Packing for a long weekend away is not always easy, on the one hand you need enough stuff for four days, and on the other, you want a bag that is going to be small enough for you to comfortably carry around. If you are flying to get to your weekend destination, it makes so much more sense form a time perspective that you just take carry-on luggage so that you can get out of the airport and start enjoying yourself, as soon as you land.
I go on about 6-8 weekend breaks per year and I usually take advantage of the holidays to ensure that I can turn it into a long weekend. Because of this, I have got my weekend bag packing down to a fine art and I wanted to share with you some tips on how to get it just right.
Bag
To choose your bag based on what you want to take with you, instead, base what you take with you on the size of your bag. Weekend travel may involve you taking your bag from A to B, a lot more than if you were heading off on a two week break with a hefty suitcase in tow. With this in mind then, it is important that you select a bag which is lightweight, as spacious as possible and most importantly, compact.
Shoes
Shoes really do take up the majority of the space in any bag and if you have thoughts about taking all of your heels, then think again. I like to take two pairs of shoes with me, and wear some trainers to travel in. I ditch the tall heels in favor of some kitten heels and I always take black pair of flats with me. Flats look great in any occasion and they take up next to no space in the bag.
Tech
Unless you absolutely have to work, I would recommend leaving any tech at home, and rely solely on your phone for the next few days. Tech and chargers can really fill space and add weight and for the sake of four days, it is far better to leave that kind of stuff at home.
Clothing
When it comes to clothing, really make sure that you are planning smartly for what you will be doing. A pair of jeans can easily be worn twice or three times, underwear is obviously needed for each day, jackets you can either give a miss if it is warm, or wear it when you are traveling to avoid putting it in your bag. Try to take only what you need and not what you might need. Remember that for the most part, if you desperately need new clothes, you can buy them in your destination.
Make sure that if you do take a towel with you, that you take a small and compact microfibre towel. Usually you will not need a towel as the hotel can provide, and even if you hit the beach you can always buy a cheap towel to use and then discard of.
To get your packing right for a long weekend, plan exactly what you will need and place your focus on keeping that bag light and easy to carry about.