Stress-free Packing For the Stressful Packer

Top 5 Tips to Packing for Your Vacation By JustineC.

Vacation! Adventure! Excursion! Touring! Holiday! Whatever you call it, we all love doing it! But the one thing no one has ever loved doing is packing for it! Planning a trip is hard enough but having to pack is a whole other chore! Nobody really likes to pack let’s face it because it’s time consuming, you never know what you need, you pack to little or way too much. We’ve all been there! Here’s a few of my live by tricks and tips that always make packing simple and easy.

Tip 1 Know what kind of vacation you’re taking. Luxury or outdoorsy?

Think about your vacation and the activities that you know you’ll be experiencing. Pack according to what your going to be doing. Is it more exploration or leisurely lounging? Most companies will give you an idea of what to pack, if your doing any activities.

Also, some of your needs or essentials like for example, sneakers or water shoes for hikes, towels, flashlight, you get the point. Pay attention to those little details. Like when I needed a flashlight in the Amazon jungle, the excursion company totally told me but still I forgot and totally regretted that decision. Even though the jungle darker then any place I’d been, was pretty awesome.
So, make sure you consider those things first to pack. Look up the weather for your destination for the week you’ll be traveling. Think of outfits accordingly.

Tip 2 Pack light!

With the way baggage prices have been rising for checked luggage, no wonder it’s a no brainer to start packing lighter! General checked luggage fees can range from $25-$150 depending on the airline not to mention the hassle of waiting in line both to check it onto the flight but again to get it after you land. Let’s not forget the scene in “Meet the Parents”, when Ben Stiller’s character, Greg, checked luggage got lost! Hilarious but sucks in real life situations! So, save yourself that the concern.

No checked bags equal less time in lines and more money in your pocket! Who doesn’t love the sound of that!

Tip 3 Make a pack list!

Make a list! I know it seems silly, but I live by lists! Even if it’s a small one, it can be the reason why you remember that one thing you always forget. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. Put the essentials on the list first (ex. Toothbrush, underwear, phone charger). Plus, once you know exactly what you need, all these things can be put into a carry-on & backpack!

Tip 4 Pack ahead! Even if its 2 days before, do it beforehand.
It makes for a stress-free travel day.

I typically will take the amount of days I’m going to be on adventure and add an additional casual outfit & going out ensemble. Here is an example of what your 5-day basic pack list could like this:

6 pairs of underwear & socks (5 days’ worth plus an extra for any incidentals, you never know, vacation memories come in many forms)
Pair of sandals & dress shoes/heels (remember you can wear the pair of boots or sneakers while you’re traveling! There already on your feet!)
Toothbrush, deodorant, toiletries (these can go in a clear bag in your backpack to make it easy to remove for TSA)
2 pairs jeans, 2 pairs of shorts or skirts, 5 shirts, 3 tank tops, 2 to 4 going out outfits (clearly woman’s club wear is smaller and easier to pack, there still should be room for you fellas to figure it out.

Remember less is more. Think of all the times you’ve gone on a trip and only used half of what you brought with you! Try this way, trust me you’ll never look back!
Just like a bag of tea told me, "live light, travel light, spread the light, be the light."

Tip 5 The Roll Technique. Rolling your clothes into perfect submission!

This is a trick I’ve used for years and it works like a charm! the basic idea is to fit more in your bag easier. Typically, I’ll take an outfit and roll it before I pack it.
There’s 3 reasons why:

I don’t have to worry about what to wear because the outfits are already put together.
Clothes are wrinkle free!
There’s less chances I forget something.

The method is simple and easy. Take a pair of pants and put a pair of underwear in one pocket and a pair of socks in the other; lay the shirt in half on top of the folded pant and roll.

SECRET TRICK : Pack a snack!

Airport snacks are always less enjoyable because of the markup price they tend to have in the airport. Yeah so, we can’t take liquids through TSA, but you can totally take any wrapped goodies you may want as you wait for your flight. It’s always cool to share something sweet, and it always puts a smile on someone’s face. It’s inexpensive and a great way to make a new friend. Whenever I travel I try to take candies that I know are more so considered American treats or candies, so that I can give them to local kids in whatever places I’m traveling.

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