5 Tips for Traveling Efficiently
With a new year just beginning, so is the onset of lots of exciting travel — and one of the most challenging things in my opinion is packing efficiently. Though I am by no means a minimalist when it comes to traveling, I did spend a year of my life traveling for work once a month for an entire week, so I have gotten efficient packing down to a science that works for me. Here are five tips that have helped my traveling process immensely!
1 — packing cubes. Something that has helped my packing tremendously (both organizationally and in the care and keeping of my garments) is by purchasing a set of packing cubes. You can shop my exact ones here. I am able to organize my clothing by type, and I carefully roll each piece and pack into the cubes, that way I know exactly where to find each piece. Alternatively, you could pack each day into one cube if you plan your outfits to the day while you’re away.
2 — create a mini capsule wardrobe. This is an important step that I take into consideration when I am prepping for my travel. When I am assessing the activities or excursions on a particular trip, I try and ensure that pieces on my packing list can overlap with others, that way I am taking as few pieces as possible.
3 — plan + visualize your outfits. This is a key step for me — and one that might seem over the top, but it is extremely helpful. I only started this recently, but I try on each outfit and take a photo in it, that way I know exactly what my intention is for each piece I pack, and each piece has an outfit and will be used. I used to throw in a few extra pieces as ‘just in case pieces’, yet those pieces never got worn because it didn’t belong with a full outfit. You can always pack an extra outfit or two, but this ensures that you pack with intention. To take it a step further, you can even make a collage to help you visualize even more. I enjoy doing this when I’m packing for a trip with specific events or excursions and you need to remember which pieces fit for those events.
4 — leave a bit of room. This is a must for me — chances are, I might come home with a new treat and I always try and leave a bit of room. Something I love is having a special piece of clothing or jewelry to represent a memorable trip, especially if it means a trip to a vintage store. It also always seems that packing to come home never is as seamless as my packing ahead of time.
5 — Invest in quality luggage. Not only are my packing cubes lifesavers, but I am grateful for high-quality luggage that I know will carry my items well. I love Calpak luggage. I have a large hard-shell suitcase, as well as a hat box. This brand is my trusty go-to and always keeps my items, even fragile ones, safe while traveling. I also much prefer a hard suitcase over a soft-shell one. I also prefer a larger suitcase, that way I can be sure to pack in one piece of luggage; this makes for seamless travel through the airports (and my husband always appreciates fewer pieces of luggage).
I hope these tips are helpful as you prepare for your upcoming travel plans. Bon Voyage!
