Packing is one of the things Iâm best at. Seriously, ask my mother, whoâs been having me pack for her since I was 7. Between my parentâs travel-oriented jobs, summer mission trips, and working at a summer camp, Iâve spent a good bit of my life living out of a suitcase, and Iâve pretty much mastered the whole packing thing by now. And you can too! Just think of me as your travel Yoda.Â
get the right luggage for the trip
Regulations allow you to have two carry on bags - one personal item (purse or laptop bag, or item similar in size) and another bag. They can be no larger than 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches, though at least one should be much smaller.
Rolling bags - small as a carry-on, or larger if youâre checking a bag.
Backpacks - day packs for little things, or backpacking size for your main bag.
Tote bags - DONâT overpack these! Just keep the essentials in here so you donât break your back.
A small cross-body bag to keep your passport in. Keep it on you at all times, lest you forget your backpack on a bus in Paris with no one around that speaks English to help you, not that that happened to me.
Remember that if youâre checking a bag it needs to be under 50 pounds or youâll be charged extra.
Basically anything! You have a lot of flexibility here, just be mindful that youâll be sharing the space with other peopleâs bags, and having to ride in it â nobody likes sitting in an overpacked backseat.
what to take in your carry-on
Important travel documents (passport, boarding pass, copy of hotel reservations, etc)
Earbuds (and music on your phone)
A book, ebook, or magazine (donât go crazy and bring your whole bookshelf - one is enough)
A journal and pen, for making note of important things or filling out customs forms.
A light hoodie â planes are cold!
Some snacks (that donât smell â be kind to your fellow flyers)
An empty water bottle â fill it up when youâre past security.
Any medications you have, in their original bottle if theyâre prescription.
A change of clothes, in case your luggage is lost.
A foldable tote bag, so that when you get to your gate you can take the essentials (phone, charger, book, snacks) out of your main bag to store under your seat, and stow the rest in the overhead bins.
If youâre traveling with film, be sure to keep it in your carry on and take it out for TSA to hand check â the x-rays will ruin it otherwise.
Anything that you couldnât live without if your luggage
Donât forget that liquids need to be under 3.4oz and in one 1 quart clear bag and taken out at security, so donât bury them at the bottom of the bag.
Laptops also need to be in their own tray, so keep it handy! (tablets are fine to stay in your bag though!)
Pack everything you think you need, then take it all out and cull anything that youâre not positive you will need. Repeat until youâre left with only the basics.
If you donât wear it at home, you wonât wear it there. Only pack stuff you love.
Bring stuff that works for multiple outfits â if you can only wear it once, it stays at home.
Exception: Youâre going somewhere for a specific event, like a wedding. In that case, please donât leave a bridesmaid dress at home or wear it multiple times that trip, cause like, thatâs weird.
Side note: this should go without saying, but this does not apply to underwear.
Check the weather, and avoid the whole âBut what if it rains and I need an umbrella!â bit.
Have a general idea of what youâll be doing and what youâll need to wear, for the same reason as above.
Make a list before you even open your closet â that way youâll know how many shirts you need up front, instead of doing the whole âoooohhh this is cute, Iâll pack it. and this, and this, and thisâ thing where you eventually spiral into insanity, and bring roughly 30 shirts with you.
A small cross-body bag to keep your passport, phone, and wallet handy.
Ziplock bags in every size. Bring extras, youâll need them.
Packing cubes, to keep your black hole of a backpack from eating your socks.
Hanging toiletries organizer. Seriously my favorite purchase ever. It has saved me so much time and hassle, Iâll never travel without it.
Iâm a huge believer in using makeup bags to organize everything. Chargers, snacks, hair ties, you name it.Â
A light hoodie or raincoat
A slightly dressy outfit in case you wanna go out for a nice dinner
More underwear than you think you need
Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss/a dentist
Shampoo (I love bars for flying!)
Anything you use in your nightly/daily routine
Ask for samples at Sephora/department stores to get TSA friendly sizes of makeup/lotion/whatever
Never keep your passport or wallet in a backpack â make sure itâs somewhere that you can keep an eye on, especially in crowded areas.
Your bag will get five pounds heavier on the way to the airport. I donât know how, but trust me, it will happen. Make sure youâve got some wiggle room on that 50lb limit.
Always pack less than you think you need. Not having to deal with the stress of heavy bags is worth leaving behind a shirt or two â you donât need options like you think you do!
Leave room for souvenirs! Youâll come back with more than you take, even if you donât think youâll be shopping.
RANGER ROLL! It saves sooo much space.Â
Have fun, and donât stress! If you forget it, you can pick up always pick up another when you get there.
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