By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
This is the season for summertime travel, but sometimes packing a suitcase is a challenge. What do I want to take? Need to take? What’s the best way to analyze if I’ve packed enough or too much?
Before you slide into a “Why did I plan this trip?” mode, there is a solution. Over the years of traveling for business and fun, I’ve simplified my packing method. I’d like to share with you 10 ways I’ve made packing headache-free.
- Store a trip-bag of toiletry items in plastic or waterproof bags that are handy for you to grab at a moment’s notice. Make sure these are always full and ready to slip into your suitcase. This is a huge help when we have a long list of to-do items before leaving town.
- Include in your trip-bag of toiletries a medicinal day-to-day container. Forgetting to take our vitamins or meds can mean the difference between enjoying our time away from home or feeling miserable. I encourage you to include three extra days of medicines, vitamins, and supplements in case your trip is delayed returning home. Who knows? Maybe you can splurge an extra day or two.
- Tuck important items into your carry-on in case luggage is lost—makeup, extra set of clothes, meds, and etc. If you’ve ever been a victim of lost luggage, then this tip resonates with you.
- Select outfits and accessories to mix and match with others. Basic black, white, and navy blue go with anything. Also, consider clothing items that are labeled travel-wear. No one wants to head out for the day wearing wrinkled clothing.
- Choose walking shoes that are super comfortable and go with everything. I know we women love our cute shoes but think about how much they weigh. Okay, what about just two pairs?
- Pack each day’s outfit with accessories inside a 2.5-gallon plastic, ziplock bag. Now (don’t laugh) sit on it to release all the air, then zip it up. See how easily it lays flat in your luggage? Use a sticky note to print the day the outfit will be worn. The good news is when you open the bag, most wrinkles are nonexistent. Everything is at your fingertips so you look the best for the day.
- Checked luggage tip! Identify your luggage with something colorful. What’s yours needs to stay yours.
- Organize your luggage’s contents to head home. Sort dirty clothes according to color. Remember those plastic bags you used to pack for the trip? Fill them up with clothes that are washer-ready. Yes, sit on these to seal them.
- Check to see if your lodging has washing facilities. If so, you are in luck! Grab your favorite book and handle the washing now so that task is out of the way once you’re home.
- Reminder: simplify your packing by making sure you have only what you need.
Are you ready to plan your next getaway? What packing tips can you share with others?
Comments 11
For long trips (at least a week or longer) I look for places that have laundry. Then I can pack half the clothes and save space for a second pair of hiking shoes. Shoes are a great space to shove socks or other small items into to help save space.
Great tips, Judy. Yes, the availability to do laundry is a huge help!
I use most of your ideas, DiAnn. I grew up in the military, where frugal packing was a way of life. When we travel, we count the days we’ll be gone and pack one-half the clothes we need plus one day. Even at hotels, there are washers and dryers.
For shoes, I choose outfits that need only black and/or brown ones. For summer casual, I have two pairs of sandals, one gold and one silver. They go with everything. In both cases, I wear one pair and pack the other. Sometimes, I need to pack walking shoes or sneakers.
I bought several empty, small toiletry containers for shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, etc..
One trick I learned many years ago was to let no space go unused. Anything with a cavity can be stuffed: socks packed inside sneakers, jewelery for an outfit stored inside pockets, if there are some.
The biggest one, though, is convincing my very tall husband that he can often wear the same pair of jeans twice. His are hugh!
As usual, I can go on and on…
Thanks, Sherry, love your tips! Like you, I stick whatever I can into shoes. My biggest fault is shoes. Although I want to pack a wear-with-everything pair, I often pack more than I should.
I use packing cubes. I pack a couple for myself and a couple for my husband. I also keep the bag of toiletries handy. It’s so easy to pick them up and go. If we are traveling overseas, I do take the air out of plastic bags with our clothes in them. You can pack so much more, and bring more back home. I also roll my clothes. Never thought of separating my dirties, but I will for our next trip. I carry all of my meds in my carry-on if I travel across the pond. They have to be in their original containers or you might be arrested for drug smuggling. I fill my daily pill container up when I arrive. We did lose our luggage in Scotland, so I always have extra undies now.
Great ideas!
Kathy, we have like minds! Except I’ve never used packing cubes. Hmm. May need to try that. Thanks.
Great tips, DiAnn. I currently take advantage of the ten you mention. I’ve added a portable steamer to my suitcase just in case my travel wear forgets they are not to wrinkle. 😉
You always offer great insight. Thank you 😊
Linda, a portable steamer makes a ton of sense! Gotta get me one. Thanks.
Hello! Been reading for a while but I don’t think I’ve commented before. Thank you so much for posting this because I’d completely forgotten about #2!
My packing situation is a little different at the moment, not so much for fun. Here in Idaho my family is surrounded by wildfires and the season is just getting started. While we aren’t in any immediate danger, we want to be prepared–just in case–and so I’ve started assembling an emergency go-bag.
I’m praying we don’t have to use it!
Elizabeth, thank you for posting. I’m praying you stay safe and out of the fire’s danger. Here in Houston, an emergency bag of special documents is critical when a hurricane lands.
I have friends in Oregon. I’ll be praying for you, along with all the others who are in fire danger zones.