Travel Tips for Foxes, part 3 - Packing Essentials
Travel Tips for Foxes, part 3 - Packing Essentials
I have a confession for you, my foxy friends…
I. Hate. Packing.
Hate’s a strong word. It’s not typically part of my vocabulary. But in this case, “hate” is probably the most appropriate diction to explain my strong reluctance to pack for a trip. I resist and strain, procrastinate and extend the pain of the packing plague.
It’s no wonder this issue of the newsletter is delayed - I don’t even like talking about packing. Yes, I love to vacation, to visit friends and family. I don’t mind figuring out logistics, travel plans, and booking accommodations. But packing, oh packing.
I think my problem is that I love to be prepared. And prepared just right. That means no over-packing, under-packing, or forgotten items. But my desire to be perfectly prepared is inherently hampered by the nature of travel. Weather is unpredictable, spontaneous plans require different shoes, Nikki the foxy spaz dumps an entire coffee on her only jacket… and so on.
If you thought that I only pack one jacket, I got you! Haha. I’m the jacket queen. Layer me up, buttercup!
Even if you’re like my hubby and you’re perfectly at ease with packing, it’s nice to have a way to remember frequently forgotten items and to expedite the packing process. I need all the help I can get, so I’ve taken steps to circumvent decision paralysis. There’s no need to dread the packing process, or to dwell in decision limbo.
Knowing my weaknesses with packing, I have devised several hacks to help me prep without having to pack from scratch every time. I don’t think we would have made it to Greece if I hadn’t already had these hacks in place. And while we were abroad, I actually felt prepared for all of our planned and spontaneous adventures! Three weeks with only carry-on luggage…can I get an awww yeah?!?
Step 1: Keep a Travel Drawer
There are some things that we want to bring every trip. Some of these items we use even while not traveling, but we still keep them in “the travel drawer.” That way, we don’t have remember to pack them, or spend time rounding up items stored all around the house. Keep a travel drawer, box, or other storage device and you’ll jumpstart packing every time.
For your reference, here’s a list of items we keep in our travel drawer. These items are not sponsored to be on this list - they’re just what we use!
Sudafed
Vitamin C
Zinc
Ibuprofen
Excedrin Migraine
Neosporin
Bandaids
Humidifier [for super dry climates like New Mexico - NexGadget Mini]
Sleep mask
Earplugs
Noise-cancelling headphones [Bose QuietComfort]
Toothpaste
Travel case for toothbrush
Floss
Soap [Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint]
Contact lens solution
Contact lens case
Sewing kit
Head lamp [it’s very useful to have a hands-free light when arriving at AirBnbs at night! - we use Black Diamond]
Portable bluetooth speaker [Marsboy]
Deck of cards
Audio cable splitter [watch movies together!]
USB car charger [for use in rental cars]
Outlet adapter [for international travel]
Foreign currency
Luggage scale, hand-held [we can prevent overweight baggage fees before we depart!]
Step 2: Let Your Shoes & Coat Decide Your Wardrobe
The weather and your activities decide your shoes and coat. I like to wear a pair of rain resistant boots while en route, and pack a very comfortable but stylish pair of wedges or sandals. If I’m planning an active trip, I might wear sneakers instead of boots; for a dance-focused trip, I’ll trade either the boots or sandals for heels that are suitable for both the street and the dance floor.
If I were to check a bag, I’d be tempted to add a third pair of shoes instead of swapping. But checking bags is time consuming and, nowadays, expensive. I’ve also found that I can usually fit everything I need in my carry-ons just fine.
Shoes decided, I turn to my coat. The weather plays a huge role in my comfort while traveling, so I let the degrees determine my style. I also always consider the temperature of transportation, as planes are often very cold when up in the air.
With my boots, wedges, and coat decided, there are only so many outfits that match! I like to bring a lighter jacket that matches the heavy coat, and match all of my outfits to these. It’s easy to style when I decide a color theme, like earth tones, jewel tones, or neutrals. I limit patterns, and choose clothing that is wearable with multiple pieces. I never pack an item that is only wearable on its own, unless there is a very special occasion that demands it.
Step 3: Basket Your Toiletries
Oh the forgotten toothpaste scenario. It’s so easy to forget items that we get ready with before departing! One time, okay multiple times, I have forgotten my toothpaste. But there is that one special time when I thought I HAD packed it because there was a similar tube in my bag. As I squeezed out a dollop of white paste and zoomed the toothbrush towards my mouth, I flipped the tube over and read, “Benadryl ointment”! Oh no! Don’t eat that!
Toothpaste is cheap. Don’t eat the Benadryl. Get an extra tube of toothpaste and keep it in your travel drawer. If you can’t afford duplicates, or don’t travel frequently enough to justify duplicates, or whatever, I recommend basketing your toiletries.
Go ahead and pack your toiletries. Then take them all out and put them in a basket on your bathroom counter. The rule is, everything you use to get ready needs to end up back in the basket. Then, empty the basket into your luggage. If you need extra help like I do, make a list of the toiletries you packed and keep it in the basket. Double check that everything you took out to get ready is back in the basket according to the list. Then proceed to repack. Now there’s a foxy hack for ya!
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Okay friends, that’s all I have on travel for now. I’m always interested in learning new ways to ease the pain of packing, so feel free to email me your tips and hacks! I hope this series brought you a smile, and maybe will aid you in your future travels.
Three cheers for my lovely foxes,
“You can have results or excuses. Not both.”
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