Although I already have travelled a lot I still get quite nervous when it comes to packing my suitcase. But over time I sort of created my own packing plan. So here is a list including the most important things you should´t forget and some tips and tricks that hopefully will make packing a lot easier.
1. Obviously the most important thing is to bring your passport (or other ID - depends on where you are going).
2. Money, money money - whether it is cash or your credit card. Because in case you forget something you´re convinced you can´t survive the trip without, you can still buy it when you arrive. And of course money is for food - so you won´t starve - and for shopping (but you know this is secondary...)
3. My camera is usually the first thing I put into my suitcase because I can´t go sight-seeing without it. I know I have a smartphone but I usually take thousands of pictures and I always have memory problems. So my camera really is essential.
4. Travel Guide - If I haven´t already been to the city I like to look through a guide and mark every place I want to visit some days (actually weeks) before I take off. And since I always try to see as many things as possible during my trips I like to do a daily plan to make sure I don´t forget anything. But nowadays you can easily look up the most important sights on the internet. Oh, one other thing, you don´t have to buy a city map because usually the hotels provide one for their guests.
5. Comfortable shoes are really important when discovering a new city. There is nothing worse than having to walk around with blisters on your feet, no matter how fashionable your shoes are. In spring/summer I always take a pair of sneakers with me because they perfectly work for rainy weather too. For trips during the colder seasons of the year I prefer ankle boots. Shoes in neutral colours are of great advantage because you can combine them with more outfits. Tip: Wearing your boots or other heavy shoes in the plane will save you extra kilos in your suitcase.
6. Shoes for more formal occasions (ballet flats, high heels or whatever you like) - because you never know what will happen and life is too short to go out at night with your worn out chucks.
7. White Tee - the basic of the basics is easy to dress up or down and you can create any look with it. It should neither be missing in your closet nor in your suitcase.
8. I like to pack clothing items around a color scheme (denim/black/white/gray) so that it's easy to mix and match. You can dress up your outfits with scarves or jewelry.
9. Rolling your clothes instead of folding them will save you tons of baggage space + if you do it carefully your clothes are less likely to get creases.
10. Jeans - I guess you won´t regret taking at least one pair with you.
11. Since I like to be prepared for everything I always make sure to pack a black blazer because it can make any outfit suitable for the night so it´s perfect for emergencies.
12. Little Black Dress - I think that speaks for itself.
13. Cross-body bags or bags with additional straps are very convenient since you have both hands free. It´s not just about the comfort but also about safety because you can keep your valuables in sight.
14. As you know you are only allowed to take a limited amount of liquids with you when traveling with a carry-on. So I either try to get everything I need in travel-size or I buy my bathroom stuff when I get there. Some beauty products are versatile. I like to use Nivea´s classic moisturizer both as a body lotion and as a make-up remover - might sound weird but it really works and you save space.
15. When it comes to your beauty case you don´t have to pack your entire color palette of eyeshadow. A lighter color during the day and a darker shade for the night are more than enough.
I hope you stay tuned because February is bringing along lots of tavels.
Rebecca xx
2. Money, money money - whether it is cash or your credit card. Because in case you forget something you´re convinced you can´t survive the trip without, you can still buy it when you arrive. And of course money is for food - so you won´t starve - and for shopping (but you know this is secondary...)
3. My camera is usually the first thing I put into my suitcase because I can´t go sight-seeing without it. I know I have a smartphone but I usually take thousands of pictures and I always have memory problems. So my camera really is essential.
4. Travel Guide - If I haven´t already been to the city I like to look through a guide and mark every place I want to visit some days (actually weeks) before I take off. And since I always try to see as many things as possible during my trips I like to do a daily plan to make sure I don´t forget anything. But nowadays you can easily look up the most important sights on the internet. Oh, one other thing, you don´t have to buy a city map because usually the hotels provide one for their guests.
5. Comfortable shoes are really important when discovering a new city. There is nothing worse than having to walk around with blisters on your feet, no matter how fashionable your shoes are. In spring/summer I always take a pair of sneakers with me because they perfectly work for rainy weather too. For trips during the colder seasons of the year I prefer ankle boots. Shoes in neutral colours are of great advantage because you can combine them with more outfits. Tip: Wearing your boots or other heavy shoes in the plane will save you extra kilos in your suitcase.
6. Shoes for more formal occasions (ballet flats, high heels or whatever you like) - because you never know what will happen and life is too short to go out at night with your worn out chucks.
7. White Tee - the basic of the basics is easy to dress up or down and you can create any look with it. It should neither be missing in your closet nor in your suitcase.
8. I like to pack clothing items around a color scheme (denim/black/white/gray) so that it's easy to mix and match. You can dress up your outfits with scarves or jewelry.
9. Rolling your clothes instead of folding them will save you tons of baggage space + if you do it carefully your clothes are less likely to get creases.
10. Jeans - I guess you won´t regret taking at least one pair with you.
11. Since I like to be prepared for everything I always make sure to pack a black blazer because it can make any outfit suitable for the night so it´s perfect for emergencies.
12. Little Black Dress - I think that speaks for itself.
13. Cross-body bags or bags with additional straps are very convenient since you have both hands free. It´s not just about the comfort but also about safety because you can keep your valuables in sight.
14. As you know you are only allowed to take a limited amount of liquids with you when traveling with a carry-on. So I either try to get everything I need in travel-size or I buy my bathroom stuff when I get there. Some beauty products are versatile. I like to use Nivea´s classic moisturizer both as a body lotion and as a make-up remover - might sound weird but it really works and you save space.
15. When it comes to your beauty case you don´t have to pack your entire color palette of eyeshadow. A lighter color during the day and a darker shade for the night are more than enough.
I hope you stay tuned because February is bringing along lots of tavels.
Rebecca xx