How do I know how much to pack?

Deciding how much to pack for a trip comes down to your destination, the length of your trip, the weather, and the types of excursions you'll be taking.



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Bring just three or four bottoms, including a mix of jeans or shorts and a pair of dressy pants or a skirt. Pack four or five tops of varying dressiness, plus one or two warm top pieces like sweaters. Of course, your destination will affect the weight of the pieces you pack and, thus, the amount of space they take.

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It is best to have two pairs of bottoms (pants, shorts, or skirts) for each week that you'll be staying. Plan on bringing four shirts per week, and two jackets to layer for warmth (if you're traveling to a cool or cold destination). For a two-week trip, you need four bottoms and eight tops.

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For a 5 day vacation, you will want to bring 2-3 pairs of shorts or pants, 3-4 tops, a light jacket (or a heavy jacket, depending on where you are traveling), and 1 formal outfit if you are planning on attending a nice restaurant or event. If you are going to the beach, pack 2-3 swimsuits/trunks.

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If you have unlimited suitcase space and don't want to do any laundry, a two-week trip means packing 14/2 = 7 bras and at least 14 pairs of underwear. That consumes a lot of valuable suitcase space! To reduce the number of pieces that need to be packed, simply commit to doing laundry on the road.

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Sleepwear. Whether you sleep in t-shirts and sweatpants or complete pajama sets, about two pairs of pajamas will be enough for a weeklong vacation. However, if you're someone who likes slipping into fresh pajamas every night, then you may want to pack extra loungewear, space in your luggage permitting.

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However, you should have an outfit for every day, plus extras for the weather. Therefore, you should include at least 14-16 outfits in your packing list. However, that doesn't mean you must wear completely different clothing each day.

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Most frequent travelers swear by the “3 pairs of shoes” rule, which is to pack two pairs of functional and comfortable shoes and one pair that's a little more formal and dressier. Some travelers would say you can make do with just two pairs for the entire trip.

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What to Pack for a 2-Week Trip
  1. enough clothes and shoes to create at least 7 outfits (assuming you can do laundry at least once)
  2. enough (essential) toiletries, cosmetics, and medications for the whole trip (unless you plan on shopping for more)
  3. a small bag or purse.
  4. charging cables and adapters for your devices.


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By using packing cubes, travellers separate their clothing, accessories, and any other essentials into obvious compartments. For travellers this makes it easier to find items within their bag and maintain a neat and orderly suitcase.

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Making Your Packing List
  1. Make a packing list synopsis. ...
  2. Break your packing list down into categories and sub-categories. ...
  3. Category-by-category, jot down everything that you could need on your trip. ...
  4. Reorganize each category with the most important items at the top; this is easier if you're working with a digital list.


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The 1-through-6 rule If you're packing for a trip that will last a week, use numbers 1 through 6 to pack certain items as follows: one hat, two pairs of shoes, three pairs of pants/skirts, four shirts, five pairs of socks, six pairs of underwear.

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