Packing: Always a BIG Question
Packing, it’s a question I get asked about all the time. In fact, at the end of all my Podcast interviews, (Coming Soon), we end the conversation talking about it. Stacked or rolled; very mixed feeling from people on this.
The fact is, there is no ONE WAY. There never really is on most subjects. It quite literally is Subjective. Personally, I pack LIGHT!! I hate dragging around clothes, shoes, accessories, etc, that I don’t end up using or needing. But, I am a seasoned traveler so I have learned how to pack to my liking by trial and error. And, no matter how good you get at it, I know that I always either forget something I wish I had or I totally mis-judge the weather or… But you must remember, you can almost always pick up what you need when you arrive.
Here is a list of TIPS that help me when packing:
I keep a list on my phone with all the items I really don’t want to forget. Things like sleeping eye mask and ear plugs (MUST HAVE), charging cords and adapter, my prescription glasses, nail clippers, blah blah blah. I have this list, complete with obvious items because I inevitably forget something. One time I forgot my hairbrush. Yes, I picked one up once I got there, but I do hate forgetting stuff like that. So, when making your list, add it all. You’ll be glad you did.
Packing cubes!! If you don’t use these I’m not judging but they are AWESOME. It keeps you from tearing apart your whole suitcase when you need a particular item, like socks or a sweatshirt. I put tops in one cube, bottoms in another, socks and panties in another, and so on. It’s a helpful system when you’re only spending one night in a place and don’t want to unearth the whole suitcase. It’s also great when you are in a place for longer as the cube kind of act as drawers in a space that might not have a dresser. They are also helpful when trying to squish a lot in to a small suitcase. I neatly pack, both stacking and rolling, items into the cube, then I can man-handle the cube to make it all fit.
Your suitcase: I can’t emphasize more the importance of picking a good, well made, suitcase. Over the years I have used a range and I usually bought the cheapest only to have to replace it the next travel season. Turns out to not be the cheapest when you’re constantly replacing them. Then one year after my daughter was moving to Spain for university, I decided to spend significantly more on much better suitcases. We were traveling to Norway and both our suitcases were definitely not up for the job. We ended up with the brand AWAY. That was in 2019 and they are still going strong. And if they ever breakdown, they have a lifetime warranty. No more replacing my suitcase. I love the way it rolls. You can push it which is very important to me as my hands don’t work like they used to and pulling a heavy suitcase sucks. The wheels have survived many cobblestone European streets and the zipper has held up great to my over-packing despite my efforts and insistence for it to “please” close (fingers crossed). I have the smallest they offer because I hate checking a bag. I got her the biggest so when she was moving back she could easily haul it all back.
To offset the small size of my suitcase, I have a backpack that has a band at the back to slide onto the suitcase handle. My backpack carries all my toiletries, chargers, eyeglasses, Kindle, wallet items, water bottle, and more. If for some reason I am forced to check my suitcase, I still have all the items I might need if my suitcase doesn’t arrive at my destination.
I also have in my backpack a small day bag. I have various sizes but they are all fanny pack style that I can also wear sling fashion. I move into this once I arrive at my destination and leave my travel backpack behind.
When it comes to toiletries, less is best. I have some skincare items that must come, but my whole beauty routine does not make the journey. For one thing, there is a rule in most of Europe that they all must fit in a clear, one liter/quart size bag, Rarely have I been stopped to show that my items are in this ridiculous size bag, but there are a few airports that this is enforced. London and Geneva are two where I had to pull apart all my items from there place in my cute travel toiletry bag and use the stupid clear bag. What doesn’t fit, they make you toss. Total bummer.
One other thing I do with my toiletries is separate out the items I might want to use perhaps on the plane. These include my toothbrush, face cream and my contact case and solution. This is also helpful when you arrive and want to quickly freshen up. No need to pull out ALL your items ;)
I could go on and on, but these are my core TIPS. Hope this was helpful. If you have specific questions you’d like to ask, always feel free to drop me a line. I love hearing from this community.