It doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e beach-bound for a weekend or plan to spend several weeks in Seville 鈥� packing for a vacation of any length is never as simple as it seems. Here are tips to keep your luggage to a minimum.
No one cares if you wear the same thing twice, plus more travel tips (蜜桃视频app's Rachel Nania )
WASHINGTON 鈥� It doesn鈥檛 matter if you鈥檙e beach-bound for a weekend or plan to spend several weeks in Seville 鈥� packing for a vacation of any length is never as simple as it seems.
Should you make room for your running shoes in case you get the itch to use the hotel gym? You鈥檒l have free time on the flight, but are you really going to whip out your laptop and knock out your 鈥渢o do鈥� list during your time off? Will you wear hot pink heels at the lake house?
Meg Biram, an entrepreneur and lifestyle expert, often tackles the topic of minimalist packing on her website . Here are her best tips for your next trip:
Do your researchWhatever you do, don鈥檛 save packing, or at least the mental preparation part of packing, until the last minute. A little bit of planning can go a long way when it comes to being an organized traveler. For starters, check the weather. If rain is in the forecast, a compact umbrella and raincoat are a must 鈥� and maybe leave your favorite shoes at home. Think about the activities you have planned for the trip. Will you spend your time hiking through the mountains or perched under an umbrella on the beach? Knowing your schedule ahead of time influences the gear you鈥檒l need while you鈥檙e away. 聽
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Thinkstock
Plan your outfits (and yes, it鈥檚 OK to wear things more than once) One way to free up some room in your suitcase is to plan your outfits ahead of time. (This beats throwing 20 random tops and a handful of sundresses into your bag 鈥渟o you have options.鈥�) Pick out specific outfits to wear for each specific day, and don鈥檛 be afraid to wear the same thing twice.鈥淲here you鈥檙e going, chance are, no one knows you, so it鈥檚 OK to wear a dress more than once,鈥� Biram said. If you鈥檙e concerned about the same outfit showing up multiple times in your photos, keep your look fresh by changing out a scarf or hat. 聽
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Thinkstock
Pick the right size bagBe honest with yourself: Can you really fit everything you need into a carry-on bag? This is something Biram has to ask herself ahead of every trip, regardless of its length. 鈥淭here are just some trips where I need to check a bag,鈥� she confessed. Bringing a bigger bag isn鈥檛 a green light to pack more things you don鈥檛 need. Rather, it makes it easier to bring the essentials 鈥� such as a pair of boots or a jacket, depending on your destination. Bags that aren鈥檛 overstuffed are more organized.
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Thinkstock
Cut down on accessories How many dress shoes do you really need? Even if you鈥檙e planning nice dinners out, chances are, you can get by with one pair. Biram says when it comes to packing accessories, take a look at the outfits you set aside and settle on a color scheme. (Her go-to palette is 鈥渘eutrals.鈥�) 聽鈥淭ry to stick to a scheme where you only need one set of accessories that go with everything,鈥� she said, adding that bringing a pair of black or tan heels is a lot more sensible than packing an orange pair, a green pair and a yellow pair. If you鈥檙e going to be doing a lot of walking, it might make sense to bring two pairs of comfortable shoes. If one pair rubs your feet one day, you can switch it up the next. For summer travel, sandals are the easiest, since many are flat and easy to pack. If you have a structured sandal that you don鈥檛 want smashed, wear those on the plane. 聽
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Thinkstock
Cut down on accessories When it comes to handbags, stick to one. Like shoes, bags take up a lot of room in the suitcase. Biram鈥檚 advice when it comes to bags: Choose your most comfortable 鈥� especially if you鈥檙e on the move. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to be doing a lot of walking, the bag that you鈥檙e going to be carrying around with you all day, you want to have a really thick strap,鈥� Biram said.聽Often, Biram will throw a thin clutch into her bag, should she want something smaller to carry to drinks or dinner out. 聽
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Thinkstock
Trim the toiletries This is another area where it pays to ask yourself, 鈥淲hat do I really need?鈥� Chances are, three bottles of hairspray won鈥檛 make the list. Choose products that have a dual purpose, Biram says, such as a moisturizer that can also remove makeup or a blush that works as a lip and eye tint. If you鈥檙e staying in a hotel, leave your own bottles of shampoo and conditioner behind. Your hair will be fine for a few days using the hotel鈥檚 products. Contact solution weighing you down? Depending on where you鈥檙e going, pick some up from a drugstore at your destination. 聽
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After years of traveling and 鈥渓earning from past mistakes,鈥� Biram has packing down to a science. Here are five essentials she never leaves home without.
1. A book
Biram always has a book when she travels. It serves as entertainment on the plane, relaxation in the room and amusement at the ocean. Often times, she鈥檒l opt for a real book over an electronic version, citing that the glare from electronic reading devices makes it a challenge to read 鈥� especially at the pool or beach.
2. Portable phone charger
Biram doesn鈥檛 leave town 鈥� and rarely leaves her house 鈥� without her portable phone charger. Her has two USB ports, so it can charge two devices at the same time. Having a portable charger is especially nice when traveling, since chances are, you’ll be using GPS and looking things up while on the move.
3. See-through bag for cords and electronic accessories
Biram keeps her cords, chargers and camera accessories all together in one bag (she uses from Truffle), which makes them easy to locate. 聽
“I can just pull that bag quickly out of my carry-on and find the thing that I鈥檓 looking for, because I feel like that鈥檚 always the panic moment, right? You鈥檙e looking for something and can鈥檛 find it,鈥� Biram said.
To keep her headphones from tangling with other cords, she stores them in a .
4. In-flight essentials
Similarly, she keeps her in-flight essentials (lip balm, tissues, eye drops and a pen) together in a bag so she can easily locate them when she needs them.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 on a flight, I only want to reach for one thing to get what I need,鈥� Biram said.
5. A travel wallet
For international trips, Biram uses a travel wallet () to keep track of important documents, including passports, train tickets, hotel reservations and currency.
