Top Tips for Packing Lighter for Your Next Vacation

While heading off on a vacation is always exciting, most people don’t find packing for their trip (or unpacking when they get home) so delightful. Plus, these days you can find yourself having to pay through the nose if you go over your allocated weight allowance when flying.

As such, it’s helpful to think about ways to minimize your luggage. This not only makes getting ready to go away quicker and easier, but also means you’ll have less stress at the airport, won’t put your back out lugging a heavy bag, and can opt for hand luggage rather than having to check a big bag in, and will even have room to purchase new clothes or souvenirs while you’re away. To help you keep your luggage light, read on for some tips you can follow for your next trip.

Choose a Smaller, Lighter Suitcase

For starters, one of the simplest options is to choose a smaller, lighter suitcase. When you have a bag that’s reduced in capacity, this straight away limits what you can pack; you won’t be tempted to throw in all sorts of items just because you have room.

Also, choosing a suitcase made from lighter materials will also help keep the weight of your bag down. It might only be a few hundred grams, but this can make all the difference when it comes time to put your luggage on the scales when you check in at the airport.

Give Yourself Time to Think and Plan

Another good way to pack lighter is to allow yourself time to get organized. Most people, when they’re packing at the last minute, don’t have time to stop and think about whether they will really use an item. As such, they end up with a much heavier bag than they might have otherwise had.

When you leave yourself time to pack carefully, you can pre-plan your outfits. Think about each day of your trip, and what you will actually need for each. For example, rather than taking numerous bathing suits for a tropical vacation, choose a good-quality swimsuit, such as something in the Becca swimwear range, which you know will be comfortable day after day, and work well with the addition of a sarong, sundress, or other cover up.

As well, look for multi-function rather than single-use products. For instance, choose travel adaptors that will work in numerous countries, or tech devices which can be used as your music hub, library, email center, and more. You should also create a packing list, and stick to it. This list can then be used for future trips too.

Choose Petite Toiletries Instead of Full-Sized Ones

For most women, a lot of the weight and room in their luggage is taken up with bulky, heavy toiletry bags. As such, pack lighter, pop-in petite, travel-sized toiletries instead of the everyday large products you use at home. You can either purchase specific mini versions of your favorite products, or just buy some 100ml-or-less empty bottles and fill these up with the lotions, creams, gels, and other items you want to take away.

Furthermore, try to pare back the actual range of toiletry products you pack for your trip. You’ll find most hotels and other accommodation providers these days equip rooms with things like shampoo, conditioner, soap, shower gel, cotton earbuds, shower caps, and even hairdryers. By leaving these things out of your washbag, you will cut down on your luggage requirements in a flash.

Pack Versatile Clothing

It makes a big difference, too, if you pack your bag with a selection of versatile clothing. For example, choose one main jacket that can be worn over most outfits; sweaters and tees that can be worn for many occasions and which match one or two skirts or pants; and dresses that can take you from casual day explorations to dressier nights out, simply with the addition of jewelry, scarves and the like.

When it comes to footwear, especially if you'll be doing a lot of walking on hard surfaces, choosing adequate shoes for walking on concrete can be a game-changer. Shoes, being bulky and potentially heavy, can occupy a considerable amount of suitcase space. Hence, it's wise to limit your footwear to two or, at most, three pairs. For instance, you could include strappy sandals versatile enough for both day and night; trainers or hiking boots for extensive walking; or flip-flops for frequent beach or pool visits.