Packing The Perfect Summer Travel Bag

Lst post we talked about ways to travel more eco-consciously for Earth Month (but also all year long), and one of the easiest ways to change your travel to help the Earth, your back, and your wallet is to pack light. Summer is the best time to start packing light, because warm weather clothes are smaller and easier to pack, giving you a great foundation for when you pack for other seasons.

If, like me, you're going on a summer trip (or trips) and are looking to pack a perfect bag and not spend all your money on baggage fees, then I'm here for you. It's all about the capsule wardrobe. Most travel sites will suggest the 5-4-3-2-1 strategy, and I also love the 3-3-3 strategy, but I'm going with 3-3-1-2, unless you're going on a long trip. 

What the heck am I talking about? Quick catch-up: 

The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 dresses/shoes, 2 bags/swimsuits, and 1 bag/sunglasses. I will agree with 5 tops for most trips, but the rest is just too much. The 3-3-3 method is 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes. It's pretty minimal, and I like that, but it also limits you pretty hard, especially when you are going to hot destination and will need to rewear things. No one wants to do laundry every other day.

No, we go with the 3-3-1-2 packing method, which allows you to bring everything you need, but also can fit in a small carry-on, and gives you a good variety. Let's look at what those numbers mean: 

• 3 tops, which actually ends up being 4, because you're going to wear one on the plane or in the car, if you're road-tripping
• 3 bottoms, 2 of which you pack and 1 of which you wear on the way there (this is usually how I bring a pair of pants or a long skirt with me)
• 1 dress that can be worn for sightseeing, but can also be dressed up for a nice dinner or a show
• 2 pairs of shoes that go with everything. I always choose a pair of sandals that I can walk in all day and wear to the pool/beach and then a pair of nicer shoes that you can also walk in all day, like some cute ballet flats

You're going to need some wildcard pieces. In addition to your normal all-day clothing, you want to include a wrap (this one is insect-repellant, can be used as a beach towel, a sarong, and even a wrap shirt in a pinch), sunglasses, a swimsuit, a lightweight, packable rain jacket, and comfy pajamas that are good for lounging, too. 

When you pick a color palette to pack, everything should go with everything else. I chose a pink base here as a way to show how you can go with a brighter color and still maximize your small wardrobe. Not everything has to be boring neutrals. Choose your own fave color and work around that. 

First up, I chose these berry-colored water shorts from Columbia. You can wear them to the pool and you can wear them shopping and sightseeing, so they are a great multi-use item. Depending on what you're doing, here are some ways to wear them:

• With a cute white (or black) linen tank and matching sandals. I'm a fan of Clarks shoes. They are always classic and they are comfortable to wear all day long, no matter what you're doing. I love the fun lace details on these.
• Cover up a bit in the A/C by throwing this button-up from Columbia on over the top.
• Pair a complimentary pink tee from Columbia with these berry shorts. You will be cool, since the whole outfit is moisture-wicking.
• Add that button-up back for a different layered look.
• Wear the button-up alone for a easy casual look.

Next up, a longer neutral short from Prana in "mud" color: 

• With a cute white (or black) linen tank and matching sandals or some nude/cream ballet flats. I wore these Cleo Skechers all over Las Vegas and they were both cute and super comfy.
• Hide your shoulders with the button-up from Columbia on over the tank.
• Give a Neapolitan vibe pink tee from Columbia. Brown and pink always reminds me of ice cream.
• Add that button-up back for a different layered look.
• Wear the button-up alone for a easy casual look.

If you're going to be inside where it's cooler or the temps drop a bit at night, we're going with these lightweight Prana joggers in gray that I would have worn on the plane with a cropped tee or another comfortable top to sit in for hours in fluctuating temps:

• With a cute white (or black) linen tank and matching sandals or some nude/cream ballet flats. 
• Add a little flair with this button-up over your tank.
• Get a little sporty by wearing with the pink tee.
• Throw on your button-up over it for a casual patio dinner.
• Wear the button-up alone with your flats for just a wander through a museum. 

Lastly, let's check out this sporty travel-friendly dress from Prana. I have several dresses from them and they are so comfortable and flattering, plus they all have pockets! 

• Wear it alone with sandals while out and about. 
• Add your wrap and ballet flats for going out somewhere a bit dressy.
• Layer your pink tee over the top of it to give it a skirt feel.
• Toss on the button-up for a little extra sun protection or to cover up the open back if you're inside somewhere that needs a bit of modesty.

So, there you go. You can make almost 20 outfits with just 8 pieces and you have shoes that go with everything you've brought. Save even more space by wearing your flats on the plane, though if you don't have PreCheck, then you might not want to take them off and go barefoot through security. Of course, you can always pack a pair of slipper socks for that. I like to wear those while lounging around my room, too. 

Now you can spend your vacation budget on awesome foods and activities. Don't forget your sunscreen! See how I put together my own mix-and-match wardrobe on my Instagram.

Where are your summer travels taking you?

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Eco-Friendly Travel Tips for Earth Month

When we travel, we try to make as little physical impact on our destinations as possible. We go by the rule of going out in nature: "take only pictures. leave only footprints." I know that the biggest ruiners of the earth are billionaires and huge companies, but that doesn't mean we need to add to it, especially in places we don't live. 

