How to Pack For Your Next Vacation -- Packing Tips & Hacks

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I have a confession: I am an over-planner. On the normal end of the spectrum, some may refer to it as just being organized, and on the crazy end, most refer to it as border-line obsessive!!! Either way, I’ve pretty much been like this my whole life, so I don’t think it’s going to change any time soon. That said, I just try to make the best of it! Honestly, in some cases it works really well for me, but other times it is down right ANNOYING! I’m not exactly sure where it falls on the topic I’m writing about today…..packing for a trip! Let me give you a little bit of my history on this so you know where I’m coming from. Growing up, whenever we took a family vacation, my mom made us start packing at minimum 3 weeks (sometimes even earlier) prior to the trip. I know... crazy, right!?!? Imagine this, you wake up wanting to wear your favorite skirt and you can’t because it is already nicely folded in a suitcase waiting on a trip that isn’t even happening for several more weeks! I used to hate it, but it totally became my norm. That was how I planned for my vacations for as long as I can remember. However, I noticed that as I got older, that method of prepacking weeks in advance slowly fell to the wayside.  I started developing habits that are more like the rest of normal adults, which who are we kidding??? Basically, means panic - packing the night before a trip!! I’ll jump to the end, this was an epic fail for me!!

 

This pretty much resulted in me overpacking to the point where if it was a 3-day trip, I would have at least 8 different outfits to choose from (just in case) and I can’t even tell you how many pairs of shoes! After my latest trip to Arizona where I was gone for just a few days and pretty much packed my entire closet, but ended up only wearing one real outfit, a few different swimsuits, one ratty swimsuit cover up, and flip flops…. I (my husband) decided enough was enough! We both decided I needed to figure out a way to pack more efficiently and not bring a bunch of outfits I was never going to wear! 

 

So. I am going to save you the heartache of making the same mistakes I did with these great simple tips I picked up for traveling!

Start With a List

OK, I’ve never seen a task that didn’t benefit from having a base line list to start with. That said, when packing, a checklist that you created based on your needs, or one of the many that can be found on the internet is an absolute must. I really like this one from Smarter Travel, it is very detailed and easy to follow!

Start Packing 3-5 Days In Advance

This is definitely a happy compromise. Perhaps it’s not necessary to pack 3-4 weeks in advance but should definitely not be the night before if you can avoid it. This gives you time to clearly map out activities, check the weather and make an actual plan of what you realistically will wear each day. This cuts down on the chance of you overpacking.  

 

Plan Outfits Ahead of Time 

Now that you are not waiting until the night before, this gives you an opportunity to look at your itinerary and really plan what outfits you will wear in detail. When planning your outfits, its best to stay within 1 color scheme. If you practice this, that tremendously helps cut down on the number of shoes (no more packing 5 different color pairs of shoes), which as we know takes up the most room!! Don’t forget to check the weather (several times since weather can change). There is no need to bring rain boots if there’s no rain in the forecast!

 

Toiletry Bag

Always have a toiletry bag packed and ready to go. This bag should literally have everything in it that you always use when you travel. Example: Toothbrush, travel toothpaste, moisturizers, facial washes, makeup remover, travel deodorant. Be sure to keep your toiletry items to a minimum. This is not the time to bring all 10 eye creams/serums/creams that are a part of your everyday nightly routine. Pick the most important and include those in your “stay ready toiletry bag kit”. Side note: If you aren’t that particular with your travel items, you can buy this ready-made toiletry bag from Target. It has all of the essentials mentioned above.

 

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Roll Instead of Fold 

In most instances, folding your clothes will be your best bet. This creates more space in your suitcase and eliminates wrinkles. The exception is, if it is a stiff or bulky item, then that should be folded and laid across the top. I’ve found the easiest “roll method” is to fold the article of clothing in half, then roll tightly. Make sure to have all clothing going in the same direction inside the bag to allow for maximum space.

SUPER Bulky Items

Always wear your bulkiest items. This will mainly pertain to winter traveling. Your coat should be worn, not packed in your suitcase as it takes up too much room. Same with boots. Wear them on the plane!! Once you board you can always put a heavy coat in the overhead bin.. or if it gets too cold, use it as a cozy blanket!

And Finally… the most fun tip…..

Leave a Little Space

I know it’s tempting to fill up every square inch of that suitcase, but think really hard and try to name a time when you’ve traveled and have not come back home with a few extra items! Exactly! It is inevitable. Whether it is a cool shirt you saw at a gift shop, or even a souvenir for a friend. There is nothing worse and more stressful than trying to pack your clothes to go home and struggling to fit everything in!

We hope these simple tips will help make packing less stressful so you can get to the real fun!

Comment below if you have any additional tips!

XOXO, Mrs. All Pink Everything