12 Things You Should Never Pack

You might not need every item in your bag to take with you on vacation. Reduce your luggage weight by removing unnecessary items. Here are 12 items you can cross off your packing list, including hairdryers and cosmetics, as well as magazines and makeup bags.

Books, magazines

While we don’t recommend that you avoid reading on vacation, it is a good idea to have a book handy. If you have a Kindle or tablet, you can save space and leave the magazines and paperback books at home. Thanks to their lightweight and compact size, you can load more reading material on your electronic devices than you could need.

A new outfit for everyday

Although we all love having options, almost everyone doesn’t need a completely new outfit every day. This is a great way to run out of space in your luggage quickly, and you’ll probably end up with half of what you brought.

Most people can bring three tops and three bottoms for all trips except the longest. They can also be worn together. You don’t have to worry about running out of clean clothes.

Excessive denim

Because it is versatile, durable, and can hide stains well, denim is great for traveling. However, denim is heavy and takes up much space even when folded tight.

You can pack your favorite jeans but only one or two pairs. Mix lightweight bottoms such as cotton or linen pants, jeggings or performance fabrics with khakis.

Toiletries

Don’t bring your entire bag of toiletries. Instead, make use of the complimentary stuff available at your hotel.

Although most properties have shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion in their stock, that does not mean they have everything. Many hotels have supplies of toothpaste, deodorant and mouthwash. It is important to ask for it.

Your makeup bag

You don’t likely use all the items in your makeup bag often, so why keep them all?

Could you keep it simple? Use only the products that you use every day. You should limit your use to only a concealer, blush, bronzer, eyeliner pencils, mascara, and minimal eyeshadow. You can also consider these makeup kits that include a range of cosmetics in a single travel-sized palette.

Products and tools for hair styling

You can leave your curling iron, straightener and hair product bottles at home. They take up so much space in your luggage that you will have to unpack them all.

Many hotels have hairdryers in their rooms. Some properties even offer hair straighteners. To avoid overpacking, confirm this information with the hotel before you leave.

If your hotel does not offer styling tools, you can invest in travel-size options or do without. It’s temporary.

More than 2 devices

A smartphone is sufficient unless you are traveling for business. If you consider adding other devices, such as an iPad or tablet, laptop, or Kindle, limit your packing to just one. This is because gadget overload can lead to poor vacations. You may find yourself distracted by your gadgets or don’t use most of the stuff you pack. You can save your vacation time and your packing space by making wise choices.

Expensive accessories

While you might appear like a fashion icon, don’t pack the most expensive jewelry, purses, or watches. You’ll be a target for pickpockets if you travel with valuables. Smaller accessories could also be lost or left behind.

Food

You can bring snacks for the plane, but you shouldn’t have too many.

You can save money by buying some staples such as milk, coffee, and cereal when you get there. It would help if you didn’t skip the local delights while saving money. Isn’t food an important part of the vacation experience, after all?

Towels and sheets

If you are not camping, don’t bring your towels and sheets. Almost all hotels, hostels, or vacation rentals provide them. If yours doesn’t, it is a sign you need to find another place.

Comfortable, practical shoes

It’s worse than going on vacation in the wrong shoes. So make sure you choose carefully.

Any footwear that isn’t comfortable, such as high heels or ballet flats, should be thrown out.

You should only bring two to three of your most versatile and comfortable shoes. Try to pack one pair of walking shoes and two to three pairs of supportive shoes that you can dress up or down.

This ‘just in time’ gear

Avoid packing for things that are unlikely to occur. You don’t have to bring rain gear if your destination is dry. Or a winter coat if it’s the tropics. The same goes for any other activities you may be involved in. Don’t take hiking boots if you’re not a hiker. Make realistic plans to avoid overpacking.