Six Things you DON'T Need to Pack While Traveling
One of the most tempting things to do when packing is to pack EVERYTHING. As someone who is a huge advocate of packing as lightly as possible, below are a few of the most common items I see people pack that aren’t really needed.
And if you want more tips on packing light, check out my posts on creating a travel capsule wardrobe and how to pack for three weeks of travel in a carry-on.
YOUR ENTIRE MAKEUP KIT
If you're someone who wears makeup, you don't need to pack every item of makeup you wear at home. A foundation/tinted moisturizer, mascara, concealer (if you're feeling fancy), and a lip stick/gloss will serve you well on the road, AND save space in your bag.
"WHAT IF" CLOTHING
I can't tell you the number of times I used to pack a "nice dress just in case" I went out for a fancy dinner. After I realized that I never used the nice dress, I stopped packing it. This is just an example, but. if you have a tendency to overpack, look at what you're planning to take on your next trip as “what if” items and see if you can't leave a significant number of them behind.
HAIRDRYER & ALL OF YOUR HAIR PRODUCTS
Most hotels provide hair dryers these days, and unless you're traveling for work or a special event, you probably won't even need to use the one provided. As far hair products go, travel isn’t the time to get fancy. Just pack the products you absolutely need - or find replacement products that serve more than one purpose so you can pare down your packing - and leave the rest at home. You’ll want to be out exploring anyway, rather than spending a bunch of time doing your hair.
BULKY ALL-IN-ONE “UNIVERSAL” PLUG ADAPTERS
This one will be a bit controversial, but hear me out. Universal travel adapters are handy, but they’re also bulky and limit you to plugging everything into one outlet. My solution? Carry individual plug adapters for the particular country you’re traveling to. I usually throw a few of these in my bag, and then I have only what I need for where I’m going without all the extra bulk. Plus, with several plugs, I can make use of more than one outlet wherever I’m staying.
EXPENSIVE JEWELRY
If you own expensive jewelry, leave it at home. Not only will this keep you safer as you’re walking around, but it will also bring you peace of mind, knowing you won’t lose any jewelry of high value.
A DIFFERENT OUTFIT FOR EVERY DAY
And lastly, packing a different outfit for everyday is a big no-no, especially if you’re trying to pack light. Instead, think about how you can mix and match items to come up with several outfits during your trip. If you need help with how to do this, check out my post on how to create a capsule wardrobe.