Most effective way to pack for holidays

I have been recently on a family trip to Indonesia and besides all the excitement leading to the departure day, I also enjoyed planning and packing for my holidays.

Most of the time we take either too much or not enough. Even worst, we take an excessive amount of “things” we end up never using. So, in this article, I would like to share with you the most effective way to pack effectively so you can travel stress and extra weight free!

Plan your holidays (and Outfits)

The first step is to list all the activities you will be doing during each day of your vacation and add what you will need for that particular day or activity. Are you having winter holidays or summer holidays? Will you be sunbathing on the beach, hiking in the mountains, strolling in some museums or just clubbing with friends? Once you have listed your outfits based on your itinerary, it will be much easier for you to know what you will need for your holidays. Always remember one of the most important fashion rules: dress appropriately for each occasion, and to achieve that you need good planning.

Pick a colour palette

Same process as putting a capsule wardrobe together, you will need to pick a coordinated colour palette once you know exactly what type of clothes you need. A neutral colour palette will make it so much easier for you to put an outfit together rapidly, besides making you look put together. For summer I suggest fresh colours like crispy white, beige and sky blue. For winter you can go for the darker version of those colours like white (perfect canvas for any outfit as always), navy blue and brown. If you are going on a business trip you can opt for more severe colours to look professional (e.g. black and grey).  

Same process as putting a capsule wardrobe together, you will need to pick a coordinated colour palette once you know exactly what type of clothes you need. A neutral colour palette will make it so much easier for you to put an outfit together rapidly, besides making you look put together. For summer I suggest fresh colours like crispy white, beige and sky blue. For winter you can go for the darker version of those colours like white (perfect canvas for any outfit as always), navy blue and brown. If you are going on a business trip you can opt for more severe colours to look professional (e.g. black and grey).  

Use the 54321 method

The next step is to use the 54321-packing method. For instance, you can choose 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 layers, 2 shoes and 1 special items (e.g. a bag). Be flexible with this method and adapt it to your holiday needs.  If you are staying longer than a week, then add more items in each category. Or if you are going for winter holidays then consider having more jumpers or undershirts. When I went to Bali for 10 days, I took with me 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 swimmers, 3 shoes, 2 dresses and 1 bag, because I was going to stay mostly at the beach or the pool. My suit wasn’t full, and I didn’t even use all my clothes.

Final tips

• Use packing cubes to organise your clothes by category and keep them tidy and wrinkles free. You can find these online for a cheap price. You will also gain more space in your suitcase.
• Pick clothing that doesn’t require ironing or invest into a portable steamer. Hotels usually have an iron available, but these tend to leave marks on your clothes.
• Don’t forget accessories and jewelleries that go well with your colour palette. Sunglasses, a hat, belts, bags, watches, sandals and little scarves are the little details that will make you stand out.
• Wear your hat at the airport so you won’t have to squash it in your suitcase. Otherwise get an extra piece of luggage, the hat box.
• Take your gym outfit with you (legging, top, socks and trainers). Even if you are not a gym fanatics, they might come handy if you come across a yoga session organised by your resort.
• A cross-body bag is very handy in airports (for easy access to passports, boarding passes, pen and phone).
• Wear your bulkiest shoes (sneakers) on the plane to save space in your luggage.
• Pack dual-use items: a swimsuit that doubles as a top or a sarong can be a beach cover-up, blanket, or makeshift towel.
• Keep one fresh outfit reserved for the trip home. You'll feel better and more put together.
• Roll your clothes instead of folding to prevent clothes wrinkles and save space in your suitcase.
• Use a Shoe Bags to keep dirty shoes away from clean clothes.
• And a laundry Bag to store used clothes separately.
• Try out your outfits before packing if you can.