On vacation, my alter egos get to roam free; I can be anyone I want! From someone who throws on tennis shoes and walks to the closest cafe every morning for coffee to the classy woman who always has the perfect little black dress with coordinating diamond jewelry for dinner. There’s no reason for me not to be my best self. But I’ve been on vacations where I actually cried and ruined my own day because I hated all the clothes I packed and wasted time and money going out and getting outfits that suited my vacation needs. I was disorganized and just threw a bunch of things into a suitcase. Before my next trip, I vowed to become someone who had her shit together and guaranteed herself an amazing time. Someone who had thoughtfully planned and curated her suitcase. I decided then that I would be a Pro vacationer. Here are 6 of my favorite tips that helped me Pack Like A Pro.

Check The Weather.

Before you even purchase your flights, check the weather! Packing like a pro means understanding what you’re getting into; I went to New York the last week of October, and although every other time I’ve gone during that same time period, it’s been perfect autumn crip weather. This time, however, it was humid and overcast and not jacket and scarf worthy. The Weather Channel is a great tool to use, they’re detailed, and the site is easy to use.

Plan Your Activities.

Plan the days and activities that you want to experience while you travel. Create a list of activities you want to do and a list of clothes or equipment needed. This list should include clothing for dining, events, experiences, and adventures. When I’m in Hawai’i, I like to hike, so I always bring comfy close-toed shoes and a large refillable water bottle. Some activities, like scuba diving, fishing, and skiing, might require special equipment. If possible, renting the equipment or booking all-inclusive experiences might be easier on the wallet than paying extra baggage or shipping fees. I like to look up deals on Groupon or similar sites to see if they offer discounts on what I need.

Pack in Advance.

Now, this is my favorite part. Ideally, I like to pack about 10 days in advance. This gives me time to research the looks I want to achieve, shop for, or order pieces that will match the style I’m going for, and try on my outfits to ensure they look good on my body and are comfortable. I occasionally take pics of the outfits I’ve put together so I can see how it looks on me when I’m on my trip without having to try them on again!

Coordinating Outfits.

Plan pieces that coordinate so you can mix and match throughout the trip. Two pairs of jeans, a few different tops, and different shoes and accessories can create multiple outfits as long as the color palettes work with each other. I’m a huge daily outfit planner depending on where I’m going and what the purpose of my trip is, but one thing that’s consistent is the number of undergarments I take. Usually, I’ll take 3-4 pairs of underwear/socks and 2 PJs. You can wash these items when you shower and wear them again throughout your trip. Check out, my free printable Daily Outfit Planner!

Don’t Overdo It With The Toiletries.

If you’re a frequent traveler, chances are you already know how many and which toiletries you’ll actually use. Most hotels offer certain amenities like body wash, lotion, and shampoo & conditioner. Although I don’t use them personally because I prefer my own (sensitive skin issues), but I know that those are the sizes that I need. A one-week trip to NorCal won’t require me to run through a full-size bottle of shampoo & conditioner or toothpaste. Travel size everything! Here is my Travel Checklist to ensure you have everything you need.

Organization is key.

The more organized you are, the easier your life will be! I love using packing cubes when traveling. I found mine on Amazon and have gotten a ton of use out of them! I use both the rolling and folding methods for packing and always put a dryer sheet in each cube or a scent satchel in the suitcase to keep my clothing fresh and smelling good. Here are the Packing Cubes that I use. Always label your bottles/containers and take a pic with the full size to make sure you remember what you have.