Finally booking a hotel room, placing a flight order, and establishing an itinerary sounds easy — but if you are dealing with a chaotic suitcase (overstuffed, incorrectly packed, missing key items) you will feel overwhelmed during the travel process. Packing usually appears easy; however, there are some small mistakes that may cause you to be stressed out before arriving to your destination.
Packing tends to be treated as an afterthought/last minute chore (putting clothes into a bag, zip it up, and voila!). This overall mentality of “just in case” usually leads to mistakes and frustration either in the airport or at your destination.
Mistake One: Packing Too Many Clothes
Many travelers have the mentality of wanting to be prepared for every possible scenario that may arise, which leads to overpacking; e.g. what if there is an occasion for a nice dinner?, what if I need to go outside but it might rain?, what if I want to wear different shoes?, etc. Before you know it, your suitcase is too heavy to carry! One way to avoid this problem is to pack pieces of clothing that can easily be mixed/matched with other clothing pieces. Wearing neutral color schemes, lightweight fabrics, and variety of clothing items will help save space in your suitcase and make decisions about what to wear throughout the trip easier. Less clothing ultimately gives you more freedom!
The second error in packing is not using packing cubes. If you have never used packing cubes, you are likely wasting valuable space in your suitcase. Without packing organizers, your clothing tends to shift while traveling, to wrinkle and to create a chaotic mess of clothing that requires searching through everything once you arrive at your destination to find socks. Using packing cubes will allow you to keep like items grouped together such as shirts with shirts, underwear in one place, and accessories in another place. This will keep your bag organized and will also make it easier to repack.
The third packing error is using a cheap suitcase. This is probably the most painful packing error (both physically and financially). When you use a cheap suitcase with bad wheels or weak zippers, it is likely to break down when you least expect it. If you are dragging a suitcase that wobbles through a busy airport or you are struggling with a broken zipper while traveling, this is not a happy travel experience. Using a well-built suitcase with 4 smooth wheel rolls, sturdy handles and strong zippers makes it easier to move through an airport with less fatigue. Purchasing quality luggage is an investment in your comfort.
Many people place little value in their carry-on bags… however, in addition to some basic clothing and shoes in a larger suitcase, you can also carry important items here. This small piece of luggage can hold items that are crucial to have during the flight – your passport, wallet, medicine, portable electronic devices (such as a tablet, phone, Kindle), and anything else of importance. You also do not want to open up your full-size suitcase when trying to retrieve something from inside. A well-organized carry-on will have your most important items easily accessible, helping to alleviate needless stress while boarding a plane and disembarking from it.
As for toiletries…
Full-sized shampoo bottles or skin care products take up room in your luggage and can easily leak all over everything in your suitcase, but many airports require that you follow specific liquid restrictions at the security check-in, so travel-sized containers or reusable and non-leaking containers would be a better choice. Not only will they help you save space, prevent leaks, and keep your clothing from being ruined by an accidental soap spill, but they will help you make a great first impression on the airline staff!
Packing errors generally arise from over-compensating rather than forgetting items. Fear drives people to overpack; fear of not having enough or fear of being unprepared. Efficiently packing, therefore, involves balance.
The next time you pack for a trip, try thinking lighter and smarter. A properly packed suitcase will not only make travelling easier but will help to set the tone for a more relaxed overall travel experience from the start.
The end goal is not to take every possession you own, but rather to have the ability to move freely and have an enjoyable travel experience.
