For travel lovers, few things in life are more exciting than departing for a bucket list trip. When your bags are packed and you finally board the plane or hit the road, it feels like the whole world is your oyster. There’s a lingering sensation of limitless possibilities — but before you can depart, there are a few crucial preparations. Packing your bags is non-negotiable. Some travelers make a packing list weeks in advance and strategically plan their outfits for all of their adventures. Others wait until the day before departure and throw a selection of clothing into their bag without giving it a ton of thought. Whatever method you choose, you should never try to overstuff your luggage.
Nowadays many airlines charge extra fees for bags, so it can be tempting to save money by fitting all of your travel necessities into one carry-on. If you find yourself trying to avoid checking a bag, you’re certainly not alone, but that can easily come back to haunt you when you return home at the end of your trip. Overpacking is one of the most common mistakes people make when going on vacation.
Your best bet is to take a minimalist approach to packing, and leave plenty of room in your bags for the return trip. If you do find that you need more space, consider opting for a larger suitcase instead of forcing things to fit. When you choose to overpack your suitcase you run the risk of breaking your bag. Plus, you won’t have any wiggle room when you re-pack to return home.
Avoid luggage malfunctions and save room for shopping
If you’re a chronic over packer, you’ve likely experienced what it’s like to struggle to zip your suitcase. At times it has taken two sets of hands and my entire body weight to get my suitcase shut. Although I’ve repeated the same mistake multiple times, I always come to regret it. Packing light is much more aligned with a stress-free travel experience, and you may need that extra room in your suitcase later on.
One of my favorite things to do when I’m traveling is to go shopping and pick up a few unique souvenirs to return home. My closet is full of travel memories. A vintage dress from London, one-of-a-kind leather sandals from Italy, and a cozy wool sweater from Portugal are just a few small treasures I’ve purchased abroad. Every time I wear them I’m reminded of my adventures, and it sparks so much joy. At times, I’ve had to purchase an entirely new suitcase at the end of my trip in order to bring my shopping back home with me. Every single time I’ve wished that I had simply saved room in my suitcase instead of overpacking.
If you try to overstuff your bag too much, you run the risk of having it break at an inopportune moment. Once my overstuffed travel backpack burst open while traveling through Antigua, Guatemala sending my laptop and other belongings crashing to the cobblestone streets. Another time, the zipper of my rolling carry-on split in the middle of a busy airport, and I was forced to purchase a new (ridiculously overpriced) bag on the spot. I’ve finally learned that it never pays to overpack.
Stick to the essentials
