Traveling internationally can be an extremely stressful experience, given how many things could go wrong. There are money issues, issues of safety and security, and when it’s all said and done, you have to hope you’re going to have all the fun and pleasure on your adventure that your plans suggest. Yet among all these far-flung, economical, could-be should-be worries, there is the simple issue of what to pack. Yes indeed, what you pack in your luggage can often be the greatest contributor to whether or not you genuinely enjoy your trip abroad. Knowing how to pack well in advance, and tackling that task correctly, can make your trip abroad convenient, easy, and fun!
Beauty is Easier than You Think
The first thing to understand is your own impulse to overpack. Generally speaking, we want to plan for everything we can, and that means having every single object we could possibly use while traveling. When it comes to your beauty routine, for example, you may think that you want everything you use at home while you’re traveling. Many use several different products to control and style hair, cleanse your face, and finally apply makeup. Yet you can’t be sure how this will all work in the different climates and environments you will encounter, which means that it all may be a waste – or worse, it all may make you look worse in photos!
Generally speaking, when staying at a major hotel you can trust that complimentary toiletries will be made available to you. Don’t be afraid to use these, as lugging your own shampoos, conditioners, and other toiletries can take up quite a bit of space and weight, ultimately costing you more than you actually need to spend on travel expenses!
Take Only What You Need!
Overpacking is definitely a big “threat” when it comes to packing; it is something every traveler does at least once in their life, and it is something you will regularly regret! Even if you aren’t someone who puts a lot into their beauty regimen, you probably have plenty of clothes to bring with you, and the temptation will be there to take as many as possible with you for all manner of climate and weather. This is, of course, a mistake.
Let’s say you’re visiting France, the land of such great artists as R.Lalique; would a winter coat be appropriate in fall or spring? Maybe, maybe not; you need to carefully determine only what is needed based on your research on the region and time of year. It can help to make a list of everything that you actually would wear – in fact, try tracking what you really wear in the course of a week, and use that to judge just what clothing you’ll really need. Often, when you overpack clothes, you’re packing more clothes than you would wear even at home. Don’t forget that there are washing machines and dryers abroad as well!
The best way to pack is ultimately to favor utility and absolute needfulness over anything else. If you have a question about whether or not you should bring something – don’t. Only the objects, clothes, etc. that you look at and know that you absolutely need should actually be included in your packing. You will not only save money, but actually finding what you need when you need it will be much easier and stress-free. Considering how stressful it can be to travel, that’s a real plus!
+Mark Boyd is a website content geek with MIND Development and Design, musician and travel lover. He rants about websites and all on the MIND blog and podcast pages.
