HOW TO PACK

Holiday booked, you are leaving tomorrow (or in a few days?). But your happiness is not complete = you have not packed yet. Some people like it, even enjoy it. They can go through all their wardrobes and shoes and try them on and pack and unpack and pack again, doing this for hours. But many people want to have it done as quickly as possible. The best thing would be to have someone to pack for them and they would just watch and sip wine. At least some manual could be handy…

Here I am. I can assure you, that I spent more time packing and unpacking than 98% of people you know. I was packing to spend only 18 hours in the hotel on the beach, but I was also packing 3 and a half years of my life into 7 boxes and sending it from one continent to another. And most of the time, I had everything I needed in my bags. I will write a post about how I did not have everything needed some other time. Let’s do this first…

Getting ready:

1. Make a space for your suitcase/bag and for the things you will be taking out of your wardrobes.
2. Check the weather forecast. Do not pack your clothes and shoes just assuming how warm/cold it should be.
3. Plan the activities. If you are going to the hotel on the beach for a whole week, it is easy. Are you going on one day trip? Is it a trip to the mountains, which you can see behind your hotel? You have to pack more than a swimming suit and flip-flops for that.
4. Download the Travel Packing Checklist here!

• I like listening to music while packing. Or having something else on in the background, for example, a series I have seen thousand times already.

Plan of the attack (packing):

1. Begin with the most simple one = socks and underwear. Count how many days you need them for. Do you need high socks, socks for trainers, tights? Have them ready, but do not pack them yet. Why? I will get to that.
2. Cosmetics. It is simple as well, you know what you are using every day. Sunscreen? Repellent? I guess you are not using these so much. If you are traveling by plane and the journey does not take more than a few hours, pack all of this into your checked-in luggage. You do not have to think about it when passing the security control at the airport.
3. Electronics. Headphones, camera, batteries, chargers. Put everything you do not need until you will reach the destination to the checked-in luggage, except a camera. Keep that one with you, it could break in the big luggage.
4. Trousers and skirts. Start with those, because I can bet that you have less of those than t-shirts and jackets.
5. T-shirts, jackets,… simple t-shirt, which you can wear with any trousers, jackets you can wear on long sleeves but also under a waterproof jacket.
6. Shoes. You do not have to think about those a lot. In case, you do not have 200 pairs. Roll and put the socks into trainers, thighs to formal shoes. You can pack them to separate bags to avoid making your other clothes dirty.
7. Backpacks and handbags. Small or big, for your notebook or a hike? Waterproof? Are you going to pack only your things or also stuff for your kids? Are you taking the backpack with you on board?
8. Jewelry and accessories. Pack them in the end small pouch and keep them with you during traveling. In case your luggage gets lost/damaged.
9. Socks and underwear. Here we are, the end of your packing. These parts of clothing are packed the easiest way when your suitcase is already full. You can pack them anywhere where you have space. Maybe there is a space next to the camera? Or in all 4 corners of the suitcase? And on the sides.
10. If you are confused and you do not usually remember where you pack various things, write it on the paper and pack it with you.

Packing the small bag/backpack/suitcase

The big suitcase is packed. What now? Get the small one ready as well. The one you will have with you on board. This is the easier part. It should contain this:

• ID, passport (if needed), health insurance confirmation, driving license
• money and credit cards
• water
• small snacks, for example, cookies, can come in handy in case of a delay or traffic jam
• external battery to charge your phone and charging cable
• sunglasses?
• keys from your home
• antibacterial gel or wet tissues
• dry tissues
• if you have extra space, pack one jacket. The weather can change or it can be cold in the aircraft/bus.

In the very end, get the things that you will need to pack right before leaving ready. You will find helpful I am leaving checklist in Downloads. It contains all the important stuff and it is more practical than having four small notes on the fridge and forgetting about two of them.

Few more suggestions:

• If you have allergies or any other health condition, write a note and pack it together with your health insurance details. In case of an accident, emergency services will appreciate it. I keep the card with information about the blood type in my wallet as well.
• Make a copy of your documents and save it to other bags, which you will not have with you during traveling. It makes things easier in case your documents will be stolen or you will lose your wallet and you will need new ones.
• Divide your cash and pack it in different places, the best idea is to pack them in some random places like a dirty laundry bag (pack it in a sealable pouch).
• Recommendations regarding traveling by place, and which cosmetics/electronics/food you can take are available here.

Have you managed? And less stressed than usual? I hope that your answer is yes. And now, go and get that wine and start the countdown.