As promised, I’m going to continue answering some of the questions I hear most often from clients. These are questions that go a bit more in depth, so I’ll share more in the coming weeks.
“Jennifer, you’ve mentioned trying to only travel with a carry on bag, how is that possible?”
I’ve got several tricks to share with you when it comes to packing light. Obviously different trips call for different wardrobes. The suitcase you pack for a week in the tropics will look very different than the one you pack when you head to Europe. This week I’ll tackle the Europe suitcase.
#1 – Start with the shoes. Wear your bulkiest pair on the plane, pack another pair. Maybe two pair if they are small. Build your outfits around the shoes, not the other way around.
#2 – Stick to a simple color palette. Black is my go to, adding color with accessories as I go along. Mixing and matching tops and pants will stretch your wardrobe easily.
#3 – Utilize pieces of clothing that you can dress up, or keep casual for different looks as you travel.
#4 – Leave the bulky items at home, if you’re traveling to a climate that requires you to dress warmly, go with layers rather than bulk.
#5 – Leave the hairdryer at home! Should you arrive and there not be one in your room, there is always one available at the front desk.
#6 – I use packing cubes as well as the rolling method, instead of folding my clothes. Done well, rolling prevents wrinkles and utilizes the space more efficiently. The packing cubes keep things nice and neat within the suitcase, especially when you get pulled aside for special screening when they open your bag. You don’t have to worry about items falling out.
#7 – Don’t pack for the worst case scenario. You can always buy things in destination if need be and support a local business in the process.
#8 – Depending on your itinerary and the pace at which you travel, local dry cleaners or laundry facilities can be integrated as well.
#9 – Plan out what items you’ll be wearing each day, keeping in mind that you don’t need two outfits every day for most itineraries. Perhaps there is a fancy dinner you are planning where dressing up a bit would be appropriate, however, that can most often be accomplished by changing out accessories rather than a completely different outfit that you will only wear once during your trip.
#10 – Keep a record of what items you used the most and what didn’t get worn. Refer back to that as you pack for your next vacation. It’s an easy list to leave in your suitcase between vacations.
Hopefully these are tips you can put into practice sooner rather than later, when the time is right for you to travel again comfortably.
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