My “Ultimate packing guide” will make your trip easier. It is targeting “real travelers on real trips”. For us who have checked luggage as well as carry-on bags. If you are looking for a minimalist guide because you plan to do laundry every day at the hotel, this is not for you. You may want to check this out instead.

When I travel, I want to enjoy my travel to the fullest. I want to feel comfortable, knowing that I brought the right thing to wear, and I am not forced to cut the evening short as I need to return to the hotel to do laundry & hope the clothes will dry overnight. If you wish to arrive at your destination with clothes that you can wear without ironing, this guide is for you.

Check the airline & include the bag charge in your budget

First thing first. Before you book your tickets, check the allowance for your airline. What is the free allowance? What are the costs? Remember to add it to your budget. If you have chosen a fare that does not include any free bag allowance, would it make sense to upgrade to a fare that has it? Or pre-pay for your bag?

The airlines are running a business, not a charity & will collect the fees. If you choose to bring extra luggage, you will most likely pay an extra fee. When comparing shipping rates on airlines & the post office, the airline’s fees are still very competitive.

Where to look for bag allowance

As you are checking the allowance, go to the airline’s website. and not to a consolidator, travel agent, or take a friend’s word for it. Knowing from the start what your allowance is will make it easier. It is never the airline’s fault that your bags are heavier than the free allowance. You will save yourself a lot of time, aggravation, and stress by going straight to the source.

When it comes to hand luggage, yes the airline will most likely weigh it. They may add a tag to indicate it was checked for weight and size. Some airlines will soon charge for hand luggage as well. Do your homework, and you will not be stressed. Make sure the size of your luggage – both checked as well as carry-on is within the size requirement. This is particularly important if you fly to Europe. Their allowance is smaller than the US standards. And remember, a personal item is not a “wheelie bag”. It is a handbag or a smaller backpack.

At the airport

When it comes to the weight of your luggage, weigh it at home before you go to the airport. We always carry a handheld scale in our carry-on bag. This allows us a stress-free process at check-in. The airline’s scales are calibrated every so often and will show the correct weight. If you show up at the airport with overweight bags, pay the fee and move on. By arguing with the airline or re-packing, you are causing yourself as well as others extra stress. Do you want to show everyone what you have in your suitcase? This could all be avoided had you checked before leaving your house.

Research your destination(s), the weather forecast as well as your itinerary

Next thing is to research your destination. What time of the year are you going? Do you have to bring boots & heavy jackets? What will the weather be like? Are you going to do anything special that needs special clothing and/or equipment? Will you have to change for dinner? Could you rent special equipment if needed (skiing, scuba diving, and similar)? Will you spend the entire time in a city? Are you going on a beach vacation? Nothing but swimwear & coverups? Are you maybe going on a tour of a country, and need a little bit of everything? Do you plan to do some shopping?

Make an itinerary & plan what you want to wear

At this point, I create an itinerary on a spreadsheet. I add the dates and any special events & plans that we have. By planning my daily outfits and checking what I can wear more than one time I can ensure I do not bring too much. I usually do not plan to wear the same top twice, as I would need to wash them in between. Unless I am staying with relatives, I do not plan to do laundry while on vacation.

Before packing, go through all your clothes to ensure they are clean, and there are no holes or missing buttons as this could be a stress factor if you notice your winter jacket has a big stain the night before you leave. You also want to make sure they fit. I brought this dress once that I was wearing to an evening out. It no longer fit me the way I thought. What a disaster. By checking this before packing, you’re saving yourself a lot of stress!

Type of bag

What type of bag are you using? Suitcase or duffel bag? Hard-sided or soft-sided? Take into consideration the weight of the empty bag – the bag itself. You will be surprised how heavy some bags are. I prefer a lightweight hard-sided suitcase. The airport’s inline baggage system may be rough on your bag. It gets “kicked” by metal arms, and it could get stuck. If going on a long-haul trip, bags get loaded on top of each other in cans. I would not spend an ‘arm and a leg” on a suitcase for this reason. If you are afraid of getting scuff marks, make sure you invest in a protective cover for your suitcase.

Preparing the clothes

So this is where I pack differently than most, which makes my ultimate packing guide a “must-have”. You have most likely read about travelers rolling everything into a suitcase. I am not a fan of this, as a lot of times, this will cause lots of wrinkles. Some people just throw everything into the suitcase as well. Also not my thing.

