How To Travel Like A Minimalist: 10 Essential Tips

Is it just me, or do trips and vacations always seem to flash by in the blink of an eye? One day, you are standing at the airport, excited to board your outbound flight, the next, you are back at home sorting through laundry and already dreaming up your next adventure.

What if there was a way for you to travel more while also saving time, money, and energy-leading to better, more fulfilling travel experiences? And what if the key to achieving this was minimalism?

Minimalism is a movement of ever-increasing popularity that is all about simplifying your life. It is a movement focused on living more while owning less, a practice which has been adopted and used by many a backpacker looking to get out and explore the world on a budget.

That being said, minimalist travel doesn’t just have to be for backpackers. There are many other reasons to apply the principles of minimalism to your travels.

By bringing less with you on your next trip, there are many things you will have more of. You’ll have more money by saving on ever-increasing airline luggage fees. You’ll have more time by spending fewer hours shopping, packing, and lugging around extra baggage. You’ll have more energy since you won’t have to carry around heavy bags or pack and unpack unnecessary or excess items. You’ll be able to focus more on your adventures and experiences, and with the money saved by packing less, you’ll actually be able to afford to travel more.

To help you start on your journey to traveling like a minimalist, I’ve partnered with Above The Fray to bring you this list of 10 essential tips for traveling like a minimalist! 

 

1. Forget luggage and checked bags

The easiest way to begin traveling like a minimalist is to eliminate checking bags whenever possible. Unless I am preparing for an international move, I always travel carry on only, regardless of if I am traveling for 3 days or 3 weeks. Not only does this help me avoid paying expensive checked bag fees, but packing a bag with a limited amount of space prevents me from overpacking. If you already travel carry-on only, consider challenging yourself by only packing 1 backpack!

 

2. Write a packing list (and check it twice)

A good practice before any trip is to write out a detailed packing list. A packing list will help you stay on track and avoid adding any unnecessary items to your bag. It will also prevent you from forgetting any necessary items. Once you have this list written down, go through it again, this time eliminating any items that you “might” need or are bringing “just in case” and only keep the essentials. Pro tip: keep this list saved for future reference-when you return from your trip, eliminate any items you didn’t use, so you remember not to pack them again!

 

3. Slim down your wallet and electronics

I don’t know about you, but my wallet easily gets cluttered with old receipts, used coffee punch cards, and other miscellaneous items. Before your next trip, empty your wallet of everything but the essentials-your traveling credit card, IDs, cash. You should also consider consolidating your electronics. If you can, leave the laptop at home and go mobile or tablet only. Once you’ve cleared out your wallet and consolidated your electronics, be sure to keep everything safe and organized.

I am currently loving my minimalist design tile wallet from  Above The Fray. It is much smaller than the wallet I previously owned, and I even sometimes use it to keep my jewelry safe and handy while on the road. I am also loving Above The Fray’s minimalist leather MacBook sleeves and cable organizers. The slim design means they will protect your things without adding any bulk to your bag.

 

4. Go paperless

Another great way to keep things minimal is to go paperless! Instead of printing everything out, make sure you have all your bookings, confirmations, itinerary, and other travel documents saved somewhere you can access. I even make sure to have a copy of my passport saved on my phone, or via e-mail or google docs so that I can access it in the case of emergency. You’ll have so much peace of mind knowing that you can easily access all your documents in one place.That being said, if you are heading somewhere more remote or without plugs or internet access, it might be helpful to have a couple copies of essential information tucked away.

 

5. Do your research and plan an itinerary

One of the easiest ways to eliminate packing excess items is by being prepared and having an itinerary. If you know what sort of weather you are in for and what activities you’ll be doing, it is a lot easier to pack. After all, there is no need to bring those heavy hiking boots if you won’t be doing much hiking, and you can skip the heavy raincoat if the weather might just require a light poncho.

 

6. Carefully select your clothing

There are many ways to cut down on clothing when traveling. Here are some easy ways to trim down your travel wardrobe:

• Pack clothes that mix and match well.
• Don’t pack items you rarely wear at home-you probably won’t wear it on a trip either.
• Avoid shopping specifically for a trip. Chances are you already own nearly everything you need.
• Think layers! One of the easiest ways to quickly adapt your travel wardrobe is by layering up.
• Bring only what you need, not just things you “want”
• Pack light and avoid heavier fabrics that take up more space.
• Bring clothing that travels well and doesn’t wrinkle. I certainly don’t enjoy ironing while on the road, so I rarely wear anything I pack that gets wrinkled easily.

7. Cut down on toiletries

Cutting down on toiletries doesn’t mean that you have to run around smelling with unwashed hair! There are many simple ways to cut down on the number of toiletries you bring while still maintaining your hygiene:

• Narrow down your essentials and pack those first.
• Reduce your makeup bag. If you decide to bring makeup, only bring the products you use on a daily basis. Consider packaging these in smaller sizes or bringing samples along to use.
• Purchase shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and other liquids once you arrive. Unless you are attached to a particular brand, buying liquids on site is an easy way to lighten your load (plus they won’t spill all over your luggage). Just be sure to allow extra room.
• Bring sample sizes-mini shampoo and conditioner bottles, travel size toothpaste, and smaller versions of necessary toiletries.

8. Skip the souvenirs

This one may be hard, but after years of traveling, I have practically stopped purchasing souvenirs altogether. Instead of souvenirs, I take lots (and lots and lots) of photos. If skipping out on souvenirs isn’t an option and you don’t have much room in your bag, consider shipping any goods your purchase home. Another great idea is to purchase souvenirs that travel well. Instead of attempting to transport a breakable porcelain plate, consider tucking away a small original painting.

 

9. Donate or toss what you aren’t using

If you are traveling for a longer period of time, be sure to re-evaluate the items you are carrying with you. If there are things you aren’t using or wearing, simply toss them out (or better yet, donate them) along the way. During my 3 consecutive months spent traveling, I slowly eliminated anything that I was no longer using. After the beach portion of my trip ended, I gave away my beach tapestry and saved myself a month of lugging it around. When I moved back home from Florence, I donated any items that I didn’t wear enough to lug back to the United States or that weren’t worth paying overweight fees for.

 

10. Leave “what if” items at home, and remember you can shop on the way

So often the items we pack for a trip but never use are brought along “just in case.” When packing, I often find myself thinking “What if it rains?” “What if I stain a shirt?” “What if I lose my jacket?” While there are certainly many opportunities for unexpected events or mishaps while traveling, the reality is that many times these “what if items” aren’t necessary. Generally, if it starts pouring in the middle of summer somewhere, you can find a poncho. Or if your flip flop breaks, it is easy to find a replacement. Unless you are traveling somewhere very remote, many times it is better to just leave the what ifs at home, and purchase them (if needed) as you travel. I lugged a pair of rain boots and a jacket with me all summer, only to wear my jacket once. I could have easily purchased a 2 euro rain poncho and saved myself a lot of space and hassle!

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Special thanks to Above The Fray for sponsoring and inspiring this post and providing me with some rad minimalist products perfect for my Miss Adventures 😉 ! As always, my opinions are 100% my own.

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There you have it! 10 tips to help you make minimalist travel a reality and enhance your travel experiences. What are some ways you can incorporate minimalist travel into your packing routines?

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