One of the best things about travelling is that you can always find something new to discover or somewhere new to explore. In fact, sometimes it seems like you’ll never be able to find every secret bar or ancient ruin in one place!
While some trips will only allow you a day or two in a city, travelling more long-term gives you the option to leave no stone unturned and really immerse yourself in a destination. Taking some time out of your “real life” and touring somewhere totally new for a month or longer may seem like a massive commitment, but sometimes, if you can do it, it’s something you’ll be thanking yourself for years down the road.
Whether you’re headed to Southeast Asia, Europe, or the USA, there are so many benefits to travelling for a month or more. However, there’s one logistical problem that comes up every time: how are you supposed to pack for a trip that long? Fear not, lucky traveller, because we’ve put together a guide to packing for a month-long trip using only one suitcase.
How to pack for a long vacation
One piece of advice you may hear often when packing for a month-long trip is to plan enough outfits for one week. Think about the clothes you wear in a week: do you ever wear the same pair of jeans twice? What about your favourite sweater? The answer is probably yes, which means you don’t need to pack seven different jeans for a week. Now extend that to a month – how many times do you repeat outfits over thirty days? You don’t need to wear a new outfit every day of your trip. (And besides, the more room you save, the more souvenirs you can bring back!)
Picture your perfect week in your destination. Do you want to spend endless days on the beach, working on your tan? Or are you a night owl looking to party until the wee hours of the morning every day? If you know what kind of trip you’re going to have, it’s easier to pack. Remember: it’s a good thing to have one or two extra pairs of socks or underwear, but you probably don’t need to bring your entire wardrobe with you
Re-using clothes on a trip
The best thing you can do if you’re packing for a month-long trip is to prepare to re-use clothes. At first, this might mean wearing the same t-shirt a couple of times in a week, or only bringing one or two bathing suits on the road with you. However, travelling long-term means you’ll inevitably sweat, spill something, or do something to make the clothes you packed dirty.
While it may seem like the opposite of a vacation to do laundry while you travel, there are plenty of ways to make the process as painless as possible. Step one: travel with some suitcase friendly detergent!
Doing laundry in your accommodation
The cheapest, quickest, and (sometimes) easiest option is to do your laundry right in your hostel or hotel sink. While this isn’t recommended for your whole travel wardrobe, it’ll do in a pinch if you’ve run out of clean socks or underwear. Simply scrub in the sink and hang to dry in the shower – just make sure it’s okay with anyone you may be sharing the bathroom with!
Doing laundry with a wash bag
We love the Scrubba, a light-weight, portable laundry machine! Not only does this method save water and help the environment, it also allows for your clothes to get cleaner than they might if you were cleaning them in your hotel sink.
Doing laundry in a laundromat
While this method may seem extreme, sometimes you just really need clean clothes. Ask around your hostel (or see if your hotel has a laundry service, though this is an expensive option) and see where you can go to do your own laundry in a laundromat.
Long term travel packing list
Packing for a month of travel can seem incredibly daunting at first. How are you supposed to know what you’ll need three weeks from now in a totally new country? However, certain things will come in handy no matter where you’re travelling, and it’s always a good idea to make room for them in your suitcase.
- Filtered water bottle. This is especially useful if you’re planning on hiking, or visiting multiple countries. Not sure if the water is safe to drink? A good-quality filtered water bottle can take care of the guesswork for you.
- Light towel. This may seem unnecessary, but you’d be surprised how many hostels don’t come with hotels, or how many hotels charge towel fees for pool-or-beachside amenities. A lightweight, quick-drying towel is the way to go here.
- One nice outfit. No matter how much you fantasize about it, it’s likely you won’t get invited to a royal ball during your travels. Pack one outfit you feel great in for a night out, or nice dinner, but leave it at that.
- Money belt. I know, I know. You aren’t going to win any awards for the coolest traveller, but when you have a money belt, you’ll be able to fully enjoy yourself on your adventures, without worrying about being pick-pocketed.
- Packing cubes. Ask anyone who uses packing cubes, and they’re more than happy to sing their praises. Not only are they great space-savers in your overstuffed bag, they’re an excellent way to organize your things so you always know where everything is.
- Portable charger. You never know when you’ll have access to an outlet (or that you’ll remember to bring the right adaptor!), and having a full phone battery is always a good idea. Invest in a good quality portable charger to make sure you always have juice.
The opportunity to travel for an entire month isn’t one that everyone receives, so, if it’s possible for you, you should always jump at the chance. While it may seem like a daunting task to pack for a month-long trip using only one suitcase, it’s much easier than it seems. While you travel, you want your only cares to be about who you might meet next, or the next beautiful site you’ll discover; not about whether all four of your bags will fit in your cab. So plan carefully, but most of all, enjoy! No matter what you bring, you’re sure to have an amazing experience.
