5 Packing Tips You Need for Your Next Vacation [Free Checklist]
Have you ever overpacked for a vacation? Or maybe you showed up at your destination with all the wrong things? I have, and want to share my packing tips that you need for your next vacation.
Ok, I’ll admit it. The first time I traveled to Europe from the US, I packed waaay too much. I was definitely “that” tourist dragging a huge suitcase down the cobblestone streets of Rome. I didn’t have anyone to guide me through my packing process with their do’s and don’ts.
Read on my friends, so you can save yourself from extra time and effort, and maybe even some pulled muscles.
1. Travel Essentials List
Maybe making a list of what you need to pack on your vacation seems obvious, but I think it’s essential.
Start with the items you know you’ll need. For me this includes items like shirts, pants, underwear, pajamas, etc. Focus on the weather at your destination and the things that would cost a lot to purchase, or could not be replaced if you forgot them (chargers, prescriptions, glasses).
I make a separate list for what I want to pack in my purse or backpack on the plane, like my water bottle, toothbrush, extra undies, and snacks. Healthy snacks = essential on long flights.
I‘ve included a free printable checklist below that you can download!
Pro Tip: Make sure to check the amenities list for your hotel room or rental, to see what they provide. Take those items off your packing list. Leaving the hair dryer at home makes for a much lighter bag!
2. Select Your Travel Suitcase Wisely
After my huge suitcase experience in Rome, I decided to dig into some travel bag options. I wanted to be able to walk from a train station to our Hotel or B&B without dragging a 45 pound weight behind me.
Going with a smaller carry on size bag helped lighten the load. This is especially important if you have multiple destinations on your itinerary, and will be moving around a lot.
There are a lot of options out there, but I prefer either a carry on sized back pack like the eBags TLS Mother Load Weekender or any hard sided carry on size bag. We used our travel backpacks through 3 different countries, with multiple destinations in each country and could move from place to place easily.
Pro Tip: Consider the types of transportation you’ll need to take traveling between destinations. Will your suitcase fit and be easy to cart around on a train, subway or bus?
3. Plan Your Outfits
Let’s be real for a moment, we all usually pack way too many options when we are traveling.
“That random hat I’ve worn twice? Yep, definitely need to pack that.” To cut down on the excess, I recommend picking out versatile pieces that you can mix and match.
I like to follow the 4, 3, 2, 1 basic guideline; 4 shirts, 3 pairs of pants/skirts, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 dress. Of course you’ll still need things like a jacket, purse and maybe a scarf depending on the season, but following this format helps cut down on the extra.
Pro Tip: Try on your shoes and make sure they are worn in and comfortable before your trip. The last thing you want are blisters that hinder you from exploring your destination. Ouch!
4. Packing Cubes
These are one my favorite travel accessories. Organization? Check. Easy to use? Check.
Use the larger packing cubes for pants and shirts, the medium size ones for pajamas and undershirts, and the small ones for underwear and socks.
Once you are at your destination use the packing cubes to separate the dirty from the clean. It makes life so easy to just dump the “dirty” cube contents into the laundry basket when you are unpacking back at home.
Pro Tip: Roll your clothes! I find that rolling your clothes saves so much space in your suitcase. I even roll my socks, and put them inside the extra pair of shoes in my suitcase to save space. Roll with it.
5. Think Small
Last, small accessories are where it’s at. If you travel more than once a year, I would invest in some mini versions of the things you need to pack. Mini items I love to travel with include; a travel sized umbrella, hairbrush, foldable mini dual voltage blowdryer, and inflatable pillow. Yes it may feel a bit weird to blow up a pillow to sleep on a plane, but think of all the extra space you’ll save! It beats taking a chance on the pre-used airline pillows.
Pro Tip: I like to use hair bands to tie up cords on electronics like my blow dryer. It keeps the cord compact and in place in your suitcase. You can also use them to fold and tie up long backpack straps that fly around.
As promised, download your free travel packing essentials checklist below!
That wraps up my 5 packing tips you need for your next vacation. Did you find these tips helpful? Comment below with your questions or any packing tips that you love.
All ready to plan your next trip? Check out my post on How to Easily Plan Cheap Vacations to Europe.
If you enjoy content and tips like this let me know. I love to organize, plan and pack and want to make it easy and fun for you!
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