10 things you definitely don't need to pack for your next trip
Whether you're leaving for a midweek business trip or channeling your inner Clark Griswold on a European vacation (Big Ben! Parliament!), you probably keep a running list of things to pack, checking and rechecking it before you zip your suitcase for the last time. But it's just as important to know what not to pack. I pride myself on being a light, efficient packer (and I also pride myself in feeling good about stupid things) and I have learned that leaving certain items behind can save time, space and possibly a few mishaps. So here goes, ten things that you don't need:
1. Full-sized toiletries: If you're thinking about putting these in your carry-on and sneaking them past security, don't. Everyone in line will hate you when the agent has to stop the line, open your bag and ask if that's really your bottle of DoucheLord Self Tanner. And you'll hate yourself when you have to decide whether to chuck your expensive hair gel or go back to the ticketing desk to check your bag. If you do check a suitcase, full-sized bottles of shampoo, lotion or sunscreen are still tricky. They're heavy and can spill or get squeezed open between your house and your hotel. Travel-sized bottles (or even the refillable kind) are the way to go, especially because you can sequester them all in a spill-proof Ziploc bag.
2. Jewelry: As a rule, don't pack anything that can't be replaced or that would derail the trip if you lost it somehow. This doesn't mean you have to go accessory free: a statement necklace or earrings can change the look of an outfit enough that you won't have to pack another day's worth of clothing, but we're talking some bold costume jewelry, not something that the Smithsonian would display beside the Hope Diamond.
3. Your laptop: If you're taking an iPad or tablet, you don't need both, especially not when you can pair that tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard and other accessories that enhance its functionality. It's much easier to pack and can also serve as an eReader, which means you won't have to lug the next two things around either.
4. Books: Don't tell LeVar Burton, but books are heavy and take up space in even the biggest backpack. I know that there's something more pleasant about feeling a book in your hand while you turn – and dog-ear– its actual pages, but you can get by with an eReader just this once. Plus, you'll have extra room if you find something cool in a Brooklyn secondhand bookstore or a book of Icelandic Love Spells in the gift shop of a Reykjavik museum (plus, you'll have space for the ravens' claws that you'll need to properly cast those spells anyway).
5. Guidebooks: You could stand on a corner holding a cardboard sign that says "WE'RE NOT FROM AROUND HERE" or you could just carry that guidebook around instead. Again, guidebooks are heavy and you don't need to consult all 482 pages during your three-day stop in Dublin. So scan or make copies of the relevant pages or make a list of the attractions, restaurants, etc. that you'd most like to see. Trying to prioritize that way can help you plan an itinerary, even if it's just a list of things you don't want to miss. I always download guidebooks onto my iPad and then take screenshots of the pages that interest me, so they're easy to find in the Photo Library instead of somewhere in another app.
6. A hairdryer: Put that back in the drawer, Donald Trump. Most hotels have them in the rooms or you can contact the front desk and see if there's one you can use during your stay. If you're Airbnb'ing it, contact your host to see if there's a hairdryer for you to use.
7. A Camera and accessories: On my last few trips, I realized that even though I carried a camera in my backpack, I kept taking pictures with my phone. It was always in my pocket and more easily accessible and with so many great photo apps and accessories, I still got the shots that I wanted. Plus, sometimes when you're armed with a camera, you're so busy looking for the right photo or light or angle that you miss everything else.
8. More than two pairs of jeans: I'm not a fashion snob (right now, I'm wearing a B-52s t-shirt and a thin layer of Pop Tart crumbs), but jeans are bulky and they don't pack well, whether you fold them or roll them. They're also a glorious garment that you can wear several times without a wash, so you don't need a pair for every day.
9. A full set of keys: There's no reason you need to take your post office box key and the key to your parents' garage with you to Berlin. Take your car key or your own house key (depending on how you got to the airport), secure it inside your carry-on and leave the rest of them behind.
10. Gear for Things You Might Do: Some people treat traveling like it's a weeklong New Year's Resolution. If you don't get up and work out every morning at home, you're not going to do it when you're jetlagged and tired or at the expense of seeing the things you're traveling for. Leave yourself open to new experiences, (yes, my sister and I didn't expect to run a 10K in London on a random summer Saturday) but don't pack running shoes, a tennis racquet, Hilary Mantel historical fiction or anything else that will make you feel bad or guilty if you just leave it in the suitcase for the whole trip.
Now put that bottle of self tanner back in the cabinet and finish packing. You've got to be at the airport in an hour.