Vacations are supposed to helping people enjoy some rest and relaxation. But they can also create their own set of headaches, like how and what to pack. Do you really need four pairs of shoes? How many formal dinners take place? What if it rains? And is it too much to pack a different swimsuit for each day of your beach getaway?
According to Pamela Holttravel expert and executive producer/host of Me, Me and the World: The Art of Solo TravelPacking too many unimportant things is the number one mistake people make when packing.
“Having traveled alone to over 90 countries and territories, I would say that overpacking and forgetting certain essentials are my most common packing mishaps – and it seems to be a common problem for most people when packing their baggage,” Holt told Yahoo Life. .
Another common mistake she sees is people not giving themselves enough time to pack. “In an ideal world, I like to start the packing process five to seven days before my trip,” says Holt. “That doesn’t mean I start packing five to seven days early, but I start taking stock of what I’m going to take with me.”
Holt says getting a head start on packing gives travelers plenty of time to plan their outfits, gather travel documents, do laundry and stock up on essentials such as prescriptions, which can take a few days to complete – without feeling rushed or stressed.
What else can you do to avoid worrying about what to pack (besides shelling out huge baggage fees to take everything with you)? Here's how to simplify the process.
How to Pack Like a Travel Pro
“When it comes to packing for a trip, the number one problem most people have is feeling overwhelmed,” Janice Moskoff of Get together and go on a journey tells Yahoo Life.
To take the guesswork out of what to bring, how much to bring, and which luggage is best, Moskoff recommends starting with a packing list, which can be universal or tailored to your specific destination. “I love reusable, comprehensive checklists because they allow me to turn off my overloaded brain and go through it completely automatically when I'm preparing for a trip,” says Moskoff.
Once you're ready to start packing, Moskoff recommends the following tips:
Go heavy on the highs and light on the lows. Use a ratio of three tops to one bottom when packing to give yourself more flexibility in your outfits without taking up extra space, she suggests.
Invest in compression packing cubes. In addition to maximizing your space, using these cubes will help keep your items better organized. For example, use one cube for the top and another for the bottom, which will allow them to function as dresser drawers in your luggage.
Roll your clothes. Roll your clothes tightly rather than folding them, even if you use packing cubes. Rolled clothes will take up less space.
Use refillable, easy-to-clean travel bottles for toiletries. Invest in TSA Approved Reusable Bottles easy to fill and label for shampoos, conditioners, cleansers and other personal care products. Using them will take up less space and streamline packaging.
And the children?
“Packing for kids takes time, energy, effort and space,” says Moskoff. Here's what she suggests doing to make it feel less like a chore:
Pack by outfit, then roll up the outfit. The biggest time saver for parents is to create complete outfits for each day of the trip – bottoms, tops, underwear, socks and sweatshirts (if necessary) – then roll the entire outfit into one roll of sushi style. Not only will your kids find this clever and fun, but you'll also simplify the question of what to wear for each vacation day.
Bring extras of everything. Children have accidents, get sick and get dirty. If you don't have easy access to laundry or want to avoid doing it on vacation, bring the basics you need most (like t-shirts and underwear).
Bring a full change of clothes and pajamas in your carry-on bag. If your family plans to check baggage, take emergency clothing on board in case of accident, illness or lost baggage. Everyone will be grateful for the fresh clothes.
Start asking your children to help you pack from a young age. Make a packing list and let them check off items as they pack. Moskoff suggests making things more fun by attaching the list to an official-looking clipboard and giving them their own pen. “Over the years, this will teach them how to pack,” she said. “I promise it’s worth the investment of time and energy.” By their early teens, my children could pack their bags independently without my help. This might be one of the best gifts I've ever given myself to reclaim time.
