How To Quit Overpacking

So, I'm a recovering overpacker. I've learned how to pack less over the years and still I feel like I pack too much whenever I travel. You can totally learn to pack less and enjoy the freedom of spending less (time and money) at the airport and of going from plane to trip without a visit to the carousel. Here's what you need to do:

This is all I took for 5 days in Vegas. It would have been smaller, but I took my laptop.

Commit, commit, commit 

Say you're not going to overpack and don't just give up because it's too hard. Commit to it and eventually it'll become second nature.

Stop playing the "what if?" game

Don't pack for worst case scenarios. Pack for what will probably happen. Going somewhere warm? Pack for warm weather, but don't forget a pair of long pants, shoes that aren't flip flops, and a cardigan/long sleeve shirt, just in case. It'll probably rain. Don't pack for "if" you do this or that. Have you planned it? Then you probably won't do it. 

Make a packing list & plan ahead

This is where most people fail. Stop packing the last minute and it'll be way easier to be objective. Make a packing list before you start, print it out and see what you really need and don't need. I find this much more helpful than picking out all your stuff and then culling half of it. If my packing list all fits on one page (including my must-bring toiletries), I feel like I've done a good job, but the real test is getting it all into your carry-on.

Here's everything underneath my seat

Color coordinate

How do you know what to pack and put on your packing list? Pick a color scheme and stick with it. I generally like to go with blues or greens, but if you have neutral bottoms, then it's super easy to match with them, especially if you make them all the same color family, like blacks or tans. That way all your tops go with the bottoms and finding two pair of shoes to go with everything is super simple. Yes, I said two pair.

Start with the right size bag
Most people are trying to start with a bag that's way too big. Find a reasonable sized carry-on. One that won't be too heavy for you to lift into the overheard when it's full. If you pull out your big suitcase and give yourself the option of using it, you're going to overpack and end up checking it and wasting money (and time).

Don't be afraid of laundry

I plan my laundry days on vacation. It's not glamorous, but I'm way more happy to not break my back heaving a bag up stairs and into the trunk. I'd rather spend a couple hours over the course of a week winding down and doing a load of laundry than having too much stuff and also coming home with a bag full of dirty clothes.

I'll admit to packing and repacking my bag before I leave a few times. I use all the space possible, but I also try to only bring what I need for any given trip. It's going to take you a few trips to master it, but when you see what you've packed and not worn over and over, you'll know what to leave home next time.

Are you a chronic overpacker?

How To Travel Solo Well

Some people don't like to be alone, but others do. I'm happy to just be in my own company, even when I travel. You don't have to answer to anyone, you can sleep in late every day, you can eat in for dinner in your pajamas if you want. Solo travel is liberating and you should do it at least once in your life. If you're on the fence, here are a few ways to make it easier:

Know the language

If you don't know a language other than English, that's okay. There are plenty of places you can travel and still feel at ease if you aren't adventurous enough to learn on the fly. England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Belize and the Bahamas are all fantastic destinations, but France and Amsterdam also have tons of English speakers if you want to branch out.

Plan your trip 

While you will probably want to make some decisions when you arrive, don't leave the big things to chance. Plan the skeleton of your vacation - accommodations, transportation to/from airport, transportation around town, tours, etc. - before you leave home, so there aren't any big surprises. Do your homework and put a list of important addresses and phone numbers either in your phone or on a cloud-based service like Evernote or Dropbox, that way you always have a way to access them.

Talk to locals 

Your trip might be really boring if you never talk to anyone. Hit up friends on social media who live where you're going to see if you can get together. Use MeetUp.com to find other travelers or locals that meet to do things, like dining and hiking. And if you just want to talk to people without hanging out with them, hit up a local farmers' market.

Stay safe

Don't scare your mom by becoming a missing person. Book your accommodations and group tours in advance, arrive during the daytime, have a plan for getting around, don't get drunk in the bar with strangers, share your itinerary with your friends/family (solo travel is best when it is planned out as much as possible), check in every few days, and keep your itinerary online - TripIt is a good app - along with a copy of your ID and passport if you're going out of the country and need it in case of robbery.

Have fun! 

Eat at that food cart that catches your eye, go to that museum nobody else would like, take a cooking class, sit at a sidewalk café drinking coffee and people watching.

The world is your oyster, and you can see as much as you want when you don't have a travel partner that you have to compromise with and make happy. Maybe you'll find you love traveling alone, or maybe it'll show how much you take your usual travel companion for granted, but it's nice to connect with yourself while exploring a new destination.

What are your favorite places to travel solo to?

How To Survive Travel With Other People

I don't like people 24/7. And you don't have to either. Travel can be stressful, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. Just because you're having fun doesn't mean other things aren't happening underneath the surface. I've been on lots of vacations that seemed cool until one day I just burst into tears. It's hard to be with people around the clock. 

Whether you're traveling with only one person or several, it's not hard to find yourself snapping. Let's talk about how to deal with living in someone's pocket while on vacation.

Plan Together

Traveling is better when you do things you want to do. Planning ahead for things that sound fun can make your trip a whole lot more fun and less stressful than doing things on the fly. Ask your companion(s) what they would like to do, so you everyone is happy and you don't resent each other.

Compromise

You can't always find things that makes everyone 100% happy, which means you may have to compromise. You don't want to be mad that the others don't want to do any of the activities that you want to do and vice versa. Compromise is the key to a smoother trip for everyone.

Maybe you don't want to go parasailing, but your companion doesn't want to go hiking, and you each compromise by doing both activities, so no fighting happens. You'll both be happy with your chosen activity and might find you even enjoy the other one. Hopefully, you can find a majority of activities that you both/all want to do.

Don't Forget to Eat

I get hangry. I know it. If I wait too long to eat, I get mean and yell and threaten bodily harm to those around me. Luckily, my husband knows this and will steer me into a café or something when I start to get hungry and irritable. I also know that he doesn't always get hungry while we're out, so I do t ask him where he wants to eat, so he doesn't get angry at me in turn.

Knowing your limits and those of others can really help you to get along with each other and travel better together. Maybe have an honest talk before you take your trip and let each other know about your quirks, so neither of you are blindsided by the other.

Give Yourself Some Space

I like to get a vacation rental whenever possible, because it generally will give you a little more room to spread out. As an only child, and an introvert, I relish my alone time. Being around people for long periods can be exhausting. Even if I can just go sit in another room for a bit (or at the table on my laptop doing a bit of work), it's enough to recharge me. A lot of people don't know this or don't really think about it.

Self care is important. Even if you just go do some shopping alone for an hour or sit in the hotel lobby with a book, it's better than having to be around your travel partner longer when you need to be alone. I'm the worst morning person and being able to have 30 minutes to just wake up and read news or play a game on my phone without being talked to goes a long way to making my day start off right. That, and coffee. It's hard to say "please don't talk to me right now" in the moment, but easy to let someone know ahead of time that you need that quiet time.

It's okay to not be "on" 24/7 and to need a few minutes alone and to maybe even do your own thing for a day. Whatever works for you can't be faulted by anyone else. When I booked a girl's trip with my friend to Disney, we already had some ground rules established before leaving. Not doing so ahead of time can can actually ruin a friendship/relationship, which you don't want at all. Communication, just like in most things, is very important.

How do you survive travel with others?