My Packing Habits For A Weekend Getaway

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(Edited)

"I like to have only one bag on my back, in case there's an emergency and I need to run away with my possessions."

I get a real buzz from going on a weekend getaway because the change of scenery helps to refresh and renew my mind. When I return home, I have fresh eyes and I can quickly identify ways for improvement, that I might have overlooked from having gotten used to a particular routine.
However, one mission of mine is to always travel as light as possible, especially if I'm traveling alone. Regardless of my mission of packing a light bag, I still ensure that my bag contains everything that I will need, to avoid having to purchase items that I forgot to pack.

Oakley, my travel companion; Goes everywhere with me.

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I think it's important to have a durable and versatile bag. I particularly like this Oakley backpack for its heavy-duty metal clips, it has hooks and loops closures which gives me double security.
It perfectly accommodates everything that I need when traveling. It has a laptop compartment, and secure military-style side pockets with zippers, which allows me to pack specific items at designated places. The pockets are easily accessible, and the bag has a flap top opening, which means I can expand the bag to accommodate bigger items if needs be. The bag had adjustable straps which makes it comfortable for me to pack everything I need in the one bag without a worry of causing back strain.


My Packing Plan and Checklist

I visualise scenarios of how my trip will unfold in my head.
This starts from the moment I lock my door with the keys and walk away from my home, my days away, to when I return to opening the door to my home.

PLAN

The day before departure, I have a checklist and I jot things down as thoughts occur to me, and I gather all items. I visualise my every move and agenda which gives me a realistic idea of just what items I will need on my weekend away from home, at my new destination. I place all items together on the bed, before sorting and grouping items.

First scenarios checklist:

  • What will I need while getting to my destination, in whatever mode of transport? Some of the things include:
    • My headset, phone, power bank, and mobile internet
    • Hand sanitizer
    • Water Bottle
    • Pen and a small notebook or writing pad
    • Camera, fully charged battery, memory card
    • I make sure that I know where my keys are.

  • Arriving My Destination
    • My ID
    • My Bank Card
    • Cash
    • Hotel Confirmation (if applicable)

  • Arriving My Room
    • Chargers to top up my power bank, my computer, camera, phone, headset.
    • My slippers so that I can take the complimentary one from the hotel. I don't like walking barefooted in hotels.
    • A small bag for dirty clothes

I think it's important to devote time and effort to make sure that I have these crucial items with me because if not, these are what could cost me the most money, time, and stress to replace or substitute, which could set a bad tone and ruin the entire weekend.


Packing Clothes and Shoes

Meticulous planning of outfits is important so that you will have every item needed to complete all outfits. Therefore, I think keeping your outfits plain and simple is key.

These little things could make your life easier:

  • Pack clothes that don't need ironing. This way you can fold and roll items in a space-efficient manner.
  • Correct and adequate undergarments (especially for ladies). I always ensure that I have the right bra that works for all outfits. Otherwise, you might find yourself having to purchase an undergarment or left short of an outfit.
  • Keep the colour palette simple and interchangeable, so that in case of accidents you can mix and match your outfits without a problem.
  • Multi-functional pieces that can transform by dressing them up for nighttime or down for casual daytime outfits.
  • I make sure that one shoe works well with all my outfits, to avoid overpacking.

Grooming

Face and Body

I have sensitive skin and wayward hair, which requires me to use specific products. These products tend to be more expensive than generic cosmetics, therefore, there is no way that I am going to take full or large tubs or tubes traveling. Instead, I have travel-size products that also suit my needs, but they are cheaper than my regular products, as a substitute for a day or two will cause no harm.

On the left, I have all the things that I need to still carry out my normal grooming routine, and on the right, is my bag of items that I can replenish each time I travel, that are clearly labelled so I know which product goes where, and what exactly I'm using. This way, if I should lose this pack, I still have products to use when I get home, and these are easily accommodated in my bag in terms of space and weight.


Haircare

The same applies to my hair. I take a small travel pack of my normal specialised hair product which is sufficient for my time away from home, and again, these are space, weight, and cost-effective.

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Taking travel-size products can save you a lot of grief if you have to ditch them for any reason. If you can't get small sizes to purchase, I would recommend that you recycle any containers around the house and secure them with tape to avoid accidents such as spills, which could ruin your other items.

My takeaway would be to ensure that you pack minimum items of clothing and shoes that are versatile and comfortable. Ensure that gadgets, laptops, and things that are expensive to replace are securely packed. Tubs are a great idea for taking chargers and devices, as it offers added protection.
Have even a slight agenda of what you will be doing and places you will be visiting, and even the weather, so that you can pack specific items to fulfill those needs.
Organise, organise, organise!
This will help you to pack the essentials, prevent you from randomly packing things that you don't need, and alleviate you are having to purchase things that you urgently need that you forgot to pack.

Tip: Always pack a swimwear. It takes up very little space but costs big money to purchase.

Do you have other tips for minimalistic travel that you would like to share? Here's a link to
The Minimalist community #KISS blog ideas for week 4.


PS. My opening statement is what I always told my mum, as a teenager, and I still hold the same sentiments today.






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36 comments
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I take pretty much the same, except body/hair care; one coconut soap does it all for me, including washing clothes \o\

One thing that I HATE is the amount of cables we need to carry these days, from chargers to usb cables to laptop cable. I solved that issue with an organized from Amazon. Have you ever seen those?

