Many people often wait until the last day before departure to pack and few people understand why it is necessary to carry a pen.
Lydia Mansel, who runs the packing guide website Just Packed, says many people make the basic mistake of not knowing what to bring when traveling. And Mansel calls packing for each trip like a struggle for many travelers.
She said the cause of this struggle comes from tourists not knowing what to bring, what to leave behind, leading to overpacking. But carrying too many of these items doesn't guarantee that you have everything you need, for example, too many clothes but missing an umbrella in case it rains. Someone brought up to 7 pairs of shoes, but all were high heels. And imagine how "terrifying" you will be when you wear high heels in a place full of rocks. Besides, there are many people who pack things too poorly, and many guests wish that if they brought a nicer dress, or a warmer shirt to match the situation...
Closing Pack things into small square bags and then put them in suitcases to make things more organized. Photo: Pixabay
To solve these inadequacies, Mansel recommends that people do not pack too close to departure time because it will make you confused and may not bring enough things you need. Instead, you should gradually prepare what you will bring during the previous trip 7-14 days.
Mansel often uses the notepad app on his phone to jot down things he's sure to need, as well as fill in the things he comes up with during this prep period.
Besides, she will list the number of days she travels, as well as any events she will attend during that period (wedding, parties, outdoor activities...) Based on that, Mansel up Plan on the number of clothes, as well as the right sets for each event.
Mansel often folds clothes, arranges furniture in the form of packing everything into separate square packages. That means you will organize your things into small packages, for example underwear in one bag, casual clothes in one bag, makeup in one bag... Then you put the pieces. this bag in the suitcase. This will help you organize your things in the most orderly way for the trip.
Mansel said she didn't trust this advice before. For a long time, she often chose to simply roll up her clothes and put them in a suitcase. But when she changed the way her things were arranged, putting them in square bags, she found that her luggage was more organized and undisturbed. And she also uses a separate bag to store dirty things.
To avoid packing too much, Mansel recommends that people prioritize simple clothes that can be easily combined. Mansel learned from the classic sharing of Coco Chanel: "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove at least one thing". Mansel often does. She organized everything she was going to pack, and decided what 1-2 items she could leave behind. "Do I really need two sweaters? The same goes for toiletries. I can usually survive five days of a trip without two moisturizers."
Carrying a writing pen is essential. When traveling abroad, you need to fill out a customs declaration. And you certainly don't want to have to wait for one person after another to borrow a pen.
Mansel also shares more on how to pack for travel during the pandemic. In 2021, she has taken several trips, and she has kept everything necessary such as passport, credit card, mask, hand sanitizer in a safe but easy to reach bag. The reason is that she wants to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible, without spending more time searching.
