Unnecessary Luggage for Summer Vacation

Who hasn't experienced this? You pack so much for vacation, and in the end, you only use half of it. In my travel magazine, you'll find out what you can safely leave at home this summer!

Every year it's the same: Summer vacation is around the corner, and the suitcase needs to be packed. For many of you, this means that 30 outfits, 5 pairs of shoes, and half of the bathroom cabinet end up in the suitcase - 55 lbs for a week is not uncommon. But wait! To be honest, you always take too much, and sometimes there are items in your suitcase that you don't need at all. That ends here, as I will reveal what you can and should confidently leave at home!

Healthy individuals don't really need many medications while on vacation. So why do you often pack 100 ibuprofen, 50 Imodium, throat lozenges, wound and burn ointment, and Voltaren pain gel? Unless you're traveling to a remote village in Africa, let me assure you that there are pharmacies almost everywhere where you can buy anything you need in case of emergency. So just bring what you really need. Tip: My travel medicine checklist will help you pack only the essential and most sensible medications.

Guru tip:

In my travel magazine, there's a practical packing list for vacation. This way, you always pack the essentials and forget nothing!

Nowadays, most hotel rooms have a hairdryer in the bathroom. If not, you can always ask at the reception. They usually have hairdryers available for borrowing.

Even better: Your hair dries quickly in the warm summer air, and this method is guaranteed to be much healthier than hot air from a dryer. Even if it's a small travel hairdryer... it's best to leave it at home and save the extra weight for beautiful souvenirs and clothes! The same goes for flat irons and curling wands, as the beauty of vacation is that you can simply relax without worrying about your hair all day.

We all know this point, right? We can't decide on clothing and just pack all the T-shirts, tops, pants, and dresses we've hoarded in our closets. On vacation, we realize that half of the clothing would have been more than enough and that we overpacked once again. Therefore, my tip: Lay out your favorite outfits when packing your suitcase and take only those plus two or three additional tops! Three to four complete outfits are usually enough for a week, as most of the time we are lying on the beach in our bikinis, swim shorts, and summer dresses. Who needs two pairs of jeans, a leather jacket, three belts, and more? Also, limit your swimwear selection to two or three bikinis or swimsuits. They can be easily washed, dried, and worn again.

Flip flops, sandals, high heels, wedges, hiking shoes, running shoes, and all of it in double quantities - no traveler really needs this! You're going on vacation, not relocating. A pair of flip flops for the pool and beach, a pair of lightweight sandals, and a pair of closed shoes, like sneakers, are sufficient to be prepared for all eventualities and excursions. In an 'emergency', you can always buy a nice pair of sandals at your vacation destination. That way, you get a souvenir that reminds you of your vacation.

Limit yourself to the essentials and don't take your entire range of personal care items and makeup with you on vacation! In classic summer vacation destinations, it's usually too warm for heavy makeup and oily creams that will be washed off in the water anyways. It's important to have a good sunscreen, a nourishing after-sun body lotion, and a strong conditioner for your stressed hair to care for your body after (sun) bathing. Shampoos and soaps are usually available in hotels. Tip: Buy travel-sized products or transfer them into small containers so you don't have to lug around large bottles and jars.

Multiple handbags, hats and sunglasses, way too much jewelry, three books, five magazines, a tablet, a laptop, headphones, an MP3 player, a camera, charging cables, a power bank - all this stuff seems to fly around in the suitcase of many of us.

Make your life easier and leave some of it at home or be smarter with it. Instead of magazines and thick books, pack a thin Kindle, and your smartphone can replace your camera, MP3 player, and tablet. You really don't need every tech gadget on vacation! ;-) A charging cable can usually be used to charge multiple devices, and to be honest, one pair of sunglasses with a matching handbag is also completely sufficient! In this case, less is definitely more!

I hope I was able to help you with packing for your next trip. Or have you already developed your own strategy? What must come with you on every vacation, and what can be confidently left at home? I look forward to your ideas!

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