My Top Travel Tips & Tricks!

Summer means traveling for most people, me included; I’ve taken a few trips over the past few months where I have been able to pack everything in a carry-on suitcase. I always get asked how I’m able to fit everything in such a small roller bag. So, with that said, I thought I would share some of my best tips and tricks I use to pack so lightly!

*Please keep in mind, that these tips are for someone with a tiny shoe size which means my shoes do not take up as much room in the packing process*

1. Write everything down that you think you want to pack -- the “Pack This” pre-made item sheet is my favorite way to stay organized when packing. This takes less than five minutes to just do a quick scan of the page and guess how much you need of each thing.

2. Lay everything out before folding in the suitcase - Even if you have more laid out than you probably need, that’s okay! That’s what this step is for. Going through the list and then standing in your closet and staring at your options. Take out everything written down, do not edit down just yet.

3. Stare at the new piles -- Once you have your piles out in front of you, now is the time to go through and simmer down. Hold your list and look at each pile in front of you, then ask yourself if you really need that many of whatever item it is. This process is easier if you have a washing plan in place for the trip. For longer trips, I like to pack for 5-7 days and wash every other day or so -- this might be too many repeated outfits for some people, but it’s fine with me.

4. Pack everything as neatly as possible in your suitcase -- take advantage of the space by using Ziploc bags and squeezing all of the air out of them to make them as flat as possible (this is how I packed for a week long camping trips in elementary and middle school). You can also save space by stuffing smaller items such as underwear and socks inside your shoes.

   1. Bonus Tip: Wear your bulkiest items while traveling -- for example: I always wear tennis shoes on the plane because they are usually the bulkiest shoes I bring unless I am going on a winter vacation, then I will wear my boots.

5. If you don’t have a washer and dryer accessible to you, pack a mini bottle of Woolite -- the best way to pack less is to ensure that you’re able to wash your clothes; even if that means in the sink and hanging them to dry. That way, the length of time the clothes are wearable increases drastically.