Over the years, I have made countless packing mistakes–some annoying and some disastrous. It’s taken a while but I have finally established a packing process that keeps me from over-packing while insuring I have everything I need.
My process involves asking myself a series of simple questions:
- Where am I going?
- What will the weather be like during my visit?
- What activities will I be doing while I travel?
- How long will I be traveling and will I have easy access to laundry facilities?
- Aside from my travel capsule wardrobe, what specialty items do I need to pack for this trip?
Where am I going?
I realize that this seems like a silly question. However, I have on more than one occasion packed completely inappropriate clothes for my destination. For our 10th anniversary, Mike and I planned a trip to Alberta, Canada in July. At the time, we were living in Florida, which as you can imagine is very hot and humid in the summer. With a sitter coming to care for our two young children, I was busy getting everything ready for the kids and left little time for me to pack for the trip. So, I hastily packed my suitcase with my Florida summer wardrobe–Lilly Pulitzer outfits and Jack Rogers sandals. When we arrived in Alberta the next day for the Calgary Stampede, it was 40° cooler and everyone was dressed like ranch-hands. Aside from the fact that I would look ridiculous in the clothing that I packed, I would surely freeze to death! I hadn’t even packed a pair of jeans or a real pair of shoes. The situation was remedied with a quick stop at Eddie Bauer (the only shopping game in town), where I purchased an entire cowgirl wardrobe. (I also purchased a pink cowgirl hat because Lilly-girls love their pink.) It proved to be a costly (but humorous) mistake that could have been easily avoided if I had just given a moment’s thought to where I was going.
What will the weather be like during my visit?
Like my Canadian wardrobe fiasco, I have made similar packing mistakes by not checking the current weather at my destination before I packed. I have had to purchase socks and sweatshirts at Disney World when it was unseasonably cold and t-shirts in London during a heat-wave. More times than I care to think about I have packed clothing that is appropriate for the destination in my mind rather than the actual location. When I think of Ireland, I think of Aran sweaters and tweeds and totally forget about the pouring rain. (You need a lot of rain to make a country that green!) I’ve learned its important to think about typical weather and current conditions and pack for both. Additionally, I always pack a small umbrella just in case.
What activities will I be doing while I travel?
Again, this seems like a no-brainer but when it comes to packing I often have no brain. If the trip includes hiking, I will be miserable in sandals (and I was.) If I will be dressing up for dinner, I need to remember to pack an evening purse so I’m not hauling a giant tote to dinner while wearing a cocktail dress.
How long will I be traveling and will I have easy access to laundry facilities?
In order to pack enough–but not too many–outfits for a trip, I need to think through how long will I be away. I can pack very light if I have access to laundry facilities. I routinely call the hotel where we will be staying and ask if they have guest laundry available in the hotel and is it working. If it helps me to pack less, I am happy to wash a load of laundry at the hotel. (Side note: I’ve never been a fan of washing things in the bathroom sink. I know plenty of seasoned travelers swear by it but I just don’t like the way clothes feel after drying on the shower curtain rod. But good for you if you can do it.)
Aside from my travel capsule wardrobe, what specialty items do I need to pack for this trip?
For each trip, I create a travel capsule wardrobe of clothing and accessories that I can mix and match. I will discuss my travel capsule wardrobe in another post, but when I pack I always think about the extra and specialty items I need to pack for my specific destination. Do I need hiking boots or a sun hat? Do I need a heavy parka or a light raincoat? Simple, right?
It takes no time to consider the answers to each of these questions before I pack, but if I don’t ask them I can lose a half day (and piles of money) shopping for what I should have packed. Before you start to pack for your next adventure, ask yourself these questions; you’ll thank me later.