Packing 101: On going light

You’ve planned ant epic holiday adventure and you’ve stuffed your oversized suitcase so full that you have to sit on it to zip it shut.  You checked your bag, boarded the plane and now you’re sipping prosecco flipping through in-flight movie selection.   Life is good.

Hours later, you land, clear customs and groggily wait for your bag to circle around on the carousel.  But, the carousel spins to a halt and your beloved bag is nowhere to be found. It’s a sinking feeling, even more compounded with the thundering drudgery of jet lag.

Well, years ago, it happened to me twice, on two consecutive trips…and it is pretty irritating.  The first time, it took my bags 4 days to catch up to me, the second time, 3 days.  Since then, I’ve never, ever checked a bag, ever. Even in winter, if you follow a few simple tips, you can easily pack for two weeks and never again chance losing your luggage again!

Vacation is made for relaxation.  Don’t let lost luggage throw a wrench into your holiday plans!

My foolproof plan

 Start with a color scheme

….and it doesn’t have to be basic black and white. Fun it up, incorporate color, after all, you are on HOLIDAY! Bring separates that can be interchanged, so that you can multiply your looks.

Leave the denim at home.

Denim is heavy and doesn’t dry quickly, opt for cute leggings, flowy tops instead.

Pack clothes that are breathable and dry fit.

Athletaand Title Nine are always great options for stylish looks.

Pack lightweight, playfully patterned scarves.

Scarves will help you change up your looks and in summer, it’s great to carry a scarf with you to protect your shoulders from the sun or pop into a cathedral.

Leave the heavy guides books at home.

A Kindle Paperwhite comes in very handy, plus you can load it up with recreational reads for long flights. Kindle unlimited features a number of great travel guides to check out.  Our favorite picks for travel guides are the DK Eyewitness Guides or the Lonely Planet guides.

Pack a collapsible tote.

That way you can check your bag on the flight home (who cares if they lose your dirty laundry?) and you can fill the duffle with your prized market loot.  My personal favorite is the Tumi Just in Case tote.It’s extremely durable, can hold quite a bit and packs down into a small zippered pouch when empty.

Say no to shoes.

Let’s face it, we all love shoes.  The first long trip I ever took, I packed 13 pairs of shoes. We have just two feet. My standard go-to shoe is now a tan suede slip-on sneaker for active days and a dressy (yet comfy) pair of beige sandals for evenings out.  A pair of flip flops is also handy to wear your room / apartment or to the beach.  You can use the extra luggage space to do some shoe shopping abroad.  Spring for a pair of Dysfunctionalsin Lisbon or choose from the wildly colored leather babouche from the souks in Marrakesh.

Deal with your dirties.

Pack flat dryer sheets and a large ziplock or contained bag for dirty clothes. When staying in a hotel, I like to send my personal items out for service at least once during the trip. If you are staying in an apartment, always look for an apartment with a washing machine.

Stay dry.

A foldable rain jacket/windbreaker is a must. You never know when the weather is going to turn and there is nothing more miserable than being sopping wet for hours.

Leave your big handbags at home.

Carry a small cross-body bag and a backpack for the items that you need with you at all times. The cross-body bag can go into your backpack during boarding. A small drawstring backpack is also super handy for when you’re out hiking, cycling, trail running or kayaking.

To see a list of everything that we back in our backpack, click here.

Happy packing chicas! Until next time!