With all the trips we’ve been taking lately, I thought I’d write a post on packing light. Now, I’m a notorious over-packer on road trips when I can fill the car to its limit with no guilt whatsoever, but when it comes to flying I absolutely hate to check a bag. So no matter how long or short the trip is, I can fit everything I need into a small suitcase and my backpack. A few years ago I even traveled to Italy for 10 days with only what I could carry on the plane (granted, we were able to do laundry once on that trip, which helped a ton)! So today I’ll go through my packing process, including my very own packing list that I use for every trip.
Once I know I’ll be taking a trip, the first thing I do is start a note on my phone (usually about three weeks out – I get very excited about trips haha, ALSO sometimes have two or three trip packing lists on my phone at one time) of everything I think I’ll need on the trip. I organize my list into categories, which makes it easier to think of everything I’ll need. My usual categories are WEAR, CLOTHES, TOILETRIES, ENTERTAINMENT, and MISC, with a few added categories based on the type of trip (e.g. COOKING, LUNA, SLEEPING, etc.). I know three weeks seems pretty early to start on a packing list, but I personally tend to be very forgetful and pretty much live my whole life off of my lists (seriously, you should see how many different lists I have in the notes in my phone, it’s getting a little ridiculous lol), and by starting it so early I have the chance to add or remove items while I’m on the go.
A few days before the trip (I coordinate with my work schedule, but whatever works for you) I start laying out the things I know I won’t be using before leaving on the trip. This is usually clothes, but hey that’s what makes up the bulk of my suitcase anyways. I don’t typically like to pack things into my suitcase until I have everything together, that way I can find room and make things fit just the way I like them to more easily.
The night before the trip, after my shower, I gather all my toiletry essentials and lay them out so that the items from the shower can fully dry before I pack them the next morning. Then, since I know I won’t be packing my toiletries bag in my suitcase (it goes in my backpack for easy access while traveling), I can finally pack my clothes and shoes in the carry-on suitcase. I like to put things that I definitely won’t need during the plane (or car) ride in my suitcase, as well as nothing that I’ll have to get out during the trip (e.g. my wallet, identification, tickets, liquids, computer, etc.). That way I can just put my suitcase in the trunk or in the overhead bin and not have to be worrying about anything in it until I arrive at my destination. As I’m putting things into my suitcase, I mark them off the list so that I know exactly what else it is I need to pack. The last thing I do before going to bed is setting out my traveling clothes, shoes, and accessories – yes, I have forgotten my wedding ring because I didn’t set it out before a trip!
The morning of the trip, no matter how early I have to leave the house, I like to wake up a full hour before I plan to leave (longer if I need to shower or run any last minute errands). That gives me time to fully wake up, have breakfast, and pack the last of my things. Since I set out my clothes the night before, it doesn’t take much time to get dressed and ready. Then, all I have to do is peek at my packing list, see the last of the items that are left unpacked, and quickly gather them together. Since I try to set things out as soon as I know I won’t use it again before the trip, usually everything is together and waiting to be packed in my backpack. These things usually are my toiletries, book, computer, snacks, sunglasses, etc.
All liquids go in a quart size ziplock bag (I keep and use the same bag for multiple trips) and I put that bag in the outside mesh pocket of my backpack so that I can easily retrieve it while going through airport security. It also has my hand sanitizer in it so I can access it easily before eating on the plane or in an airport restaurant. Shower toiletries go in my tri-fold hanging shower bag so that I don’t have to remember to take everything out of the shower at the end of the trip. All other toiletries go in a cloth bag so that they’re all together when I need to find something.
Now that you know my process, let’s take a look at what I actually bring with me on all my trips!
| WEAR – Beanie (in winter) – Sunglasses – Mask (something comfortable on my ears for the long plane ride) – Underclothes – Shirt (tank for summer, t-shirt otherwise – plane temperatures are so inconsistent) – Sweater (in case the plane gets cold) – Jacket (in winter) – Watch – Jewelry (my wedding ring) – Pants (usually leggings, jeans depending on how full my suitcase is) – Socks + shoes (comfortable sandals in warmer weather – I prefer these because they’re easier to put on/take off while going through airport security) |
| CLOTHES – Hat (only if I need it – read: if I’m going to the beach) – Scarf (I like to pick a cute patterned scarf that matches all the shirts I bring) – Shirts x # of days (I usually choose plain shirts that are interchangeable with the pants I bring so I can have as many outfits as possible – also if I know I will be able to do laundry I can bring less clothes) – Pants (1-2 pairs depending on how long the trip is – I always bring blue jeans because they go with everything, but I’ll bring another pair of different colored pants IF they also match all the tops I’m bringing; I would also consider a skirt that matches all my tops depending on the weather) – Simple dress (something that can be dressed up or down as needed so that I can get as much use out of it as possible by wearing it multiple times) – Underwear x # of days – Socks x # of days – Shoes (comfortable walking shoes, sandals if weather/situation appropriate, and flip flops to wear in the shower – if necessary – and at night/to the beach) – Jewelry (again, pieces that match with everything else I’m bringing) |
| TOILETRIES – Shampoo/conditioner (I use a shampoo bar, so it makes it easy to travel with but I used to collect the complementary mini soap/shampoo/conditioner bottles from hotels and use those on trips) – Hair brush/comb – Hair ties + bobby pins (I bring extras because I always end up misplacing some) – Face wash (also a bar; I use a scrubbing brush on my face that is travel size as well) – Witch Hazel spray (I use this on my face after showers, and I have a travel size bottle that I refill before each trip) – Tweezers – Makeup (I usually bring very minimal makeup on trips – I don’t wear much to begin with but I like to look nice in travel photos) – Makeup removal pads (I use reusable cloth rounds) – Chap stick – Toothbrush + paste – Body wash (again, I use bar soap and a washcloth – most places provide linens so I don’t usually bring my own washcloth unless I know I’ll need it) – Deodorant – Lotion (for my hands as well as to take makeup off with – at home I use coconut oil but it’s not always easy to bring that on trips) – Hand sanitizer – Disposable razor (depending on the length of the trip and the weather – if I’m wearing pants the whole trip I don’t bother bringing it; also I use a safety razor at home, but on trips I use a disposable razor because you can carry it on a plane) – Vitamins/Medications |
| ENTERTAINMENT – Computer (only if absolutely necessary – usually I leave mine behind) – Camera + accessories (battery, charger, extra lenses, memory card, etc.) – Book (sometimes 2 depending on length of trip and length of books) – Headphones – Phone charger – Watch charger |
| MISC – Laundry detergent (if laundry machines will be available) – Wallet (with all appropriate IDs; I also make sure to set travel notices on my debit or credit card if I’m traveling out of the country) – Boarding pass (I like to download these on my phone instead of printing) |
So there you have it! I hope this was helpful to you as you pack for your next trip! Also, I’m always looking for ways to improve my packing process, so leave a comment with your favorite packing tips and tricks that you’ve learned throughout your travels!
I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook to get updates on future blog posts, see sneak peeks of my amazing couples, and so much more! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!
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