06/01/2022
1. Plan Your Outfits
There’s nothing worse than overpacking and having to open your suitcase in the middle of the airport, stuff anything you can into other bags, and add another layer of clothing. I’ve been in that situation way too many times! And if it hasn’t happened to you, then consider yourself lucky. Heres how I avoided this, while also packing just what I need.
I plan out my outfits for each day during my trip. Then I try everything on, take a picture in the outfit with my accessories and shoes. This way I know exactly what i’m wearing and what goes with each outfit. I also pack a few outfits for dinners / going out. If you’re going somewhere for a week, a day and night outfit for each day would be a total of 14 outfits – and that’s not ideal to pack for. Except for the few night outfits I pack, I pair different pieces from other outfits and bring an extra pair of jeans and shorts to go with them for the other nights.
Pro Tip: Packing neutrals and other versatile clothing is the best way to go when you’re traveling for a long period of time.
When it comes to packing everything into a suitcase. I separate outfits by city in packing cubes (if you’re traveling to multiple cities), if not you can separate by categories. This way when I get to the hotel room, I only have to take out that cube. I always hang everything up and lay out my shoes and accessories. I’m a visual person, so I like to be able to see what I have. It also keeps your clothes from getting wrinkled. Most hotel rooms have hangers but I always bring a few just in case.
Speaking of wrinkled clothes. I have folded my clothes in every way possible to avoid wrinkles during travel. But they always do, so I don’t fuss about it anymore. Most hotels have an iron in the room and if they don’t call the front desk, they usually have one they’ll let you use. I also bring Downy Wrinkle Releaser Spray if all else fails.
Pro Tip: Bring a carry on bag and pack your shoes and heavier items. This way you have more space and weight for your checked bag.
2. Make A Plan
As much as I love to plan ahead when I travel, I also like to relax and not feel like every second of the day is planned out. I’ve figured out the best way to do this is to make an itinerary that has one to two things pre-planned each day.
I use google docs because it’s simple to use, and it can be easily shared. I start by separating the document by each city (if you’re traveling to multiple places) and the day(s) visiting. Then the real fun begins, researching what to do. I use Pinterest, Instagram, blogs, and books. I create a list of everything I find and separate each into different categories — things to do, where to eat, bars, and nightlife. Once I feel like I’ve researched everything, I go over the list and narrow it down. Then I add the must dos to each day in that particular city, and the less important things to do, to the days we’ll be in those areas. I found by doing it this way, you have at least one thing to do each day, while also allowing yourself time to relax. And if you want to do other things on your list, you can.
I do the same process with restaurants and bars. If there’s a particular restaurant I’m dying to try, I’ll make a reservation in advance. I decided to do it this way because Chase and I were in Venice and after a long travel day were starving. We picked a random restaurant and the food ended up being blah. We were bummed because it was our first meal in Italy and expected more. And don’t get me wrong It’s fun to stumble on a cute cafe but make sure to check the reviews to see it it’s worth it and not a tourist trap.
Here’s part of my itinerary from Spain so you get an idea of what it looks like
3. Print Out All Documents
I know our smart phones have all the information that we need, but I like to have physical copies of everything in case something happens. It’s always better to be prepared, especially when traveling abroad.
I print out the flight itinerary, hotel confirmations, any tickets I’ve purchased in advance, and make copy of mine and Chase’s passports. I divide all the documents by stay (helpful if traveling to multiple areas), place them into manila folders, and put those into a small divider so it’s secure. I carry it with me in my purse at all times and then keep it in the hotel safe, if available.
4. Book Transportation Ahead Of Time
It’s important to research ahead of time what transportation is available where you’re staying. Some cities don’t have Uber and only use taxies. And if they do have Uber, It can be confusing to know where to go once you’ve landed at the airport, especially if you’re not fluent in the language. I usually book transportation in advance if Uber isn’t an option or if I’m traveling early and don’t want to worry about getting a taxi. There are a lot of different taxi services that allow you to book in advance. I used Sun Transfers while in Spain last summer and had a great experience! You can customize the car and specify how much luggage so there’s enough room. I’ll definitely be using the company for all future travels.
5. Must-Have Items To Bring
It’s not really a tip but a list of things that have been helpful to have:
+ Adapter
+ Packing cubes
+ Quick snacks – bars and nuts
+ Sturdy suitcase: I have an Away suitcase in size large and love it!! It’s worth every penny. I’ve had it for 5 years and haven’t had any issues or damage.
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