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Smart Travel Packing Tips: How to Pack for Any Trip

No matter the destination or time of year, travel is always in season. Whether you’re jetting off on a cold-weather Arctic expedition, soaking up the sun at a tropical beach resort, or planning a quick weekend getaway to visit friends and family, packing can be one of the most stressful parts of the journey.

To help make the process easier—and ensure you don’t forget the essentials—I’ve put together a simple packing guide based on the type of trip you’re taking. If you follow my trips, you’ll find that you know how to pack for any trip. Here’s what I always consider before zipping up my bag:

  1. Weather and Seasons
  2. Backpack vs. Suitcase
  3. Adventure vs. Leisure
  4. How to Pack Clothing and Shoes for Any Trip
  5. Toiletries
  6. Travel Essentials
  7. Make Cuts
  8. Final Document Check

Keep reading for practical packing advice that will save you time, space, and stress—so you can focus on enjoying the trip ahead.

1. Weather and Seasons

Checking the weather is an essential part to packing for any trip. Hot, cold, sunny, and rainy weather determine what goes in the bag. I pack light for warm weather, and choose a few staple layers for the cold. A good reminder of not to overpack is that you can always do laundry at your destination.

  • Staple layers: light sweater, windbreaker, rain jacket,
  • Warm weather accessories: swimsuit, sarong (works as towel, blanket, bikini cover), sunglasses, baseball hat
  • Cold weather accessories: fleece lined hat, glove liners, gloves, scarf that doubles as shawl, coat
  • Extras: reusable water bottle, waterproof phone case for water activities, plastic bag for my passport

2. Backpack vs. Suitcase: Which one suits your travel style?

  • Physical health and fitness level: If you cannot comfortably carry a backpack filled with all of your things, then a suitcase is best.
  • Seasonal considerations: Will you be packing heavy layers or sticking to lighter clothing? A suitcase can save your back when packing winter clothing.
  • Transportation: Are you traveling by car or public transit? On trains and buses you will be expected to carry your bag up and down stairs and through tight spaces, making a backpack easier. If you have your own vehicle, then the type of bag is not so important.
  • Type of Trip: Are you traveling over uneven terrain on a backroad adventure, or taking a city trip? Backpacking travel is just what is sounds like, intended for backpacks. Suitcases are best in places where you have concrete walkways. I also prefer to use a backpack in big cities for easier navigation through crowds.

My preference:

I use the Osprey Kyte 48 backpack, which can be found on Amazon. I find that moving through crowds, walking stairs, and traveling on buses, trains, and planes is easier with a backpack than a suitcase. On airplanes, it is easier to shove a lumpy backpack into a full overhead bin than a suitcase with hard sides.

3. Adventure vs. Leisure

  • Plan your clothing and gear accordingly
  • Examples: a headlamp for camping trips, a wide brimmed hat for the beach, hiking boots for trekking, quick-dry sports clothes for outdoor activities

An example of a packing list for a multi-day backpacking trip can be found on my Complete Guide to the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route. It offers route details as well as how to pack for any outdoor adventure trip.

4. How to Pack Clothing and Shoes for Any Trip

While function is a key component to packing, I also appreciate style. Instead of packing 7 outfits for a 7 day trip, consider packing pieces that can be paired and stylized in different ways. For example, I might back a button-down shirt that can be tucked into jeans or tied over a dress. The shirt also functions as an extra layer to the dress that can be removed or added depending on the temperature.

Choosing the right shoes

  • Backpacking Trip: hiking boots or a trail shoe, a lightweight walking shoe (optioal), flip flops or light sandals
  • City Trip: a comfortable and neutral-colored walking shoe, and flip flops when staying in hostels
  • Beach Trip: Cute sandals for going out, flip flops for the beach, and walking shoes for exploring
  • Luxury Trip, i.e. a Cruise: A comfortable pair of wedges for day, strappy heels that pack light for night, a neutral walking shoe, and flip flops for shower, beach, or spa

5. Toiletries

You may be able to forego packing toiletries altogether, depending on your location of travel and consumption choices. Check the inclusions in your bookings. Many hotels, airbnbs and even some hostels will provide some sort of toiletries. If you aren’t concerned with the quality of the products you use on your skin and hair, you can use the complimentary options. Alternatively, you can buy whatever you need at the store upon arrival, knocking out the effort necessary for lugging it to your destination. 

Travel sized liquids can be purchased at grocery stores, or you can purchase the silicone bottles online and fill them with your liquids from home. Ensure that your containers are airtight and leak proof. If you are traveling by plane, the pressure when descending will sometimes loosen the lids or pop the lids off. Pack your toiletries into zip-loc bags for extra security against leaks.

6. Travel Essentials: Packing with practicality

  • Roll your clothes into tight hotdog shaped rolls to pack as tightly as possible and prevent wrinkles
  • Use packing cubes: this helps maximize space and makes it easier to keep things organize
  • Pack your shoes in shoe bags in the bottom of your backpack or bag for the best weight distribution
  • Place liquids in a clear bag for passing through airport security if flying
  • Bring a small cloth bag: this is a good place to put all the things you need to pull out at security in airports, or as a bag to carry around while shopping, or as a backup space for purchases that don’t fit in your bag
  • Pack all necessary medications
  • Lay your travel documents on your bag
  • Bring all necessary charger plus one backup phone charger

7. Make Cuts

I am a visual packer. I find it easiest to lay out everything before packing.

  • Consider each item carefully: Are 3 pairs of shoes necessary or are 2 enough? Avoid overpacking by taking out the things that you aren’t sure you really need.
  • Sometimes it’s good to bring an extra: the extra charger is a good idea, but what about an extra hat? Consider where you are going and ask, will I be able to replace this item with ease if needed? If you can easily pick it up at your destination, leave the extra at home.
  • The unnecessary extras: Sunglasses, an umbrella, a hat, or camera are considered in this step. Decide on the non-essentials after you have packed everything you absolutely need.

8. Final Document and ID check

  • Check the visa and passport requirements for the place you intend to travel. Some countries require that your passport have at least 6 months of remaining validity or a certain number of blank passport pages. Some require transit visas, even if you won’t be leaving the airport on a layover.
  • Take a picture or carry a copy of your ID or passport in the event they are lost or stolen. This helps confirm your identity to a consulate when getting a passport replaced.
  • Bury your documents somewhere out of reach: In busy places or on public transportation, be smart. Have your ID and wallet tucked deep into a bag or purse. I travel with a theft protection cross body bag that I keep on the front of my body with a hand over the opening of the bag.
  • *Do Not* ever store your passport or wallet in a back pocket of your pants or an outer backpack pocket.
  • Separate money and credit cards into at least 2 different locations in your bag or on your person in case one is lost or stolen. 

I hope you enjoyed these tips on how to pack for any trip. Please like my post below if you found this helpful. Drop me a comment if you have any great additional tips or wish to share how any of these ideas helped you. Happy traveling!

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