Packing Hacks and Tips For Your Next Vacation
Where to begin? Start with a goal to pack one carry-on bag per person. It is not that easy you say. And you are correct. Here are some tips to help you get started. Bonus: get going on your vacation more quickly by skipping the wait at the baggage claim carousel!
Carry-On Bag Packing Tips
- Make sure your bag is not too heavy to lift into the overhead bin. Some smaller domestic and international airports still use exterior mobile staircases — you do not want a super heavy bag on those stairs.
- Minimize the size of your toiletry bag. My travel hack for face creams is to use a spare contact lens case. This amount will easily last for any weekend trip. For longer vacations, I have learned that face creams go further in the tropics and you will need a lot more in the mountains. Plan your quantities accordingly and take notes for future travel.
- Make it a goal to not pack more than two pairs of shoes. It helps to pick your shoes first and then plan outfits accordingly. You can do it!
- Remember the 3.4 ounces rule for items such as sunblock and bug spray. We have lost way too many of these in security lines.
- Know whether you will have access to a washer and dryer and bring along detergent pods and a stash of quarters for a smoother travel experience. Send a packing list to your family noting how many shirts, pants, socks, underwear, etc. to pack based on where and when you will have access to laundry. I have even adjusted road trip itineraries so we can do laundry every few days. Hotel laundry services can be expensive however many hotels have laundry rooms. And, we have found that laundry services in Morocco and a lot of Central America are quite reasonable, so it pays to do some research ahead of time.
- Leave no crevice open. Pack socks in your shoes. Is one corner of your suitcase easier to zip than the other? If so there is space there to be used.
- Once fully packed — expand the zipper, close your bag, and re-zip it. If you can’t close the expanded zipper, slowly turn your bag on each side. Items will shift and you should be able to now zip it down.
- Take note of what you do not use on past vacations to apply to future packing.
Packing Tips for by Trip Type
Beach Trip
Bring your snorkel gear but leave the fins at home. Fins take up a lot of space and you can spontaneously jump in and explore underwater with just a mask and snorkel. Snorkeling excursions will have fins available to use if wanted.
Ski Trip
- Pack goggles, gloves, and neck warmers inside your helmet and carry it on. Most helmets come with a soft zipper case or they are inexpensive to purchase.
- Pack snow pants and jackets around the ski and board bindings to protect them from damage and save on luggage space. Your skis and boot bag count as one checked item.
- While the goal is to pack lightly, include an extra pair of gloves and goggles. They do not take up much space and are expensive to replace at the ski resort.
Adventure Trip
Do not let a little rain slow you down, pack cheap two $1 rain ponchos per person. You can find these at the Dollar Store or Amazon.
Family Trip
You are packing lightly however, pack these items for a smoother trip: a couple of kitchen garbage bags for dirty clothes, a chip clip, some quart storage baggies, earbuds for phones and old-fashioned type as well, a multi-port charger and cords.
International Trip
- Pack a travel scale if you have hopper flights. Airline baggage restrictions are stricter than in the United States and you may need to shift items between bags to avoid extra fees.
- Understand allowable bag sizes which may be very different from a standard carry-on bag in the United States.
- Bring an electrical converter but leave blow dryers and curling irons at home. Converters are best for charging and not for providing electricity. I learned the hard way when I lost chunks of hair using my hairdryer in Florence, Italy.
Basic Economy Travel Tip
Basic economy and some discount airlines may charge for a full-size carry-on bag but not a bag that fits underneath the seat. Can you fit everything into a backpack? We have done this for trips to Hawaii, Roatan, Florida, Nevada, and more! Hang your shoes off the side. Wear your hat and sweatshirt on the plane. A camera bag does not count, so do not put that in your backpack. Even with this limited space, we have returned with unused items!
Final note....
With your goal to pack lightly do not forget essentials that you cannot buy on vacation or do not want to waste precious time and money on. Medicine, ID, and ATM card are obvious ones, but also a backup battery and cable for phones and cameras, a car adapter, and a couple of pens.
Last but not least, my mother always said to pack a swimsuit even if you do not think you will need it. After all, how much space does a swimsuit take up?
