Packing Tips You Didn’t Know You Needed
I one time packed for a ten-day trip in Europe all in a tiny backpack and since then I have always tried to match that level and pack as minimally as possible. It’s good for the planet, better for your back and body will T H A N K you! Packing always gets people the most stressed because they want to bring every outfit and all of a sudden wear three outfits in one day which is most definitely not the case. Figuring out my hacks to packing light and effectively will be a game changer and something you’ll want to tell everyone you know. Here are my favorite packing tips that I can’t wait for you to start implementing soon!
Packing Tips For Your Next Trip
Everyone either dreads or looks forward to this part of the travel planning process. After learning these tips, your mind will be blown. If you’re ready to pack lighter and travel smarter, then you’ll want to read until the end because every tip is valuable. Hey, maybe even after this, you’ll rethink how to pack and might even start looking forward to it!
My Favorite Packing Tips
- After packing, remove 1/3 to 1/2 of the items in there. This is among my favorite packing tips. I know it sounds crazy, but you’re overpacking. If you want to pack that way, by all means. I try to carry as little as possible. It’s good for the environment and a great way to save room for souvenirs.
- See if the Airbnb has a washer/dryer. If they do that means you can pack less and plan to clean your clothes to save space!
- Save room in your luggage for souvenirs. Nothing is worse than your souvenirs breaking because you had to jam them into your bag.
Packing Tools
- Use packing cubes: This is a life changer and you’ll want to order them on Amazon right away. Packing cubes are the most efficient way to pack as they compress your belongings allowing you to fit more in. I love them because I get to organize what I am packing instead of just throwing things in the same compartment.
- Wear your bulkiest shoes: This is a no-brainer since nobody wants to carry the heaviest shoes in their bags. I usually wear my hiking boots or my Doc Martens since they’re my bulkiest shoes and it just makes everything so much easier, trust me.
Packing Extra: But Only Of These Things
- Pack supplements/allergy medicine/medicine. Sickness doesn’t come when you want, that’s all I’ll say. That might even be when you’re on vacation. If so, try to pack some supplements to boost your immunity. I’d even start taking some days leading up to your trip. I highly recommend taking echinacea, zinc, magnesium, calcium, vitamin D, lysine, and cell rebuilder (a combo of different natural herbs sea moss, burdock root, and bladderwrack).
- Try to bring 2-3 pairs of shoes only. I recommend sneakers, waterproof shoes, and flip-flops. Other than that, you really don’t need to bring every pair of shoes you own. It’s going to take up so much space and, in my opinion, is not that worth it.
- Pack an extra backpack. This is one of my favorite hacks because once you’re in a new city, what bag will you bring? You’re not going to walk around with your carry-on or just the purse that holds your phone, wallet, and headphones. Bring an empty backpack with you and it will help you when traveling throughout the day.
- Pack an extra pair of clothes in your carry-on. Nobody likes to think about this, but just in case your luggage gets lost and you can’t access it… at least you can have a clean outfit while you wait for it to show up.
- Pack extra Zipbloc and laundry bags. Extra Zipblooc bags might not be something off of the top of your mind, but just in case, it’s helpful for packing snacks, small belongings, and really anything that comes up. The laundry bags are useful for dirty laundry so that you don’t start stinking up your clean clothes.
There You Have It
After these packing tips, hopefully packing will be one of your favorite parts of preparing for a trip. If you’re like me, then you’ll make it a challenge to try and travel with a mini carry-on backpack on every trip since it is so doable. I highly recommend the Cotopaxi 28L Backpack. The company is built on sustainability as they use recycled parts in all of their backpacks and the compartments in here act as packing cubes so when you use your actual packing cubes, you’re the real packing pro. Let me know if there are any that I didn’t mention, comment them below and hey, maybe I’ll feature them in a future podcast. Thanks so much for the support and stay tuned for more travel content.
what do you think?