Travel Tips- Short-Haul trips

This week I got a great deal on flight to Dublin- M and I are going in the spring- so it spurred me to go straight to, “I NEED TO START PACKING SOON!!!!!”. Okay, I don’t need to start packing soon, but I have developed an indepth system from countless flights.

I have two different methods of packing, short haul and long haul.

Short-Haul Packing

If you are only bringing a carry-on suitcase, I would consider it short-haul. **I personally like to pay for a bag**- not having to schlep a giant carry-on through the airport is a wonderful feeling. I also don’t have to wrestle it into an overhead bin that is 22 rows away from me, nor do I have to leave it on the jetway to be put underneath the plane and then collected once we land. If you have a tight connection, waiting 10 minutes for your carry-on can mean the difference of making your flight and missing your flight. Also, don’t be that person arguing with the airline employees. **Also, if you are flying a budget airline like Ryanair, you only get one bag. No suitcase plus personal item, JUST suitcase.**

So, down to the packing. First things first: toiletries. Invest in make up that you only use for travel- I can say that because I don’t wear a ton of different make-up. Buy the smallest size and keep it simple, especially if you are travelling for pleasure. (I haven’t travelled for business, so that’s a different ballgame.) Also, buy travel size bottles for your shampoo/conditioner/hair products. Conveniently, these empty travel bottle sets come in a zipped bag that fits liquid carry-on regulations. Try to only bring one hair styling tool, as they can take up a lot of unnecessary space.

Secondly, shoes. Before you go, check the weather/climate of your destination. Suede is no bueno in Dublin, it’s definitely going to get rained on. I like to have one pair of comfortable walking shoes, one pair of nice flats, one pair of comfortable leather boots if it is fall/winter/spring, and one pair of heels only if I know ahead of time that I am going to be going somewhere nice. The nice flats will always suffice for one evening. Try to tuck the shoes in between the handle bars that run along the bottom of your suitcase.
Summary:
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
1 pair of nice flats
1 pair of comfortable leather boots
Maybe 1 pair of heels

Clothes, work in layers. I like to bring Lululemon leggings, as they look good on their own, and work well for layering under jeans if it is freezing. You can also sleep in them if need be. For a week trip, I would bring two pairs of leggings, a pair of grey or black jeans, and a pair of dark blue jeans. You can dress jeans up or down, leggings are comfortable for walking, and they are neutral- no messing about with outfits that “don’t match”. Travelling in the summer? Bring one pair of full length leggings, one pair of cropped leggings, one pair of dark blue jeans, and two neutral skirts. If it will be insanely hot, skip the jeans. The full length leggings are great for travelling, as more often than not, planes are freezing.
Summary (Bottoms):
2 pairs of leggings
1 pair of grey or black jeans
1 pair of blue jeans
OR
1 pair of full length leggings
1 pair of cropped leggings
1 pair of dark blue jeans
2 neutral summer skirts

Now onto tops. Don’t bring anything that wrinkles. Just don’t. Bring one top for each day, plus one extra. Shirts are *usually* easy to wash in a sink if you need to (keep in mind when packing not to bring that silk blouse, it will be of no help), and typically dry quickly. Try to choose tops that may be dressed up or dressed down. Bring two neutral cardigans. You can layer them, and you should be able to wear them with any of your tops. I like to wear hoodies, especially when on a plane. I usually pick Alpha Gam hoodies (you can meet people if you are a member!), or Lululemon hoodies. Lulu hoodies are not the quality that they used to be, but they are still pretty warm and durable. As for jackets, I usually like to have to small rain jacket that can be folded up easily. I also typically bring a peacoat or a mac, depending on the season, for nice nights out.
Summary (Tops):
1 shirt per day, plus 1 extra
2 cardigans, neutral in colour
1 hoodie, 2 if visiting somewhere cold
1 light rain jacket
1 peacoat or mac

Miscellaneous items? Your bathing suit, towel(s) if you are staying in hostels. I’ve never had many problems in this area.

“Other”: I will admit, I am an electronics person. Laptop, tablet, phone, ereader, camera. MAKE SURE that you have these items ready for security, everyone hates the person holding up the line because they are digging in their carry-on. Pack them on top so you just have to grab them. If you are travelling outside of your continent, you will probably need a converter/adaptor for plugs. If you are travelling across continents, remembers that hair styling tools can fry many an outlet, so you may want to reconsider bringing it, or buying a cheap one to use for the short time you are there.
I also usually have a book (Canadian flights don’t let you use an ereader during take-off/landing, and I need distractions.) Also, I have a great clutch from Danier Leather that has compartment for tickets, currency, boarding passes, passport, ID, everything. It keeps everything separate and easily accessible for when you need to get it out, and it doubles as a clutch on a night out. I would definitely recommend it!

Try to make sure that you have the equivalent of one outfit per day. I like to wear dresses, so if I bring two dresses, I eliminate two tops and a pair of leggings. You don’t need extra. I am the queen of over-packing, and I can’t tell you the number of times that I have packed items that I might want to wear that never leave the suitcase. Just remind yourself, I would have to change my clothes how many times a day to wear all of these. Also, something important to remember, you have to start with extra room in your suitcase if you want to bring ANYTHING back at all. Souvenirs typically do have some weight to them.

Roll EVERYTHING. Fit socks/underwear into shoes you aren’t wearing on the plane. Start packing 3-5 days before, and try re-organising things a few times until you find your golden arrangement. If you get desperate, wear more on the plane. Check a bag back if you need to.