Packing Without Regret

Start With the Itinerary

Before you start pulling clothes out of the closet, look at what you're actually doing.

• What is the weather expected to be?
• Are there dress codes?
• Are you walking a lot?
• Do you have excursions with specific clothing or footwear requirements?
• Will you need swimwear?
• Are you changing climates during the trip?
• Do you have access to laundry?

A packing list makes much more sense once you know what your days are going to look like.

Your itinerary should tell you what to pack—not a generic list from the internet.

Pack Clothes That Work Together

You don't need a complicated capsule wardrobe unless that's something you enjoy doing.

I just want your clothes to make sense together.

Choose pieces you can wear more than once or combine in different ways. Layers can be especially helpful when temperatures change throughout the day or you're moving between air-conditioned spaces and warmer weather.

And please think about your shoes.

If your trip includes a lot of walking, this is probably not the time to discover whether brand-new shoes are comfortable after six miles.

Comfort beats packing three pairs of shoes you never wear.

Your Carry-On Has a Job

If you're checking luggage, think about what you would need if your suitcase didn't arrive when you did.

Keep important travel documents, identification, valuables and essential personal items with you rather than placing them in checked luggage.

Necessary medications should also stay accessible, following current TSA, airline and destination requirements for transporting them.

Depending on the trip, you may also want a change of clothes, basic toiletries or other essentials in your carry-on.

I don't want to give everyone the exact same list.

I want you to ask:

“If I didn't see my checked suitcase until tomorrow, what would I wish I had with me?”

Pack those things accordingly.

Check the Rules Before You Pack

Airline baggage rules aren't all the same.

Neither are cruise-line rules, TSA requirements or international restrictions.

Before packing, check:

• Your airline's current carry-on and checked-baggage allowances
• Weight and size limits
• Fees that apply to your specific fare
• TSA rules for liquids and restricted items
• Cruise-line restrictions if you're sailing
• Destination requirements for anything unusual you're bringing
• Rules for batteries and electronic devices

Don't rely on what was allowed on your last trip.

Travel rules change, and “I flew with it before” doesn't necessarily mean you can fly with it this time.

Useful Doesn't Mean You Need to Buy It

Packing cubes? I like them if they help you stay organized.

A foldable day bag? Useful for some trips.

A rain layer? Absolutely worth considering when the destination and forecast call for one.

An adapter? Important when your destination uses different outlets or voltage—but make sure you're bringing the correct equipment for where you're actually going.

But you don't need to buy every travel gadget you see online.

If you aren't going to use it, it doesn't become more useful just because someone put “travel essential” in the description.

The best packing accessory is the one that solves an actual problem for your trip.

Leave a Little Room

This is the part people forget.

You may come home with souvenirs, gifts, clothing or something you weren't planning to buy.

If your suitcase is already stuffed before you leave home, getting everything back into it can become its own travel adventure.

And remember that baggage weight limits still apply on the return trip.

A little extra room can be very useful.

Pack What Makes You Comfortable

I'm not going to tell you to pack exactly half your clothes.

I'm not going to tell you that you only need one pair of shoes.

And I'm definitely not going to promise you'll never wish you had packed something else.

Some people are perfectly happy traveling light.

Other people want choices.

Neither one is wrong.

The goal is to bring what you'll realistically use, keep the important things with you, understand the baggage rules and avoid carrying a suitcase full of things you packed “just in case” but never touched.

If you can do that, you're already ahead.