12 Things Experienced Travelers No Longer Pack (Minimalist Packing Tips)

Summary

In this insightful video, experienced traveler Nick shares 12 items he avoids packing to streamline his journey. Highlighting inefficiencies like bulky neck pillows and unnecessary full-sized toiletries, Nick advocates for smarter, space-saving alternatives such as digital guidebooks and multifunctional clothing. From opting out of expensive international phone plans to choosing quality over quantity in clothing, Nick's tips are designed to enhance travel experiences by minimizing baggage without sacrificing comfort or necessity. By focusing on what truly matters and utilizing modern solutions, travelers can enjoy their adventures with less weight to carry, both physically and metaphorically.

Takeaways

• 👍 Neck pillows are not recommended for packing due to their bulk and limited use; consider a rolled-up scarf or inflatable neck pillow instead.
• 📱 Guide books are bulky; use digital guides or apps on your phone for up-to-date travel information.
• 🚨 Avoid packing a hairdryer as most accommodations provide them, saving space and weight in your luggage.
• 💵 Carrying excessive cash is risky; opt for bank withdrawals in the destination's currency and use credit cards with no international fees.
• 📲 Skip expensive international phone plans; use eSIMs like Olaf for affordable data and roaming in over 180 destinations.
• 🛍 Towels are often provided by accommodations, making it unnecessary to pack your own unless for specific purposes like beach visits.
• 📦 Luggage scales are largely unnecessary; weigh your luggage at home to avoid overweight fees.
• 👟 Choose versatile clothing over specialized, technical gear unless specific outdoor activities are planned.
• 🚫 Full-sized toiletries take up unnecessary space; opt for travel-sized or solid alternatives to meet liquid restrictions.
• 📢 Invest in quality, moisture-wicking socks like those made from merino wool for comfort and odor resistance during travel.
• 👕 Limit the number of clothes by packing a versatile, mix-and-match wardrobe to simplify travel and save space.
• 🛍 Avoid packing 'what ifs' to minimize luggage size and weight, focusing instead on essentials and knowing you can purchase most things at your destination if needed.

Q & A

Why does Nick suggest not packing a neck pillow for travel?

Nick suggests not packing a neck pillow because they take up too much space in luggage, are only used during flights or train rides, and remain unused for the majority of the trip. He recommends opting for a more versatile item like a rolled-up scarf or jacket instead.

How does Nick recommend accessing travel guides without carrying physical books?

Nick recommends downloading the Kindle version of travel guides and using the Kindle app on your phone, allowing you to carry guides digitally without adding physical bulk or weight to your luggage.

What is Nick's advice on packing a hairdryer?

Nick advises considering not packing a hairdryer due to their bulkiness and weight, noting that most accommodations provide them. For travelers concerned about space, relying on provided hairdryers can save significant luggage space.

Why does Nick recommend against carrying a lot of cash while traveling?

Nick recommends against carrying a lot of cash due to the risk of pickpockets. He suggests withdrawing a few hundred from a bank upon arrival at the destination and using credit cards without international fees for additional security and convenience.

What are the benefits of using eSIMs according to Nick?

Nick praises eSIMs for allowing travelers to use their devices in over 180 destinations with unlimited data and no roaming fees, eliminating the need for expensive international phone plans and avoiding the hassle of physically swapping SIM cards.

Why does Nick say you usually don't need to pack a towel?

Nick mentions that most accommodations provide towels, making it unnecessary for travelers to pack their own. He notes that packable microfiber towels could be useful for specific situations like beach trips or visits to thermal baths, but for most travel, they're not needed.

What is Nick's stance on packing full-sized toiletries?

Nick advises against packing full-sized toiletries due to their significant size and weight. He recommends travel-sized toiletries to save space and comply with airport security liquid restrictions, or using sealable silicone containers for items not available in travel sizes.

What types of socks does Nick recommend for travel and why?

Nick recommends investing in good quality, merino wool socks because they're odor-resistant, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating, which makes them comfortable for long days of walking and suitable for a range of climates.

Why does Nick advise against packing too many clothes?

Nick advises against packing too many clothes to minimize luggage size and weight. He recommends a capsule wardrobe of versatile items that mix and match well, allowing for a more compact and manageable collection of clothing.

What is Nick's perspective on 'packing your fears'?

Nick suggests that overpacking is often done out of fear and advises against packing 'what if' items that go unused. He encourages packing only essentials and reminds travelers that most forgotten items can be easily acquired at the destination.