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(Edited)

Yes, you find the cables and chargers are so heavy and take up the most space.
I like that organizer. I had a similar one when I was living in the Philippines...I forgot all about it. I think it's worth investing in one again. It would be handy on my boat anyway.
Haha, I used to take small sachets of detergent with a folding travel size clothes rack to dry clothes when I lived in the Philippines too. Everything is in sachets...it took me a while to get used to the concept, then I realised they were great for traveling:)

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Drying clothes is a nightmare. Weird thing is that I don't remember how I was washing clothes when cycletouring on the snow. I guess I wasn't washing much 🤢

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I hate wash days on the boat. In the winter they dry faster because the wood burner kicks out good heat. In the "summer" I hang them outside but it's annoying and I hate seeing them hanging in the boat.

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I absolutely despise having to pack for a trip. Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, razor for shaving legs, Tylenol™, antihistamines, decongestants, vitamins, tweezers, nail file, scrunchies, hair brush, safety pins for clothing emergencies, reading glasses, sunglasses, a couple of BandAids™, emergency cash hidden in a safe place, emergency sewing kit, the list goes on and on. And then I always regret not packing something, like nail clippers, spare batteries, etc. It's almost as stressful as the travel, itself. 😬

!LADY !LUV

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Haha! your checklist sounds like mine. I NEVER leave home without my razor, a tweezer, and nail clippers 😂...I'm glad that I'm not alone there.
I think it's good to have everything you've listed there. I also always have a long string or a bungee cord. I have to be very careful when flying to make sure that I pack the right things in my carry on so security doesn't take them away.

It's these little things that make all the difference :)
Thanks for the LUV 😍

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Hello 🙋

I love your backpack. It looks very sturdy and the print is beautiful.

I learned to keep small packs since I started visiting hotel rooms. I realized that it is not necessary to have the big bottles of shampoo, creams and perfumes in the suitcases.

I haven't studied minimalism, but now that I think about it, I have put it into practice in some of my trips. I would keep my toothbrushes and hairbrushes, my small makeup and jewelry case in my bag. Only with the essentials and that match with all my clothes.

Greetings and have a good trip.

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Hello @creacioneslelys
Yes, I learned the value of small sachets while I was living in the Philippines. I'm glad that you discovered how smart they can make your travel too
Thanks for stopping by:)

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Those little cream containers are always a life saver when traveling

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Indeed! It took me a long time to realise that, and I haven't looked back.
Thanks for stopping by:)

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(Edited)

Honestly after reading your post I felt like it was me packing for a vacation 😂. I hate packing because I ALWAYS forget something very vital and then I end up buying it expensive😩. This happens to me because I procrastinate packing till the day I want to travel.

Your mode of packing is actually very simple and easy to go with. Now I have learnt a couple of things through your method and I will be practicing it. Wish me luck😊.

I enjoyed reading your post.!LUV

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Thank you!
It's rare for me to forget an item because throughout the week before going away, I create a general list, and as an idea comes to mind, I jot it down. I pack the day before, and when I start packing I can narrow down the list if I find things that might have dual purposes.
I would beat myself up hard if I had to replace an expensive item simply because I forgot to pack it so I do everything to eliminate that.
I'm just that kind of person who might have a hammer in my handbag if that emergency should arise.🤣
Years ago we went to Grand Prix in Malaysia, and my husband's feet were badly blistered because he wore shoes, something that he seldom does when living in the tropics. His sandals were broken and he could not find his size in any of the shops, he came back to the hotel room and said if only I could find a string or a cord or something. I was like, "oh you need a string or a cord?" Something really strong, he said. I was "oh I have one." When I took it out of my bag he burst out laughing and asked me why the hell did I pack that with me. I said for emergencies like this one. 🤣
I hate packing, but I take the task seriously:)

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It is spectacular when we travel light of material burdens such as clothes and other things necessary for our well-being but it is best to be light of emotional burdens and if we carry them with us it is best to let them go and release them in this adventure.
You know I love that you carry with you the essential oil of Argan I use it for my hair, my skin and I always add about 7 drops to my moisturizer for the body, I assure you it is magnificent.

Life health and inspiring kisses of joy to live .

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You have pretty much the same way of packing things as I do minus the girlish things, of course, 😄 I can do without moisturizers, etc., and no makeup for sure. Yep, the best suggestion is to carry clothes that need no ironing. And as you suggested the bags and shoes gotta be sturdy to avoid making unnecessary expenses.

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Love your travel bag 😍

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Thanks 😊
That bag totally changed my traveling experience:)

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It looks really well-loved and I imagine easy to carry? That's the problem with some cases or travel bags, they can be awkward or cumbersome, even if they are relatively compact.

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That's true. I will only carry a hard shell suitcase when going on a long journey.

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Quite a complete list 😊😊🙏👍

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Thanks😆 Yeah, I'll beat myself up if I have to spend unnecessarily😅

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'Check List Charlie' best way to prepare, type up list and always have it placed somewhere easy to remember for using each time you plan a break.

Nicely done, hope you enjoyed the weekend getaway!

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Yeah, having a standard list is an excellent idea!

It's a Bank Holiday here in the UK...something I didn't realise until I saw many people walking along the towpaths. So it's a relaxing day for me.

Thanks for stopping by.

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Hope the day was enjoyable, we too had a public holiday on Sunday giving many workers Monday off, back to normal today 😅 have a wonderful week.

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