How to pack your luggage for a trip abroad
Packing for a trip out of the country is, I daresay, an art. It’s getting that perfect balance between bringing everything you need, having easy access to everything without losing your things, and having enough space for your shopping! When I first started traveling abroad, I was all about packing light so much that I under pack and forget a lot of important things. I used to survive on just a 5-kilo luggage for a week-long trip - that’s unimaginable now. I always end up having to buy a big tote for my shopping and it’s such a hassle lugging it to and from the airport.
But now I have a fairly reliable formula that works for me, and might work for you too. Here’s my tried-and-tested way of packing for a trip abroad! This is handy if, like me, you over think and like to look pretty.
Make a list of everything you need to bring. And I mean EVERY thing.
Yes, I am Captain Obvious, but the thing with generic luggage packing lists you can see online is that they’re…generic. We all have different needs and preferences so it’s important to make a master list of everything that you - you weird, beautiful you - could possibly require.
In this list, you need to be as specific as possible down to writing down how many pairs of underwear you need! Here are the main categories to list under:
Clothes, shoes, and underwear
Makeup (if you like wearing any)
Skincare and toiletries (toothbrush, menstrual cup/pad/tampon, comb, etc.)
Electronics (power bank, charger cords and plugs, earphones, portable console, etc.)
Travel documents
Sanitation kit (mask, tissue, wipes, alcohol, etc. This is important not just because of COVID, but also because you never know when you get into a dire poop situation and the airport bathroom is - pardon my pun - shitty!)
Have a good game plan
It’s different for different people, but I always like to leave almost half of my check-in 20-kilo luggage free. I only plan to pack one half of the luggage, so I have room for any last minute things I need to bring and of course, for what I buy.
I make a day-by-day list of the outfits (and makeup looks) I’ll need to wear. If I’m traveling purely for leisure and don’t have to dress extra nice, this is very easy. But if I’m traveling for work, an event, or when I meet important people, I need to be at the top of my game! So careful planning is key.
Important: always bring one killer outfit. You never know where you might end up. ;)
You don’t need to follow the list you make strictly but having the components of an outfit makes dressing up a lot easier as opposed to just randomly bringing clothes and makeup you like at the moment.
I’m in Singapore right now, and here’s what I packed!
Have lots and lots of organizers
I’m all about packing cubes and pouches! What are packing cubes, you ask? They’re basically a set of fabric zip-up cubes (or pouches) that you can place your clothes and toiletries in. I find them super useful because I hate it when my clothes explode out of the luggage when I have to open it in a public place. You know what I mean! Don’t be a savage!
I bought this set from Shopee for just P150 pesos each. So cheap! I got them for my husband. What I like to use are these old Tsumori Chisato ones that Wacoal Japan gifted me while I was in Kyoto. I find them cute and consider them a good luck charm. The bigger pink one is for my bottoms, while the smaller lavender one is for my tops and underwear. The small one is missing right now though huhu so I hope I can find it for my next trip. They can fit A LOT of clothes.
From there I have a cube each for my makeup and my skincare/toiletries. I like having cube organizers for this so it’s easier to grab products as I need it. The easiest way to lose your makeup and skincare in a hotel room is to leave them out on the bathroom counter or bedroom table. They’re going to fall on the floor or get into random corners! So I always now keep them in pouches that opens at the top for easy access.
The Airport Bag
I need to have a section just on this. I pack this as carefully as I pack my luggage. It can’t be too heavy so I don’t like loading too much into it, but it needs to carry quite a few things for me. This is what I have in my airport bag - feel free to add or take away based on your preferences.
Travel document pouch. This has my passport and anything that I might need to present to immigration.
Electronics kit. I mentioned this above. It’s basically any electronic item I will need while traveling. Usually it would be a power bank, charging plug and cord, earphones, and recently a Nintendo Switch to help kill time.
A super simple makeup kit. I prefer not to wear makeup at the airport as much as possible because it just gets messy, honestly. But I do apply makeup right before landing! That’s why I have a basic 5-minute makeup kit with me to fix me up, which includes concealer, powder, eyebrow makeup, and a lip and cheek tint. If you have minis or luxury sizes, even better!
Sanitation kit. For the poops! And to avoid COVID of course.
Snacks. It’s always useful to have snacks to keep the hunger away while waiting.
Thermos. This is a must-have! Keeping hydrated is important while traveling.
And that’s it! I hope you found my little guide useful. I would love to know how you pack, too! Sound off in the comments.
