Packing Tips & Secrets to Pack for Two Weeks

Step #1

• I begin my packing by reviewing where we are going. Is it going to be warm? Is it going to be cold? Or will it be warm during the day and chilly at night? Once I have done a weather check, then I can begin the process of choosing my clothing. I usually lay ALL of the possibilities out on the bed. Do I want to have a carry on bag? Do I want to have checked bags? This is the first step in determining how I am going to pack a suitcase.
• The size of your carry on luggage matters as well as the weight of your checked bag. When you are planning your travels, remember that you want to pack light so your checked bag doesn’t cost you more. Carry on bags are usually included in the cost of your flight, but you still need to keep them under a certain weight and size.
• You may want to consider using a duffel bag for your carry on bag. You see a lot of frequent travelers carrying a duffle bag as their carry on bag.
• Another tip for your carry on bag, is to add a dryer sheet to keep your clothes smelling fresh and clean during your travels.

Step #2

• Step two is to decide on a color “theme” to ensure I will not overpack. If I am confident that I will be traveling for less than 5 hours I can choose clothes that may wrinkle, but don’t have time to let those wrinkles “set in” (I hate to iron, and I refuse to iron on vacation!). Choosing wrinkle free clothes is always my preference for trips longer than a few hours.

Step #3

• The third step is to begin to put outfits together for each day, or each activity. After this step, I usually have only decided to take about half of what I originally pulled out of my closet. So I now put away those clothes that I have decided NOT to take.
• Then, the rest is fairly easy. I gather my undergarments together and add them to the stack of items to be packed. Then, I gather a swimsuit or three (depending on the locale and mode of transportation) and add these to the stack to be packed.
• And finally, it’s time for footwear. I always take a pair of light-weight tennis shoes for fitness and walking/hiking. If the occasion calls for dressier clothes I will also take a pair of dressy flat sandals. If not, I will put in a pair of walking sandals and a pair of sandals that can be worn day to night.

Step #4

• Step four is the actual packing stage. To even out the bottom of the suitcase, shoes are wrapped in grocery bags (you can later reuse these for dirty laundry, or damp swimsuits). Then it is on to pants, shorts, and skorts. These are laid out, and then rolled, bottom to top. Roll your pants and put into my suitcase. Next, are dresses. They are rolled and put into the suitcase (placed next to and on top of the previous layer). Following the dresses are tops; rolled and placed on top of dresses. On top of the dresses (unless your suitcase has a zippered compartment) place your undergarments (and bathing suit). If you have dress clothing – suits, fancy dresses, etc, place these in an old dry-cleaning bag (or garbage bag) and place on top.
• Cosmetics are all travel size. I place a small square of saran wrap over my bottles and then cap the bottles to prevent spills. Then, all of my liquids are placed in a quart size bag for TSA. When cleared through TSA, the bag will be tossed in my tote bag. All of my makeup is in powder form, so no need to separate it for TSA.

There you have it – the top packing tips that keep me on track and organized when traveling! For the travel gear that we use and packing resources, click here.

• 14 Best Things to Do in Wilmington, NC and Where to Stay
• 3 Romantic North Carolina Mountain Getaways
• Romantic Beach Getaways
• Easy Holiday Entertaining Ideas
• Wine and Cheese Pairing

Which of these packing tips, tricks and essentials did you find most helpful? Do you have any need-to-know packing tips you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!