“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ~ St. Augustine
https://samantha-brown.com/ideas/10-inspirational-travel-quotes/
Packing can be fun!
Ok, I may be weird but packing for my trip is actually one of my favorite things about traveling! I get excited about organizing everything, using all my cool travel gadgets and packing tricks; it’s like figuring out a puzzle. If you want to look forward to packing instead of dreading it, then read on for some of my favorite tips and tricks.
#1: Always do carry-on…
I have found ways to fit everything I need for a two week roadtrip in one carry-on suitcase and a backpack. It IS possible do to carry-on for pretty much any trip if you just get creative. On my two-week road trip I used my London Fog carry-on which is a 20″ expandable spinner. Mine is a super cute muted pink and gray herringbone design I got a few years ago so not sure they make that one anymore but any 20″ expandable spinner will do. The expanding part is the trick. Plus you can avoid the awful drama of losing your checked luggage or waiting at the luggage carousel which is my own personal hell.
If I am going for a shorter trip, like three to five days, then I actually use this ETronik Duffel Bag I got through Amazon. Check it out if you prefer the duffle bag route and don’t want to lug a carry-on behind you all over the airport. It has several great compartments, including a bottom area to keep your shoes separate. It’s 40% off right now for so down from $49.99 to $29.97, a deal you can’t beat. You can find more amazing tips on packing with a carry-on by visiting Samantha Brown’s Places to Love. She’s a genius when it comes to all things travel and I just adore her.
#2: Get compression packing cubes…
This one is a total lifesaver for two reasons: you can organize all your clothes by the size of the cube you use and/or color combos if you choose AND you can pack at least 2-3x more clothes by using them. You don’t need any special tools or anything as these are not those vacuum sealed monstrosities, this is a zip compression system. I got mine at Amazon at a very reasonable price and it is just the best thing ever.
#3: Use travel-size toiletries or get toiletry pouches…
I’m talking about your shampoo, conditioner, face wash, moisturizer, toothpaste, face serum, etc. I use a shampoo bar every day so that’s not an issue for me but if you don’t, try using one for travel. My favorite is the Jumping Juniper by Lush. It’s small but mighty and smells like heaven. I actually look forward to my hair wash days because of this shampoo bar, it’s that great. You can get a travel-size conditioner and pretty much every other product in a travel-size at either Sephora or Ulta, depending on your poison. For some brands you may have to go directly to their website to find their travel sets but I’ve only found a few that did not have this offering.
If you have an item that you cannot get in a travel size, I suggest using these travel pouches from Amazon. You can get 17 of these thin pouches with labels and can put most anything in them. I use them for face wash or body wash but they can also be used for shampoo, conditioner, lotion, basically any liquid or cream you need to bring. And they are so compact, laying nearly flat in your toiletry case.
#4 Roll your clothes…
This one is an oldie but goodie and I swear by it. I recently tested it out to the max when I went on a week long trip to Ohio. On the way there I used my packing cubes and thought, hmmm I won’t roll this time because I have cubes, right? Wrong. On the way there I did not roll anything, just folded it all into my packing cubes and it was a super tight fit. On the way back I wanted to use one of my packing cubes for small dirty laundry items which means I had to reorganize to get more room. I rolled everything and was able to use one of my smaller packing cubes just for those items and had space to spare. Lesson learned. Roll your clothes; it works, end of story.
#5 If in doubt, ask Samantha Brown…
If you love traveling and just want to find some great all-around ideas for all things travel, I cannot recommend Samantha Brown enough. She has been a travel guru for well over twenty years now and is a genius at everything to do with travel and packing. She’s fun, practical, and has so much knowledge and experience in all things travel. Plus you can see all of the amazing places she’s traveled. For this time of year, I love her tips on how to manage houseguests for the holiday. It’s just solid gold.
I hope if you have to travel for the holidays in the next week or two that some of these tips will help you have a more enjoyable and stress-free trip. I find the most important part of enjoying travel is having a positive mindset. Expect that things may not go perfectly and just be prepared to roll with it. Bring snacks, an empty water bottle to fill up at the airport, some downloaded content with your fave headphones, and a great book. Remember, you’re on vacation!
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