Vacation is near, and it’s time to pack your suitcase! To avoid overpacking for vacation, you’ll want to think ahead about what you actually need, what you can reuse, and what you can downsize or limit. We’ve put together a list of 10 tips that will help you pack intentionally so that there’s less to lug around and more room in your bag for souvenirs!
1. Make a checklist beforehand
The most important way to prepare for packing for vacation is to make a list. By thinking ahead of what you actually need (outfits, beach gear, toiletries, etc.), you can write items down on a list, so you’re less likely to add unnecessary items to your suitcase when you begin packing. A checklist will also help you not forget important items to pack. Sticking to a pre-made checklist will help you avoid overpacking for vacation. If you’ll be flying with a little one, take a look at this packing checklist for flying with a baby!
2. Pack a mini capsule wardrobe
A “capsule wardrobe” is a collection of clothes that includes about 25-30 pieces (sometimes less, sometimes more) that can be worn interchangeably. These clothing items include tops, bottoms, jackets, dresses, shoes, etc., and are typically neutral-colored, so they can be worn more often.
The point of a capsule wardrobe is to create more outfits out of fewer pieces. Packing a mini capsule wardrobe will help you avoid overpacking for vacation. For capsule wardrobe ideas, check Pinterest and search for the season you plan to travel in (e.g., “summer capsule wardrobe”).
3. Choose outfits ahead of time
If you don’t want to go the mini capsule wardrobe route, choosing your outfits ahead of time will help you to avoid overpacking for vacation, and it’ll save you time packing in the first place. To choose your outfits, consider how many days you’ll be on your trip, the weather forecast, and what activities you’re planning to do. Rather than packing for “what if” scenarios, you’ll be more likely to pack items that you know you’ll need.
4. Replace full-size toiletries for travel size
Rather than packing your full-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc., purchase travel-size toiletries to save on space or make your own. If you plan to purchase these, many department stores (like Target) offer an aisle of travel-size toiletries. If you’d rather make your own, purchase small reusable bottles, like these, and fill them with the liquids and soaps you need. You can also bring smaller containers of laundry detergent and dish detergent to save on space.
If no one you’re traveling with has sensitive skin or skin issues in general, most hotels and many AirBnBs provide shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, and lotion. You can call ahead to find out and avoid packing toiletries at all!
5. Book a destination with a laundry service
Booking a vacation rental that includes a washer and dryer or a common laundry room will allow you to avoid overpacking for vacation because you’ll be able to wear some of your clothing items more than once. This is especially handy if you’re planning to swim or use towels often. Rather than overpacking beach items, you can wash and dry them as needed to be reused again the next day.
This is also a huge bonus if you’re traveling with babies or small children who are prone to making messes of their clothes!
Related articles:
- Hotels vs. Vacation Rentals: Do they Meet the Baby Gear Needs of Traveling Families?
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning the Ultimate Family Vacation
- Five Easy Ways to Make Your Vacation Rental Family Friendly
- 14 Family Vacation Tips You Need to Know
6. Consider packing multipurpose footwear
It’s easy to pack multiple pairs of shoes when you’re unsure of what shoes you’ll want to wear on your trip. Instead of packing too many shoes, consider what shoes you have that can be worn with multiple outfits. Maybe you have a sandal that looks great dressed up and with casual clothes. Maybe you have a pair of neutral tennis shoes that you can wear with denim, athleisure, and dresses. Packing multipurpose footwear will help you avoid overpacking for vacation and save you a ton of space in your suitcase. Aim for two pairs of shoes!
7. Avoid packing items “just in case”
This is a big one and probably the main reason why we overpack our suitcases in the first place—we want to bring extra items “just in case” we need them. When we do this, we overpack, and we tend to realize after the vacation that we didn’t use many of the extra things we brought after all. Being intentional about what you need to pack and not just what you want to pack will help to avoid overpacking for vacation.
Thinking of packing your baby’s entire nursery because they need SO much stuff? Don’t skip tip #10!
8. Pack multipurpose electronics
Electronics can be super handy to bring on vacation but do you need to bring all of them? Rather than packing your laptop, tablet, phone, Bluetooth speaker, etc., consider what you could pack that will give you the most capabilities. Maybe it’s your phone and your tablet? Thankfully most devices are designed nowadays to have similar capabilities, so you can pack less and avoid overpacking for vacation.
9. Rent a place that has most of the necessities
Before booking a vacation rental, take a good look at the list of things they provide inside the unit. Things to look for include kitchen items (dishes, appliances, cups, silverware, pots/pans), bathroom items (towels, washcloths), and beach items (beach chairs, tents) if you’re traveling to the coast. If you’re traveling with a little one, see if the unit already has a high chair or crib available. The more your rental has, the less you’ll need to pack!
10. Rent items at your destination
If you have a lot of gear to bring with you, especially baby gear, consider leaving those items at home and renting what you need at your vacation rental. BabyQuip offers cribs, high chairs, car seats, strollers, toys, and more to traveling parents all over the country (and even to some international locations). By renting with BabyQuip, you’ll save a ton of packing space and have more room for souvenirs!
With these 10 tips, hopefully, you’ll be able to pack less and avoid overpacking for vacation. By packing fewer items overall, it’ll be easier to pick out your outfits on your trip and easier to unpack when you arrive home. You will also have more margin in your suitcase for extra items you may buy on your trip. If anything, remember these two tips: stick to your checklist and don’t pack items “just in case”!
Do you have any packing hacks that help you not to overpack? Let us know in the comments below!
Morgan French is a wife, mom of two, writer & editor. After traveling for 3 years with her family, she now lives back in her hometown of Dayton, OH. She makes frequent stops for coffee, enjoys the outdoors, and loves board games.
I got the go-signal to take time off of work for 2 weeks, so I plan to rent a vacation home to spend and enjoy my rest time in. I’m glad that you mentioned how it’s best to check the things they provide in your vacation rental before booking it since it would be good to choose the place with the most necessities. I’ll be sure to check thoroughly once I find a vacation rental I might consider for my trip.