There are two kinds of travelers. Ones like my husband, who can pack light and be done with it or ones like me, who wished they could but pretty much packs the whole house whether going on a weekend trip or small vacation.
My husband and I (& now our daughter) have traveled quite a bit in the past 10 years that we've been married so here are some quick tips that we have picked up and learned along the way.
- Make a list and stick to it!
This helps me a lot. It eliminates that last second packing panic that you might forget something you need or just wanting to throw extra things in for the just in case. Take the list with you and use it as a guide for repacking to prevent forgetting anything as well. Plan out your outfits according to what you plan to be doing, what the weather forecast looks like and whether you will have the ability to wash any clothes while your gone.
- Don't pack things you know you will have available too you. (IE: hair dryer, soap, iron, etc.)
I'm at my parents house for the week so there was no need to bring the iron, soap, shampoo, toothpaste or anything like that and we have a washer/dryer available for us so we are able to wash clothes. Keep those things in mind and eliminate what you don't have to pack.
Pack just a few pieces of jewelry that you can be happy wearing with everything. If you have a special event to go to then pack those pieces but then maybe only one extra necklace. Leave behind your expensive or flashy pieces especially if you are going somewhere around people you don't know. Also pack your favorite makeup face and stick to it during your whole vacation, no need to pack your whole makeup collection. There is also no need for tons of shoes.
Fold or roll your clothes don't just toss them in your bag. This saves you space and saves your clothes from getting tons of wrinkles. If you are flying always pack valuables (documents, jewelry, meds, etc) in your travel on. When repacking dirty clothes pack them just as neatly as you first packed them, it saves space.
When traveling (outside of going to visit family at their homes) keep your eye and ears open at all times. Know what is going on around you and how people are acting. Don't be lost in lalaland and then end up in a situation you don't want to be in.
