ASC TRAVEL: TEN OUTFITS, TEN DAYS, ONE CARRY-ON!
This past September, I told you all I went to Italy on an anniversary trip for ten days. Didn't know that? Read all about it here!
Now, hindsight is 20:20, and last year my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Paris. My luggage for that trip included a backpack, a handbag, and a large Calvin Klein hard case luggage suitcase. As normal as this might sound for an 10-day trip, let me tell you, this was a MISTAKE! I incurred FARRR too much throughout the trip and my boo and I probably lost 5 lbs each lugging those items up and down the metro stairs all over France.This year's advice? PACK LIGHT!So with that in mind I'm going to share with you all how I attempted to do just that for this year's trip to Italy!
For starters, I bought a small, Kenneth Cole carry-on suitcase (at Ross, where you can get name brands because they're better quality suitcases for good prices and they also have some helpful packing accessories).
Packing has always been a challenge for me, but finally through my own personal research I've found these five things that can help you make the most out of your travel luggage:1. Packing Cubes
- These cubes are a lifesaver!! This past trip they helped keep me organized and under control, since by day 3 my suitcase is usually a mess from digging through it. They are cloth cubes that allow you to separate your clothes according to your liking. For my trip I kept one for shirts (the biggest one), one for pants, and then one for undies and socks, etc (the smallest one). My dresses I left out, as there was not enough room to add another cube. To increase the surface space available, I always roll my clothes military style, with the understanding that I will most likely be using an iron.
2. Electronics organizer
- I actually kept this in my handbag, but it is a small foldable cloth/plastic organizer that has compartments for your headphones, charger, bricks, etc. It kept all of my cords in one place so none got lost throughout the trip. It can be bought on your local Amazon, TJMaxx, Ross, etc.
3. Flat/foldable toiletries bag/organizer
- This toiletry bag most likely has a handle or hanger that you can suspend your products from, whether in a hotel, AirBnB, etc. Ideally it will be clear, or have clear compartments. That way when you're going through TSA you can simply remove it, open it and place it in the bin for easy security checking. I purchased mine from Nordstrom rack, but some good examples can be found here...
4. Foldable Laundry bag
- This bag will help you transition you clean clothes to dirty clothes without mixing/confusing the two. That way you can keep track of what you've worn and prevent wearing the same pair of those dirty socks twice. Want an example of a good one? Click here to see one!
5. Shoe bag(s)
- This bag(s) will allow you to house your shoes interchangeably within your suitcase without dirtying your clothing after trekking to your favorite places. They can be found here on Amazon and many other places (Ross, TJMaxx, etc)
All in all, the key to packing is keeping things organized. Some other things I did this time around were planning my outfits beforehand, i.e. counting the number of socks and toiletries I knew I would need for the trip and bringing only those things. If you're going for a ten-day trip, don't bring your whole facial cream collection--just bring that one item you know you use every day and you'll need. Buy TSA approved bottles and containers (a few dollars at your local Target) and portion out your lotions, scrubs, etc to those bottles rather than bringing the entire bottle. This is necessary for checking your bag, as your liquids have to be TSA compliant in order to be brought on the plane.How do you travel light? Do you use a backpack? Carry-on? Let me know! I'm always looking for new innovations for traveling!Have a fantastic week!!-ASC