This weekend, the boy and I are heading off for a few days to Melbourne (totally an “in-and-out” visit unfortunately!) but it got me thinking about packing for a trip away.
I used to travel interstate and overseas a lot with my last job, and after a few over-zealous packing efforts early on in the piece, I quickly learned how to pack just the necessities! I remember on one of my first work trips, I spent a week in Hong Kong, followed by a week in London (plus a day visiting my best friend, who was living in London at the time!), and I have a particularly painful memory of hauling the world’s heaviest suitcase all the way through Heathrow Airport, up an incredible number of stairs at the train station, and about 5 km’s down the road to her place… and yes, it just happened to be one of those rare, extremely warm London days (oh, and not to mention the fact I was wearing heels and a winter coat!) It was an absolute nightmare! I still shudder just thinking about it!
Needless to say, I well and truly learnt my lesson after that back-breaking journey (that also cost me a small fortune in excessive baggage charges), so I thought I would share with you my tips for packing appropriately, maximising your luggage space, and saving your sanity (and your wallet!)
Step 1: Plan
Determine how many items (be realistic!) and what type of clothing you will need for your trip. What you pack will be heavily dictated by your chosen destination — obviously, you won’t be giving your bikini and short shorts a second thought if you’re hitting the Swiss Alps for a skiing holiday! Plan outfits around basic essentials that can be mixed-and-matched, and dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Also, think about items that can be easily layered.
My fail-safe list includes:
- A versatile black dress
- A skirt
- A good pair of jeans
- A nice pair of tailored trousers
- A few different t-shirts/ tops (dressy and casual)
- A cardigan
- Work out gear (if there is a gym where I am staying, and usually only on longer trips!)
- A pair of thongs (flip-flops) and comfortable shoes (as well as some not-so-comfortable shoes for hitting the town!)
- A jacket (depending on wear you are headed, this will be either lighweight, or a heavier coat)
- Accessories: a wool scarf, a silk/satin scarf (that can double as a headscarf), stud/hoop/dangly earrings, bangles, a necklace, stockings, a nice belt, sunglasses (and if I’m heading somewhere cold — a snood/ knitted hat).
Lay everything out on your bed & add and subtract where needed. This is the time to wash any dirty clothing, and to iron pieces that are looking crumpled and creased, to make everything easier at the other end (do you find that hotel irons are really useless, or is it just me?!) When you’re planning what to pack, it also pays to check the weather forecast ahead of time and enquire into whether there will there be laundry facilities where you’re headed.
Step 2: Pack
My advice is to pack everything the day before you leave for your destination, then as soon as you arrive, immediately put it all away in the wardrobe/drawers, which will prevent your clothes from becoming wrinkled. The less time they spend in your suitcase, the better!
Remember to fill every nook and cranny!
I like to do a combination of rolling and stacking when I am packing a suitcase. As a general rule, I will roll items like t-shirts, sweaters, skirts, underwear, pyjamas and workout gear, and place these on the bottom of my case. Then, I will fold pieces such as trousers, dresses, jeans and jackets and lay these on top of the rolled items.
My other recommendations for successful packing include:
a) Pack your underwear in the side pockets of your suitcase, and stuff your socks and accessories inside your shoes (provided they aren’t smelly, which of course, they wouldn’t be!) You can wrap them in tissue paper first if you want to be extra-cautious!
b) Wrap shoes in plastic bags and arrange them around the edges of your suitcase, with the heel of one in alignment with the toe of the other.
c) Place your toiletries in a plastic bag and sit this in the centre of your case. When it comes to toiletries, don’t go too overboard, and try to bring small bottles where possible (zip-lock bags are also fantastic for storing bottles of lotion so that they don’t spill everywhere). I usually bring: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, a razor, foundation, blush, mascara, an eyelash curler, two eyeliners, an eyeshadow compact, cleanser, moisturiser, perfume, deodorant (and tweezers and lipgloss, which are always in my handbag!)
d) For a short trip, if you are super organised, put outfits in separate plastic/ cloth bags (complete with accessories) so that all you have to do each day is grab out your pre-planned outfit! Too easy! Although, if you are like me and tend to change your mind depending on your daily mood, you might have to skip this suggestion!
Don’t forget the entertainment!
Now it’s time to think about all your gadgets! If you have a laptop, and think it will be worthwhile bringing it along, make sure you have a protective laptop bag to store it in. Same goes for your digital/ video camera (I always bring these all things as carry-on luggage). Don’t forget books, magazines, iPod, a Moleskine/ planner, your phone (and charger! Very important!) and cables/ spare batteries.
Pimp your bag
To ensure you suitcase stands out on the carousel, attach a brightly coloured ribbon or crazy luggage tag to the handle. Alternatively, you might like to cover your bag in fluorescent pink stickers and write “HELLO, I BELONG TO …..” all over them! (Whatever tickles your fancy!)
Additional totally tremendous travelling tips:
- On the plane: stay cosy by ensuring you are wearing comfortable pants (I generally wear pilates/yoga pants on long-haul flights), a warm jacket and thick socks to keep your toes toasty. Ciao Bella Travel sell moisturising socks to rejuvenate your feet while you are on a flight… I’ll definitely be picking up a pair of these little beauties next time I jet overseas, what a great idea! Also, keep hyrated by sipping lots of water throughout the flight; ask for an eye mask if you are planning on getting some shut-eye and seek herbal help with a sleep balm.
- Be ready for extreme weather conditions — don’t forget to throw a compact umbrella into your suitcase, as well as a cute hat, a pair of colourful bikinis and sunscreen.
- Depending on how long you are going to be away, you might like to add your own ‘personal’ touch to your hotel room to make it more welcoming. Scented candles are awesome when you are having a relaxing bath; likewise, a small bunch of local flowers, or a few photos of your friends/loved ones will make the room feel a bit more like home if you will be away for a while!
- Always pack a spare pair of underwear in your hand luggage in case your suitcase gets waylaid!
- Music is a must! Whether you are waiting for taxis or trains, or just sitting on a plane, listening to music is a great way to pass the time. Make sure your iPod is charged up and ready to go before you leave.
- If you are partial to straightening your hair, don’t forget to add your straightener to the list! Also, if you have room, bring your own hairdryer, as the majority of the time, the ones provided in hotels aren’t.. err.. fabulous!
- Check out these articles for more information on packing effectively and travelling smart: Packing a Suitcase Can Have You Packing it in; How to Pack a Suitcase: A Guide; How to Pack a Suitcase from eHow, & How to Travel with One Bag.
So, tell me, what are your top travelling tips? How do you ensure that you get from A to B as smoothly (& stylishly!) as possible? Spill forth your words of wisdom!
Zoom, zoom, whoooosh, zooooom! (that’s my plane taking off, in case you were wondering! Ha!)
Rach xxx
