The flights are booked, the bikini’s bought, the thongs are already on your feet… but your back is breaking under the weight of what you’ve packed! Take a look at our swiish top tips and avoid overpacking!
Get Inspired
Do your research before you start packing, by looking at Louis Vuitton’s The Art of Packing. Although we won’t be folding our clothes into an LV suitcase any time soon (unless we win Lotto!), it does contain lots of useful tips and tricks including step by step guides to help make sure you pack as neatly and efficiently as possible. We also love iampacked.com, a blog that gives you a look into the suitcases of others around the world. Get inspired!
Single items, multiple uses
I promise you don’t need to pack a different outfit for every day. Versatility is key! Stick to basics (plain singlets and t-shirts, shorts and simple dresses) and change up your look with accessories. A neon statement necklace will take you from beach to bar in one chic move. Scarves can do double-duty as a cover-up over your cossie, and to pop around your shoulders during cooler evenings. Dresses multitask too, dressed down with thongs during the day, and then with dressy flats, a glam clutch and brighter-than-bright lip colour at night.
Go light on your feet
Limit yourself to 3 pairs of shoes for a week-long beach holiday – your thongs, jewelled sandals and a pair for walking and keeping up with your exercise routine will be plenty! If you’re umming and ahhing over whether you need more pairs, run through all of the activities you’ll be doing while you’re away and decide what you need from there. But as shoes are heavy and take up lots of space, the rule is – if you aren’t going to wear them more than twice, then leave them at home. Harsh but it’s for the best, I swear!
Read between the lines
The eReader is your friend! Load up with as many novels as you’d like – much lighter than a bag full of books. If you don’t have an e-reader, then look for small print, longer books rather than something you’ll finish in a day – and if you can, pass them on to someone else when you’re done.
Pills, potions and preening
Stock up on travel sized shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser from Priceline. If you end up running out (highly unlikely!), it’s easy enough to stock up on these items from a supermarket or pharmacy.
Let the sun take the strain
If you’re taking multiple electronic items, don’t take multiple chargers. A solar charger with multiple adaptors will probably do just as well – and take up much less space! Try the Freeloader Pico Portable Solar Charger, $39.95.
