Let’s face it: packing for a trip takes time and care. It can also create stress. When you travel frequently, like we do, it’s nice not to have trip preparation take more time than it’s worth. We simply can’t devote hours on end to packing when we are on the go so much.
Over the years, I’ve learned ways to make packing for vacation easy, while also being incredibly efficient.
Not to brag, but once a contractor/friend was in our house doing some work while I was preparing myself for a trip. When this person was leaving, they took time to tell me how impressed they were with how quickly I was able to pack. He asked for tips, confessing that he and his wife took three to four hours to pack their suitcases.
So, in honor of him, here is what I can share from my experience.
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6 Tips to Make Packing Easy and Efficient
1. Know the weather (and activities) at your destination.
Obviously, having a general sense of the weather at your final destination is pretty key to making packing efficient and easy. Rain? Chilly nights? Comfort in the face of the elements is priority. (The rising popularity of the down jacket has been great for travel as they compress to such a small footprint.)
But you also need to have a general idea of what you plan to do once you get there. Is there an epic hike nearby you won’t want to miss? Will you be going out to a very nice restaurant?
While you don’t have to have a complete agenda ready to go, you can’t bring your whole closet. So some itinerary drafting in advance is necessary.
One incredibly helpful habit I have adopted over the years is to use a backpack or tote bag for airplane travel as my carry-on, but store a lightweight sling bag in my suitcase to use as a purse on arrival. This means that while getting on the plane I am not navigating too many bags but at my final destination I have something to use for water, hikes, day trips, beach days and also a purse for nights out.
PRO TIP: Always pack a swimsuit! It is the one piece of clothing you can’t easily “fake.” If you need one or want one, there is absolutely no easy replacement.
2. Have toiletries ready to go.
Have small cosmetic bags (like these) always packed and at the ready. I always have one bag packed for:
- medicines (complete with eye shades and ear plugs)
- make-up
- travel-sized bath gels, soaps, shampoo and conditioner
In addition, I have a large, hanging toiletry bag like this stocked with hair ties, a small vial of my favorite perfume, Chapstick, an extra razor, extra toothbrush, and travel-sized toothpaste. When I am ready to leave, I will place my face cleansers and lotions as well as my daily medications and vitamins in the bag, zip it up, and put it in my suitcase.
I also have a travel jewelry carrier that rolls and folds flat like this one to put my favorite accessories in.
PRO TIP: Put tweezers and nail clippers in your make-up bag. When traveling, these tools turn out to be great to have on hand.
3. Use space savers.
I love these things so much! I use a version like these that do not require a vacuum pump. Not just because they do, indeed, help me get more into my luggage, but they keep what’s in my luggage organized. Usually I have one bag for underwear and socks; another for tops; another for any athletic gear. When we start our trip, I will typically empty one and use it to collect dirty clothes. It makes keeping things organized on the go, packing for the return trip, and then unpacking once back at home so easy!
PRO TIP: Watch your luggage’s weight if you use these. Since it is possible to get more in the bag, it is also much easier to exceed the weight limit and end up having to pay extra for over-sized luggage.
4. Pack simple clothes in coordinating colors.
Forget trying to bring the most fashion-forward clothes you own. Instead, pack in solid colors that can be mixed and matched. For some, this works best as a color palette (think bringing things in shades of pink, gray, black and white, for example) or works best as bringing solid colors with one or two bolder fashion choices.
PRO TIP: Pack fun accessories, like necklaces, earrings and scarves, to bring some flair and fashion to your wardrobe. They take up less space.
5. Get clothes and shoes that layer and do “double duty.”
There are some clothes that just can’t do double duty (for example, the swimsuit). But otherwise, think of clothes that can dress up or down, shoes that can be worn out to a nice restaurant or to walk around town on a tour.
I particularly love:
- Leggings (wear them to hike or wear them to bed or wear them under a dress or wear them under an oversized shirt).
- Dresses that are casual enough for daily sightseeing but can be respectable out at a restaurant (I have this dress in a few prints and it is always a go-to and this dress has been serving me very well).
- The classic TOMS alpargatas are perfect for my feet, I could walk in them all day for miles, but they also work well with a dress for dinner. Also try out Rothy’s or Tieks. Confession: I rarely pack tennis shoes. Tennis shoes take up so much space, do not pair well with much, and definitely don’t do double duty. I am not one to go on runs while on vacation, so I find them unnecessary. While I may work out or hike when I travel, I find that a stylish slip-on sneaker that can be used for touring can also be used for a stationary bike work out if I want. And when hiking, a good hiking boot is simply required.
- Cardigans (layer them at night over pajamas or use them as layers for daily temperature changes.Â
Think about skipping traditional pajamas and, instead, opt for joggers, tank tops and leggings you could also wear for sightseeing.
PRO TIP: I am a big fan of rolling my clothes, not folding them. I don’t know what kind of physics magic happens, but I easily get more into my suitcase when I roll my shirts and shorts.
6. Plan ahead – but don’t overthink it!
It works best to slowly start to lay things out in piles the day before. When a favorite shirt comes out of the dryer, fold it and put it in the “definitely to take” pile. Start to compile outfits, based on your different planned activities.
Then, as you go through your day, simply add or detract as you pass your packing pile or remember something you must take. Believe it or not, I find this casual, rolling method of getting clothes and accessories ready for travel to be much faster and more efficient. Instead of spending an agonizing three hours trying to decide what to take with me, I will throw something on the pile as I remember it or remove it when I walk by later and realize it is unnecessary.
Surprisingly, this method also keeps down the amount of clothing I pack. It seems counterintuitive, but the more I walk by my piles, the more I realize what I will and will not actually wear or use. It seems to keep me in check to let my packing marinate, as it were.
PRO TIP: Consider an evergreen list. For some, it helps to have a list that you can use time and again to make packing easier. Ideas for this list include: cell phone charger, reading light, rain jacket, hairbrush, camera, book, pen, journal, hat. This method is particularly helpful to capture items you don’t want to forget, but may not have a place in one of your pre-packed accessories bags.
Remember that travel is fun, and packing doesn’t have to take the anticipatory pleasure out of the trip. Be efficient, use these tips, and get your luggage ready to go in no time.
Happy travels!