Outlines

00:00

🧳 Essential Travel Packing Insights

Nick, a seasoned traveler, shares insights on packing essentials and non-essentials for travel. He discusses 12 items he and his wife, Ally, have eliminated from their packing list to optimize their travel experience. Key items to skip include neck pillows, due to their bulky nature and limited use, and heavy guidebooks, which can be replaced with digital versions on smartphones. Nick advises against packing hairdryers, as they're often provided by accommodations, and suggests minimizing cash carry, recommending the use of credit cards with no international fees instead. He highlights the importance of travel insurance and criticizes expensive international phone plans, recommending eSIMs as a cost-effective alternative. Lastly, Nick touches on avoiding towels, luggage scales, overly specialized clothing and shoes, full-sized toiletries, cheap socks, excessive clothing, and the habit of packing 'what-if' items.

05:02

📱 Maximizing Travel Tech & Essentials

In the continuation of travel packing insights, Nick elaborates on the benefits of eSIMs for international travel, specifically praising the Olaf eSIM for its convenience and cost-efficiency. He advises against packing towels, as most accommodations provide them, and questions the necessity of luggage scales and specialized clothing for non-hiking trips. Nick recommends travel-sized toiletries to comply with flight regulations and champions quality socks, especially Merino wool, for their durability and comfort. He also emphasizes the importance of packing a versatile wardrobe to reduce luggage size and weight, and critiques the common mistake of packing too many clothes or 'just-in-case' items that seldom get used.

10:03

👕 Smart Packing for Efficient Travel

Nick discusses the concept of a capsule wardrobe for travel, advocating for a selection of versatile, mix-and-match clothing that can serve multiple purposes during a trip. This approach not only saves space but also simplifies decision-making. He advises against overpacking and suggests considering the availability of items at the destination to avoid unnecessary luggage. Nick shares personal experiences to illustrate how overthinking packing can lead to unnecessary stress and how adapting to unexpected situations, like the cold in Iceland, can become a memorable part of the travel experience. He concludes by encouraging viewers to focus on essentials and to be adaptable, ensuring a more enjoyable and hassle-free journey.

Keywords

💡Packing

Packing refers to the process of selecting and organizing items to take on a trip. In the context of the video, it is presented as a skill that improves with travel experience, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful item selection to enhance the journey while avoiding unnecessary bulk and weight. The speaker discusses refining their packing list over years of travel to include only essential items, suggesting that efficient packing can make travel more enjoyable and less burdensome.

💡Neck Pillows

Neck pillows are often considered essential for comfort during flights or train rides. However, the video challenges this notion by placing neck pillows at the top of the 'no pack' list, arguing that they occupy valuable space and remain unused for most of the trip. This perspective underscores a broader theme of prioritizing versatility and efficiency in travel gear, suggesting alternatives like rolled-up scarves or jackets that can serve multiple purposes.

💡Guide Books

Guide books, such as those by Rick Steves or Lonely Planet, are traditionally valued for travel planning and on-the-go reference. The video, however, positions them as bulky and unnecessary in the digital age, advocating for digital guides and apps that offer up-to-date information without physical weight. This reflects a shift towards digital solutions in travel, emphasizing convenience and the ability to access a wealth of information through a single device.

💡Hair Dryer

The hair dryer represents a common dilemma in travel packing: balancing personal grooming needs with luggage space constraints. The video advises against packing hair dryers, noting their bulkiness and the prevalence of accommodations providing them. This highlights a strategic packing approach that involves researching amenities provided by accommodations to reduce redundant items and prioritize space for essentials.

💡Cash

Carrying cash is discussed in terms of risk management and convenience during travel. The video advises against traveling with excessive cash due to pickpocketing risks and suggests using bank ATMs at the destination for better exchange rates. This recommendation is part of a larger discussion on financial planning for travel, including choosing credit cards with no international fees and avoiding Dynamic Currency Conversion to optimize spending and security.

💡International Phone Plans

International phone plans are critiqued for their cost relative to the benefits provided. The video shares a personal shift towards using eSIMs as a cost-effective and convenient alternative, allowing for data access in multiple countries without the high fees associated with traditional phone plans. This segment of the video addresses the evolving landscape of mobile connectivity for travelers, emphasizing the value of researching and utilizing newer technologies to stay connected affordably.

