preloaddefault-post-thumbnail

Pack like a pro and make sure you only have what you really need for your trip with our list of packing mistakes to avoid.

Over-packing

Let’s face it, you’re likely never going to end up wearing every single thing you pack but that doesn’t mean it’s not tempting to try and squeeze your entire wardrobe into your suitcase. Over-packing is easy to do, but it’s not necessary. The more items of clothing you take with you, the more disorganized (and not to mention heavy) your bags will be, and the harder it will be to figure out what you want to wear. Less is more when it comes to packing, especially where shoes and clothes are concerned.

Packing items that wrinkle

No matter how careful you are, and even if your hotel room will have an iron, you don’t want a suitcase full of wrinkled clothing. Before you decide on what to pack, think about the potential wrinkle-factor of each item. Fabrics with stretch are a good idea since they’re better at holding their shape, as is jersey, cashmere, and rayon.

Taking things you don’t need

Chances are, unless you’re going into the middle of the desert, or someplace with minimal infrastructures, whatever you forget to pack, or end up needing, you can buy. It might not be the exact brand you usually use, but whatever it is you need, you’ll likely find it. So there’s no real need to stuff your bag with “just in case” items you can purchase if need be.

Taking way too many toiletries

Like overdoing it with clothes and shoes, there’s also a temptation to pack too many toiletries. Most hotels have the basics (shampoo, conditioner, body wash etc.) so you may not need those depending on where you’re going. If you want to bring your own, decant into small travel containers or purchase travel size versions of your go-to products. Otherwise, stick to what’s necessary rather than packing your whole medicine cabinet or makeup bag.

Not planning ahead

Simply throwing items in a bag in hopes that most of them will fit together reasonably well is a recipe for disaster. You want to be comfortable, presentable and dressed appropriately for the weather, but that gets tricky if you haven’t planned out what you need to take. Think about how many outfits you’ll need, what kind of attire you should have, what the weather will be like and whether you’ll need layers. It can be helpful to make a list in order to stay on track, and include clothes as well as other things you won’t want to forget, like chargers and cameras.

Looking for more packing advice? Check out this handy packing and general travel checklist from our friends at Auto Europe.

Lead photo: Les Haines

About the author

Jessica PadykulaJessica Padykula is a Toronto-based writer and editor who regularly covers travel and lifestyle trends. When she’s not writing or researching a story she can be found planning trips to places near and far in a never-ending quest to travel the world.

Explore more articles