PACKING TIPS: HOW TO AVOID A NERVE-WRACKING SITUATION
Travelling is probably the way to make the best experience of your life. And we are all longing it. But there is one thing that we forget: the moment before departing! You know that nerve-wracking period where you are scared to forget something and don't know where to beginning. Pressure!
So as I am going abroad soon, I thought it would be a good idea to give you tips about preparing and packing - if there is one thing I mastered overtime it is that one! Being ready to travel is all about organization. Yes! O.R.G.A.N.I.Z.A.T.I.O.N.
Obviously the amount of preparation depends on how long you will be away. There is a huge difference between a nice weekend and spending 6 months abroad. However - yes my darling, there is a however -, the steps of preparation are quite the same. Just remember to start it a little longer before, like a week before, if you will be away for a long time!
PREPARING & PACKING STEP-BY-STEP
#1 - Create a to-do-list: Write down every tasks you have to complete before leaving, even the most stupid one - yes shampoo and manucure are essential tasks!
#2 - Buy medicines and hygienic care: As it is always better to have your own stuff than buying unknown ones in a foreign country. Prepare a small first-aid kit gathering the medicine and hygienic care you need. It can range from sun cream and insect repellent to disinfectant. You know better than me what you need.
#3 - Take everything you want out of your closet: Obviously you won't take everything for your trip, but you will be able to have clear overview of your possibilities.
#4 - Try them on!: I know we all tend to go for the lazy option, which consist in putting clothes directly in the suitcase. Trust me when I say it is probably the best way to end up with stuffs you don't want to wear or - worst - don't fit once arrived on your vacation spot!
#5 - The suitcase matters: Make sure you take a suitcase of the right size. It should be adapted to how long your trip will be and to the activities your going to do. Will you stay at only one spot or will you switch several times? Will you backpack?
#6 - Time to pack: After select the right suitcase and tried your clothes, you are now all set to pack! My advice: go from the essential - do forget the undies! - to the superficial - who cares if you forget your mascara?-, this way you'll be sure you have everything you need! Do not forget to add a small bag you can use as carry-on on your way back home and where you will put what you may have bought and don't fit in your suitcase.
#7 - Do not forget your padlock: I know some of you may think that suitcase padlock are useless, as if people want to rob you they just have to cut the zip. First, I do not agree but everyone has its own point of view. Secondly, it matters for your insurance. Usually in insurance policies, if you want to reimburse of a robbery, you have to prove that their was a padlock on the suitcase! You can also make a list of every single thing inside of the suitcase to have an accurate overview of what's inside.
#8 - Prepare your handbag or carry-on baggage: All your valuables - affective and expensive one, such as jewels - and what you need during your travel - paperwork, currencies, and so on! - should be in your handbag. It doesn't need to be large as it should contain only essentials and useful things.
#9 - Do not forget your passeport and paperwork!
#10 - Have fun and enjoy your trip.
#DETAILSMATTER
Take care of the paperwork!: This post has been written assuming that you dealt with the paperwork required for the destination you're going to. For example, you might need a visa, fulfill declarations or even do some particular vaccinations. Those things are super time consuming! So do not joke with it. It should always be handled way before the packing and preparation process discussed above.
Check your insurance and your assistance service: This is the not-so-funny part of travelling. You are exposed to risks: accident, sickness, robbery, currency issues. Trust me, I have been in some of these situations and I have always been glad to know I was insured and to know who to call for help! People often neglect this part of a trip and because of that it turns really into a disaster. When going on a road trip, you need to make sure you are insured yourself, but also that the car and the people with you are too. This is essential, guys, DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH THAT! I am not being bossy, I am just trying to warn you that sometimes unpredicted things happen and the fact you are a very careful individual won't change anything.
(Photo credit: 4am Journal)