11 Minimalist Travel Tips And Tricks (For Packing And Activities)

This article will explore some essential tips about minimalist travel packing and activities. You'll learn how to travel lighter and have more fun while abroad!

Whether you want to pack for a weekend, 1 week, 10 days, 1 month, or 1 year, minimalist packing makes it easy to adapt to any trip. Adopting a minimalist mindset during your travels also lets you enjoy more of your trips.

Want to explore more about minimalist travel? Check out The Ultimate Guide To Minimalist Travel from Autogenic Amusements.

The Ultimate Guide To Minimalist Travel

This is a guide to minimalist travel. You’ll learn everything you need to know for a better way of travelling.

Autogenic AmusementsThe author

1. Bring Only A Carry-On

One of the best ways to travel light is to limit how much space you can fill with things. Travelling with only a carry-on can be liberating, allowing you to be more mobile when moving between locations and getting through baggage claim faster. Here are some tips for travelling with only one bag:

1. Choose the right bag. Having the perfect bag for your needs is essential to limiting your luggage to only one backpack. Identify the features you'll need like a laptop compartment, a clamshell opening, cinching straps, or large water bottle pockets.
2. Keep the size within airline limits. While some airlines don't care as long as your bag isn't massive, some airlines will measure and weigh your bag during check-in, or even when boarding your flight. Staying with a bag of around 40 litres or less will usually suffice as a carry-on.
3. Utilize a waist bag. Sometimes known as fanny packs or crossbody bags. Use these for the quick-access essentials you'll need during a flight or a day tour like earbuds, passport, snacks, etc. It also works as a means to offload some weight from your bag if you're pushing the 7kg weight limit from most airlines.
4. Wear your bulkiest items. By wearing the largest items you have, you can save space for the rest of your items in your bag. Items like hiking boots, jackets, and sweaters can take up a lot of space in your pack.

An example of a bag that allowed me to pack everything I need while being multi-functional is the Topo Designs Mountain Pack 28L.

By embracing the concept of travelling with just a carry-on, you'll experience the freedom of mobility and avoid the stress of lugging around excess baggage. It's a minimalist approach that allows you to focus on the joy of your journey rather than the weight of your belongings.

2. Use A Capsule Wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a set of clothing that matches in colour and style no matter which item you choose to wear. Not being limited by a shirt not matching your pants means you have more versatility for style and functionality purposes. Here are some tips to keep in mind when thinking about what clothing to bring:

1. Stick to a colour palette. By packing all of your items in a colour scheme that compliments all other items, you give yourself the greatest versatility.
2. Black is one of the easiest colours to match. Black clothing is easy to find in whatever style or occasion you choose. Whether you are bringing athletic wear or more formal items, you can usually get away with black clothing.
3. Focus on functionality. Ensure your clothing can be worn for any occasion. You don't want to bring items you'll only wear once, items that wrinkle easily or take a long time to dry.
4. Choose versatile items. A nice comfortable button-down shirt can act as a layer for warmth as well as a shirt for formal occasions. Luckily, there are plenty of companies creating versatile and stylish travel attire for whatever occasion or destination you choose.
5. Dress for the weather. Planning your outfits allows you to pack items most appropriate for your climate. While your favourite oversized sweater might be great for lounging around in a chilly climate, you likely won't need it in the topics. Conversely, if you have a ski trip planned, bringing a few pairs of pants might be better than board shorts.

In this minimalist packing list, I discuss how much I loved one single shirt enough that I bought multiple to keep things simple. Taking out the necessity for choice allowed me to spend time thinking about more pressing issues.

By embracing a capsule wardrobe, you'll streamline your packing process and ensure that every item you bring serves a purpose. It allows you to travel light, yet stylish and provides you with the flexibility to adapt to different situations.

3. Choose The Right Footwear

Long days on your feet, wet climates, and a sporadic array of activities can mean that your footwear is just as important as the clothes you wear. As a minimalist traveller, it's important to prioritize versatile and lightweight options that can withstand various activities and environments. Here are some tips to help you select the right footwear.

1. Limit the amount you bring. If possible, stick to 3 pairs or ideally less. One for everyday use (walking, gym, casual events), one for more formal occasions (try and combine this with your everyday pair), and a pair of sandals that can be worn in warm or wet climates and can be used as a shower shoe.
2. Opt for Versatility. Much like clothing, finding a shoe that works for many different occasions is an important aspect of packing fewer items.
3. Wear your bulkiest pair while travelling. Doing this will ensure your bag stays within airline baggage size limitations along with keeping your pack lightweight. Further, you'll want to make sure your shoes are packable so that when you need to pack them in your bag, they don't take up too much space.
4. Prioritize comfort and durability. Since you'll be bringing so few pairs of shoes, you'll want to make sure you choose a pair of shoes that will withstand lots of walking while still being comfortable.

Carefully selecting your footwear and prioritizing versatility and comfort can ensure that you have the right shoes for any occasion while minimizing the amount of space they occupy in your luggage.

