I used to overpack. Embarrassingly so — a large checked bag for a ten-day trip, half of which came home unworn. The turning point was missing a connection because I had to check my bag, spending forty-five minutes at baggage reclaim, and then discovering that the airline had sent my suitcase to a different city. After that trip I committed to carry-on only, and I have not checked a bag in seven years.
Here is what I have learned about packing well.
The Fundamental Rule: Pack Half of What You Think You Need
This sounds extreme until you realise that most people wear the same three or four outfits on a two-week trip regardless of how many they brought. The clothes you pack “just in case” almost never get used. The formal outfit you bring for the dinner that might happen usually does not get worn. Be ruthless at the packing stage and you will be grateful every time you lift your bag.
The practical limit for carry-on only travel — on most airlines, a bag of roughly 55x40x20cm — forces a useful discipline. You simply cannot bring everything, so you have to choose, and choosing forces you to be honest about what you actually need versus what you might theoretically want.
Clothing: The Capsule Approach
A capsule wardrobe for travel means choosing items that work together in multiple combinations — a neutral colour palette where everything coordinates, so that five tops and three bottoms give you fifteen outfit combinations rather than five. Merino wool is the single best travel fabric I have found: it is temperature-regulating, odour-resistant (it can be worn multiple days before washing), quick-drying, and packs down small. It is expensive but worth it.
My standard packing list for a two-week trip in a warm climate:
- 3 t-shirts (2 merino, 1 regular)
- 1 long-sleeve shirt (doubles as light layer)
- 2 pairs of trousers (one smart enough for restaurants)
- 1 pair of shorts
- 3 pairs of socks and underwear (merino where possible)
- 1 lightweight jacket or packable down vest
- 1 pair of versatile shoes (walking shoe that looks reasonable for dinner)
- 1 pair of flip flops or sandals
Toiletries: Go Small and Decant
Full-size toiletries are heavy and take up disproportionate space. Decant everything into small reusable bottles — 50-100ml per item is sufficient for most trips — and buy anything that runs out locally. Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and sunscreen are available everywhere in the world. The only toiletry I always carry in full size is sunscreen with a high SPF, because the local versions in many countries are weaker than I want.
Solid toiletries — shampoo bars, conditioner bars, solid soap — are excellent for travel: they are not subject to liquid restrictions, they last longer than their liquid equivalents and they weigh almost nothing.
Tech and Cables: The Area Where Most Travellers Overpack
Most travellers bring more tech cables and chargers than they use. Audit ruthlessly: a universal travel adapter, a single multi-port USB charger (which charges everything from one plug), and a short cable for each device. A portable battery pack is worth the weight for long travel days. Everything else — extra cables, multiple adapters, that spare charger “just in case” — can almost certainly be left at home.
Packing Organisation: Cubes Change Everything
Packing cubes — fabric compression pouches that organise your bag into sections — sound like a minor convenience and turn out to be genuinely transformative. I use three: one for clothing, one for underwear and socks, one for miscellaneous items. Everything has a place; finding anything takes seconds; repacking after a move takes five minutes. I cannot overstate how much they improve the experience of living out of a bag.
The Master Packing List
Documents: passport, travel insurance details, booking confirmations (photos on phone and email), emergency contacts.
Money: local currency for arrival, cards (ideally one with no foreign transaction fees), small amount of backup cash in a currency that exchanges everywhere.
Health: any prescription medication (with prescription, in original packaging), basic first aid kit (plasters, antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen, rehydration sachets), insect repellent for tropical destinations.
Tech: phone, laptop if needed, universal adapter, multi-port charger, portable battery, earphones, e-reader.
Heading somewhere specific? Read our packing-relevant destination guides for Koh Tao, Tanjung Puting and Africa safari — each has specific gear requirements worth knowing in advance.
Route, budget and verification notes
Last editorial review: 1 August 2026. Recheck time-sensitive details shortly before travel.
Build the route
- The Fundamental Rule: Pack Half of What You Think You Need
- Clothing: The Capsule Approach
- Toiletries: Go Small and Decant
- Tech and Cables: The Area Where Most Travellers Overpack
Use these sections as planning anchors rather than a fixed schedule. Confirm door-to-door transfer times, opening days and reservation requirements, then add recovery time after long journeys.
Budget before booking
Price the trip in four separate groups: accommodation, transport, food and paid activities. Add local transfers, baggage fees, taxes, insurance and a contingency amount. Exact prices vary by season and booking date, so this guide does not invent a single daily figure that may already be outdated.
Sources to verify
- IATA Travel Centre for official or primary travel information.
- IATA Travel Centre for passport, visa and health-document checks.
