Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

Leading Etiquette Expert and Modern Manners Authority Diane Gottsman’s official blog, with Business Etiquette, University Etiquette, Social Media Etiquette, Dining Etiquette and more.

Travel Etiquette: How to Pack Smart

26 Feb 2018 By: Diane Gottsman

With Spring Break right around the corner, images of white sand and suntan lotion are likely top of the brain.

Items to leave behind for Spring Break

 

Packing for a trip is often one of the most difficult parts of the excursion. According to an article in the Daily Mail, most women over pack while men wear ninety percent of their clothes. If you find yourself suddenly sitting on your suitcase, trying desperately to get it zipped, start taking out the following items … you will be less stressed and won’t have to pay extra fees for heavy luggage.

A Daily Outfit Change

Multiple jeans, sweaters, blazers and a variety of shoes create the most bulk in your suitcase. Think through your plans and double up on wearing the same outfit multiple times. For example, if you are going out to dinner at several different restaurants, wearing your silk top, breezy slacks and sandals can be worn again… several times. Pack a Tide Pen in your suitcase for an unexpected spill or stain. Toss a couple of swimsuits, shorts, and a few mix-and-match tops in your suitcase and you are ready for a week of fun. Choose neutral colors to give yourself a variety of outfit options.

Warning for guys: One pair of jeans is NOT enough for a week-long vacation. When men boast they can pack a month’s worth of clothes in a small duffel, the jeans need to be washed during your stay. The wrinkles behind the knees and the baggy seat are signs of wear and grime.

Impractical  Shoes

Nothing is a bigger vacation buzzkill than silently suffering in an uncomfortable pair of shoes. When a must-have high heel can’t be worn for longer than a few minutes, leave them at home. Limit yourself to two or three versatile pairs of shoes to include flats, sandals and tennis shoes. Wear the bulkiest ones on the plane to save additional space.

Full Size Hair Products

While the threat of frizz at the beach might be enough to make you cringe, lugging around big bulky bottles will add to the weight of your bag, leaving you with less room for essentials. Invest in a travel sized bottle of one of your favorite styling products and ask for samples of your other favorite products. If you are staying at a nice hotel, you will be offered complimentary toiletries which are probably better quality than your own.

Multiple Devices

What good is a vacation if you spend the entire time distracted by your technology? Unless you’re packing for a business trip, you can probably survive with just your cell phone in your tote. If other devices are a must, choose wisely. Limit yourself to a total of two – cell and iPad or laptop. Don’t forget your charger and an extra power source.

Your Entire Beauty Regimen

It might be a temptation to bring all 6 of your skin-care products with you on your trip, but adding them on top of an already-full makeup bag can take up quite a bit of space in your suitcase. Only bring products that are most important: serum, cleanser and lip balm. Buy the sunscreen when you get to the beach – at a drug store rather than the gift shop. Multi-use products or product combos also prove to be huge space-savers. Find a tinted moisturizer with SPF protection or a lip and cheek tint duo.

Sheets, Towels and Pillows

Taking your own linens is simply not practical unless it’s required. If you are concerned about the comfort or cleanliness of your lodging, you may want to seriously consider finding an alternate place to stay.

Hairdryer

Leave it at home. Most hotels provide a hairdryer in your room. While it might not be as sleek as your efficient and pricey Dyson, it will get the job done for a few short days. You may want to invest in a dry shampoo to get you through a day or two.

Valuables

Not just expensive jewelry, but gift cards, gas cards, credit cards you won’t use, important receipts or anything you don’t plan to use on the trip should stay at home. Limit yourself to two credit cards, have plenty of cash for tipping and remember to let your credit card company know you are traveling so they don’t flag your purchase as fraud.

Pack smart and don’t forget to bring:

  • Dramamine for the plane, train, boat and helicopter
  • Earbuds so you don’t have to talk to a chatty airline neighbor
  • Travel size disinfectant wipes – use them often
  • Inexpensive flip-flops (multiple uses from the beach to a questionable shower)
  • Sunglasses (cheap ones)
  • A scarf (for a chilly flight, stylish accessory and bathing suit cover up)

Diane shares her Spring Break packing tips with the Good Day Austin team:

For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, you may enjoy Diane’s Travel Checklist Printable. Read her posts on Inc., and HuffPost, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Diane’s latest book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life is available on Amazon.

Signature

Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.