If there’s one thing traveling the world has taught me, it’s that packing is an art form.
The more often you travel, the more you learn that packing isn’t about bringing everything you might need. It’s about choosing the items you’ll actually use and leaving behind the things that only take up space in your suitcase.
I’ve definitely had those moments, overpacking, forgetting something important, or realizing halfway through a trip that I brought clothes for a completely different type of vacation.
But over time, I’ve figured out a few packing tricks that make traveling a little easier, especially when my trips involve long days of exploring, trying local food, attending events, changing locations, and doing a little bit of everything in between.
So whether you’re taking your first international trip or you’re already a seasoned traveler, here are some packing hacks every traveler should know.
1. Don’t Start Packing Without a List
I know, making a packing list isn’t exactly revolutionary. But hear me out.
When I’m getting ready for a trip, I don’t want to rely on my memory to remember everything. Especially when there are flights to book, itineraries to organize, places to research, and a million other things happening before departure.
I like to break my list into categories:
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Toiletries
- Electronics
- Travel documents
- Medications
- Accessories
- Camera gear
- In-flight essentials
And because I’m a travel creator, camera equipment gets its own category.
If you’re traveling with cameras, batteries, memory cards, chargers, tripods, microphones, or other equipment, it’s very easy for something small to get left behind.
My tip: make your list a few days before your trip instead of the night before. That gives you time to notice what’s missing.
2. Pack for Your Itinerary Not Your Imagination
This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned.
Sometimes we pack for every possible version of a trip.
“Maybe I’ll go somewhere fancy.”
“Maybe I’ll go hiking.”
“Maybe I’ll go swimming.”
“Maybe I’ll need this.”
“Maybe I’ll need that.”
Before you know it, your suitcase is packed for five different vacations.
Instead, look at your actual itinerary.
Are you going to be walking around all day? Bring comfortable shoes.
Are you going somewhere tropical? Prioritize lightweight, breathable clothing.
Are you attending a festival or Carnival? Think about what you’ll realistically be comfortable wearing for hours.
Are you planning to eat your way through a destination? Leave room for the things you might discover along the way.
Pack for the trip you’re actually taking.
3. Plan Outfits, Not Individual Pieces
I’ve found that planning outfits makes a huge difference.
Instead of throwing six tops and four bottoms into your suitcase and hoping they work together, think about complete outfits.
And here’s the trick: make your pieces work more than once.
A pair of pants that can be dressed up for dinner and worn casually during the day is much more valuable than a pair of pants that only works with one outfit.
This is especially helpful when you’re trying to travel with a carry-on.
4. Leave Room for the Destination
As someone who loves exploring local food, culture, shops, markets, and neighborhoods, I have learned that I don’t always come home with exactly what I left with.
Maybe I find a local product I love.
Maybe I discover a book.
Maybe there’s a snack I absolutely need to bring home.
Maybe I find something beautiful that reminds me of the trip.
So I try not to pack my suitcase completely full when I leave.
Give yourself room to bring a little piece of the destination home.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Repeat an Outfit
Let’s normalize outfit repeating while traveling.
Seriously.
You’re traveling to experience a destination, not to participate in a fashion show every single day.
If a particular outfit is comfortable, works well for your itinerary, and photographs nicely, wear it again.
You can change the shoes, accessories, hairstyle, or layer and make it feel completely different.
Plus, fewer outfits mean less luggage.
That’s a win.
6. Your Shoes Can Make or Break a Trip
This is a big one for me because so much of my travel involves exploring on foot.
The cute shoes might look great in the photo, but if you’re miserable after walking around for three hours, you’re going to remember the pain more than the outfit.
I always think about how much walking I’ll actually be doing.
And if I’m bringing multiple pairs of shoes, I try to make sure each pair serves a purpose.
Comfortable walking shoes.
Something a little nicer.
And, depending on the destination, something appropriate for the activities I’ll be doing.
You don’t need seven pairs of shoes for a five-day trip.
Please don’t do that to yourself.
7. Wear Your Bulkiest Items
If your suitcase is getting dangerously full, look at what you’re wearing on the plane.
That jacket?
Wear it.
Those bulky sneakers?
Wear them.
That sweater?
Wear it.
Your suitcase doesn’t care whether you’re wearing the item or packing it. But your baggage allowance definitely does.
Just make sure you’re comfortable enough to actually travel in what you’re wearing.
8. Keep Your Travel Essentials Together
There’s nothing worse than getting settled on a flight and realizing your headphones are buried underneath three outfits and a toiletry bag.
I like having a small essentials pouch that I can easily reach.
