Packing Tips for International Travel

Exciting NEWS...I'm currently on my way to Vietnam and I can't wait to share my adventures with you! Yes, I'm going for a vacation but also will be attending a family wedding! Afterwards, I'll be touring Cambodia with my grandparents. Thank you to LeSportsac for all my travel bags that will be fitting for the tropical crazy hot weather I'll be facing; thank you to Michael Stars for a chic wardrobe that is PERFECT for my trip, I'll have a blast styling and wearing each look; and thank you to Sleekhair.com for hair products to battle the humid air. When packing, I wanted to be as efficient with space as possible as well as bring almost everything (TSA approved) I need in my carry ons.  Here are some tips I always pack and travel by:

Make a Packing List

I just used the Reminders App on my iPhone which allows me to make bullet points and I can checkmark the bullet point box when I have packed the items I need so I don't miss anything.

Roll Your Clothes

Stack similar items together before rolling this helps to minimize creases and wrinkles. I placed pants 1/2 folded on top of each other and rolled. For tops, I layered 2-3 of the same sized tops and any smaller tops so that when rolled they're on the inside of the larger tops. I do the same with underwear stacking on top of each other then rolling from side to side. All in this LeSportsac Large Weekender, I was able to fit:

-4 Pairs of Pants

-1 Maxi Skirt

-1 Maxi Dress

-1 Pair of Shorts

-5 Button Downs/Henleys

-5 Tops

-14 Pairs of Socks & Underwear

And there's still room for a couple pairs of shoes and any other essentials I need to take with me. To take advantage of all the space in the bag, I placed the rolled bundles strategically to fill in the space...like a puzzle!

Separate Shoes into Individual Bags

To keep your clothing from getting dirty and sharing the filth of your shoes, place shoes in individual bags and roll the bag. Only pack shoes you need (you would be surprised how many shoes you really need for a trip like this, don't over pack)! I will be wearing my bulkiest shoes (Nike Trainers) on the plane and packing 1 pair of sandals (Birkenstock) and 1 pair of slip-ons (TOMS). I'll pack a couple other pairs of shoes in my checked bag.

3-1-1 Liquids Rule (which I found off the TSA website) for Carry-Ons

3.4 oz bottles to hold liquids, aerosols, gels, pastes and creams, all together in 1 clear plastic bag (about 1 quart size), and 1 bag per traveler. I usually place all of the bottles into some kind of clear bag as long as it's not huge. You are asked to take the clear bag of liquids out anyways and place in a bin, so this makes it more efficient to screen and get through the security line. I'm going to use the clear detachable Lesportsac zipper pouch shown below that came with my Shaka Tote so I don't have to open my weekender to grab it....easy access! Don't forget that your make up can be liquid too so don't forget to include it in the clear bag.

Medication

Depending on where you're traveling to, medication that we can easily shop for in the U.S. can not be so easy abroad. Since I'll be traveling to areas where the water and produce is questionable, I made sure to stock up on diarrhea medication. I'm also bring pain reliever, allergy medicine, and remedies for bug bites. Be sure to keep the medication in it's original bottle/packaging.

Bag it Up

I like to individually bag then place all the individual bags into one large bag of the hair/beauty products that I'll be

checking. This is so that is any of the bottles start to leak it will at least leak into it's individual bag and not into everything that is in my checked bag.

Don't Check Valuable/Personal Items

Did you see that recent episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians where Kim & mom Kris go to Vienna and Kris opens her luggage to find that she has totally been robbed; designer sunglasses, purses, and shoes...GONE! Although you may not be physically able to pack all the designer/valuable/personal items into your carry on, perhaps you should reconsider if you need to bring it with you. Same with electronics and fine jewelry, which if you're going to a foreign country, you may not want to wear anything too fancy as too keep from drawing attention to yourself.