Packing Tips

With serious wanderlust on my mind, I thought I would share a few some travel tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years. My first job out of college was in management consulting, aka I was constantly on the go, practically living in airports and hotels. Having lived out of a carry-on sized suitcase for two years, I’d like to consider myself somewhat of a packing pro ; ).

With summer travels coming up, I often hear people complain about packing and how stressful it is. But with a little practice, packing will become practically second nature. While it might be better to plan in advance (I do not recommend waking up at 3am to pack for a 6am flight), if you follow a few simple suggestions, the entire process will be so much easier and much less anxiety-inducing.

Packing Tips

1. Choose the right bag.

My #1 tip: use a carry-on sized bag. I promise you, it can be done (I’ve packed for over three weeks using one carry-on sized suitcase). 

Although there are some exceptions, the vast majority of trips can be tackled with a carry-on size bag. You will live without packing 10 outfits for a weekend trip. Even if you end up checking it (by choice or against your will) there are so many benefits to traveling with a small, compact bag.

The size of the bag you take automatically limits how much you can bring – forcing you to pack smarter and optimize the space you have.

And, we all know flying these days is not always the best experience. Checked bags get lost all. the. time. Speaking from experience, it really, REALLY sucks – especially if you’re on a big vacation. Talk about a serious downer. Storing your bag in the overhead cabin can be annoying, but it’ll minimize the chance of your bag getting lost.

A lot of frequent business travelers and flight attendants use Travel Pro – the bags are reasonably priced and durable. I’ve had mine for years. If you’re looking for a quality investment bag, I like Tumi and Rimowa.

2. Plan out your outfits in advance.

This is where being type A comes in handy. Even if you don’t write out all of the outfits you want to wear, it at least helps to have some outfit combos ready mentally in case you do end up packing last minute.

If you’re going to the beach, you’ll most likely rely on swimsuits, lightweight tunics, and denim cuttoffs. If you’re headed for a big city, you’ll want to bring comfortable shoes, jeans, and dresses/tops that can go from day to night.

It also helps to have a color scheme – sticking with neutrals is a safe bet if you’re trying to maximize the space in your suitcase as pieces can be mixed and matched and re-worn, and no one will be the wiser.

I try to incorporate pieces that are lightweight so I get more bang for my buck in terms of space. For example, when I go home to Minnesota over the winter holidays (and it’s FREEZING) I’ll try to only pack one or two heavy sweaters in my carry-on.

3. Limit your toiletries.

I know, I know – this one is hard. But not only are liquids/gels/creams heavy, they take up tons of space. Not to mention the 3.4 oz liquid maximum is a pain in the ass to deal with, and travel sized toiletries are horrendously overpriced. I try to pack as many samples as I can, and find products that can multi-task.

Did you know that many beauty stores will give you free samples? I tend to hoard these like a crazy person, but they really come in handy when you go on trips. I always make sure to ask for samples whenever I buy anything at Sephora, Nordstorm, Aesop, or Kiehl’s. The sales associates are typically more than happy to hook you up.

This is also a great time to bust out any multi-purpose products you have. Need a moisturizer + sunscreen + a little coverage? A bb cream with SPF will save tons of space. Take advantage of hotel toiletries. Leave whatever isn’t absolutely essential at home. Think about if you will survive without 5 hair products for a week (answer: yes, you can).

4. There is such a thing as too many shoes.

Shoes tend to be heavy and take up a lot of space in your luggage. In all honesty, you probably do not need as many pairs of shoes as you think.

If you’re going somewhere cold – wear your tall boots on the plane and pack 1 pair of booties / heels (depending on where you’re going and what the occasion is) in your carry on. That will usually suffice.

If you’re going somewhere warm (yay, lucky you!), you will have a little more space to work with. I would still recommend limiting it 2-3 pairs of shoes, as well as the pair you wear onto the plane.

Also, I like to pack my gym shoes on almost every trip (wishful thinking, maybe) – so either be honest with yourself (are you actually going to work out?) or use that as a forcing function to limit the pairs of shoes you pack.

5. Maximize your hand held carry-on 

In addition to your carry-on suitcase, you’re allowed one personal item. Ladies, take advantage of this situation and bring a giant tote bag! In your bag I recommend packing: a change of clothes, emergency toiletries (toothbrush + toothpaste, anything for contacts if you wear them, any medications you take – this is the stuff you do not want to be without), a book, and a big bottle of water + snacks. 

Everyone has them, but Longchamp totes are great for travel for a reason. They’re lightweight, durable, easy to clean, and foldable. You’ll get a great deal on them in France ; ) but even in the US they are more than worth the price.

6. Wear your heaviest layers on the plane.

Jackets take by far the most room, so be sure to wear yours onto the plane. Also, planes tend to be freezing! Even if you’re flying to or from someplace warm, you’ll be glad you brought that extra layer onto the plane. I also like to pack a shawl or pashmina in my tote bag to use as a blanket if I’m on a red eye or long haul flight. 

At the end of the day, chances are if you’re on a plane and going somewhere, you’re incredibly fortunate. I try to always keep that in mind and remind myself that I’m lucky to have the opportunity and means to travel. So remember to enjoy the journey and the destination.

I’ll be incorporating more travel posts in the upcoming months, in the meantime, what are your best packing tips?

xx, Amy