8 golden rules of packing for a trip
Packing for an overseas trip can be important. Take too much and you’re going to be burdened by a heavy suitcase. Too little and you’re going to be ill-equipped to handle weather changes.
We’ve taken a look at the eight golden rules for packing for an overseas vacation. As long as you keep these rules in mind (and remember your toothbrush) your holiday should be a success.
1. Invest in a good suitcase – And we can’t stress this one enough! Making sure your suitcase or bag is up to date is the best way to ensure you have as much space as possible. Also, make sure you decorate your suitcase with ribbons, stickers or even in extreme cases a self-portrait as this man did, to ensure that you are easily able to pick it up when you notice it on the baggage carousel.
2. Pack according to the climate – Try to be versatile with your clothing and tailor your outfits to the climate of your destination. Pack enough underwear for a week and a carefully chosen array of mix-and-match items that can be worn with each other. It’s better to pack lighter and most places you’ll be visiting should have some sort of laundry facilities available for longer, more extensive trips.
3. Roll rather than fold your clothes – Creases are the curse of anyone trying to extensively travel with a big wardrobe. By rolling your clothes you’ll free up a lot of valuable space in your bag and suitcase and ensure they’re not nearly as creased when it comes time to wear them.
4. Consider alternative to jeans – While your denim jeans probably are an integral part of most of your outfits, they’re actually taking up a lot of space, easily absorb dirt and odours and can take days to air dry. You’re really much better off with pants made of cotton or materials like khaki.
5. Underwear – Even if you’re going on an extended holiday you don’t want to be taking more than seven days’ worth of underwear. There will be plenty of opportunities on the road to wash your clothes and you don’t need more than a week of undergarments to tide you by really.
6. Go for a minimalist approach with items – Sure a holiday wouldn’t be complete without your favourite book, but these take up valuable suitcase space and can be quite a headache to carry around. Instead, adopt a minimalist approach and consider alternatives like a kindle.
7. Don’t be a diva – Sure, without your hairdryer you may not be able to achieve your classic wave look, but this might be one of those instances where you just have to grit your teeth and bear it.
8. Don’t stress about forgetting something – It’s nice to think you’ve got all your ducks in a row, but if you have found out you’ve forgotten something, don’t beat yourself up over it. Everywhere in the world sells toothpaste, soap and shampoo and you can find replacements easily along the way.
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