Like everything, there are important dos and don’ts when it
comes to packing. Although we can’t avoid the dreaded topic, we can make it
easier for you with these 11 dos and don’ts.
DO:
Make a
packing list.
Making a packing list is great because you can check off what
you have packed as you go so you don’t get to Australia and realize that you
only packed one pair of socks, not very helpful when you have to walk a
lot. I like to make two packing lists to
make it more organized, one for things going in luggage and one for the last
minute list of things that I like to pack the morning before leaving. There are
many templates online that you can just print off. There are even some that are
specialized for the beach or international travel.
DON’T:
Wait until
the last minute.
This one is pretty much a no brainer but it is the trap that
most of us fall into. Not only is it extremely stressful but you are more
likely to forget to pack something important. There are some things that you
should leave until the morning of such as: your phone, wallet/purse, glasses,
snacks/ drinks, makeup, etc.
DO:
Check
airline requirements online for carry-ons and luggage.
The last thing that you want to do is not be able to take
your clothes with you on your two month trip to Italy because your bag is too
large. You should also check the weight requirements for your checked bags or
else you will have to take clothes out to bring down how much it weighs.
DON’T:
Pack a lot
of jewelry.
Three words: Bring bare minimum. Ladies, I know we are all
attached to our favorite earrings or necklace but don’t pack them. Your super
special expensive ones will get lost in the midst of the packing, travel, and
unpacking. Also, it will take up a lot more space if you include a jewelry bag.
Trust me; you will not need as much as you think.
DO:
Make sure
you meet the requirements for liquids in your carry-on.
My cousin once had to throw away a full 8 ounce perfume
bottle because it didn’t meet the 3.4 ounces (100ml) requirement. All liquids
must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less and in a clear plastic bag
when going through security. Before leaving the house for the airport, place
your clear plastic bag of liquids in the top zipper/pocket in your carry-on.
This way it is really easy to go through security and you don’t have to go
digging through your bag in front of everybody.
DON’T:
Over pack.
This is very easy to do but space fills up fast in a little
bag of luggage. If you pack neutral colors that look well together, you can mix
and match to create new outfits with the same clothes. It’s a good idea to
bring simple clothes that can be dressed up or interchanged easily.
DO:
Check the weather
You should check the weather a few days before your trip. You
should know whether you need to bring a heavy coat and snow pants, shorts and a
T-shirt, or a rain jacket with rain boots. You can’t control the weather but
you can control what you pack. If you have a few days surrounding your vacation,
try and plan your trip on the days with the best weather. The weather might
change and it’s not the most accurate but you can try your best to pack what
you might need.
DON’T:
Wait to leave for the airport last minute
You should anticipate traffic on your way there so build in some
time just in case you end up crawling at 8 mph. You also might run into some
trouble finding where you are supposed to go and get lost so you will be safe
if you add some. A flight change could happen too. We usually leave about 2
hours before our flight, but international, sometimes three.
DO:
Bring a charger adapter if you’re going to a different country
Believe it or not, in different countries they use different
outlets and volts/ wattage so you should bring a power converter if you want to
be able to charge your phone. You can buy these at Walmart. If you try to plug
in your normal charger, you could fry your electronic device.
DON’T:
Don’t bring
clothes that wrinkle easy.
You don’t want to look bad in all of your pictures so you
shouldn’t bring clothes that will wrinkle in 5 seconds. If you absolutely have
to, pack them very carefully. It helps if you roll them or avoid folding them a
lot.
DO:
Charge all
electronics often.
My sister, Kelsey, forgot to charge her nice camera all the
way when we were going to Mount Etna so before we even arrived, her camera
died. Luckily we still had my camera as a backup but you might not have an
extra camera so make sure it is fully charged!
DON'T FORGET:
Tie a ribbon or something eye-catching to your suitcase that you're checking so it is easy to find in baggage claim.
The little K tag on the right side has contact information in case it gets lost
BTW we take the neck pillow off later, we are just carrying it that way
In all: plan, and prepare accordingly. Hope you enjoyed our
list and if you have any that you think we should add, write them in the
comments below!
-Katelyn, co-editor: Kelsey
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