5 Packing Tips for Your Next Vacay

Since we’ve been sheltering in place for several months, I’ve had to cross off several trips in my calendar. Depending on when the shelter in place is lifted, I may or may not have some time to vacation but it sure is fun thinking about where I might want to go first. We do have several out of town weddings come up in September and October that I’m hoping to attend. In preparation for any upcoming traveling plans you might have, I thought I’d share my traveling tips. My friend Cindy did a blog post quit some time ago on 5 Travel Packing Tips from a Frequent Traveler. To read that post click HERE.

Tip #1

Plan in advance! I begin to lay out my outfits in my granddaughter’s bedroom well in advance. This allows me to see how many outfits I’ve planned for based on how many days I’ll be gone and the activities I’ll be doing. Think of it like doing flat lays (for all of you IGers). In addition to the outfit, I include shoes and accessories so I know that I have a complete look! Since I do this in advance, I might not have everything laid out that I want to bring so I create a list so that I don’t forget to add any last minute items!

Tip #2

It’s a great idea to plan and pack around a given color scheme. My most recent trip was to Miami for a work conference. I opted to pack mainly outfits in the blue family and lots of tie dye, which continues to trend. This allows me to use similar shoes, jackets and jewelry/accessories to try and keep over packing to a minimum. Our trip was cut short due to the Corona Virus but here is what I had packed to wear in the event we stayed the whole time…

Had to share that I even had my nails and toes done in blue to match all my looks…you know I love matchy matchy! Blue is one of my favorite colors to wear – all shades of blue!

When possible, wear your heavier items on the plane to avoid the weight in your suitcase and the space they take up. I opted to wear my denim jacket and Adidas tennis shoes. This was the only jacket and tennis shoes I brought with me. Since I’m always cold, I need some kind of coat and although we were going to Miami, I was concerned that the air conditioning would be blasting! The scarf has many bright spring colors and would pair with any of my blue items that I packed.

Look 1

This white cami takes up very little space. The silver sandals were the only sandals I packed and you will see I wore them with another look. Our conferences tend to be casual but I like my fancy. This entire look was pulled from my closet. I like to be comfortable and feel cute (the best version of me) while sitting in conferences all day.

Look 2

My gym clothes were also blue! I planned that my Adidas would match my gym look and not require me to pack an additional pair of tennis shoes.

Look 3

The iridescent stripes on the Adidas tend to pick up the color closest to them and in this case blue!

Meeting amazing women all over the US and in other countries is one of the best parts of blogging and being on social media! I feel as though I could go almost any where and reach out to someone I’ve met and connect in person. This trip was no exception! IG friend Gail (Boxing Princess 22) lives a block away from the hotel we stayed at. One evening we were able to meet in person and hang out. We connected right away!

Look 4

On the traveling days, I like to be layered for warmth but also able to remove layers if too warm. I also like to be comfortable for walking through airports and sitting on the plane.

Our trip was cut short due to the Corona Virus. However, my cousin and her husband were nice enough to drive to Miami from the Ft. Lauderdale area to have breakfast with me and visit for an hour before we left!

Look 5

Looks #6 & #7

If necessary, I was actually prepared to repeat wearing several pairs of the jeans that I packed. These two looks would have also gone well with the other items in my suitcase.

This tye dye sweater could have been worn with either pair of blue jeans. While I did not have these white boots packed, I was planning to wear either my Adidas or my silver sandals depending on how casual or fancy I felt like being…fancy usually trumps casual for me.

Lastly, this long sleeve tie dye tee is super soft and comfy. It also would have been a great traveling look.

SHOP SIMILAR LOOKS

Tip #3

Packing cubes have been a great help when it comes to packing! They help to keep things organized in your suitcase and can easily be pulled out and placed in drawers, etc. I tend to pack mine by category: bras and underwear in the smaller cubes, shorts, tops, pants, etc. in the larger cubes! I purchased my cubes last year around this time and have used them on every trip since getting them. Here are my cubes (they come in 22 colors and styles):

SHOP PACKING CUBES

Tip #4

Avoid under packing or over packing! I wish you could hear me laughing as I type this because under packing is NEVER a problem for me. My biggest challenge is not over packing. Because I’m a planner and organizer, I tend to have my outfits planned in advance. Once I see that I have extra space in my luggage, I have to work really hard at not wanting to fill the space and add extra outfits. It can be easy to rationalize that I don’t know what I might be in the mood to wear and, therefore, packing more is better. This is something I continue to work on and probably always will!

Several years ago, we had a girl’s getaway to Cape Cod.  This is what happens when 4 friends, 2 who were fashion bloggers, go on vacation.   LOL

Tip #5

Bring an extra tote or bag and can hold your purse, reading materials, snacks, etc. and fits under the seat in the plane. Since I was attending a conference, I know that I’ll be carrying those exact things…purse, something to drink, a snack, etc. If you’re on a trip for enjoyment, you’ll want something to throw your beach items and souvenirs in. When Mr. FTF and I travel, he usually brings his backpack, which is perfect for the two of us!

You can see my tote on top of my carry on suitcase! I always get compliments on it..it has many covers of Cosmopolitan magazine. Inside it has several compartments, which helps to keep it organized and it holds quit a bit plus fits under the airplane seat perfectly!

SHOP TOTES

This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click or purchase. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely my own.

Let’s Chat

Where is the first place you plan to travel to when we’re free to move about the country? Do you like to pack for trips? What tips or tricks do you follow when packing? Leave us a comment! We always love to hear from you and appreciate your thoughts and feedback!

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