Travel
This way you will never forget to pack anything again
I have a packing list for every type of vacation: beach, ski, lake, hiking, and city. Everyone around me calls it slightly psychotic: “If you forget something, you can just buy it there, right?” But that’s not me, plus with this list, my suitcase is usually zipped up within half an hour. Unless there’s a good playlist playing; then it can still take hours.
- Start packing early
Not even a month ago, I landed in Lapland. That same day, my boyfriend revealed that he didn’t have ski pants with him. He “couldn’t find them.” Let’s just say my resting bitch face has never worked so hard. If he had packed two days earlier instead of the night before, we would have had plenty of time to borrow, buy, or just search better. Because in the end, they were lying among the costumes.
To avoid these kinds of moments, I have a simple trick: leave your suitcase open in your room a few days in advance. This way, you can toss in things you come across – accessories, basics, or indeed ski pants. - The ’Morning of list’
There are always things you can only pack at the last minute; a toothbrush and charger to name a few. So make a list. Previously, that was a note on my phone, until I arrived without a coat in the cold Copenhagen . Now it’s a brightly colored post-it on my bedroom door. You can’t miss it, even half asleep. - Packing cubes are your best friend
At first, I didn’t believe in them, then Miss Overpacking had to travel with just a backpack through Japan . Packing cubes almost double how much you can take, and everything becomes compact and organized: underwear together, tops together. Want to really take it to the next level? Then sort your outfits by day.
Pro tip: use the largest cube for your dirty laundry on the way back. At home, you just have to dump it above the laundry basket. - Put an AirTag in your suitcase
Do you also always fear that your suitcase isn’t getting on the plane? Or worse: has been put on another plane? With a tracker (like an AirTag), you know exactly where your suitcase is. Saves a lot of worrying in an uncomfortable airplane seat. - Downloading series = packing
Yes, this counts. Because nothing is as frustrating as being stuck with the airplane's entertainment options. As if I’m going to voluntarily choose from three mediocre action movies and a comedy from 2012. Download what you feel like in advance, then time flies by much faster. - Do you wear it at home?
A lesson I learned far too late: if you never wear something at home, you won’t wear it on vacation either. (Except for that one perfect summer maxidress. That deserves an exception.) But those cute, uncomfortable ballerinas? They remain untouched in your already overflowing suitcase. - Pretend you’re losing your luggage
Assume the worst-case scenario. Make sure the essentials are always in your carry-on. And for a sunny destination, a bikini falls under that too. Because nothing is worse than being forced to wear a poorly fitting souvenir swimsuit. - Invest in a luggage scale
One of the best purchases ever (thank you, dad). No more hassle with yourself and your suitcase on the scale; just weigh it and done. It’s small enough to take with you, so you can also check on the way back if your souvenirs haven’t gotten a bit too enthusiastic. That ‘I LOVE LAS VEGAS’ sweater was fun, but gaining extra kilos at the airport was less so. - Liquids in a bag!!¡
At a small airport, it once smelled remarkably nice. Not because of a designer fragrance, but because my sister-in-law’s shampoo had exploded all over her suitcase. Since then, everything that can leak goes into refillable leak-proof containers or a sealed bag. Save yourself a sticky disaster. - Your suitcase goes through a lot
It’s a good thing your suitcase can’t recount everything it goes through as soon as you drop it off at the check-in desk. It’s not pretty. So don’t invest in a suitcase worth hundreds of euros, because behind the scenes, Action and Hermes are treated the same. If you do go for Hermes: don’t be mad if two out of three handles are missing after your trip. Keep plastic and bubble wrap on your side. - Keep essentials close
The line between “Anita on vacation with her family” and a trendy organized traveler is thin, but it’s there. A small handbag with your passport, wallet, and AirPods is never wrong. “I just had it’ is not a sentence you want to say at the airport. - Less is really more
I also see differences in clothing items that others would overlook, but three pairs of virtually identical white sneakers are just not necessary. And five black sunglasses even less so. This habit not only takes up space in your suitcase, it also ruins your photo albums; your beautiful fashion sense doesn’t come through in the vacation pictures. - Wear oddly shaped items on the plane
Would I have preferred to wear my Uggs? Yes, but it can’t always be a party. So I boarded the plane in moon boots. Those things are, no joke, as big as a small carry-on suitcase. And when the seatbelts could come off, I immediately switched to slippers. Saves a lot. - Caps belong in your carry-on
A number of photos from our city trip to Rome are unusable. It’s due to the cap I wore for a day. Or better said: the extremely wrinkled cap. Always keep headgear in your carry-on! - Check your room every time
If you’re going on a (road) trip, check under the bed and between the blankets before you leave. I’ve already lost a few slippers and a water bottle by not doing this in the beautiful Iceland. - Unpack immediately
As soon as you walk into the hotel room: suitcase open, stuff out. You’ll wear more of what you’ve brought, and your room stays organized. Unpack at home right away too. That procrastination ruins your last bit of vacation feeling.
Packing may not be the most fun part of traveling, but it can make or break your vacation. Maybe it’s a bit exaggerated all those lists and systems, but when I arrive relaxed at my destination, exactly with what I need, that’s not psychotic, but just well-prepared.
SOURCE: cntraveler