💡Towels

Towels are typically provided by accommodations, making them unnecessary for travelers to pack. The video suggests that packing towels is generally redundant, except for specific circumstances, such as beach visits or thermal baths, where a compact, microfiber towel might be useful. This advice aligns with the overarching theme of the video: to critically evaluate each item's necessity based on the trip's specific needs, rather than packing out of habit.

💡Luggage Scales

Luggage scales are presented as potentially unnecessary for most travelers, who can pre-weigh luggage at home. The video argues that unless precise weight measurements are crucial or significant souvenir purchases are anticipated, a luggage scale may not be a worthwhile inclusion. This perspective reinforces the importance of pre-trip planning and awareness of airline luggage policies to avoid overpacking and ensure luggage complies with weight restrictions.

💡Capsule Wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is recommended as a strategy for minimizing the amount of clothing packed, by selecting versatile pieces that mix and match easily. This approach supports the video's theme of efficient packing, emphasizing the value of versatility, layering, and choosing items that serve multiple functions to reduce luggage bulk and simplify outfit choices during travel.

💡Overpacking

Overpacking is critiqued as a common mistake driven by 'what if' scenarios, leading travelers to bring unnecessary items. The video encourages packing only known necessities, thereby minimizing luggage size and weight. This advice addresses a psychological aspect of packing, urging travelers to trust in their ability to acquire items at their destination if needed, thus avoiding the burden of carrying unused items and paying extra baggage fees.

Highlights

Nick shares 12 things he doesn't pack as an experienced traveler to enhance journey efficiency.

Neck pillows are discouraged due to their bulkiness and limited use during travels.

Guidebooks are replaced by digital apps and Kindle versions for convenience and less bulk.

Hairdryers are considered unnecessary to pack since most accommodations provide them.

Carrying a lot of cash is seen as risky; using bank ATMs at destinations is recommended.

Credit cards with no international fees and consumer protections are preferred for travel.

Expensive international phone plans are avoided in favor of eSIM options for data access.

Towels are deemed unnecessary to pack as most accommodations offer them to guests.

Luggage scales are viewed as non-essential for most travelers, with alternatives suggested.

Technical, rugged shoes and clothing are considered overkill for city travels.

Full-sized toiletries are avoided in favor of travel-sized or solid options.

Good quality socks, especially Merino wool, are recommended for comfort and durability.

Packing too many clothes is discouraged; a mix-and-match approach is suggested.

Capsule wardrobe strategy is advocated for reducing luggage size and weight.

Avoiding 'what ifs' in packing can help minimize luggage size and travel stress.

