Six Steps to Success

My philosophy is that you only need your passport, wallet, and phone to travel. Everything else can be found along the way if necessary.

Packing is my least favorite part about traveling. It’s very overwhelming and it’s one area of my life where I don’t mind underachieving. I think it’s probably because I have to come to terms with need versus want. Traveling is easier when you have everything that makes you feel comfortable. I am sure we would all do so much better if we could pack up our homes and take them to our destination. Trust me, I have thought about it thoroughly. Since I have a little bit of experience under my belt, I figured I could share with you my methodology.

1. Strategize

This is like war. Find your inner warrior and make a plan.

Some simple rules to go by:

What to wear when traveling:

Wear your heaviest clothes on the plane. This includes your coat and boots, but of course use your best judgment and research the weather. I like to wear layers because I can always take my coat off on the plane.

Determining what clothes to pack:

How much is too much? I always ask myself this question when I pack and this tends to be when I pack two times the amount of underwear and then the extra pair of jeans.
So here are my rules of thumb(s) to break down of how I decide:

Jeans: One light wash and one dark wash or black
Tops: If it is a long trip then I try to go for more simple or solid colors and less patterns so I can make more use of it. But I will still pack fun patterns here and there- just not on majority.
Skirts and shorts: almost the same as tops, I try to picture how versatile it is. I think a pair of shorts is always good, weather permitted. Skirts tend to be more difficult because I would honestly rather pack a dress. Dresses are so easy to throw on and there’s less effort to styling a dress. That’s not to say I don’t love a good skirt, it’s just a personal preference.
Pajamas: definitely one pair but no more than two. I love wearing a sweatshirt and pants to bed so whatever makes you most comfortable!
Shoes: I always bring one pair of walking shoes and one pair of fun shoes! Keep it simple- you know which shoes you wear the most so bring the two that you love. If there’s more space, then you can add.

2. Making up your mind about make-up

So as with most of my advice, it is very dependent on where you are going. My makeup bag conveniently fits all of the makeup I own and wear for everyday looks and fancy occasions. But I’ll take stuff out if I know I’m not going to use it. Personally I try to narrow down my necessities and that’s five items. Foundation, brows, mascara, lip-stain, and contour kit (which includes blush and doubles for eyeshadow!)

3. Toiletries

I always trust a person who packs their toiletries in water resistant bags. If you aren’t one of those people, I think you’re probably on a watchlist...
My skincare routine takes priority. For me this is not something to compromise! I would rather keep up with my skin and sacrifice my extra outfit if it takes up space. Other than that, consider the following:

Will the place I’m staying provide shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc.?
Do I need my preferred brand?
How much space do I have?

It’s okay to be firm on packing the products that will improve your experience and stay. However, compromise is healthy! Packing and practicality if preferential- there’s even alliteration to support it! Try and pack the items that you know you cannot buy if you’re abroad. What’s easily accessible is not something to fuss over.

4. Organization

I love Marie Kondo and her methodology! So, if you need more reinforcements, watch her videos! What I have to offer you is probably more nitty gritty.

If you have a carry on:

Pack one comfy outfit or one everyday look. This is to be precautionary in case your luggage gets lost. Typically I also bring my most valued possessions in my carry on- i.e. Polaroid or DSLR

In your Check-In luggage:

Leave room for souvenirs! I encourage you to think of the front zipper of your large suitcase as a guide for souvenir shopping. I have a fabric suitcase and rarely ever use it because of the minimal space.
I think it is easier to consider that front pocket as the amount of space you have to buy souvenirs so you don’t get carried away and the items are a good size

Inside my suitcase:

I pack all of the heavy stuff at the bottom. This includes shoes and coats or jeans, which distributes the weight of the luggage in a more manageable way.

5. Extras

I always pack one standard ziplock bag with all the meds I need. My recommendation:

allergy medicine or Benadryl
Advil or Tylenol
Pepto-bismol (you can never be too safe when traveling!)
A couple of cough drops
Sometimes melatonin for the flight or in case I need to sleep condition because of jet lag

6. Tips

If you’re going somewhere that is really humid the chances of your suitcase and clothes smelling different is very high. I recommend packing things with dryer lint to keep them fresh if you feel like perfume isn’t strong enough. Or if you have extra space, pack a good scented bar of soap! I know it sounds strange but my mom taught me this trick and we having a saying in my family- mom knows everything.