Key Points

-Roll your clothing to form more space.

-Use storage cubes for organization. (Sealed ones for optimal space.)

-Look up the airport rules and regulations to come better prepared.

-Bring extra bags in your carry on to separate items.

-ALWAYS pack extra clothes in carry on, incase of luggage delay.

-Create a checklist, to ensure you don’t lose any important items.

-Have updated contact info on your luggage incase it gets lost.

You will hear me again and again, addressing the concept of optimal space, and this is because when packing, it is so important for you to be able to squeeze in all of your belongings as comfortably as possible, and hopefully have some extra space for souvenirs, if that’s what your heart desires.

When I solo travel, I use my backpack luggage by Osprey. More specifically, I use the FarPoint 70 backpack. I’ll provide a reference photo below, alongside the link for it, incase you are interested!

Frequently, when I am packing, I am prepping for travel from Minnesota, in the United States, to Ireland. Most of the time, I will be packing enough clothes for a month long stay, and as a girl going to stay with her boyfriend, this, more than likely, translates to nearly two months of clothing… half of which will never even be touched.

Learn from me. I waste so much space bringing an unnecessary amount of clothes. Plan ahead and bring only what you will need. Try not to think of “what if scenarios” and instead ask yourself when the last time was that you wore that item and how likely you are to wear it on this trip. If you are going on an extended holiday, pack for two weeks and then wash your laundry and cycle through your clothes. If you don’t have access to a washer and dryer, consider buying some laundry powder meant to wash your clothes by hand in the hotel sink.

Organizational packing cubes, for me, are a must!

The ones that I have been using for the past two or three years for out-of-country travel are just some cheap ones from Amazon; If I can find them, I will link them below, otherwise, I will find some similar ones to share.

So, because I have an expandable backpack, as opposed to more sturdy luggage that holds it’s place, it is more important that I have some cubes to ensure I can get maximum use out of the space that I have. These cubes are also crucial to maintaining organization with my items.

The smallest cube, is typically used for my makeup and bathroom necessities. Usually this doesn’t include a lot. Something I do, when traveling, is buy some of my cheap basic needs once I have arrived to my final destination. Things like shampoo and conditioner are cheaper for me in Ireland, and because I stay for longer periods of time, it just makes sense for me to buy a full size there instead of a travel size here. It also frees up space in my luggage.

This set comes with two large packing cubes, used for my everyday clothing wear. The first one typically holds my everyday jeans and pants and the other is used for my everyday shirts and tops.

I should mention that my preference for packing individual clothing items is to roll them up as opposed to regular folds, because I find that I get more space when I do so.

The two medium compartments are meant for special occasion clothing, and pajamas. Any item that is too large, such as jackets and baggier sweatpants, get flat folded and placed beneath these storage cubes. By personal preference, I place my undergarments in my mesh pocket of the backpack itself, and because I do have a months worth, or so, of underwear and socks, I see this to be the most suitable space for maximum storage.

One thing I will say, is that, although I have yet to invest in some and try them out for myself, I have been curious to try the vacuum sealable compartments. I think that the rolling ones are incredibly convenient, and I can only imagine the space you could save with these!

A detachable day pack comes with the FarPoint 70 backpack by Osprey. This additional storage is awesome to stuff a pair or two of shoes in. Usually, when I am packing, depending on where I am going and the time of year, I will bring my tennis shoes, that I wear to the airport, a pair of slides (Summer) or slippers (Winter), a pair of rainboots (when I go to Ireland) and a pair of shoes for any special occasions. The slippers/ slides will go into my carry on because they don’t take up much space and my special occasion shoes will be put in my daypack along with my rainboots.

For both my luggage, and my carry on, I print out a laminated check list for all of my items. This is important to me, so I can ensure that I am never forgetting anything needed throughout my travels. This tip is especially crucial if you are constantly changing your locations throughout the trip.

For my carry-on, I use a North Face backpack alongside my personal purse. In my carry on, I have a quart bag from my previous time at the security checkpoint, that holds all of my liquids. I will also have all of my medications in a separate zip lock baggy to make security just a little more hassle free.

I will make a blog post in the future sharing with you how I make my time at the airports quick, easy, and stress free both prior to departure, and after landing.

My carry on does not hold much, but it is more so just for my necessities of travel. (i.e., my neck pillow, medications, electronics, personal identification, and money.)

I have lost my luggage in transit so many times due to short transfers, so I’ve learned through such experiences to ALWAYS pack additional “emergency” clothing into the carry on, along with anything important that you will need for your first few days of travel. On a side note, I also recommend that you make sure to have your updated contact information written on your luggage, so if it does happen to get lost, it will have an easier time getting back to you.

Another trick I have found to be useful is to bring extra bags stuffed in your carry on.

Once I get to my gate, I can separate my items into what can be kept with me on the plane, and what can be placed in the overhead bin, that I won’t need during my travel.

Please keep in mind, that there are most likely a few things I forgot to mention in this post, despite having tried to cover all bases. There is a lot that goes into travelling, especially when it comes to packing. It is also important to note that these are just a few tips and tricks that make travel easier for me, and what might be great for me, might not work as well for others. Take this personal information as guidance, and expand through research on other tips and tricks to find what works best for you!

Share in the comments below any advice you might have for effective packing!

*My featured photo was taken from this link, I would also encourage any women to take a look at this link to see a nice example of a packing list! http://uncontainedlife.com/womens-packing-list/