The challenge in packing for a trip is not only finding room for all your clothes but also fitting your shoes and toiletries. This is no easy feat! At least not for me. I’m not sure why but I think it has something to do with wanting to bring my whole bathroom with me. By the time I’ve packed my shoes and clothes, I barely have any room for another pair of socks to fit and I still need to fit the contents of my bathroom in my suitcase. I end up sitting on my suitcase hoping to be able to squish it all down enough to make room for all my face and hair supplies. It never ends well and I most always break down and grab another bag to check. Does this sound familiar to you? I hope I’m not the only one that does this! Ha ha!
So, my challenge for my upcoming Costa Rica trip is to fit EVERYTHING in a carry-on suitcase. I will have to be super organized and that’s not always my best attribute. I’m a total last minute packer. Not this time! I’m 6 days out, plenty of time to plan and pack!
If there is one destination I can make this work, it’s definitely Tamarindo. It’s so casual that I will basically wear flip flops every day and at night, just a nicer pair of flip flops that have a bit of a wedge.
I found this packing rule online and I’m going to give it a try, someone called it the 5/4/3/2/1 rule and it works for packing for a week.
- 5 socks/5 underwear
- 4 tops
- 3 PJ sets/3 shorts
- 2 shoes/2 dresses/2 bikinis/2 bras
- 1 skirt/1 hat/1 cardigan
Normal life: wears the same top every day for a week.
Packing for a 3 day vacation: I’ll probably change a few times a day so I’ll take 21 tops.
@boldtuesday
I found this funny quote online and was laughing because it is so true. That is exactly how I used to pack and I would come home with a suitcase full of clothes I had barely touched.
I have to say, this packing rule really helped me pack for my trip. I color coordinated all my items, mostly it was black, grey and white so all the shirts coordinated with the skirt and shorts. I was able to fit all my clothes, shoes, and toiletries in my carry-on. This is a first for me. And to boot, I didn’t have to jump on my suitcase to make it all fit.
Do you have any packing rules you would like to share? Have you tried the 5/4/3/2/1 rule? Has it worked for you? What challenges do you have when traveling and packing for a week? I would love to hear from you!
