Summer is finally here, and for many that might mean taking an extended vacation in the sun. There’s some specific considerations to keep in mind when traveling during the summertime, such as packing warm-weather appropriate attire. In search of the best summer packing tips and mistakes to avoid, I decided it’d be best to speak to the people who actually travel for a living.
Below, pro travelers share the packing advice to follow and mistakes to avoid this summer.
Protect meltable items from those warmer temps
Always be careful with perishables and meltable items, but especially during the warmer months. “As someone who lives in Phoenix, I’m very cognizant of just how easily things melt in the summer: candy, makeup, medications, and electronics,” says Jill Schildhouse, a food and travel writer. “That’s why I always pack these items in my carry-on bag and never my checked luggage, which could sit on the 118-degree tarmac for an hour or more. Keeping these items with me ensures they are in an air-conditioned airport and airplane — plus they ride in the car with me, never in the trunk.”
Avoid chafing.
Hot and humid days are a recipe for chafed thighs, and that can ruin any trip instantly. “There’s no quicker way to ruin a vacation than suffering from ‘chub rub,’ or the irritating chafing that happens when skin rubs together — like on my inner thighs, especially when the humidity rises,” says Schildhouse. “That’s why I always wear bike shorts or shapewear that hits mid-thigh under my skirts and dresses and keep a stick of Body Glide for Her Anti Chafe Balm in my purse. After learning a very painful lesson while walking for miles in Europe one summer, this is an absolute lifesaver.”
Create a capsule wardrobe.
The best safeguard against overpacking and still finding nothing to wear is creating a capsule wardrobe. “One of the biggest packing mistakes I used to make was throwing a bunch of clothes I liked into a suitcase — without thinking about how they’d actually work together,” says Alice Dubin, a travel journalist. “Now, I stick to a tight capsule wardrobe of mix-and-match pieces in a neutral color palette. Is it a little more boring sartorially? Honestly, yes. But everything layers well, dresses up or down, and takes up less space. It makes packing so much easier — and I always feel pulled-together on the road.”
The added benefit is that you won’t have to check a bag and pay all those associated fees — or risk arriving at your destination with no clothing because that checked bag was lost!
Ditch the extra pairs of shoes.
Speaking of overpacking, how many shoes do you really need for that three-day trip? Probably less than you think. “Once I realized I was never going to wear eight different pairs of shoes on a trip, packing was so much easier,” shares Amber Love Bond, a food and travel writer.
Her go-to travel-day shoe is a simple white sneaker that can work with any daytime or nighttime outfit. Additionally, “I always pack a simple pair of sandals — sometimes that’s all I’ll bring at all,” she says. “Sure, there’s the occasional heel or boot needed for something specific, but you don’t need as many pairs as you think!”
Prepare for those chilly moments.
It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find chilly spots. “One huge packing mistake I often see summer travelers make is not bringing a sweater or sweatshirt on the plane,” says Johnny Jet, editor-in-chief of JohnnyJet.com. “I don’t care how hot it is where you are or where you’re going — chances are the airplane cabin will be freezing. I also always keep an extra pair of socks and a winter hat in my carry-on for this very reason.”
Keep an emergency outfit in your carry-on.
Another common mistake: Not packing a change of clothes in your carry-on when you’re checking a bag. “On every flight, we make sure each person has an extra outfit, just in case someone spills a drink or a kid throws up on one of us (it’s happened to my wife!),” shares Jet. “We also always pack a bathing suit in our carry-on — because if the airline loses your luggage, the last thing you want is to scramble to find a suit that fits and doesn’t cost a fortune.”
Don’t check a bag (unless you really need to).
Lost luggage is a massive issue right now — especially during busy summer travel. “I never check a bag unless I absolutely have to,” says Jesse Neugarten, founder of Dollar Flight Club, who shares that they always travel with a carry-on instead. “It saves time, stress, and the headache of wondering whether your stuff will actually arrive. That said, I do have an airline credit card that gives me early boarding and a free checked bag. So if I need to bring more, I don’t worry about overhead space.”
Neugarten says that if you must check a bag, throw an AirTag in there — just in case.
Don’t weigh down your luggage.
Remember that luggage weight issue? It’s actually a concern on several levels — weightiness is specifically one of them. “One of the most common packing mistakes I see is putting all your heaviest items (like shoes) into your checked luggage,” shares Shir Ibgui, founder and CEO of GlobeThrivers. “Not only does it take up some of your valuable weight, but if your bag gets lost or delayed, you’re [also] stuck without essentials.”
Ibgui always keeps one pair of shoes, a couple of outfits, and some important toiletries in their carry-on.
Check your car seat.
For parents traveling with babies, here’s a big tip: Check your car seat at the counter. “It’s usually free and not weighed. You can actually pack extra-heavy items like diapers, wipes, or baby gear inside the car seat bag. It’s a great hack to save space in your main luggage and get a little extra wiggle room without paying overweight fees,” says Ibgui.
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