How to Pack for a Trip
For many people travelling is the favourite passion and we all seek for an opportunity for a perfect getaway from our routine. Whether you’re going on your first or hundredth trip, it is always good to know how to have the most of it and still be able to pay for your food and rent after the trip and, of course, what things not to forget and how to pack all you will need in the smallest luggage possible, because no one likes to drag around loads of stuff (especially since you will probably buy as many in your new home). See our instructions how to travel light and smart!
1) Weather forecast
Before you go anywhere, check the weather forecast during your stay. It is important in order to avoid spending some extra money on buying unnecessary clothes, especially if you’re going to cities like London and Dublin known for their rainy days and unpredictable seasons.
2) Documents and money
This is for sure the most important part. You can’t go nowhere without your passport or identity card, so before you take a taxi or you drive to the bus station or the airport, make sure to check at least twice are your documents, boarding passes and money with you.
3) Dense packing
It doesn’t matter whether you carry a small or a bigger-than-you luggage, you should keep it dense. If your clothes take more than half of its space, then you’re probably taking too much. Another tip: fold and roll, it is smaller than waded clothes.
4) Trilogy rule
Three shirts, three pairs of socks, three pairs of underwear… Keep it simple, this way you can wear one while you wash one and dry one. But don’t follow the trilogy rule when it comes to shoes and pants, since those have longer purpose than a day.
5) Unnecessary stuff
You know you don’t need all those shoes and all those jackets. When we go to a new place, we like to surround ourselves with familiar items, but this is one of the biggest mistakes, considering you’ll buy more stuff wherever you go, so try to avoid the i-can’t-zip-my-luggage problem.
6) Three-way adapter
Modern electronics is super advanced and we all are tied to our smartphones and laptops, so it is not a surprise we want them to be charged all the time. However, the electrical outlets may differ from country to country, so we advise you to bring a three-way adapter which should cover probably all of your problems.
7) Go casual
The world today is a very multicultural place and keep in mind that you can buy anything you do or will need when you land to your new destination. There is no need to spend your luggage weight on things like shampoos or toothpastes, because you will be able to buy them there, probably the same brand you use at home.
8) Online tour
Before you go somewhere, make a small online research to know what places are worth of paying a visit, where the food is good and how much time will it take. It is good to know this things in advance, to avoid crowds and to see the place’s hotspots (unless you like to wander around old-fashioned style, with a map in your hands asking locals for directions).
9) Negotiate over the price
Don’t spend too much money on handicrafts and souvenirs. Remember that locals expect from you to bargain and they often increase the price so you can lower it back down. Avoid buying in fancy gift shops and boutiques, you can find everything on the local market. Not only it is cheaper, it is also more local-like.
10) Remember to enjoy
Last, but not least. A rule lots of people forget when on vacation. Don’t stress about your work at home or if you had some trouble with your flight. Make the most of your trip and appreciate the culture and the people around you and, of course, try to blend in the new world as much as possible.
