re planning to go swimming or to the beach.
- Don’t carry your whole bottle of foundation or BB cream; fill it in a small box.
- Use cream as a highlighter for that natural glow.
Frankly, I don’t think you need any other make-up than base, lipstick, eyeliner, and kajal (kohl) during vacations. Maybe mascara as well, if that’s your thing!
13. Creases in Clothing
Irons take up space, so it’s better not to carry one on vacation. Instead, hang your outfit on a hanger in the bathroom while taking a hot shower. The steam will ease out the creases well enough. Just run your hands over the cloth to smooth them away. You could also flatten your clothes out under your mattress at your accommodation. Works wonders!
If you’re a sucker for crease-free clothing and your accommodation doesn’t provide an iron, try the Philips Steam Iron. It is quite portable and easy to use.
To avoid the issue of creases altogether, try packing items with spandex, wool, silks, nylon, and polyester. Linen, cotton, rayon, and other woven clothes crease like crazy.
Fold and pack any blazers or clothes with lining inside out to avoid creases.
14. No Need for a Hair Dryer
Preferably, leave this at home. You can survive a few days without blow-drying and setting your hair. You’re on a vacation. Stay carefree. I used to carry my portable one on trips and realised it was such a waste of space. I had to put this one here, even though it is not really a travel packing tip! It feels good getting this off my chest.
15. General Travel Packing Tips
Never pack your essentials in your check-in bag, as they may get misplaced by the airline. Always have your important documents, medicines, and electronics on you. Also, always check the airlines’ baggage fee policy and know what items you’re allowed to carry to a particular country and what you’re not. It’s better to avoid any surprises here.
Remember to always pack the heaviest items at the bottom so that your luggage can have better balance. Enjoy packing smart and light when you travel again, and tell me how it went—what worked for you and what didn’t. Also, pen down your travel packing tips in the comments; I am sure you guys know plenty of innovative tips yourselves that will help us all travel light.
This blog post on travel packing tips has affiliate links that enable us to earn a small commission when you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and activities we like and those that might interest you. If you like any suggested product, do buy from the given links.
Read Next: 40 Tips for Smart and Worry-Free Travel
Very interesting, just bookmarked your page.
These packing suggestions for trips are fantastic All of them were really helpful, but I really liked the tip about rolling clothes and using packing cubes to organise things better. It’s incredible how much of a difference these tiny tweaks can make in terms of optimising space and reducing wrinkles. It’s also a great idea to bring along diverse clothing and basic supplies like a first aid kit; it makes a big difference to be ready for anything that may arise whilst on vacation. I appreciate you supplying these very useful suggestions; they will undoubtedly make my upcoming trip easier and more pleasurable.