5 Packing Mistakes That Can Ruin a Trip and 5 Rules That I Swear By

Packing for a trip is about more than just remembering your adapters and chargers. Believe me. A lot can go wrong—like the time I somehow managed to pack only two pairs of pants for an entire month in Greece. Don’t ask me how that happened. Sure, there are the basic tips everyone knows (like shoes go in first, roll soft items, fold structured ones), but beyond that, there are a handful of simple strategies I’ve learned over the years as a travel editor who boards a flight every week.

Packing for a trip can feel like a delicate balancing act. Bring too little and you’ll be scrambling for essentials. Bring too much and you’re dragging around a suitcase twice your size. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s not just about what you pack. It’s how you pack. A few small mistakes can quickly turn a dream getaway into a stressful experience, from blisters and motion sickness to a suitcase that refuses to close. Below are the most common packing pitfalls I’ve seen my travel companions make and the pro tips I swear by to keep my trips smooth, organized, and stress-free.