So, having done quite a bit of travelling this year I’ve learned from my mistakes and so am writing this guide on How to pack to help you avoid my travel disasters.
One time my bag was so overweight it exceeded the maximum weight allowed by so much that I had to buy a second suitcase!
How to pack
Anyone who knows me will know I have a bit of a problem with concepts, such as ‘capsule wardrobe’, ‘wardrobe detox’ and ‘travelling light’, but after the number of times I have turned up at the airport with excessively overweight bags and have had to frantically unpack and stuff clothes into my handbag and/ or layer up with four or more jumpers, I’ve decided to adopt a more reasonable approach to packing!
I put this into practice for my trip to Barcelona and was delighted to find that my bag checked in at 4 kgs under the weight limit! Result!
However, after a shopping trip in Barcelona the return journey was a different story! Technically, my bag wasn’t overweight but it was so full that the zip broke and I had to have it wrapped in a sort of cling-film before I could check it in! Oh well, nobody’s perfect!
Anyway, I’m now in the middle of packing for a month long trip to California so this seems a good opportunity to retest my theory – I just have to remember to leave more room for shopping this time!
My approach to packing consists of one or two steps:
i) Select a capsule wardrobe (I will explain how to do this below)
ii) Put half of it back in the cupboard and pack the remaining half!
Of course, if you are perfect at step one, then step two becomes obsolete. I, however, still add a few extras in step one ‘just in case’, so always have to carry on to step two.
For ideas on how to pack and selecting a capsule wardrobe, read on:
How to pack in two easy steps
Step one of How to Pack : Select a capsule wardrobe
Select coats/ jackets/ handbags and shoes
I always start by selecting coats and/or jackets, handbags and shoes.
The reason for this is that these are the heaviest and/or most awkward items to pack, so I try to limit these to a minimum (and I am always wearing or carrying one of each!) and then the rest of my packing has to co-ordinate with my choices at this stage.
Coats/ Jackets
I always wear the heaviest one to travel (saves vital kilos!) and will usually take a second one in a lighter weight and different colour, unless I am going somewhere really cold and then I will just vary the colour.
I also always pack a comfortable cashmere cardigan in my handbag for a long haul flight!
Handbags
Selecting the right handbag is very crucial in the packing process. I will always take a big one on the plane (to stuff any overflow from my suitcase in!) and then a small, easily packed one for while I am on holiday.
Apart from being useful to stuff any overflow from my suitcase in, my handbag has to fit anything I might need on the flight: See below for what to have in your handbag/ carry on bag.
i) the obvious stuff, such as passport, credit cards, money, keys, hotel bookings, car hire vouchers etc. (and remember if you are travelling with a visa or an ESTA do NOT pack this in your suitcase or you will have problems at customs! (and I speak from experience!)
ii) my iPad/ camera/ phone/ books etc.
iii) sunglasses for when I land (partly because I hope it will be sunny when I get there and partly to hide my eyes and how jet lagged I look!)
iv) cosmetics (although I do pack most of my cosmetics in the hold luggage for a long-haul flight I will keep out what I need for the flight and also a few items for the first night (just in case my luggage gets lost or I’m too tired to unpack!). So, I will pack travel size toothpaste, deodorant, cleanser, moisturiser etc.. , as well as some make-up to make me look human when I arrive! Remember to pack all these in a plastic bag to go through security. I also take blush and eye-shadow in a powder form as then I can just take these loose in my handbag.
v) underwear and sleepwear ! Slightly strange things to have in your handbag – but linked to my fear that my luggage may get lost! (If I am taking other carry-on luggage then these would be packed in there, along with a change of clothes for the first day!)
So, my big bag is now all packed up and ready to go.
I usually also pack this little gold bag, as it is small and flat so easy to pack, yet big enough to fit my purse, sunglasses and phone and it has a holiday feel to it.
Shoes
Again, the obvious rules apply. I only take one pair of high heels on holiday for going out in the evenings and to minimise weight and maximise space in the suitcase I will wear them to travel (I know they’re not comfortable on the flight but the airlines usually provide socks on long-haul flights or add some slipper socks to your already very heavy handbag!)
Just one word of advice – try to wear shoes that are easy to take on and off, such as court shoes or shoes with stretchy backs and avoid shoes that tie around the ankles or have loads of buckles as you will have to take them off at security and the people behind you will look as though they want to kill you if you take 10 minutes to get your shoes off! (Also, beware of belts!)
