So you’re planning for a big vacation but don’t want to have to lug around a bunch of giant suitcases. Well what if I told you I went on a three week trip abroad with just a small carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Yes, packing light while having everything you need is possible, just by keeping in mind a few simple tips. Below you’ll find a step by step guide to lead you towards minimalist packing success.
Check The Weather
Before you can even start throwing stuff in your suitcase, you have to know what you’re going to be dealing with. A week or so before your trip, check out the weather forecast and get a sense of the possible daily temperatures. Is it going to be hot during the day, but breezy at night? Are you traveling during the winter season, where you’ll need gloves and a coat? For extra reassurance, call your hotel or any local business at your travel destination. They will usually be happy to give you an inside scoop of common weather patterns in the area. There is no point in packing clothes that you will never wear, so don’t just guess. Look it up.
Think About Activities
While packing, also keep in mind what activities you plan on doing. This will help you with organization and making sure you don’t forget any essential items (or more importantly, pack any unnecessary ones). For example, if you know you’ll be doing a significant amount of walking, consider bringing a pair of supportive shoes. Or if you are spending time at the beach, don’t forget a swimsuit and sunglasses. Having these specific items in mind (I find it very helpful to write them down), will make your packing more efficient. Now of course, you don’t always have a set itinerary. In such instances, bring a small variety of comfy, casual, and nice and you should be set.
Capsule Wardrobe
Now the hard part. I always struggled with picking out clothes, till I discovered the famed Capsule Wardrobe method. The key to this, is finding several outfits that you can mix and match. When you choose a pair of pants, make sure it will look good with most if not all your shirts and visa versa. This is best accomplished when you use neutral colors, such as white, black, beige, and blue. Don’t sweat if you don’t have these specific colors. Only pack clothes that you love and will enjoy wearing. Although, I’ve found the more colors you add, the harder it can be, so keep that in mind. Also don’t forget about shoes. Try to only bring up to three pairs and again make sure they match a variety of outfits. Also big space saver, only pack enough clothes for half of your trip. This will work, because during your vacay you’ll have laundry to do and be able to rewear clothes. Below, I have made an exemplar packing list to help you get a better sense of this method.
MY 3 WEEK PACKING LIST FOR EUROPE – CLOTHES
- pair of jeans
- pair of slacks/elevated joggers
- pair of sweatpants/leggings
- pair of shorts
- a patterned dress
- 1 or 2 tank tops
- 2 or 3 shirts/blouses
- a light jacket
- a sweater
- 4-6 pair of undergarments each
- a swimsuit
- pair of sandles
- pair of tennis shoes
- nice pair of ‘going out’ shoes
Army Roll It
Successfully packing light involves more than what you pack, but also how you pack. Having a bit of a strategy when organizing your suitcase is a game changer for packing more in a smaller space. Throughout my travels so far, I have tried organizing several different ways, and the one I had the most success with was army rolling. There’s a reason this method is taught in the army. It’s quick and easy to do and saves a decent amount of space. Not only is this helpful for packing, but it keeps your suitcase tidy. Also this method is also known to prevent wrinkles, so that’s always a plus. Although I would suggest avoiding wrinkle-prone close regardless, as it eliminates the hassle of constantly ironing. If you don’t know how to army roll, there are several tutorials on YouTube that will have you doing it like a pro in no time.
Separate Your Toiletries
My final tip for you, is to separate toiletries and any other random items, throughout your suitcase. If you put all of your toiletries in one bulky bag, you can loose a good amount of packing space. I usually divide up my things in plastic sandwich bags and stuff it in between my clothes. If you’re still tight on space, you can always buy some items at your destination.
*Also bonus tip! Don’t forget about that backpack or purse. This gives you an easy-access place to pack things as well.