Finally booked your vacation and ready to start packing? Here are the packing mistakes to avoid when traveling! I travel as often as I can, whether it’s locally or internationally. And especially after this summer of road trips, I’ve learned the packing mistakes to avoid when traveling. There are several factors to consider when packing to make sure traveling can be as easy and smooth as possible. And if you’ve read my other blog posts, you know that I like to be prepared for any situation. The following are the things you should avoid doing when packing your suitcase for your time away from home.
1 – Overpacking
I’m always an advocate for traveling light, but sometimes I tend to overpack when I want to be extra prepared. And when I don’t end up using half of what I packed, it literally becomes a burden to carry. I think that overpacking is the biggest packing mistake you should avoid when traveling. That means more weight to carry, possibly having to pay more to check-in your luggage or even throw things out if you’re flying overseas, and taking up valuable room if you plan to do shopping. This is a little tedious and very specific, but how I prevent from overpacking is to plan my outfits according to the activities and weather of that day. Then I bring maybe 2 to 3 backup outfits for the trip if I need to change more often than I thought. Most of the times, I don’t even end up wearing those since I packed so precisely.
2 – Not Checking The Weather
Like I mentioned above, checking the weather is important so I know exactly what type of clothing to pack. I want to be prepared for rain or shine and I don’t like to be overheated or too cold. Something I learned from my mom is always checking the weather ahead of time. And this has been particularly useful when I’m packing for any of my trips. I want to be comfortable when I’m traveling and be able to dress for the weather. Although weather reports are unfortunately rarely accurate, it still gives you good insight into how the weather might be for the time you’re going away. I’ve traveled with people who haven’t checked the weather before going to their destination and they end up either really hot or really cold and it just makes the trip unpleasant for them. For those of you who can’t sleep when it’s hot at night, this can be very relatable. You don’t want to go hiking when it’s extremely hot out and you only have sweatpants and hoodies with you.
3 – Not Packing Outerwear
Other packing mistakes to avoid when traveling include not packing outerwear. Outerwear is convenient for traveling on the plane when it’s cold, useful as a makeshift pillow, when it’s cold at night or indoors with a lot of air conditioning, if it happens to rain, or when entering a tourist attraction that does not allow you to show a certain amount of skin. Outerwear is great as a quick cover up as well. When I’m traveling to tropical destinations, I won’t bring a jacket per se, but I will bring a hoodie or a light rain jacket or even cardigans. It can be very hot and humid outside, but once indoors or at night, the temperature can cool down significantly.
4 – Not Packing For the Occasion
You may not have a special occasion planned or a fancy place that you intend to go to but I always pack a nice outfit or dress in the case that I end up going somewhere where I need to dress up a bit. It’s not always convenient or money-wise to go out of your way to go shopping for something that you need and already have at home. Why not bring a nice outfit in case? A lot of dresses can be doubled as every day or special occasion uses so that can kind of be a 2 in 1 and won’t take up any more space in your luggage. If you do have something fancy planned, checking out the location online ahead of time will also give you a feel of how fancy you should go. And of course, “life is a fashion show and the world is your runway” – so be a showstopper if you choose!
5 – Not Considering Local Culture
A huge packing mistake to avoid is not considering local culture. You should almost always do research before visiting a country you aren’t familiar with. You don’t want to break any local customs or offend the people with what you’re wearing. Plus, you probably don’t want to draw that kind of attention to yourself when you’re in a foreign country. In North America, we can pretty much wear what we want without getting in trouble for the most parts, but if you’re in the Middle East or certain parts of Europe and Asia, you may want to double check on the type of clothing you intend to wear.
6 – Not Bringing A Second Bag
A second bag might be the personal item you’re taking with you when you board your plane. But a real second bag is a backup. When I travel, I always bring an extra purse or foldable backpack in my luggage. I don’t always end up using it, but it has been a lifesaver. The Jansport backpack I had brought with me to the Philippines had ripped and I literally could no longer use it. Luckily, I always kept a Nike drawstring backpack in my luggage in case of emergencies. Even though it wasn’t as large or as comfortable as a real backpack, that was the only bag I had with me to take around the islands and it was a lifesaver.
Now I also have an Agnes B crossbody purse and a Herschel Packable Daypack for any “emergencies” since a drawstring backpack isn’t great. Bringing a second bag also allows you to change up your style if you choose to do so. Aside from having an emergency backup bag, I usually bring a backpack and a purse (that I can put inside the backpack) as my personal item as well. You can never be too prepared, but just make sure that your emergency second bag is light!
7 – Using Heavy Luggage
A lot of older suitcases are made with heavier material, which adds to the weight you’re transporting and can take up much needed room for items you actually want to pack. If you’re in the market for new luggage at any time, opt for light luggage. The labels themselves state this fact as it’s a big plus as to why someone would choose that particular luggage or brand. Light luggage is considered 10 pounds or less. But definitely aim for 7 pounds or less.
If you’re taking a check-in sized luggage, this will be so important as it will make it easier for you to transport it through the airport and to your travel destination. And let’s hope that you don’t have to climb any stairs! I stayed at an Airbnb in Quebec once and had to climb 3 sets of really long stairs since we were at the top of the building and we had a lot to carry. Plus, if you’re driving and the parking lot is far from your accommodations, this will be very inconvenient. Here is where I get my Carry-On Luggage And Suitcases.
8 – Waiting Until The Last Minute
The last packing mistake to avoid when traveling is waiting until the last minute to pack. Almost everyone I know (except me) is a last minute packer. I guess they’re not as high maintenance as me since they don’t have to plan and coordinate their outfit meticulously like I do. This summer for me was extremely busy and there was 1 or 2 occasions when I was taking off for my road trips and I had to pack a couple of days before my trip. And let me tell you, that was stressful for me. I like to plan way in advance (think a couple months – since I switch out my outfits throughout these months) and be prepared so that I don’t forget anything and stress out the very last minute.
You don’t have to plan as much as I do, but give yourself enough time that you don’t have to pack the night before. You want to make sure your laundry is done and your clothes are fresh to pack for your trip. You also don’t want to be looking the last minute for your favorite shirt or a pair of pants that you’ve been waiting to get stains out of from your last use.
Keeping in mind these packing mistakes to avoid when traveling will really help you be prepared, bring just what you need without overdoing it. You will also just feel more comfortable when you know you are equipped with what you know you need and will come in handy.
For more tips, here is What To Pack For A Week’s Vacation To Fit In A Carry-On and you can also use these guidelines to gauge what to pack for a longer trip abroad. Here is also How To Pack For A Week’s Vacation To Fit A Carry-On so that you can make the most room for your items.