Hi girls! We just got back from another family trip, this time to Texas. We had the best vacation hanging with family and friends, swimming, fishing, and a whole lot of back porch sittin’.
Traveling with kids is no joke, they require a ton of stuff like carseats and strollers, etc. Since I plan to haul all that every time, it doesn’t give me any extra wiggle room to bring more of my own stuff. So, I typically only bring one small suitcase and I pack it to the max. I have it down to a science, so I want to show you guys all my tips and tricks on how to pack your personal bag. These are great for if you are wanting to travel light or if your hands are already full with other things to bring like me.
My Top 10 Packing Tips
Check The Weather – The first thing I do before packing is check the weather report. Knowing this helps me decide what to pack and helps prevent over packing.
Bring An Extra Bag – I always pack an extra bag that is small, collapsable, and zips. If you are taking a day trip while on vacation, you can pack things in that. Also if you come home with extra things you can check that bag.
Use Packing Cubes – These are so helpful in staying organized. Also great if you are sharing a suitcase (I typically pack my kids in the same one). You can even label them!
Bag For Wet Clothes – You can use a special wet bag or even zip locks. If your swimsuit is still wet when packing, or even if it smells like chlorine, having a bag to keep it contained is key.
Travel Steamer – I love my travel steamer and never leave home without it. I highly recommend steaming your clothes, it takes 2 seconds (way faster then a hotel ironing board) and makes a huge difference in your appearance.
Sunglasses & Jewelry Cases – I love this sunglass holder because it can fit multiple pairs and protects them really well. I also really love these jewelry cases to keep everything from being tangled. Tip: If you don’t have a jewelry case, you can put your necklace through a plastic straw!
Travel Makeup Bag – If you follow me on Instagram, you have heard me rave about this makeup bag! I love it so much that I used it for my everyday makeup as well as for travel. The compartments are adjustable, it keeps me organized, and it protects compacts from breaking.
Toiletries Bag – I pack all my toiletries in a compact travel bag and as soon as I arrive I place the whole thing in the bathroom. A great compartmentalized bag like this keeps everything organized and in one spot. Anything super oily or liquid I will put in a ziplock, preferably a reusable ziplock, to prevent leaking.
Roll Your Clothes – I am now officially a believer in the rolling your clothes method. You can fit so much more by rolling instead of folding and laying flat.
How I Pack Hats:
I’ve seen so many people in the airport wearing multiple hats on their head, or using a large tote to store them in the overhead compartment on the plane. While these are both totally viable options, I prefer packing them in my suitcase so I don’t have to even think about them once I leave my house. Here is how I do that:
- Stack all your hats together with the smallest brimmed ones on the inside.
- Fill the hole where your head goes with soft clothes rolled up. I will typically put my sleeping tank tops in there.
- Lay the stuffed hats flat (brim down) on the bottom of your suitcase.
- Pack the rest of your rolled clothes tightly around the hat so there is no wiggle room for things to shift around during the flight.
That’s it! This super easy trick has worked for me when packing straw hats for a beach vacation and wool hats in the Fall/Winter.
I hope these travel hacks help you to pack more efficiently for your upcoming vacay.
Bon voyage!