Select the rest of your capsule wardrobe
Now, you have the jackets, shoes and handbags anything you select should match with these. You may want to do a checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything. You will need:
i) underwear and sleepwear
ii) swimwear/ beachwear
iii) a selection of skirts/ shorts and trousers (the number of each you take depends on your personal preferences.) I tend to favour skirts as I wear these most often on holiday but will take shorts for activities such as hiking/ cycling and a pair of jeans in case it is cooler in the evenings
iv) a selection of t-shirts/ tops/ jumpers that can be worn with all the skirts/ shorts and trousers. I always take a plain white t-shirt as it’s my ‘go-to’ in any situation.
v) a few dresses if you like to dress up in the evening
vi) some flat sandals/ shoes for sightseeing/ beach
And don’t forget the rest of your cosmetics if you didn’t pack them all in your handbag
So, that’s step one completed! Now, if you’re capsule wardrobe looks reasonable then well done and you can just pack it all in your suitcase.
Step two of How to Pack : Review capsule wardrobe
However, if like me you find yourself asking if you really need ten dresses for a week, then you should move on to step two and put half of it back in the cupboard before putting the remainder in the suitcase!
Job done – you’re ready to go – and in the worse case as long as you’ve got your plane tickets, passport (and visas, if necessary) and credit cards in your handbag you’ll survive !
The next thing is to select the outfit for travelling – combining comfort and style – what a challenge!
I hope you enjoyed this feature about How to Pack, and I will be back soon with more style, lifestyle and travel inspiration and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog below to make sure you never miss a post,
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Ha – you do exactly the same as I do! I get out everything I need and then realise I have too much and leave half of it behind. I even managed to be over the limit with a 45kg baggage allowance! (Fortunatley the other Anne travels a little lighter). However, some useful tips for our forthcoming trip to NYC!
Thank you Anne! i’m glad to know I’m not the only one to struggle with baggage allowances (Mind you I’ve not yet been over 45kg!) 🙂
Extremely helpful post! I am definitely not a good packer, but with your packing tips and ideas I can achieve much better results. Thanks a lot!
I’m so glad it was helpful 🙂
What fabulous tips! I’m a chronic over-packer. I end up wearing about 1/3 of what I pack. You’d think I”d learn? I am going to use your advice the next time I go away!
Thank you Susan! Despite following my own advice I still pack way too much and only wear about half of what I pack! 🙂
Great post. Well done.
I love your style and your blog.
Thank you 🙂
Such a fab article!
http://www.yukovablog.co.uk/
Thank you so much ?
Good tips! It’s never easy to pack but from now on I will use these tips
Thank you Darina. Glad you found them useful ?
Thanks for the guide. It’s always so helpful to pack well but not too much. It’s very easy to go overboard especially if you aren’t sure of the weather. What I do is I go with a select colour palette so I can interchange pieces and pack lightly. This helps in deciding on shoes, accessories and even makeup.
Great advice Rania! I totally forgot to mention the colour palette but of course it really helps to choose a select palette (although I usually choose two!)! ?
Living in the UK and having my family in Portugal makes me travel quite often and I have to say that packing is always a pain in my back side! haha
There are some great tips here that I will definitely try to remember next month when I have to pack for my holidays! x
Thank you Lisa. Glad you found it useful ??
I really love you 🙂 Happy New Year!
Thank you Sandra ?
i love this review!!! so useful
xx
isa
Thank you Isa!
Oh, packing, it’s never easy… I travel all the time, sort of, having two homes. These days I’m getting really lazy and just toss something into a carry-all. This approach works for a long weekend or even a week if I’m just going to England to my other home (because I have clothes and toiletries there). But packing for a holiday, as in for a stay at a hotel, that’s tricky. and I always end up wishing I’d packed something I left out at the last minute. But I don’t really overpack, there’s always room for some shopping, so I guess I’m getting there…
Thanks for stopping by Tina! I know what you mean about wishing you’d packed something you left out at the last minute! That happens to me too, but I think as long as you’re going somewhere with shops and you don’t forget your credit card you’ll survive! Glad you manage to leave room for shopping:)
This is such a great (and funny) post !! I’ll try and remember most of the advice next time I have to sit on my suitcase to close it !! 🙂 Xx
Thank you! I’ve had quite a few experiences of sitting on my suitcase to close it too! 🙂