I start by putting the clothes in different piles: tops, pants, skirts, and dresses. Then I make sure I have not added too much, and that all pieces are in my plan.

The breakdown

• Pants: Fold all pants lengthwise in half on top of each other, then I will fold them over once.
• Skirts: Put all the skirts on top of each other and then fold them over once.
• Dresses: Put all the dresses on top of each other, (fold in the arms if long-sleeved), and then fold once all together
• Tops: Put all tops on top of each other. I fold in the sleeves one by one and then fold them all once.
• Underwear: I use travel cubes or large zip-lock bags, to prevent TSA from touching them during an inspection.
• Socks/pantyhose: Some socks may go inside shoes to save some space. The rest is inside a cube/ziplock bag.
• Toiletries: Use small bottles/jars. Most go in a quart zip-lock bag in your carry-on bag. Other things inside a ziplock/toiletry bag. I always add an extra plastic bag to ensure nothing leaks.

Packing the bag

When packing the clothes into the suitcase, I try to secure the pants and tops in the same compartment to avoid them sliding around. Skirts or dresses would be layered on top. Like a jigsaw puzzle, you will add the shoes, toiletries, and the remaining items for the suitcase.

Another tip is to bring 1 extra duffel bag in your suitcase. In case you need it for shopping, dirty laundry, or if a bag breaks.

Carry-on bag / Hand-luggage

First thing first, make sure it follows the sizing & weight guidelines. If not, there is a chance you will need to check it in. This is also something you can ensure before leaving for the airport. I have read so many packing guides, and some are advising you that “the airline will not check your carry-on bags, so pack as much as possible”. This is not true. The airline will weigh it, and/or have you put it inside a sizing box. If it does not fit, it is simply too large. Check before leaving for the airport.

Think about what you truly need. Do you have to take your heavy laptop? Could you make do with a tablet? Do you need to bring 2-3 books, or would an E-reader be better? Is it worth taking your Nikon with 3 lenses where you are going? Or will you mostly take photos with your phone? I love taking photos so I have to think about that a few times. We went to Moab & Yellowstone last year. I had 3 different lenses with me. I have now purchased a new lens, that is replacing all 3. It will be less to pack, and also less time to swap out the lenses.

A few things I always have in my carry-on bag

Hand-held scale

As mentioned above, always know the weight of your suitcase and carry-on bag at different points of your journey. Make sure the batteries are working before you leave.

Carabiners

A carabiner is always handy to bring along. You can attach your hand luggage to the suitcase, hang shopping bags to a backpack, or secure a water bottle to the raft during whitewater rafting.

Underwear/sleepwear on planes

I always bring one change of spare underwear, just in case my bag would be delayed. If we are going to Europe, we bring a change of clothing to sleep in (think leggings/t-shirt or similar).

Sanitizing wipes & spray

You never know if you will need to wipe down seats and the tables on airplanes, maybe the soap will be out? When at the destination, a public restroom may not be the cleanest or even be stocked. Always bring extra wipes. Just in case.

All electronics & charging cables

I always pack all my electronics and charging cables in my carry-on bag for a few different reasons. First of all, some electronics may not go in the checked luggage due to being a fire hazard (lithium batteries in computers for ex.). Secondly, having them in a carry-on bag, they are easily available for inspection at security checkpoints. I prefer to have them inspected in my presence, rather than having my suitcase opened. Thirdly, you may need them in flight, or charge them in flight. The last reason is these items are most likely high value, and I feel safer carrying them with me.

Passports, Driver’s license, Credit & Debit-cards, car/house keys, important numbers

The essentials you cannot leave home without. My husband has made laminated photocopies of our passports should they be stolen. This would facilitate being able to travel back home again.

Always tell your bank and credit card companies that you plan to travel to & the countries you will visit. This will facilitate the use of your cards, and ensure you can still use them. If you need cash, the best option is to use a debit card once you reach your destination. Your bank’s conversion rate is usually less costly than most currency exchange companies.

Last few tips

Put your car & housekeep in a safe place in your hand luggage.

Last, but not least, make sure you have important numbers with you in case you need them: health insurance, travel insurance, travel agent if you used one, airline, and bank/credit card companies.

I hope you will take away a few tips from my Ultimate packing guide. Enjoy your travel.

If you would like to read more of my travel tips, click here.