If there’s anything that everyone can agree on most days, it’s that packing for a trip can be the most exciting and stressful thing all at once. We all go through a constant spiral of wanting to pack ONLY what we are going to wear but also find ourselves packing that one sweater that Uncle Charlie bought us three years ago with the tag still attached “just in case”.
When asked how we travel so cheap – packing is one of our main hacks. Checking a bag when flying, especially within Europe, South America, and some parts of Asia, can be more pricey than the actual plane ticket itself – you can save so much cash by bringing along just a carry-on. That being said, it’s ESSENTIAL to know what to pack, and even more important to know what not to. Read on to learn about some of our tried and true mistakes, tips, and more on how to figure out what your perfect packing list entails.
DON’T PACK
Jeans (plural)
The cold hard truth is for the most part, all jeans look (or at least photograph) the same aside from color. At most, pack a blue and black pair and call it a day. We live for a colored jean/white jean moment, but the reality is you can really only wear them once and they tend to be the bulkiest items that you’ll bring.
Books
The dream of being “that girl” who is reading the paperback version of a Nicholas Sparks novel while on a train through the vineyards of Tuscany will have to keep living in your mind for the time being. Besides the fact that most people (including us) are having too much fun to even ever read the three books you packed, they literally are unnecessarily the difference between a carry-on and a $70 checked bag. The kindle app on your phone (Tiffany’s favorite) is going to provide the perfect alternative!
Too many toiletries
Think about all the makeup that you have in your drawer, and then how much you actually use. ONLY PACK WHAT YOU USE DAILY. A secret that we live by is the day before you travel, get ready as you would to go out, and only pack the makeup that you used. Yes, you MIGHT want to use a fuchsia pink eyeshadow while in Barcelona, but you probably won’t and it’s not worth the huge Morphe pallet that you’ll leave at home. Shampoo, conditioner, and all the other toiletries are also something you can buy for a dollar or two once you get there, and will save you the stress of the 3 ounce rule.
Any items of clothing that are too thick
Anything that’s woven, usually, will be too thick. Obviously if you have a staple piece that is your favorite thing you own, you can work around this one but usually, try and stick to cotton and other fabric that can be compressed. When we first went to Europe, we packed these two super basic t-shirts that actually took up half our suitcase because of the fabric – and we maybe wore them once.
WINTER: OBVIOUSLY, if it’s winter some thick pieces are needed. Thermals that are thin but effective can be your best friend here and when you do bring along a coat, pick one and wear it to the airport so that you don’t have to stuff it in your bag.
Any hair tools that can be shared (curler, straightener, etc.)
Repeat after us, when traveling with your besties you need ONE curler and ONE straighter. A hair
dryer is almost guaranteed wherever you go and your 10 pound crimping wand is not needed, we promise.
Shoes
Packing a ton of shoes will actually ruin your dream of being a savvy packer. Truth is, whichever pair of shoes you bring are going to see their final days on the trip, since when traveling you are walking a ton. Pick the most versatile pairs that are comfortable and as much as you can, choose ONE heel, ONE sneaker, and ONE pair of sandals. Your outfits will be just as cute and you can go on a shoe shopping spree with all the money you saved once you get home!
EUROPE HOT TIP: Your Sam Edelman stilettos may work great for a night out on the town in the USA, but when going to Europe try to stay away from skinny heels and stick to block heels if at all possible. The European streets are usually cobblestone and trust us it will ruin your night out.
Too many pajamas
Tiffany’s weakness. Plain and simple: to sleep, you need ONE shirt, and ONE pair of shorts. Anything else is overpacking in our opinion. You can also usually use your cute band t-shirt that you packed as a sleeping shirt if you need a second. This is the one outfit that will not be photographed so take advantage.
WHAT TO ACTUALLY MAKE ROOM FOR:
Pack basics that can be reworn differently
We are not fashion icons by any means (yet), but do know that by sticking to neutral basics, you can create several different looks that will not be forgotten. Bring some fun pieces too, but make sure that you have thought through how you can tuck in, leave out, and tie up one shirt before it goes in your suitcase.
Share anything you can to have multiple outfits between friends
If you and your friends are roughly the same size, make sure to go over what you’re bringing beforehand. There is no need for two white shirts or two pairs of black jeans. This will save you tons of space!
A decent amount of socks and underwear
You’re not going to take up a bunch of space with an extra pair of socks, but will be thankful that you squeezed it in – we promise.
A small squeeze bottle of laundry detergent
We have done tons of laundry abroad in the sink and are always glad we did!
A small manilla envelope for memorable items
On past trips, we’ve left with our suitcases filled with loose train and plane tickets, wine corks, aprons from cooking classes, beer coasters, postcards, Vatican rosaries, lists of bar recommendations written on napkins, and even a piece of the French flag (but that's a story for later). To avoid this, we now try to bring a small manilla envelope to hold these treasured items until you put them in a safe memory box when you get home.
At the end of the day, you’re a fashion queen and will be able to find ways to style your staple pieces to where no one will remember you as an outfit repeater. What you will remember is the memories you’ve made, the photographic masterpieces you created, and the styles you served all while saving hundreds of dollars!
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