When we go away, packing is always a worry. Will you have enough clothes? Enough space? These are ongoing worries we all face. Hence why most of us take care of packing at least a few days in advance. All the better for ironing out issues and ensuring you remember everything you need.
Most of the time, we treat packing as a one-size-fits-all strategy. Other than packing more or less, light or heavy, our destinations and trip lengths rarely come into things. After all, packing is pretty self-explanatory. Isn’t it?
In some cases, yes. Some travelers manage to take bare minimum on a long trip and make do. Others take hefty suitcases on weekend breaks and still struggle to find outfits. There’s no right or wrong way of doing things. To some extent, it’s merely a case of whatever method suits.
But, it’s worth noting that taking extra luggage now costs a fair amount of money. What’s more, you’ll need to pay that lump sum for both legs of your journey. Taking too much on a small trip was harmless enough when luggage was free. Now, it could set you back in a significant way. But, that doesn’t mean you should always opt for the smallest choice. Not taking enough with you is a sure way to ruin an extended vacation.
Do you see now why this is such a tricky thing to get right? The good news is, there is a knack to it. The more you travel, the closer you’ll get to knowing exactly how much you can pack without suffering for it. For now, though, we’re going to help you along by looking at what you might want to pack for trips of varying lengths and sizes.
The weekend trip
You don’t need us to tell you that taking anything more than a carry on bag for a weekend trip is too much. You know it already. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here. With most airlines offering this option free of charge, you’d be mad to take anything more. And, if you’re careful with what and how you pack, a carry on is more than enough. In fact, the main thing you’ll need this bag for are chargers, toiletries, and overnight essentials. Any outfits you manage to sneak in are a bonus.
If the idea of going away with barely any outfits frightens you, fear not. The majority of airlines have generous size allowances for carry on luggage. Make sure you know precisely what limits you’re working with. That way, you can make the most of every last centimeter. Make sure, too, that you pick a bag with plenty of pockets and smart storage. This way, you can sneak extras in there if you need to. And, as a last case scenario, it’s worth layering up for the plane. This is a good idea anyway, as it allows you to cater for changing climates. But, wearing one or two tops, and tights under your trousers ensures that you have even more choice. If you need more than that during your one night stay, we’ll eat our…hand luggage?
The one-two week stay
Unless you’re skilled at traveling light, it may be harder to make that carry on last you for a week or more. Even if you layer up, you’re sure to struggle fitting enough outfits into a small bag. In this instance, you would be well justified in opting for a paid case. The benefit here, of course, is that you’ll also have your carry on allowance to play with. So, you shouldn’t struggle to fit enough to last for two weeks if you need to.
Again, it’s crucial to make the most of all your space here. It’s also worth noting that luggage costs are usually worked out by weight. As such, a hard-case suitcase is sure to set you back a fair amount. If your case weighs more than your luggage, you know you’re in trouble. Instead, shop around for a lightweight case which could serve you better. Again, these often have the benefit of added pockets and storage options. What’s more, as suitcases are rarely weighed by size, you can make sure of the space you have. If you have lots of events to attend and need different outfits for each, you could even roll your clothes up and get economic with space. And, again, don’t forget the benefit of layering for your trip there and back.
Long-term travel
Let us not forget the long-term travelers out there. In many ways, this is the hardest packing case of all. Even a suitcase and carry on combo will struggle to cover you for more than two weeks or so. On top of which, the more time you spend away, the more bulky belongings you’ll need to take with you.
One way around the issue of clothes is to check the washing facilities in your accommodation or the local town. You can guarantee that there will be a washing machine on offer somewhere. And, you’re going to need it if you want that case-full of clothes to last you for the duration. How do you think backpackers make their belongings last? They wash them, of course!
Those traveling for three months or more may also want to take furniture and other belongings. You could leave it all in storage and buy new, but that would get pricey. Instead, consider ways to get the big stuff flown out, too. If money isn’t an issue, you could always consider something like the Antonov AN 124. A plane of this size could move your whole life and more if you needed it to.
If you want to keep things cheap, you could always turn to one of the many affordable cargo options out there. You may have to wait a little longer for stuff to arrive this way. But, at least you can rest easy it’s all on its way, and not in storage containers costing you a small fortune.
