10 Tips For Packing Like A Travel Pro. #6 Will Surprise You.
[dropcap letter="S"]o you've gone and booked a trip. Now how do you get things from point A to point B? When it comes to packing, it can be the most challenge part before your travels begin. I’m notoriously slow when it comes to packing for trips—always torn between what to wear on the plane and what I’ll feel like wearing once I get there. I'm sharing with you 10 tips for packing like a pro.
1. Take only the items you absolutely love. That way, you'll be sure to wear everything you've packed instead of pulling your hair out wondering why you packed something you never wear.
2. Bring accessories, sure, but don't go overboard. If you absolutely have to choose between accessories, take a scarf. It goes from day to night, adds interest to outfits, and can be worn tons of different ways.
3. If it's a short trip, I splurge on a blowout. I can't take every single hair product with me, so if I'm doing a weekend trip to say Seattle or Los Angeles, I get a blowout right before I go and wait until the last possible day to wash my hair.
4. Do your homework. Call the hotel or friend's house where you're staying and ask if they have a hairdryer, iron, ironing board, clothes steamers, bathrobes- -anything that's bulky that you think you "can't live without". This applies to weather and any events you might attend while out of town, too. Figure out the temperature constraints and the dress codes for everything you'll be doing.
5. Choose a central color to pack around. I’m notoriously slow when it comes to packing for trips—always torn between what to wear on the plane and what i’ll feel like wearing once I get there. A neutral such as brown, black, or tan is a good place to start, then bring accessories and accent pieces that go with this color palette.
6. Hang all of my tops and layer them on top of one another, spread flat instead of folding, smallest to largest - to conserve space. You’d be shocked to see how much of my closet I can squeeze into Tumi’s removable (hanging) garment sleeve. I also stuff jewelry into my shoes to save room.
7. I promise, you only need one handbag. Okay, if you're going to a black tie occasion, maybe you need a clutch or something, but you really only need one bag for day and night under normal circumstances.
8. Dresses are one item, and one outfit. Enough said.
9. Shawls, wraps, and scarves can work as blankets I’m notoriously slow when it comes to packing for trips—always torn between what to wear on the plane and what i’ll feel like wearing once I get there. on the plane, as well as cover ups for all kind of attire, casual, business, or cocktail.
10. Buy stuff there. Since you’re not going to Mars (okay, so maybe not yet), you will be able to find things in your destination you can not only use, but once you bring them home will become souvenirs! And you just might find the perfect face lotion or hair conditioner in a brand that's expensive back in the States, making all of your friends back home green with envy.
Bonus: Tumi 2 Alpha Frequent Traveler Wheel Carry-On