How I Pack Light for Trips Overseas
The things that should — and shouldn’t — be in your suitcase
No one understands the struggle of trying to zip up a backpack or piece of luggage that won’t close better than I do. As someone who travels on budget airlines frequently — and takes advantage of their value fares that only include a personal item — I have quite literally packed an entire week’s worth of clothes into a handbag before. And no, I don’t have Mary Poppin’s magical bag. But I have learned what I actually need on trips, and what I would be better off leaving behind.
Let’s start with the essentials:
- Sweaters/jackets
I learned the necessity of bringing clothes that you can layer the hard way. On a trip to Spain, my friend and I didn’t bother to pack anything besides sundresses and swimsuits, thinking that it would be hot the entire time. When we arrived it was cloudy and only about 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit, and although it did get warmer over the next few days, we still found ourselves wishing we’d brought jackets. So unless you’re 100% sure that it’s going to be hot (especially in the evenings when the sun goes down!) it’s always a good idea to bring a couple of sweaters you can throw on over your lighter clothes.
2. Plug adapters
Investing in a universal plug adapter was one of the best investments I ever made. Since I got it I’ve brought it on every trip I’ve taken, which has allowed me to use electronics (phone and laptop charger, etc) all over the world without having to purchase a new adapter for each country/region.
3. Your destination’s currency
This one isn’t an absolute rule, and will require a little bit of research ahead of time to see if the country you’re going to uses mainly credit/debit cards or cash, but I always like to bring at least a little bit along just in case. Even in countries where most people accept cards, there may still be exceptions, such as vendors at markets (which you absolutely should go to!), cab drivers, and buses. It’s best to get your money exchanged in your home country and bring it with you (rather than relying on exchanging it upon arrival) because otherwise, you could find yourself in a tricky situation — a few years ago I nearly got stuck at the airport because the bus I’d been planning to take only accepted euros, and I didn’t have any yet.
On the flip side of things, here are the top three things I never pack:
- Curling irons, flat irons, and hair dryers
Or basically any hair styling tools that need to be plugged in. For one thing, they’re fairly bulky, but for another thing, electrical appliances that work in one country or continent often won’t work in others due to different voltages (the plug adapters mentioned above are great for things like laptops, but will not help you convert voltage). Plus, most hotels will provide hairdryers, which can be combined with a round brush to replicate certain styles if needed.
2. Lots of dressy clothing
There are of course exceptions to this — for example, if you’re traveling overseas for a wedding or special event — but for a typical vacation, I never bring high heels or fancy dresses. They simply take up too much space that I could use for clothing I’ll be much more likely to wear.
3. Towels
Contrary to what most travel articles will tell you, I actually do like to bring my own shampoo (in a travel-size bottle, of course) when I go overseas. But I never bring my own towels because they take up a ton of space, and the vast majority of hotels will provide them for you. I have stayed in a few hostels that don’t provide towels, but generally, they do have some available to rent — a much cheaper option than having to pay for a checked bag full of towels.
Sometimes, even after prioritizing in this way, you’ll still find yourself with less room in your luggage than you need. This is where my one last piece of advice comes in. Wear your bulkiest items to the airport. No matter what the rules are regarding the size and weight of your personal item or carry-on, there are no rules about how much clothing you can wear! I try to use this to my advantage. For example, if I want to take a pair of jeans on a trip, those are generally the bulkiest type of trousers to pack — so I wear those to the airport rather than leggings or shorts. The same goes for boots and fluffy sweaters. You can even layer multiple shirts (t-shirt, button down, then cardigan, for instance) in order to save yourself even more room in your luggage. You might get a few funny looks, but if you ask me, it’s worth it for the 50+ dollars you can save by not checking a bag!