You just booked your trip, and you’re over the moon excited about it. Traveling is one of the greatest things to do in life, and I couldn’t imagine it without the adventure of going places. But packing for trips without a travel packing list is super stressful, taking away from the anticipation for the upcoming adventure.

And even if you’re going on a work-related trip – seeing new cities, exploring places, and discovering the greatest coffee shop with the most delicious iced mojito mint latte is something to look forward to. Isn’t it?

Maybe you had planned your vacation for many years, and you’re finally able to make it happen. Or you love to go on spontaneous adventures whenever the opportunity to get a good deal on flights presents itself to you.

In any case, there’s always the overwhelm and pre-trip panic about what to pack. Between figuring out what you need to pack, forgetting something, and being charged extra for overstuffed luggage, you’re far away from enjoying the weeks before takeoff.

There are these two categories of people: the overpacker and the underpacker. I am a recovering overpacker myself and know how real that struggle is! The reason why we’re often overpacking is that we don’t know what to expect. And there’s another side to this. Because overpacker bring so many things, you loose oversight, making you feel like you forgot something or didn’t bring the right thing, which, in turn, takes away from your trip. Of course, you will survive without a windbreaker or some basic layers, but that discomfort you’ll feel detracts from your long-awaited adventure.

You become overwhelmed and confused when you feel uncertain, making you pack even more!

On the other side are the underpackers. If you identify as an underpacker, you approach traveling in a minimalistic way. You don’t want to schlepp a heavy suitcase across, and you love to travel light.

Do you remember when you last traveled, packed 5 dresses and 8 pairs of shoes (just in case), and ended up wearing only 2 dresses and 1 pair of shoes? And what about the other time when you were 100% certain that it would not be cold in Paris, and then you ended up scouting the streets of Champs-Élysées with two words of French (excuse moi), trying to find a sweater that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg so you can stand on top of the Eiffel Tower without experiencing frostbite.

Don’t you wish you had a travel packing list?

I remember a trip to Montenegro, a Balkan nation on the Adriatic Sea. It was a couple of days before the airplane was supposed to take off, and I had packed everything I could possibly need. Even though I packed all I owned into my suitcase and managed to close it… the bag was way too heavy. The airline would have charged me *a lot* of extra dollars, and it would have been impossible to even carry it downstairs and to the car.

So, I took some time to think about the travel essentials, what I could live without for a couple of weeks, what the weather would be like, and the planned activities. I had to narrow down my wardrobe and all the travel accessories to ensure that everything fits into my favorite suitcase and that I am equipped for every activity and venue while being comfortable and not having to sacrifice too much (l will never travel without my favorite skincare and oral care).

When it comes to a travel wardrobe, I recommend investing in classic and versatile pieces that let you mix and match different outfits. Packing too many stand-alone pieces will make it hard to pack efficiently because that special dress needs this special pair of heels that go along with this purse… You get the idea.

In my head, I was going through “a day in my life” to make sure I thought of everything. Then I wrote it all down and categorized each item.

That is how I created my ultimate travel packing list!

This list will be your ultimate guide to ensuring that, regardless of whether you’re an under or overpacker, you’ll always find everything you could ever need on a trip without bringing too much. It is your organizational tool to help even the most forgetful to arrive and depart fully equipped so that you only have to worry about getting to the airport on time.

And because I want the packing process to be as smooth as possible for you, I am giving you tried and true tips on how to use my ultimate travel packing list.

Start packing at least two weeks before your trip. I am not kidding. You may want to shop for items you don’t have yet or get that silk dress dry-cleaned. We need less stress in our life, especially before traveling, and starting to pack early will make it feel so effortless.

Also, make sure you think about the personal item you’re bringing onboard the plane. Have essentials like your ID/passport, cash & credit cards, phone, and hand sanitizer handy. There’s nothing worse than a backpack or purse overflowing with all the just-in-case items, and you can’t get to the most important things when you’re in line at customs.

It’s time for you to stay organized throughout the entire process. You’ll be able to actually enjoy the days before the trip and fantasize about all the fabulous things you’ll get to see, do, and experience. Plus, you’ll spend less money on items that you forgot, which will stretch your travel budget even further.

I want you to be excited, calm, and full of anticipation about your upcoming trip, whether it is a vacation, a work trip, or a trip around the world.

Click that pink button below and download your ultimate travel packing checklist. You’ll get instant access to the tool I use for every trip to help you skip the overwhelm.