The packing is overwhelming – we get it. To avoid the pre-packing stress, follow this order first to save yourself the stress.
Packing is not an easy thing, although it conjures up all that anticipation for a trip. We all love the feeling of finished packing, but none of us really enjoy the process. It’s a daunting task; something like the feeling of having clean laundry but not wanting to bother to put it all away.
To mitigate this same situation, there are a few good first steps any traveler can use to begin their packing routine. By answering a few questions and determining several factors before committing to your suitcase, packing can be a breeze. Or at least it won’t be something that makes you feel anxious.
Step one: don’t hesitate about hand baggage vs. checked baggage situation
It is very easy to do, and most of us are to blame for it. It seems like one of the easiest things to do, but in reality it is difficult to determine what to stow in the cargo, which can take up to half a day. It is easiest to first find out what your hand baggage situation is and then proceed from there.
As hand luggage becomes easier, it should be thought of what a person consumes every ten minutes to an hour and what can be used on the plane. Some examples of hand luggage are:
- Chargers for smartphones, tablets and laptops
- Refreshing makeup and lip balm
- Travel size lotions or essential oils for anxiety relief
- tissue
- Book or e-book reader, phone, laptop, tablet, camera
- Headphones (skip those given free on the plane)
- Personal travel blanket or neck pillow
- Disinfectant wipes
- Small snacks (if allowed)
- camera
- Important items: tickets, passport, ID, cash, credit cards, insurance cards, house keys, everything should be in a wallet
- Medication
- Hand sanitizer
- Change clothes when they fit
Packing only the bare essentials is the idea of always having all the important things with you. In addition, this helps to reduce stress in the event that stowed luggage is lost or delayed. Once this is established, make a list – then keep the carry-on baggage for the last minute. Next, focus on baggage, which is checked in on arrival.
Packing for luggage that is being stowed
Packing for stowed luggage is nowhere near as strenuous as packing for hand luggage – but that’s why it’s very advisable to make a list for the latter. For checked baggage, the list is a bit simpler, but it begs the question, how much is too much? In short, the answer depends on the length of the trip. For a long weekend, luggage should be placed in a large suitcase or a smaller suitcase if a traveler can get away with it. In theory, this only means two full days, two half days and three nights. Thus, the arrival outfit does not have to be packed on the first day (exception: change of clothes on arrival) and only two more outfits afterwards plus one more outfit to sit on on the journey home on the fourth day.
Multiple suitcases or bags may be required when traveling for a week or longer. That often means packing your own bathroom accessories and seven or more outfits, including nightwear, which guarantees at least one suitcase and a second travel bag. Some things that belong in the luggage are:
- All clothes (except for a change of clothes after the flight there)
- Any additional charging cables, as well as charging cables for things that are not used on the plane
- Bathroom accessories such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, etc.
- An extra pair of shoes depending on the climate of the destination
- Again a light or heavy jacket, depending on the destination
- Additional hand disinfectant
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- Sunscreen and / or moisturizer
- Painkiller
- Feminine hygiene products
- Hair styling tools
- travel pharmacy
- Travel adapter and converter
- Additional face masks
Other important things to consider when packing
No checklist will ever be complete in the first place. Every traveler always has something personal to add, be it a book to pass the time or a handheld video game. The easiest and best way to break down your packing is to start with two separate lists – a carry-on bag and a checked bag. With the division, half the work is already done and travelers can pack their checked baggage well in advance and only have to take care of their hand baggage the night before the flight.
About the author
Katie Machado
(1750 articles published)
Katie is originally from New York and is used to a fast paced lifestyle. She began her personal beginnings in second grade writing, and carried that passion with her until she won a spot in her high school’s published poetry book – but not before becoming a news editor and columnist for the high school newspaper. In college, she studied English literature with a major in political science and absorbed the creativity and method of one of the last professors to study with the famous beat poet Allen Ginsberg. The more she wrote, the more she learned about the world and, most importantly, about herself. She has been writing professionally and publishing since she was 19, and has covered entertainment, lifestyle, music news, video game reviews, food culture, and has for nearly a decade now privileged to write and edit for TheTravel. Katie strongly believes that every word written is a journey into yourself and your own thoughts, and when this is understood, people can begin to understand one another. Through her voice, she brings personality, research, and a bit of friendly sarcasm to every piece she writes and edits.
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