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If you have been following the vacation planning tips, you probably are well on your way to planning your next getaway. After deciding where your travels will take you, what activities you want to do and where you want to eat, it’s now time to decide what to wear on vacation. Do your family or friends say “OMG. Did you remember to pack the sink?” or “Are you sure that bag will be under the 50lb weight limit?” or “How many more bags do you have”? If so, then keep reading, and if you have ever said this to someone, then share away. #yourewelcome
This is for the I-never-know-what-I-want-to-wear-when-I-get-there types. You know, the ones that seem to have packed their entire wardrobe. Or the ones that say “I never know what I’m going to feel like wearing”. Well, chances are you probably wear the same pants a couple of days before you throw them in the laundry. Okay, maybe three days, if you’re not sweating in them. So let’s talk about how we can help serial over-packers decide what to wear on vacation before they leave so they can carry their own bags, shall we?
What to wear: recognizing you have a problem
Let’s face it, we all pack way too much for trips. I know this, yet I continually pack as if I’m staying abroad for a month when in reality I’m gone a week. It’s ridiculous. My last trip I wore my bathing suit most of the time, wore 3 pairs of shorts, 3 shirts and 2 pairs of shoes. As for underwear, you better pack enough for every day because, hygiene. It was at that moment in August, 2018 I realized I have a packing problem. I brought a HUGE suitcase STUFFED with clothes for every one of the 10 days. Unnecessary. Here’s some homework: think back to the last trip you took. If you had to put more than 1-2 outfits away before washing because they were unworn, then you may be an over-packer. Continue on.
“But I don’t know what the weather will be like”
Okay, so. I know Apple’s weather app kinda sucks, but check out the Weather Channel app. They have a pretty accurate forecast for just about any place. But apps aside, let’s be realistic. If you’re traveling to Montana in February, chances are it’s going to be cold. So bring things that can be used for layering. If you’re going to Florida in January, bring your swimsuit. Enough said. Well, not really, but you get the picture. If you’ve never been out of your home state, then by all means use the apps or Google. The world wide web is incredibly helpful. Also, in the social world we live in, post it on Facebook. You never know what friends you have in low places *cues Garth Brooks*. Set up a coffee date AND get the scoop on the weather! #winning
“But I never know what I want to wear on vacation”
I hear you. Me either. But let’s be realistic. On the weekends I usually wear one pair of jeans unless I get them dirty. So that’s two days of wearing a single pair of jeans. And I’m only really in those maybe 6 hours? The other time I’m in pajamas or sweat pants. My point is, bring what you typically would choose when at home. If you think along these lines, you can start to see how much you over pack. Plus, who the hell wants to stress over what to wear.
Now, let’s say you’re a messy eater, like me. You have ONE white top and you just spilled coffee all over it. And you need that one white top to go with the cute new jeans and boots you have for the night out. SHIT, now what. Well, is there laundry facilities where you are? Problem solved. No laundromat? Hand wash. I know it’s archaic but if it saves you from packing 5 white shirts so you can bring back a new souvenir hoodie? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Seriously though, check out the amenities available where you’re staying. On our last Carnival Cruise we had laundry facilities right across the hall. Had I known that, I wouldn’t have brought so much.
The solution: choose what to wear before you leave
Vacation shouldn’t be stressful and oftentimes we stress on what to wear. Take only what you need and a little more. But you don’t need your whole wardrobe. Save space (these luggage organizers are helpful!) for souvenirs or better yet, save the money you spend checking more luggage on experiences while you’re on vacation. Or save the time that you would be trying to pick out the perfect outfit and redirect it on exploring your destination. Whatever you do, deciding what to wear on vacation shouldn’t stress you out! Be brave and try packing just enough and let me know how it went in the comments! Next up, getting to, from and around on vacation.
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