1. Not knowing your weight allowance
You can actually fit quite a lot into the usual 20-23kg economy class weight limit, but that cabin bag allowance is what catches many people out and there’s nothing more annoying than scrambling on the floor at the check in counter to repack items or face excess baggage charges.
The answer?
Research the baggage size and weight restrictions of your airline and invest in a set of hand-held luggage scales – so you can give yourself some wriggle room for shopping!
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2. Not researching the weather
Don’t pack a stash of sarongs if your tropical holiday is in the middle of monsoon season! Also don’t assume that just because it’s famous as a warm destination you shouldn’t pack some warm layers; deserts can get quite cold at night and summer in some places can still be the wet season.
The answer?
Add the destination to your weather app and check forecasts within a week of departure. Research the average temperature and weather conditions for the time you’ll be visiting. Think about what sort of activities you will be doing once you arrive; if you’re planning on visiting cultural or religious sites, you may need to dress modestly and cover your shoulders and knees. A pashmina for women and some slacks for men is always handy.
3. Not knowing what to leave behind
It’s hard to cut down on what you think you need, but be ruthless so you have more room for bringing goodies back – plus less weight to lug around. Remember you will likely do laundry, and you KNOW you’ll buy some things! Do you really need to bring your laptop, ipad, mobile phone and camera? Could your phone double as your camera? Can you download movies from your laptop onto your ipad?
The answer?
Here are some tips to avoid over-packing:
- Make a list of essentials, before you start adding extras.
- Take clothes for seven days – even if you are traveling for a month. You’ll mix and match and you’ll also wash.
- You don’t need more than two outer layers, presuming you are not heading to the snow! A jumper and a jacket will suffice for a week’s trip. Ponchos are brilliant to wear with almost anything and are also handy for the plane.
- Take three pairs of shoes: a good walking shoe for the day, a smart pair of shoes for going out at night and throw in your jandals or a sandal for hanging about at the hotel. More on shoes below…
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4. Packing more than three pairs of shoes
Taking too many shoes deserves its own category as it is a rookie packing mistake when travelling. Shoes are heavy. Shoes are bulky. Shoes will ruin your perfectly packed suitcase.
The answer?
Limit yourself to just three pairs of shoes (including what you will be wearing on the plane). Ok, you can make the airplane pair additional.
Boots and loafers are great all-purpose shoes that can take you from a day of sightseeing to a Broadway show at night, and if you wear them on the plane you have more room in your luggage.
Pack multipurpose shoes. It’s a bonus if they look good, but they should provide good support for all the walking you’ll be doing.
Think about whether you’re actually going to need heels before you pack them! Heels can take up a lot of unnecessary space and be quite awkward to pack, especially if they’re only likely to be worn once. If you’re going to take them, go for a pair that will go with a large number of outfits.
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5. A messy suitcase
If you pack at the last minute, or will be unpacking and re-packing multiple times in a trip, things can get messy pretty quickly in your suitcase. You lose track of what’s clean and dirty, where you’ve packed your underwear and what you’ve done with your phone charger.
The answer?
Two words: packing cubes. If you haven’t discovered them yet they will change your life! There are lots of packing cubes on the market but if you don’t want to fork out for the official ones, you can apply the same principle using large zip lock bags or draw string bags.
Packing cubes are the ideal way to keep your luggage organised. They come in different sizes to suit your different packing needs eg. one for socks and underwear, another for chargers and adapter plugs, another for laundry. It makes finding things a breeze.
They’re also great if you’re travelling with just carry on. If you have to open your cabin bag at security everything will stay neat and organised – and most importantly your undies won’t fall out for the world to see. Bonus!
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Now that your suitcase is organised, it’s time to do the same for your flights! Check out Skyscanner New Zealand for the best deals on flights, hotels and car hire – all without booking fees!
Megan Singleton has been gallivanting the world as a travel writer for 16 years and blogging for 10 at Blogger at Large. She’s nabbed a couple of writing awards along the way and thinks travel is not a luxury, but a necessary ingredient to shape our world view and enhance cultural understanding as we get to see and experience life through the eyes of others.
