The season of summer vacations has started, and the excitement is most certainly there. The most dreadful part of every trip for some people is packing, and deciding what to bring. This time, we are going to try to help by pointing at some mistakes we are all making.
Bringing more items than necessary
The biggest mistake that almost anyone makes is overpacking and bringing too much stuff. The problem is that we end up not wearing most of it. This poses a problem if we are traveling by plane because then we pay more for luggage that we didn’t even need or use. You can change this by planning your outfits in advance and bringing just the pieces you know you will wear. Another good tip is to bring versatile clothing, meaning clothes you can combine and wear in many different outfits. Besides, if you are not traveling alone, you can make a deal so that everyone brings something, and you won’t end up bringing five shampoos and no toothpaste. A life-saving tip for any trip is to pack travel sizes of all your products. First of all, it saves a lot of room in your luggage for other things, you won’t need 200ml of hair conditioner for ten days, and lastly, you maybe won’t be able to bring everything on the plane. Instead, buy small bottles or if it’s convenient, buy everything once you get there. Another good tip is to save samples of the products you have for when you are traveling.
Bringing too many cute clothes and not enough practical ones
The summer vacation is the time we want to look our best and make our photos the same. However, cute clothes meant for dinners or going out are not what is supposed to be the majority of your suitcase. Rather, bring more comfortable clothes that you can wear for both day and night time activities because you will probably need it more for that. Of course, bring a few more formal pieces that can be used for a special occasion, but give priority to comfort over fashion.
Buying a new swimsuit for each trip
A lot of us have been guilty of this one. You had four bathing suits last year, but this year you need three more, and you just have to buy them even though you don’t need them. To avoid this, the best thing is to again plan your beach outfits in advance. You can get one piece swimwear online, so you have something a bit different to wear and bring two bottoms and two tops that you can mix and match. Think of it like this: you can have ten bathing suits, but only like three of them and how they suit you, so why wear all the other ones? Besides, the golden rule is that if you haven’t worn it at home, chances are you won’t wear on the trip as well.
Not bringing the right shoes
Shoes take up so much space in our luggage, which is why we should choose carefully what to bring. You should, of course, bring comfortable shoes, because you will probably spend a lot of time walking or sightseeing. Try to bring shoes what will go with more than one outfit because this way, you don’t have to bring so many different ones. You can travel in your chunkier shoes and pack the smaller ones; this way, you save some space in your suitcase. In the end, it is more important to bring comfortable sneakers for everyday use rather than heels you are going to wear maybe once for the entire trip. Another good tip is to get bags and put shoes in them so they don’t leave any dirt on your clothes. Also, pack your socks in them, which will leave you more space.
Not keeping your valuables near you
This may not be one of the commonest mistakes, but it is certainly worth mentioning. Besides your regular suitcase, you should always bring a carry-on bag or backpack for all your valuable things and documents. For safety reasons, you should have your laptop, phone or camera with you in a carry-on bag. What is even more important is to keep your passport and travel insurance there at all times, so you don’t forget it, or lose it.
Packing doesn’t have to be stressful or full of mistakes. This little guide can help you pack smart and efficient for your next trip so that you can enjoy your vacation from the start.
