Several pieces of their luggage were open and their personal items were strewn across the floor of the baggage check-in area. Family members stood looking in panic as one of their own was moving things from luggage to luggage, frantically trying to “make weight”.
Nowadays, people tend to want to pack everything, including the kitchen sink. Have you seen (or been?) that person or family? Anyone that has had this experience at airport baggage check-in time knows what we’re talking about. We have and it’s not pretty. It can be incredibly stressful. Of course, we knew exactly what to do to make it work. But we were still under pressure. And now we weigh our luggage before leaving (keep reading to see how).
Even though we all occasionally forget an item, everyone knows the basics. Toothbrush, underwear changes, and phone chargers are some of the most basic items we take. It’s the accessories we sometimes struggle with.
What to ask yourself
We know it sounds obvious, but ask yourself – where am I going and what will I be doing when I get there is a good start. Other good questions are:
- Do I need anything special or something different?
- Do I want something special or different?
- How many times will I need those items?
- Is it cheaper to buy at my destination? (sometimes it really is!)
When we went hiking in Hawaii, we took hydration backpacks and trekking poles. And yes, we used the trekking poles and were glad we had them. And yes, we got a lot of stares walking through the hotel lobby all muddy with our trekking poles in hand. But we had a blast!
Checking the weather is one of the most important things we can do. When you’re going to Caribbean, you’ll know the basic packing list is bathing suit, shorts, t-shirts, sandals, and personal toiletries. Unless you’re doing something special where you’d like to wear something nicer like Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ, you’re good to go!
What to pack
Remember, you don’t have to pack everything.
We have go to accessory items that have become staples for us:
- A multi charger – we have one for the US and another that accommodates international sockets. We have one for the US and different one for overseas. If going overseas, always check how the electricity works in the country (or countries) you are visiting.
- Luggage scale – so you know before you get to the airport the weight of your luggage.
- Lightweight backpacks/satchels – great for day hiking (either urban or touring), and when you need to pick up a few things at the store but don’t want the bag. Someplaces they even charge you for bags.
- Ziplock baggies – these work perfect for when you buy a food item that you’d like to keep fresh for a day or two.
- Brand new sponge – when you’re staying at an apartment, sometimes theirs doesn’t make the grade. From personal experience, it’s not that easy finding sponges in stores.
- Sanitary wipes/hand sanitizer – do we need to explain this one?
Below are some of the items we have packed on trips.
From top left, left to right: travel safe, duffle bag (13″H X 20″W X 12″D), backpack (16L – with red tag), expandable straw, luggage scale (in box), charging station (has usb ports on side), expanable water bottle, blanket (grey in small black wrap), FULL size quick drying grey towel, and hand laundry bag.
Light packing
Gary’s a light packer. Well, an ultra-light packer. He once went to Africa for 3 weeks with only a carry-on and brought home souvenirs in a carry-on. It may be easier, but not a necessity to get that ridiculous. But there are some cool items that will lighten the load and leave more room in your suitcase.
- Kindle – some people like books (Dianne is one of them). But, if you are good without the paper, you can take a multitude of books in a lot lighter package (Gary does). Paperback books can sometimes serve as a “placeholder”. As they are read, they can be left behind. Ultimately they leave room (and weight) for souvenirs!
- Towels – for those places you need to bring a towel, there are quick drying, very light towels available.
- Luggage – all luggage is not the same. Who wants to haul a heavy piece around? When we found ourselves finding accommodations “on the fly” in Barcelona, we had to walk a half mile to the new place.
Frivolous items
Sometimes we bring items that could be considered frivolous, but depending on the trip make a lot of sense.
- Handwashing kit – if you’re planning on washing clothes while you’re away, this is a nice perc. Not all places have a washing machine, and even fewer have dryers. And this works best if you have a few days to let your clothes dry in one place.
- Reusable straws – there are places that don’t have straws. If you’re someone who really likes to use one, there are plenty of places to get them.
- Water? – this one may sound of necessary, but taking water with you is kind of frivolous. On the way to your destination, sometimes you don’t want to pay the high price at the airport, or stop for water right right after you land. Pack a couple of bottles in your stow away luggage and you’re good to go! This also provides more room for bringing items back. We use it to make weight when we bring home wine.
How to make it happen
Checklists are awesome! You may be surprised what you don’t forget when you have a checklist.
A checklist is also a sanity check. Do I really need my parka in the Caribbean? It may be cold where you’re leaving, but can you leave it behind at the airport with your family member or friend who drops you off? Or leave it at home when Uber or the airport shuttle comes right to your door? Not having to remember your parka needs to come home while you’re enjoying sun, sand and adult beverages can take some of the stress off.
We have lists for everything. Every trip gets its own list. It can be an old list modified, but it’s still customized. In some cases (like overnight backpacking/through hiking), we’ve honed the list to the point where we just break out the old one and it’s good.
The checklist is also good for the return trip. We can tell you how many phone chargers we know have been left by others. We know that because instead of forgetting ours on our journey, we have accidentally left ours at home (we each thought the other had it…). Typically if you ask for one to borrow, the front desk has a box full of chargers and laptop adaptors that people have left behind. A good sized box. Any kind you could think of.
Summing it up
The key is bring what makes you feel comfortable. If you’re willing to drag around the maximum 50lbs (23 kg) suitcase that’s your choice.
No matter what, make sure you have what you need. But don’t fret, often you can buy it when you get there. Yeah it might be extra money, but don’t let something like that ruin your journey!