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What NOT to Pack and Why

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Millions of people travel to different states and countries every year, and it’s not hard to see why. Traveling can open you up to new experiences, allowing you to form memories like none other. Traveling can also be extremely relaxing and allow you to get away from the stresses of life, as long as you plan and prepare for your trip accordingly. One of the biggest parts of planning for an upcoming trip is packing the right contents. There are certain things that you just shouldn’t pack while traveling, regardless of whether you’re simply traveling to Ohio to look at Columbus houses for sale or are traveling out of the country. Certain things are just simply too cumbersome or could create some unwanted scenarios. Here’s what not to pack and why. 

Food

Many people try to pack food and snacks in their luggage in order to lower food costs while traveling, but it doesn’t always work out as intended. The food often either goes bad or gets crushed in the luggage, rendering the whole idea completely pointless. In addition, it doesn’t really save that much money, as the most you’re going to be able to fit are a few snacks. It simply just isn’t worth the effort to try and pack something like food into your luggage, especially when you can buy snacks almost anywhere on your travels. 

Expensive Clothing or Jewelry

Everyone wants to look extremely nice on their trips in order to show off on social media. As a result, people think that they need to pack their most expensive outfits in order to get the best pictures for Instagram. However, this is not exactly a smart idea. There are so many opportunities for expensive clothing and jewelry to be stolen while traveling, that packing it isn’t even worth the risk. In addition, you shouldn’t even be focusing on trying to look as good as possible for social media in the first place. You should instead be focusing on the unbelievable experiences and packing comfortable clothes that will enhance those experiences.

Sheets and Towels

When packing for a destination, one of the most pointless things that you can pack is sheets and towels. Almost every single place that offers lodging will also offer complimentary towels and sheets. While these towels and sheets may not always be up to par with what you’re used to, they certainly can get the job done. The problem with packing sheets and towels is that they take up a ton of space in your luggage, and will likely offer only a minimal upgrade in terms of quality and comfort. As a result, there’s almost no point at all in packing towels and sheets, and the luggage space is best used for other things. 

Excessive Makeup or Hair Products

Packing excessive makeup or hair products is another common mistake that people make when packing. As mentioned before, people tend to be too preoccupied with showing off and looking nice on their trips rather than just simply enjoying the experience. While there certainly is less risk of these beauty products being stolen, they certainly will take up a lot of space. While this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pack any beauty products, you definitely shouldn’t be packing your entire makeup kit when traveling. 

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About Jamie

JamieJamie Larounis is an avid traveler, blogger and miles/points educator. Traveling well over 100,000 miles a year and staying in hotels for over 100 nights, he leverages miles, points and other deals to fly in first class cabins, and stay in 5-star hotels. The Forward Cabin shares his experiences, musings, reviews, tips, tricks, resources and industry news with you, the fellow traveler. [Learn more about Jamie...]

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