Let's talk about ways you can do good by the earth when you travel and are contributing more to air pollution through flying and driving.

Eat Less Meat

When we travel, we often try a lot of new foods, which also includes local meats and veggies. Commercial fishing and ranching can be very hard on an environment and tourism can add to that. If you do a bit of research, you can find great restaurants that serve locally-sourced foods that are grown and raised sustainably, so you can eat the good stuff and feel good about it, too. 

You might pay a little more, but if you make those places your main meals and then either eat breakfast at "home" or hit up the farmers' market near you, you can offset those costs  and still feel like you're getting the most out of your trip. It also gives you a reason to eat more vegetables, which a lot of us tend to slack on when we travel.

Bring Your Own Reusable Bag

The UK and Europe have already been making people bring their own bags or pay for the flimsiest bag you've ever touched, but there are still places that use plastic bags. Because I use my own bags at home, I use them when I travel, too. We don't really buy a ton of stuff at the grocery store when we travel, but enough to get us through with snacks and breakfast items, so I bring one or two lightweight bags for our purchases. 

My very favorite bag is by Nano Bag. They are so thin and lightweight and pack down into their own teeny tiny pocket, but they are heavy duty and hold a lot. I've used these for carrying around our jackets when the day gets too warm and then holding my entire grocery haul. In fact, I like them so much, that one year I purchased a bunch and put our whole family's holiday gifts in them. I always have one in my purse and one in the car for back-up, because it's always nice to have a spare bag.

Skip Mass-Produced Souveniers

Don't contribute to sweat shop conditions and the air pollution that big factories pump out. Instead, make intentional souvenir purchases wherever you go, but buying from small businesses and local artists. You'll get more joy out of it, because you'll use it more or want to display it more prominently. If you buy something as a gift, it'll show that you put more thought into it as well.

Turn Off Lights

Yes, you're paying for your time in your hotel, but that doesn't mean you have to waste electricity. When I leave my room for the day, I turn off all the lights, just like I would at home. I often put out my Do Not Disturb card, because I don't need my towels and bedding washed and changed every day. Before I check-out, we double-check that we've packed everything and we do our best to leave thing as tidy as possible, because we don't want to make more work for housekeeping.

The same goes for vacation rentals. I stack the dishwasher throughout our stay and then run one full load on our way out the door, including the coffee carafe. We turn the ice maker off, turn off all the lights, and pick up all the towels. Do I have to do these things? No, but it's nice to make someone's job easier. 

Fly Nonstop When Possible

We all want to fly nonstop, because it's less annoying to have to just get on one plane and then get off at our destination. Sometimes, it's cheaper to have a layover. It's not always a lot cheaper to do it this way, so paying the extra to make your life easier is also better for the environment, too. 

Carry a Reusable Water Bottle

Instead of purchasing drinks throughout the day when you're out and about, bring along a reusable bottle, so you aren't adding to the landfill wherever you go. We always bring along a water bottle sling like this one to carry it more comfortably and also hold things like flavoring, gum, and change, so my husband's pockets aren't full of random nonsense. We've used it for a battery pack, to recharge our phones throughout the day, but it has a locking zipper, so you can use it instead of a wallet, if you want.

Take Public Transportation

This is a big one. Mass transit is always the best eco-friendly option, besides your feet. Using the bus or train to get around is fun, too, because it gives you a chance to feel like you're living in your destination and you can see a lot more than you would if you just went from Point A to Point B in a car. We've seen places we were interested in stopping for on the way back from where we were going and we've met some great folks on public transportation, too. 

These are just a few ways to help the environment when you travel and is by no means a full list. When you start thinking intentionally about your impact on the world around you, you find even more ways to lower your carbon footprint. Don't forget to recycle where you can, cut down on pre-packaged items, and don't litter. 

What are some of your favorite eco-friendly tips for travel?

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Be Ready For Summer Travels

Summer is coming and that means that expensive summer travels are also coming. Airfare is already crazy, but the summer months see higher demand, which comes with higher prices. Boo! I know. Hopefully, gas prices won't continue to rise and travel will still be, relatively, doable. 

We just booked a round-trip flight to Burbank for next month and the flights weren't super bad, but they also included a rental car, so I can't really complain. If you're looking for help planning a more affordable summer getaway, like learning to get the maximum discounts on everything, I can absolutely help you with that. My Summer ebook is still available for you to download. In fact, you can do it straight through Payhip now instead of giving money to Amazon (in case you're boycotting) and then you can download it on whatever device you want to read it on.

For extra help in planning your trips, I have ebooks for all those, too! 

My Travel Planner is packed with tips throughout to keep you organized and saving all the bucks.

My Road Trip Planning Kit is basically a way to plan out your route and make sure you're prepared for anything the road throws your way (lots of reminders of what to take and what to do before you hit the road). You can also get this for free if you subscribe to my newsletter. 

I also have a Cruise Planning Guide to make sure you aren't wasting money when you don't have to and getting the most from the money you do spend. 

You can always find my ebooks on my new top tab from here on out. I'll be updating them as I add more and/or update to make them more current.