4. Purchase Items At Your Destination

One of the easiest ways to overpack is when you try and bring enough supplies to last the length of your trip. You can easily max out your space and liquid allotments by trying to plan for all circumstances. Here are a few tips for purchasing what you need at your destination:

1. Research local availability. Research what's locally available prior to your trip for the things you absolutely won't be able to acquire abroad. Chances are you'll be able to acquire a lot once you've landed.
2. Pack fewer liquids. Items like shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, etc. take up a lot of space if you try and bring them for the entire length of the trip.
3. Support local. By spending your money at your destination, you enrich the economy of the place you're travelling. It's also likely that some items might be cheaper abroad than at home.
4. Don't plan for every possibility. Identify what is absolutely essential and only pack that. Chances are that your accommodations will have towels for you, and some places in the world even provide umbrellas for you to borrow. Almost every place you visit will have some sort of modern infrastructure so you can purchase items when you need them.

Adopting a "buy it there" mentality can minimize the weight of your luggage and embrace the opportunity to explore local markets and support the communities you visit.

5. Pack Less

The best way to embrace minimalist travel is by packing less. Similar to bringing only a carry-on, packing less allows you to be more mobile, and less burdened by your belongings.

1. Create a packing list of your essentials. This list should include the bare minimum to surviving your trip. Stick to this list to avoid packing unnecessary items.
2. Choose multi-purpose items. By getting more out of the items you bring, you allow yourself to pack less. A Buff can act as a facemask, eyemask, hat, or neck warmer. Sandals can be used as casual footwear, shower sandals, and wet-weather shoes all at once.
3. Pack travel-sized items. While often more expensive, travel-sized items make it easier to pack your items into a smaller bag. Break down things like lotions, ointments, or cosmetics into travel-sized containers to save space on toiletries and bag sizes.
4. Cut your items in half. Don't actually take a pair of scissors to your socks. Lay out all of your items per category (clothing, electronics, toiletries), then try and cut it in half. This will leave you with an ideal amount of items you need to bring along with you.

By packing less, you'll enjoy the benefits of lighter luggage, increased freedom of movement, and fewer items to keep track of during your travels. Simplify your packing process and prioritize only what you truly need.

6. Wash Your Clothing

Embracing the ability to do laundry while travelling can help save space for more essential items instead of clothing. Follow these tips to make the most of this strategy:

1. Choose quick-drying fabrics. By optimizing your clothing with items that dry quickly, you can hang dry them overnight so they're ready to be worn or packed the next day.
2. Use multipurpose soap or travel-sized detergent. Extreme minimalist travellers often use multipurpose soaps like Dr. Bronners to wash their clothes, body, hair, face, hands, sometimes teeth, etc. Conversely, there exist travel-sized detergents like the Sea To Summit Trek & Travel Pocket Laundry Soap.
3. Utilize a sink or shower for washing. Go old-school by handwashing your items in a clean sink or shower. Fill the basin with water, add detergent, hand wash and scrub, rinse and hang to dry!
4. Consider local laundry facilities. When unable to hand wash, or if you're in a rush, you can use local laundry services. Some offer drop-off services where you can drop it off and receive your items clean and folded by the end of the day!

By washing your clothes instead of over-packing, you can lighten your load, reduce the number of items you need to bring, and enjoy the convenience of fresh clothing throughout your journey.

7. Use Travel Organizers

Being able to contain and organize everything you bring with you is an important aspect of minimalist travel. Travel organizers allow you to stay organized (and within your space limitations) in such a limited space. They also make reaching for specific items incredibly simple.

1. Invest in packing cubes. While there are other options like the Ranger Roll, using packing cubes is a great alternative when you want your clothes separated from the rest of the contents of your bag. Some packing cubes are designed to compress your clothing. Some have dirty clothes compartments built in. The added benefit is that if packed properly, packing cubes can help mitigate wrinkled clothing.
2. Use toiletry bags. Your travel toiletries (or Dopp kit) should be kept together in one bag. There are plenty of wonderful options for doing this from roll-out bags to using a simple ziplock bag. Make sure whatever option you choose has a solution for storing your liquids in a clear plastic container that follows the 3-1-1 rule for your liquid travel toiletries.
3. Bring a tech organizer. Using a case to organize your cables, chargers, earbuds, etc can help keep your bag as organized as possible. While you ideally want to bring as little electronics as possible, modern times require we often travel with some amount of electronics. When not filled with tech, you can use it to store other items like earplugs, face masks, your wallet, etc.
4. Utilize a shoe bag. Keeping your shoes isolated from the rest of your bag is important to keep things clean. They will prevent dirt and odours from spreading while also preventing damage to the inside of your bag and its contents.

8. Travel Slowly

Travelling slowly means taking more time to experience a destination as opposed to rushing through your travels with a packed agenda. By slowing down, you can embrace a more meaningful and mindful travel experience. These tips will help you get more out of your travels:

1. Quality over quantity. Focusing on the quality of your experiences over the quantity can help you have more meaningful experiences. Leave some time for coffee or a drink instead of rushing to the next sight.
2. Stay longer. Spending more time in one location allows you to experience it in more depth. Not only do you gain a better appreciation of a particular location, but you also save money on transportation costs.
3. Experiences over possessions. Focus on the experiences a location has versus material offerings like shopping and souvenirs. Doing so allows you to spend more money on travel and acquire more quality stories to recount to your friends and loved ones.
4. Engage with the local community. Take the time to connect with locals, participate in cultural activities, and learn about their way of life. This enriches your travel experience and fosters meaningful connections.

