After the plans have been made, the next thing to consider is what you’re going to pack to take on your trip. And that involves deciding how much to take, which bag to take, how much it’ll cost to take, and worrying about whether it’s going to get lost, what with all of the airline issues we face. It’s a lot to think about! That’s why Real Food Traveler is offering up Editor’s Pick Travel Packing Hacks, sharing our experiences and tips. You’ll end up packing wisely, concisely, and you’ll save money and stress. 

Save this article to Pinterest to help you pack smarter for your next trip. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Travel Packing Hacks – 11 Things to Keep in Mind

1. Forget about having a separate outfit for each day (including a separate one for each night). That’s the #1 mistake people make when packing and it leads to having more luggage than you need (or want to pay for or handle). The Big Idea: Except for the people you are traveling with, no one is going to know you’re wearing the same black pants you wore two days ago. Get that out of your head and have fun creating different looks through clever use of mixing and matching (fewer) complimentary pieces with accents. And, hey, if the people you are with take note, they’ll forgive you because they don’t have to help you lug your unnecessary suitcases around. As for everyone else, you’re probably never going to see them again so put your ease of travel ahead of worrying about what strangers may think.

Worry less about what other people think of what you’re wearing and give more energy to having fun. Photo courtesy Pixabay.com.

2. Look at the overall color scheme of your wardrobe. Is there a pattern? Take advantage of what you already have and base your wardrobe choices off of that simple color palette grouping like black/tan/white or blue/black/pink or tan/blue/red – the idea is to create outfit combos that can mix and match and go with each other because they play off of the same set of colors. I lay my options out on my bed – the tops in one row and bottoms in another. I survey them to see what I can mix and match i.e. “that black top will go with the white pants, tan shorts, and blue skirt. That blue skirt, will go with the white shirt, black top, and white T.” Don’t believe it can be done? Recently, I packed for a two week cruise in the Mediterranean, taking six solid color tops that coordinated with six pairs of pants plus a basic black sweater. Everything fit in one carryon bag and I looked great every day.

3. Add color accents to that chosen color palette. For instance, say you picked black/tan/white (my personal favorite base set of colors for travel.) Pack a couple of scarves or shawls in a bold color or pattern that make that combo look fresh. Also accent with jewelry – gold, silver, or colors. Bonus: Scarves, shawls, and jewelry don’t take up much room in your suitcase despite their big wardrobe impact.

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4. Never underestimate an all-black or all-white outfit. Not only can a mono-chromatic outfit be flattering (it’s elongating), but the sky’s the limit when it comes to accessorizing to make the outfit look new. Think ties, scarves, kimonos, and jewelry. Bonus: on cruises, “white nights” are common where everyone is encouraged to wear white as they dine and dance the night away.

Pack white and black pieces that can changed up with colorful accessories. Photo courtesy Pixabay.com.

5. I’m a total convert for Packing Cubes. They have multiple benefits including A) being able to group items such as underwear in one, tops in another, and bottoms in another; B) unzip and fold back the lids and slide each cube into dresser drawers at your lodging which means you never have to really unpack (which makes re-packing easy); C) If you have to open your suitcase at the airport for some reason, everything isn’t going to come spilling out – it’s always contained and visible; D) Because the cubes are soft-sided and filled with soft items, it’s easy to squeeze them into a suitcase; E) airport security seems less likely to go through your stuff if it’s neatly rolled and cubed (they’ll still x-ray it so don’t try anything funny). Unpack anything that could wrinkle like a shirt or skirt but otherwise, you can keep everything organized in the cubes.

6. Try to avoid packing things that wrinkle, for that matter. It’s just added hassle to try to iron them or steam them to get the wrinkles out. There are tons of clothes out there that won’t wrinkle and look great.

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7. When it comes to toiletries, simplify and pack for ease of use. Do you really need five hair products? Do you really need all seven steps to your makeup/skincare routine? Pare down to only what’s essential. You can get back to your full routine when you get back home.

You don’t need all of your toiletries when you travel. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Photo courtesy Pixabay.com.

8. To make packing toiletries easier, keep your essentials packed and ready to go at all times. I bought a toiletries travel bag that I hang on a bathroom hook. It has space for all of my toiletries and the jewelry I want to take (I love the top row for dividing colors of earrings and bracelets to go with clothes I packed. The long segment is perfect for necklaces which I lay across a soft cloth, spaced apart, and roll up. The toiletries travel bag folds into thirds and doesn’t take up much room in my suitcase. I make sure to replenish anything I need as soon as I get home so it’s ready to go for the next trip.

9. If swimming is going to be part of your getaway, take two suits because the one you wore yesterday might not be dry enough to try to maneuver onto your body the next day. OR, make sure the one you bring is quick-drying and hang it over the shower rod as soon as you get back to your room.

10. With a few exceptions, try not to bring a separate outfit for evenings. Sure, there’ll be times when you want to put on something special that couldn’t /shouldn’t be worn during the day. But overall, if you can wear something basic and dress it up with a jacket, shawl, different jewelry, tie, etc., you can go seamlessly from day-to-night and still look like you’re wearing something new and special.

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11. My last travel packing hack is to keep your “desert island” items with you. By this, I mean have your “personal item” contain essential toiletries, prescription meds, a few pair of underwear, and a couple of versatile outfits. If you’ve selected items according to the advice above, those things should fit in a backpack that can also fit under the seat in front of you on a plane or in the overhead. Heaven-forbid-but-it-can-happen, your checked bag got lost, you’d still have enough of the essentials to get by for a few days. It’s far better than being caught with nothing you need!

– Story by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Real Food Traveler Publisher and Managing Editor

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Use these travel packing hacks to save money, space, time, and stress. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.