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Travelling to new destinations is awesome. Stressing over how many pairs of socks you’re packing? Not so much! Struggling to decide what and how to pack can ruin your pre-travel excitement. Mastering travel packing is key for lighter luggage, less airport hassle and more room for souvenirs.
These 10 essential travel packing tips will ensure your holiday preparation is stress-free and seamless. Keep reading to learn how to pack smarter and lighter!
1. Make a travel packing checklist
The first and most important part of packing is having a plan. This includes making a checklist of what you need to pack and where. Think about what activities you will be doing and how long you are travelling for. I’d recommend no more than 1 t-shirt per day, maybe even 2 days!
A well thought out list that is tailored to your travel plans will help you pack more efficiently. It will also ensure you don’t forget anything, even if you are a last minute packer!
2. Choose suitable luggage
Choosing luggage that is suitable for your needs and meets your airlines policy is crucial. There’s nothing worse than being hit with fees at the check-in. Make sure you check the airlines baggage limits and pack accordingly.
Think about the type of trip you are taking and activities you will be doing. A backpack might be best if you are travelling around and using public transport a lot. This type of luggage makes train station steps much easier to traverse.
My recommended luggage is a soft shell rucksack that opens like a suitcase. Something like my one above. Around 70L is suitable for most trips of 1 week or more. This rucksack is ideal, with multiple compartments that can be padlocked. A key element is a comfortable waist strap to distribute the weight evenly and not carry it all on your shoulders.
If you prefer something with wheels, this hybrid suitcase is a great choice. This wheeled bag has detachable straps so you can quickly transform it into a backpack for easy carrying.
3. Get a good carry on bag
In the interest of packing light, your carry-on luggage should double as your day bag whilst travelling. This 32L NH Escape 500 backpack is ideal for this. The main compartment has a large opening that is great for clothes and bulkier items. There’s also a rear laptop pocket and many smaller pockets. I particularly like the stretch water bottle holders.
I used this exact backpack while travelling in Japan for my carry-on, general day bag, a day cycle trip and a 3-day side trip to Hakone and Mt Fuji. At home, it’s my go to for weekends away too!
4. Packing for the weather
Check the weather forecast for your destination and pack accordingly. If you are going somewhere tropical, you aren’t going to need lots of layers! But if you’re expecting rain, pack a lightweight rain jacket that folds down small.
If you are travelling somewhere cold, be smart about the clothes you pack so you can layer up or down accordingly.
5. Check out laundry facilities
You can save a lot of space by packing at least half the amount of clothes if you use laundry facilities whilst travelling. Most hotels will have either a laundry service or machines to do your own.
Most towns and cities will also have laundromats, where you can pay to use washing and drying machines. You’ll just need to dedicate a couple hours half way through your trip to getting it done. Well worth it so you can save that extra packing space for souvenirs!
6. Pack a laundry bag
Whether I’m travelling for weeks or just a quick weekend away, I always pack a small laundry bag. It just makes sense to keep the dirty clothes separate from the clean and helps keep things organised.
It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, a bin liner will work just fine. Make sure it’s waterproof though, in case you have any wet clothing like swimwear.
7. Pack 2 pairs of shoes maximum
Shoes are a particularly bulky item to pack, so try to keep them to a minimum. The type of shoes you pack will depend on the type of trip you are taking. For example, for a mixture of beach activities and city sightseeing, I’d take a pair of casual trainers and a pair of sandals. For a trip involving hardcore hiking, you might want a pair of walking boots and an everyday trainer.
Finding versatile shoes is key here. I bought the VIVOBAREFOOT Novus shoe for a recent trip to Japan. They were great for everything from hiking mountain trails, city walks and casual eating out. They walked 135 miles across Japan and they’re still my everyday shoe 6 months later!
8. Do you really need all those toiletries?
We all have our favourite shampoo and shower gel, but when travelling light it might be best to leave them at home. Toiletries can take up a lot of packing space, so try and keep it to the essentials. Check your hotels to see what toiletries are included in the room.
If you really can’t go without your favourites, decant them into travel sized bottles. And remember, unless you are travelling to the middle of nowhere you can always buy stuff once you arrive!
9. Use packing cubes
Packing cubes keep your luggage organised and fit together easily. Use them to organise your items into categories so you can easily find what you need whilst travelling. It’s best to use ones that are light and thin so the cubes themselves don’t take up lots of space.
The ECOHUB packing cubes are my favourite as they have a wide range of colours, include a range of sizes, and use recycled materials.
10. Pack a photocopy of your passport
This one isn’t about packing lighter but it will lighten the load on your mind if you lose your passport! Having a photocopy of the photo ID pages of your passport is a smart travel precaution. It will make it much simpler to apply for a replacement passport if yours is lost or stolen.
Make sure the copies include your passport number, name and other key details. It could also be useful to copy any travel visas or entry stamps for your trip. Remember to keep the copies in a separate place to your actual passport.