Transcripts

when it comes to packing for travel the

travel gear you bring with you can

really enhance your journey but there

are also plenty of travel items you're

packing that you might not actually need

in fact there are several things several

great travel items that experience

Travelers just don't travel with in this

video I'm going to break down 12 things

I don't pack as an experienced traveler

and my thoughts on

why hey guys Nick here from away Way

together after years of domestic and

international travel my wife Ally and I

really have whittel down our packing

lists and there's a bunch of things 12

specifically that we don't travel with

now I'm not saying that these are

mistakes to travel with 100% all the

time do what works for you okay but

these are things that we don't carry

with us and we know many many

experienced Travelers who don't carry

them either when it comes to packing for

travel neck pillows are often at the top

of the list of comfort items but these

are at the top of my no pack list neck

pillows take up way too much space in

your luggage realistically neck pillows

are only used during your flight or your

train ride and then for the majority of

your trip they remain unused and you're

just lugging them around just not

efficient to be carrying around I would

skip the neck pillow and opt for a more

versatile item like a rolled up scarf or

a jacket which will save space and keep

you from having to carry something

you're not using around with you

everywhere now if you really do want a

neck pillow I'd look into an inflatable

one that packs down flat when you're not

using it I'm a huge proponent of guide

books for travel like the ones by R

Steves or Lonely Planet but they can be

bulky and heavy I've got a Shelf full of

guides at home and I use them heavily

when researching for my trips but I

don't pack them anymore in the digital

age your phone can be your guide with

up-to-date apps and digital guides that

don't weigh anything I really recommend

getting the Kindle version of any guide

books you want and then just downloading

the Kindle app on your phone so that you

can carry those guides with you

everywhere without having to actually

pack anything okay I consulted my wife

Ally about this next tip if you're

looking to save space in your luggage an

item that you don't have to pack is a

hairdryer hair dryers are bulky and they

can add a lot of weight to your luggage

now there are some great travel

hairdryer options out there Ali even has

one but when we were traveling full-time

she brought that with us we stayed in

almost 50 different places

internationally and the amount of times

that there wasn't a hairdryer provided

was few and far between there were times

she needed the one she packed but what I

would say is if you're pressed for space

consider whether or not you need your

haird dryer or you could bum off where

you're staying most hotels nowadays

offer hair dryers in the rooms and you

can even filter your Airbnb search

results by whether or not a hair dryer

is provided all right let's talk about

money something I would not travel with

is a lot of cash carrying excess cash

can be risky especially in the case of

pickpockets now there are some places

that you may be visiting where cash is

warranted and useful this happens to us

all the time and in those instances

where you need cash don't go to a

currency exchange don't use one of those

scammy tourist ATMs in the tourist

hotspots go to a bank in your

destination after you've landed and take

out the equivalent of a few hundred if

you're presented the option to use

Dynamic currency conversion or to have

the transaction happen in your home

currency don't just take it out in the

currency of your destination I would

also recommend carrying a couple of

credit cards look for ones with no

international fees and ones that come

with some consumer protections now the

reason I say to carry a couple is it's

good to have a backup for example many

establishments still don't accept MX me

I like travel rewards credit cards

because of the opportunity to earn

airline miles and hotel points along

with the ability to earn bonus points

when you spend on travel related things

when you're out and about for the day

only carry what you need if you carry a

wallet I recommend a front pocket wallet

which isn't foolproof but it's more

likely to keep pickpockets at Bay hey

real quick if you're getting value out

of this video I would love it if you

would hit that like button so that

YouTube will know to suggest it to other

Travelers like you thank you experienced

Travelers don't travel with expensive

international phone plans one thing I

used to travel with all the time was an

international phone plan from my home

provider I would pay an extra like $10 a

day to be able to use my phone

internationally but 10 bucks a day

really adds up and the amount of data

that we had to use was next to nothing

now there's a number of reasonable

alternatives to this but my favorite way

and the method Ally and I personally use

is Olaf eims Olaf eim give you a way to

use your device in over 180 destinations

worldwide in many cases with unlimited

data and no roaming fees it's kind of

like getting a SIM card in your local

country but you don't have to go

physically hunt one down you purchase

online before your trip and then you

activate the eim on your phone with a

simple QR scan one of my favorite things

about Olaf is there are absolutely no

hidden costs unlike other providers that

don't offer unlimited data with Olaf

what you see is what you get and there's

no need for additional data topups which

get very expensive olly also has a new

and improved mobile app that makes it

easy to purchase an eim and get 24/7

customer service in just a few clicks if

you're ready to stop paying for

expensive international data plans hit

the link below and use the code away

together for an additional 5% off your

eim purchase something you usually never

need to pack is a towel most

accommodations from hotels to airbnbs

provide guests with towels and this WID

spread availability makes it unnecessary

to bring your own and you might be

thinking Nick duh if you have a specific

reason to pack a towel a packable

microfiber towel could be a good option

note I said specific reason for example

these towels would have come in handy

for us when we Road tripped around puket

Thailand to visit a bunch of different

beaches I wish we'd had these towels

with us when we went to the thermal

baths in Budapest because we ended up

paying like $10 a piece for these crappy

little towels that were falling apart

but similar to some other items on this

list even the clever microfiber towel

will go largely unused you maybe won't

even use it at all I put these on a list

a category called clever travel products

that you probably don't need they're

