Written by Anne & Photo by Arnel Hasanovic on Unsplash
If you’ve ever enviously browsed through a typical travel bloggers’ or “influencers’” Instagram, you’ve probably seen millions of pictures of them somehow managing to look glamorous in a new outfit at every place they visit. Whether they’re wearing a charming lace coverlet over a swimsuit smiling widely with a drink in their hand, or looking adorably chic in a long maxi dress, wide brim hat and low heels, you’re probably wondering, “How am I possibly supposed to look this cute and fit it all into the one tiny suitcase?”
- Know your environment. Are you spending time in Ireland over the summer months or enjoying the coastline of southern Spain? It’s important to really research the climate of the place to ensure you not only pack appropriately for the weather but as well as the country or countries’ culture. While it’s tempting to bring that flimsy sundress you just bought to Ireland, it likely won’t hold up in the pretty temperate country.
- Versatility is key. You don’t need 14 different outfits for two weeks of traveling. Three pairs of pants /shorts and four shirts, with a nice dress or two, will get you through just fine. The key is to pick shirts that can pair well with any of your pants or shorts you plan to wear. Typically, plain colored shirts that can be layered with either flannel or jacket help make your outfits look more different. You may also be considered sticking to an outfit color palette. While traveling to Europe I stuck to a simple color palette of pink, navy, and gray. This made pairing and mixing and matching my clothes easier, and picking out which shoes to bring much easier.
- Use packing cubes. I know these seem like a complete waste of money, but honestly, they work. All of your toiletries, clothes, and undergarments stay neatly organized without wrinkling them or getting them mixed up with your dirty clothes while traveling. Sure there are other tips for saving space in your bag like rolling your clothes, but if you have to get up for early morning flights or are frequently traveling, rolling your clothes is going to get old, fast. So save the time and the hassle- and space, and invest in a decent pack of these cubes.
- Bring a backpack as an extra bag. As a “workoutaholic,” I find bringing a backpack incredibly useful for storing my workout gear in, rather than just throwing it in my luggage. However, I’ve found using a backpack is great for stowing all your miscellaneous items like smaller purses, an extra outfit to change into after a long flight, and various charging cords.
- Plan laundry days. If you plan to travel for longer than a week, chances are you’ll need to do laundry or you’ll have nothing left to wear. Hostels have washers and dryers you can use, but doing a load can sometimes be pricey. If you know someone who has washer you can use, try saving some money by doing laundry at their place. Or if you don’t have a place to wash your clothes, you can save money by hand washing them in the shower with travel detergent.
- When in doubt, pick something up from Primark (Pennys). Sometimes you can travel with just the bare essentials (toiletries, undergarments, etc.) and just plan to pick up something while you’re on the go. Primark, or in some places called Pennys, is a cheap store located around Europe that offers cute clothes, bags, shoes, swimsuits, and more. If you really need to pick up an entirely new outfit, or some of your clothes get destroyed, Primark is a great store to run to without busting your travel budget.
Travel by the Book 