Depending on the trip, that might include:
- Headphones
- Phone charger
- Portable battery
- Lip balm
- Hand sanitizer
- Passport
- Important documents
- Medication
- Anything else I know I’ll want during transit
The goal is simple:
Don’t make yourself unpack your entire carry-on to find one thing.
9. Always Have a Little “Just in Case” Bag
This is different from your regular toiletry bag.
I like having a small collection of things that can save the day when something unexpected happens.
Think:
- Bandages
- Pain reliever
- Stain remover
- Tissues
- Small sewing kit
- Safety pins
- Hair ties
- A few basic personal-care items
You don’t need to bring an entire pharmacy.
Just enough to handle the little inconveniences that can happen when you’re far from home.
10. Bring a Foldable Tote
This might be one of the most useful things you can pack.
A foldable tote takes up almost no space but can become:
- A beach bag
- A shopping bag
- A day bag
- A grocery bag
- An extra bag for things you picked up during your trip
I’ve learned that having a bag that can transform depending on what the day requires is incredibly useful when you’re traveling.
Just remember that if you’re flying, airline baggage rules still apply.
11. Pack a Laundry Bag
Once you’ve worn something, it shouldn’t have to mingle with the clean clothes.
Bring a lightweight laundry bag or dedicate one packing cube to dirty clothes.
This makes the end of your trip so much easier because you already know what’s clean and what’s not.
And when you get home, you can toss the laundry straight into the wash.
12. Protect Your Shoes
Shoes can be some of the dirtiest things in your suitcase.
Put them in shoe bags, reusable bags, or another barrier before packing them.
And here’s another little space-saving trick:
Put socks inside your shoes.
You’re already using the space, so you might as well.
13. Keep Liquids Contained
I’ve had enough travel experience to know that the last thing you want is a shampoo explosion inside your suitcase.
Keep your toiletries together in a toiletry bag, and make sure bottles are properly closed before you pack them.
For carry-on travel, make sure you’re following the current airport security rules for liquids.
And if you’re checking your bag, an additional leak-proof bag around your liquids can give you some peace of mind.
Because nobody wants to open their suitcase after a long flight and discover that their clothes now smell like body wash.
14. Keep the Important Stuff in Your Carry-On
This is one rule I don’t play around with.
If something is essential to your trip, don’t put it in your checked luggage.
That includes things like:
- Passport
- Identification
- Medication
- Wallet
- Important documents
- Electronics
- Chargers
- Anything you absolutely cannot replace
If your checked bag takes an unexpected vacation without you, you’ll be very happy that your essentials stayed with you.
15. Take Photos Before You Leave
Before I close my suitcase, I like the idea of taking a quick photo of what’s inside.
It gives you a visual record of what you packed.
You can also take a photo of the outside of your suitcase, especially if it’s a common color or style.
If you ever have to describe your luggage, having a photo makes that much easier.
16. Make Your Luggage Easy to Identify
If your suitcase looks like every other black suitcase at baggage claim, give it something that makes it recognizable.
A luggage tag, ribbon, colorful strap, sticker, or another identifier can help.
The goal is to be able to spot your suitcase quickly without having to stare at every bag going around the carousel.
17. Don’t Forget the Creator Essentials
If you’re traveling as a content creator, packing gets a little more complicated.
You’re no longer just packing for yourself.
You’re packing for the content you’re going to create.
For me, that means thinking about:
- Camera
- Extra batteries
- Memory cards
- Chargers
- Microphones
- Portable batteries
- Tripods
- Storage
- Cleaning cloths
And here’s my biggest creator packing tip:
Charge everything before you leave.
Don’t wait until you’re sitting at the airport to realize one of your batteries is dead.
18. Keep Digital Copies of Important Information
I like having important travel information accessible digitally as well as physically.
Depending on the trip, that might include flight information, hotel details, reservations, travel insurance information, and copies of important documents.
You don’t want to be completely dependent on one physical piece of paper.
19. And Finally… Don’t Overpack
This might be the hardest one.
There will always be a voice in your head saying:
“But what if I need it?”
Sometimes you will.
But most of the time, you probably won’t.
If you’re traveling somewhere where stores are accessible, chances are you can purchase something you genuinely forgot.
You don’t need to bring your entire home with you.
My Biggest Packing Lesson
After traveling to different destinations, I’ve realized that packing isn’t really about figuring out how to fit the most things into your suitcase.
It’s about figuring out what deserves a place in your suitcase.
Think about how you’re actually going to spend your days.
Think about the weather.
Think about the activities.
Think about what will make you comfortable.
And leave a little room for the unexpected.
Because that’s one of my favorite things about travel.
You can have an itinerary, a packing list, and a plan, and then a destination introduces you to something you never expected.
And sometimes, those unexpected moments become the best parts of the trip.
So pack smart, leave a little room, and most importantly…
Go see the world!
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