handy if you have a specific need or

you're doing longer term travel cuz you

never know what you could get into but

for the average traveler on a specific

trip you probably do not need this

unless you know you have a reason

speaking of Handy travel products you

probably don't need let's talk about

luggage scales I understand the need to

weigh your luggage Airlines have weight

limits for check bags most of these days

have weight limits for carryon bags but

it's very easy to weigh your bag at home

before you leave you simply step onto

your home scale holding the bag note the

weight and then weigh just yourself

without the bag now when could a luggage

scale be good well if you're trying to

get a very precise weight like within an

ounce okay I get it or if you plan to

buy a lot of souvenirs while you're gone

and you're afraid that you're going to

exceed the weight limit coming back home

I get it if neither of those apply to

you you probably don't need one while on

the topic of heavy things the next thing

you might not need to pack is technical

rugged shoes and clothing a mistake I

see a lot especially for firsttime

international Travelers is investing a

lot of money in technical hiking boots

and hiking pants and things like that

for a trip that they don't really plan

to do much hiking on this was me on my

first trip to Europe we planned to do a

lot of walking yes there were several

days that we walked over 20 M no joke

but 100% of this 5we trip was in cities

I had absolutely no business wearing

these massive chunker shoes no business

Not only was it Overkill I looked silly

I recommend choosing simple versatile

clothing and shoes for most General

travel items that can be used in

multiple settings from walking to a nice

dinner are way more beneficial than

these rugged single-use very specific

type of items if you do plan on doing a

lot of actual hiking ignore me be

prepared but if you're not keep it

simple and keep it versatile now the

next item might seem obvious but

full-sized toiletries no full-sized

toiletries take up a significant amount

of luggage space travel siiz toiletries

are much more Compact and they free up

room for other Essentials and help to

minimize overall luggage size for

carry-on luggage travel size toiletries

are a must due to liquid restrictions

we're talking about 3.4 o or less if you

go over that you're going to have

trouble with airport security Now if

what you need doesn't come in a 3.4 ounz

or smaller container you could always

get some sealable silicone containers

like these ones by gravel solid

toiletries like shampoo bars or soap

bars or solid deodorants are not subject

to liquid restrictions which make them

great for carryon luggage and they're

also leak proof which reduce the risk of

things getting spilled and leaked in

your bag all right the next thing to

stop packing is cheap socks for travel

where you plan to do a lot of walking I

highly recommend investing in good

quality socks for years I just wore

basic crappy cotton socks and in times

where I was doing a lot of walking they

would stink and they'd get wet and my

feet would get blisters and for probably

10 years now I've exclusively worn

Marino wool socks in every situation the

reason they're great is because they're

naturally odor resistant and antibac

material which reduces stink they're

also moisture wicking Marino wool

efficiently Wicks moisture away from

your skin which keeps your feet dry when

those cotton socks get wet they stay wet

this is crucial for long days of walking

and can help you prevent blisters Marino

is also temperature regulating and so it

keeps your feet warm in cold conditions

and cool in warm conditions which makes

them nice for a wide range of climates

Marino socks are more of an investment

initially but they last a lot longer and

they maintain their shape and quality

throughout the years next on the no pack

list is too many clothes there's no need

to pack a completely different top to

bottom outfit for every day of your trip

instead I'd recommend creating a

collection of simple versatile items

that look good together and mix and

match well some people call this a

capsule wardrobe and that approach

allows for a more Compact and manageable

amount of clothing in your luggage

planning to dress in layers allows you

to pack less

and safe Space by avoiding bulky items I

recommend clothing that's lightweight

wrinkle resistant and dries pretty quick

having a set of clothes that all work

well together simplifies your daily

outfit decisions and fewer clothes means

a lighter bag I tend to recommend some

key Marino wool pieces for this as well

because they can be worn multiple times

before washing I really like the shirts

from Unbound Marino typically I pack

five or six shirts and a couple pairs of

pants or shorts for a 10-day trip and

then I try to ensure that at least one

of the places we stay as a washing

machine something I often see Travelers

do is pack what ifs I saw this meme the

other day me uses the same three things

at home me packing for vacation I wonder

if I'll need four French horns or five

overpacking is often packing your fears

people overpack a lot of times because

they're afraid a way to avoid this is by

packing only what you know you'll need

this helps keep your luggage size and

weight to a minimum and not not only

does this make traveling easier and more

comfortable but it also helps you avoid

extra baggage fees I used to chronically

do this a day or two before a trip a

thought would creep into my mind hey

what about this and I'd rush out and I'd

buy something or I'd pack something that

I don't need and it goes completely

unused on my trip don't give into that a

realization that was comforting to me is

there are people just like me just like

you that also need toothpaste that also

need shampoo that also have one-year-old

kids that need all this stuff that also

the list goes on and on bring the things

you need and the things that you know

you'll need don't leave your important

prescription at home I'm not telling you

to do that but I would recommend that

you stop stressing about things that you

could easily get at your destination if

you had to allly and I took our

honeymoon to Iceland and we were not

prepared for how cold it would be that's

on us one of my favorite travel memories

though is looking for scarves in an

Icelandic thrift store the fears and the

wh ifs nine times out of 10 they're just

not worth paying attention to right

bring a jacket okay I'm not encouraging

you to be as freezing cold as we were in

Iceland in the middle of the summer but

in the case that you forget something

important it can be a fun adventure to

go find it I hope this video was helpful

to you and if you're interested in one

back travel and how I packed for a

10-day trip to Europe check out this

video thanks so much for watching happy

travels