I suffer from a bad case of wanderlust. Always have always will.
In my opinion, there’s nothing like booking a weekend trip somewhere, seeing the booking confirmation appear in your email, and counting down the days until you arrive at your destination.
While the pandemic has certainly affected us travel lovers, what continues to affect us is the actual packaging for said weekend trip. The anxiety that no doubt comes from trying to figure out what to pack (and how to fit it all) can definitely dampen anyone’s pre-getaway excitement.
I feel you. Packing can be tedious and stressful (who knew those two words could go together?). But from my perspective, it really doesn’t have to be that bad.
With my top five packing tips, you’ll learn how to pack in a way that elevates your travel experience, not worsens it.
(AUTHOR’S NOTE: For the purposes of this article, I’ll be giving tips on packing with just a carry-on for a weekend trip. My favorite carry-on? This one from Away.)
Tip #1 Plan your days (and your outfits)
When preparing your weekend packing list, always pack by outfits, not by individual items. It may seem counterintuitive, but it makes a world of difference.
And if you know your itinerary ahead of time, this makes it even easier to pack. Sightseeing on a Saturday and visiting the best cocktail bar at night? Done and done. In fact, I often visualize planned activities to help me figure out what I should actually use. I also prefer clothing that can multi-task, which means it can be dressed up or down.
I particularly like the GANNI midi skirts, which can be worn with sneakers and a T-shirt during the day and in the evening with tights and a light jumper.
PS I also found that bringing extra underwear and socks never hurts – they take up very little space and you never know if you’re going to need them.
Tip #2 Roll up your clothes
There was a time when I secretly thought that those people who rolled their clothes were lazy and didn’t bother to fold them. Au contraire! They were, in fact, geniuses. Apologies for passing judgment.
In truth, I am always amazed at how much space I have left in my carry-on when I roll my clothes. It’s actually one of the best ways to prevent wrinkles, too (more on that in the next tip).
My preferred method of shooting? Place the top face down, fold the sleeves in and roll up from the bottom. For the pants, I put the legs together and twist from the waist down. Easy peasy.
Tip #3 Bring a travel vaporizer
My friends have laughed at me for bringing one, but I tell you, a travel steamer should be your new best friend, if it isn’t already.
I hate ironing with a passion and I swear by steam ironing. It’s a great way to freshen up your clothes and remove those pesky wrinkles that sometimes can’t be removed with a roller. Plus, that little “puff” sound the vaporizer makes is oddly satisfying, and they’re usually very easy to pack.
All you need is some water and voila, you have some wrinkle-free outfits waiting to be worn.
Tip #4 Make use of those beauty samples
I definitely have a type A personality, but yes, I hold on to one thing: displays of beauty.
In fact, I have an entire box dedicated to them, organized by their mission (cleanse, tone, exfoliate, etc.). Every time I go on a weekend trip, I open that box and see which samples I want to take with me this time.
Not only are they TSA-friendly, but they barely take up any space in my carry-on. Now that’s a thing of beauty.
Tip #5 Wear your bulkiest items on the flight
If you’re headed somewhere cooler, instead of putting your coat inside your carry-on and letting it take up valuable space and weight, wear it on the plane.
Unless they have strict rules against it, you can usually put it in the top compartment (I tend to put it right on top of my carry-on bag if there’s enough room). The same goes for footwear. If it’s colder outside and you want to bring boots, take those babies to the plane.
Sure, there’s a lot to consider when determining what to take on your next trip, but one thing’s for sure: you’ve packed just what you need to enjoy the weekend ahead.
As a born and raised American now residing in Germany, Erin is a freelance writer with over 10 years of copywriting experience from her time in Stockholm, Sweden, and New York City. A self-proclaimed storyteller with a bad case of wanderlust, she has a penchant for all things fashion, film, food, and travel.
