Happy Tuesday fashionistas! In one week, I will be heading off on my summer vacation woot woot! I am an avid over packer and I really am not a fan of this chore haha, therefore I wanted to save your brain and your suitcase and assist you with some packing tips! When the manager at my local Vera Bradley reached out to me about collaborating, I knew this would be a great time to share with you some of the amazing products they have to help you with your traveling needs!
*This post is in collaboration with Vera Bradley and these products were gifted for me to review, but all opinions expressed here are my own.
First thing first, is your carry-on luggage. This should really contain the items that you consider to be most essential and would need within the first 24 hours of your trip. Sometimes luggage gets delayed, or lost and you don’t want to be left stranded without your most needed items.
Here are few tips when packing your carry on:
- Make sure to pack all of your most valuable items in your carry-on, including jewelry, cameras, and designer bags.
- Pack a change of clothes (including underwear!) just in case your checked bag gets lost (knock on wood).
- For a beach vacation, make sure to pack a bathing suit and travel sunscreen, this way you aren’t forced to buy these items for a higher price when you reach your destination.
- Some other important items – chargers, meds, headphones, a book and anything you will need to be comfortable on the plane!
Here’s a quick look into my carry-on…on the right side, I pack my most valuable items including jewelry and a few pairs of my sandals. I use the Vera Bradley Travel Jewelry Organizer – inside it has two large and four small clear pockets, plus two additional elastic slip pockets, and one padded ring strap.
Other items I pack in my carry-on include:
- My Specter Wireless Headphones, so I can listen to music, or movies on the plane.
- My Canon T4i camera and my action camera, for taking blog photos and getting any fun video while traveling.
- Straw clutches and my Vera Bradley Straw Beach Tote.
- An extra bikini
- All of my sunglasses (This pair is my fave because they are prescription)
- A change of clothing (plus bra & underwear)
- Essential makeup & toiletries under 3 oz each
- Chargers for all of my equipment
- My iPad Mini and laptop
Bathrooms when you travel, are not always set up to easily set out all of your toiletries. This is where a Hanging Organizer comes in handy! I make sure to find travel size toiletries, or to get some small containers to put some of my favorite beauty and skin care products into, this frees up way more space and then you can also pack them into your carry on! Remember the TSA size items need to be 3 oz, or less.
Makeup is a whole other ball game as well! I only like to bring whats necessary when traveling, but that includes makeup and brushes!! The great thing about the Vera Bradley travel collection, is that they have different cosmetics cases based off of what you need. I picked the Large Blush & Brush Makeup Case, which has pockets to hold all of my makeup and spots for my brushes as well, this way I can keep everything together in one case.
I am so in love with this bright tropical pattern, which is perfect for summer!!
Moving onto checked baggage! I always attempt to pack way more than I should into my checked luggage… lately I have been weighing it ahead of time to make sure its under 50 lbs! When planning out my clothing for a trip, it really is a big help for me to create an excel spreadsheet. I create outfits by day and try to decide which pieces I can wear more than once and what accessories will go with the different outfits. Then I lay everything out on my bed to help me get a visual of the outfits and so that I don’t forget anything!
Since I always need to figure out ways to fit more clothing in my suitcase (already told you I had over packer problems haha) these awesome Vera Bradley Expandable Packing Cubes have been a god send. The Medium Cube is great for thin materials like tops and light weight dresses. The Large Cube is what you would use for thicker items like jeans, jackets, and heavier dresses. The best way to use these, are to unzip them completely and then roll all of your clothing and pack it tightly. Zip the cube closed and then zip the second zipper compressing all the clothing inside to at least half of the original size. This will really help you stay more organized and then you can use these to put the dirty clothing in during your trip. Here’s what I was able to fit inside the two packing cubes: 1 dress, 4 cover ups, 1 jeans, 1 skirt, 4 shorts, and 8 tops (plus there was still room for more).
- Lay out your outfits on your bed before you pack them so you can make sure you have everything
- If you’re packing purses/bags, fill them up! I like to put purses inside of purses to save space and help them keep their shape.
- Pack the majority of your toiletries & makeup in your checked luggage, because there is no size limit
- Use balled up tissue paper to help shoes keep their shape.
- Pack multiple swimsuits because you don’t want to have to wait around for one to dry.
- Also, do not pack delicate straw hats! I always carry mine onto the plane with me.
Such a great post and tips, thank you for sharing!
http://www.cecilfashion.com
Those bags are so fun and colourful
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
How fun and thanks for the amazing giveaway. Good luck to all. The bags are so adorable. x
FASHION TALES
I love that straw tote from VB! How cute is that!
Beautiful set! I love the pattern and color of the Vera Bradley Set! I also always put all my valuables on my carry-on, cannot be too careful! Loved reading about your tips!
-Brandi Kimberly
http://www.cutebrandik.com
Such fun prints! Perfect for summer!
Sam
http://www.lifeandmessyhair.com/
These are all great tips! Will have to keep these in mind the next time I am traveling!
xo Rachel | http://www.thesassroom.com
I love this print! I always travel with Vera!
Thank you babe!!
Oh awesome!! I’m glad you love their products!!
Awesome Rachel!!
Yes totally girl!! <3
Awesome Brandi!! That’s the best way to protect those valuables.
Thank you Liz, I love the pineapple on it!!
Hey love make sure to call and enter 😉
Thank you Laura!!
Your traveling tips are so helpful! I need a set of these beautiful bags to carry my important goodies! I love the color and print too!
xo Debbie | http://www.tothineownstylebetrue.com
Thank you Debbie!! These bags are great to keep organized!!
You are a total lifesaver for posting this! I HATE packing. It’s such a major headache lol. Then I end up packing way more than I need and I am SO unorganized. And omg – the designs on these bags are amazing and so fun! Perfect for summer! Have fun on your vacay babe!
xo, Hales | http://www.sincerelyhales.com
Personally I am not a fan of their patterns and the quilted look. HOWEVER, I really really really like that they have the different sized make up holders. I may have to look in to them. Also, I too am an over packer and the sink counters can NEVER hold all of my make up, curling iron and straightener (because I’m just as indecisive about how to do my hair every day as I am what I am wearing) and blow dryer….does any one really think that tiny blow dryer is going to do anything!?
Agreed girl!!! I wasn’t a fan of the patterns and quilted look, but I did love this set for summer. I am a big over packer and totally have to bring all three hair tools every time hahaha!!
I’m so glad I could help girl!! Thank you!! 🙂
Love Vera Bradley!
Great tips love, I use a lot of the same process when traveling as well. I use a packing checklist (thats regenerated vice the excel spreadsheet and it’s pretty helpful. I also use packing cubes (different ones of course) It just makes life easier. I don’t use them for every trip though, only for extended ones. I’m looking forward to hearing the deets about your vacation. I love the pineapple luggage tag… it’s super cute and super you. xo
Thank you love!! I would love to see your excel for packing perhaps I can make mine better!! Xoxo
love seeing all their bags! I would totally enter but I’m not even in the state so wouldn’t be able to drive and pick it up 😉
You can totally enter Darla!! They can either ship it to you if you win, or you could get the items from your local Vera Bradley!
Xoxo
GREAT tips! I love my Vera Bradley jewelry travel bag. I got it about a year ago, and it has saved my life! Well… maybe not my life, but my jewelry doesn’t get tangled en route anymore. I’ll have to try the packing cubes, those look like they’d help me out a lot! http://www.wanderingthespian.com
Awesome I’m glad you love their products!! These items for packing were amazing on my trip!!