Packing For Long Term Travel
When it comes to packing for a long trip, there are a virtually unlimited number of factors to consider. From what kind of socks to bring to how to fit everything into one bag, packing what seems like your entire life into one bag for an extended period can seem daunting. And it is.
A few key tips will help any type of traveler to whittle their belongings down to the necessities and to make sure they have everything they will need for long term travel.
Long Term Travel:
We have discussed some long-term travel.
Clothing:
Choose multifunctional clothing. For women, consider a versatile top that pairs well with jewelry for a more formal look, or opt for breathable pants suitable for hiking yet still presentable for a dinner outing. For men, prioritize wrinkle-resistant fabrics and shirts that can be elevated with dressier pants but are also suitable for casual days paired with gym shorts.
Clothes Colour:
Colors matter when choosing clothing. Leave your whites behind. First, laundry options on the road may be less than ideal. You probably won’t have access to a permanent press cycle. Those whites are going to get faded or stained from a rogue fried noodle very easily. At the very basic level, having whites or light colors in your pack means you would have to do two loads of laundry each time, thus, costing you money, which will certainly add up.
Stick with dark greys, earth tones, and blacks for a wardrobe that works together as well as separately. Fabrics also matter. Leave anything that requires an iron or dry cleaning at home. If it can’t be shaken out and worn it shouldn’t make it into your bag.
Bring at least one nice outfit. For men that means a button-up shirt and for women that means a nicer top and bottoms or a dress. There will be situations, whether you’re heading out for a nice night on the town or just want to go out to dinner at a sit-down restaurant that isn’t located on the sidewalk of a busy street. You’ll be happy to have an outfit to dress up in at times.
Gadgets:
Get all of your converters before you go. As annoying as it is carrying around the extra weight, you will save a lot of money and stress in the long run. You never know if you’ll arrive in a new city with a dead cell phone and no way to access the internet to find the address for your hotel.
Condense as much as possible. A cell phone can act as a lot of things at once. From a calculator to a dictionary to a camera, cell phones can cover a lot of your needs with one small device.
Toiletries:
Leave the shampoos and soap at home. Things that can easily be purchased on the road should be. That goes for sunscreen (although make sure to get this BEFORE getting to the beach to save the most money), detergent, lotion and so much more.
Make sure to bring a sewing kit and first aid kit. Things happen on the road that you can’t plan for or even imagine at times. Having every tool possible to better help you when those times arise is smart planning.
The most important tip of them all: use packing cubes! These will help you repack in a pinch and be able to find something very quickly and easily and just ultimately alleviate a lot of stress when it comes to keeping your belongings in check.
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