Packing Tips for Multi-Purpose Trips
To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted. (Bill Bryson)
Hello, sweet friends! Remember when I said we didn't have any travel planned for July? Well, that was true until my Mister had a work trip pop up. He's heading to Philadelphia and New York for meetings, and I'm tagging along so we can meet up with friends and make a weekend of it.
We love traveling together and now that I can take my work with me, it's hard not to find a reason to join him. While he's away on business meetings & lunches, I will be writing, blogging, social media-ing, and exploring two delightful cities.
Last summer we went to Europe for 19 days with just 2 carry-ons, a backpack, and large purse. For this 6-day trip, we were determined to keep our luggage light. The warmer months make it slightly easier to pack less, but keeping our luggage lean for several days with various occasions was not easy. We have business attire, casual clothes, things to wear out, and workout gear, all bundled together in one bag each.
Here are a few of my favorite packing tips for multi-purpose trips:
Start with shoes and work your way up
As much as I want to bring cute heels, I know we'll be walking a lot. I'm wearing black flats and packing my new Sperrys, brown sandals, and light-weight running shoes.
Build outfits, make a plan, and roll-up
I know this is super nerdy, but I keep an Evernote to plan out what I'm wearing each day. It's not that I have to stick with the schedule, but it helps me to see things in writing.
For this trip, I'm wearing a more business-y dress on the first day because my Mister will be traveling in a suit. I have a few other dresses that will transition from day to casual nights, depending on the accessories. I also have a pair of running shorts, yoga pants, and two tank tops. It's easier to get a workout in while traveling if you arrive prepared!
I started rolling my clothes for our Europe trip last summer and I haven't looked back. It reduces the amount of wrinkles, helps my suitcase stay more organized, and it seems to help me pack less.
Travel-size your toiletries
I love shopping on Sephora.com because they send free samples with every order. I hold onto my samples, trials, and travel sized toiletries for trips like this one. It makes getting ready on the go just a little sweeter. A few of my recent discoveries are Drybar's Detox Dry Shampoo and Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil by Fresh — both available in smaller sizes.
Remember the essentials
Are there things you rely upon every day? For any trip, I know I will need my headphones, laptop, iPad, Kindle, and chargers. I'm hoping we will find time to work out 2-3 times, so I'm bringing my Fitbit and heart rate monitor. Since our schedule will be largely dictated by my Mister's meetings, I packed some tea, EBOOST, and Kind Bars... in case I get caught without lunch or coffee. I also packed our vitamins, a notebook, my favorite pens, and sunglasses.
I hope you find these packing tips helpful for your next adventure! I'll be sharing some pics on Instagram and of course would love any NYC or Philly recommendations!
Image via Unsplash
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