By embracing the concept of slow travel, you'll create lasting memories. You may also gain a deeper understanding of the places you visit. Cultivate a more mindful approach to minimalist travel by travelling slower.

9. Go Off The Beaten Path

By exploring beyond the confines of a tourist area, you can experience more culture and authenticity. Embrace the spirit of adventure by travelling to unconventional destinations and sights. Here are some tips to help you break away from tourist hot spots:

1. Research alternative destinations. Going to the most popular destinations can seem enticing until you discover how much better lesser-known destinations can be. Going to alternative destinations allows you to avoid crowds and queues. Check out travel blogs, forums and recommendations from locals to discover hidden gems.
2. Engage with locals. By engaging with the locals you can hear what they recommend and what to avoid. Their recommendations can help show you places and activities more tailored to the prices they would pay. You can also ask them what their bucket list sights and activities are for additional inspiration.
3. Embrace spontaneity. Similar to travelling slowly, give yourself some time to be able to say "Yes" to unexpected adventures. Some of the most rewarding experiences can happen when you're able to change your plans at the drop of a dime.
4. Explore the natural beauty. Leaving the cities for nature can give you a better appreciation of your travels. Since the flora and fauna vary so much across the world, it's a type of travel you don't want to miss. Trekking, day hikes, and exploring beaches, and national parks are some excellent ways to experience nature while abroad.
5. Seek out local experiences. Participate in local festivals, events, or ceremonies. This allows you to immerse yourself in the local culture and connect with the community more than before.

By stepping off the beaten path, you'll find more uniqueness, hidden treasures, authenticity, and more meaningful adventure.

10. Travel During The Off-Season

Travelling during the off-season offers a multitude of advantages for the minimalist traveller. The Off-season is a time when a location is the least busy. Embracing off-season travel allows you to enjoy a more authentic experience, avoid crowds, and even save money. Consider these tips for embracing the off-season:

1. Enjoy fewer crowds. By travelling during the off-season, you get an opportunity to avoid the masses. You can explore your surroundings with more peace and tranquillity.
2. Save money. Flights, hotels, tours, and many other travel expenses are often less expensive during off-season travel. Take advantage of these cost savings to stretch your travel budget further.
3. Enjoy better availability and flexibility. Booking accommodations, activities, and transportation becomes easier during the off-season due to greater availability and flexibility. You'll have a wider selection of options and more room to adjust your plans as needed.

11. Take Zero Days

In the world of minimalist travel, "zero days" refer to a day when you purposefully put your travels on hold. Doing this allows you to recharge from the stimulation that comes with travelling to new destinations. By incorporating zero days into your travel itinerary, you'll find a sense of balance and avoid burnout. Take a look at these tips to help you recharge on your zero days.:

1. Listen to your body. Keep track of how your body and mind feel. If you've been walking all day for a week straight, you might want a day to sit and recover. If you've been to a museum every day, you might need some time to think about something else.
2. Try to not travel. Navigating foreign transportation can lead to stress and a sense of feeling lost. By taking a day off from public transit, flying, and trains, you can recharge your motivation to navigate a new place.
3. Prioritize self-care. Use your zero-day to enjoy activities that leave you feeling rested and recharged. Yoga, movies, naps, cooking, catching up with family, whatever it may be, take this opportunity to do what helps you rest and recharge.
4. Explore your surroundings leisurely. While you may not be engaging in intense sightseeing, you can still leisurely explore your immediate surroundings. Take a stroll in a local park, visit a café, or simply soak up the ambiance of your destination.

By incorporating zero days into your travel itinerary, you'll create space for relaxation, self-reflection, and a deeper appreciation of the journey itself. It's an essential element of minimalist travel that promotes balance and well-being.

Conclusion

Minimalist travel is for those who wish to travel with less, and for those who wish to get more out of their adventures. With these minimalist travel tips, you can set off being able to travel lighter and enjoy more.

I'd love to hear from you!

Leave a comment below with your go-to travel tips and tricks. Minimalist or not, share what helps you get the most out of your travels!

FAQ

What Is The 5-4-3-2-1 Packing Method?

The 5-4-3-2-1 packing method is a technique for how many items to take in certain categories. It means packing 5 sets of socks and underwear, 4 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 hat.

Are Packing Cubes Really Worth It?

Packing cubes are highly divisive items to take while travelling. Some of the benefits are organization, compression, and ease of access. Some of the negatives of packing cubes are the cost, weight, and limitations on maximizing space. Some extreme minimalists won't use them as it's just another item to worry about. Other minimalists find them invaluable to their methods.

Is A Carry On Enough Space?

Yes, a carry-on is enough space. Countless people have even minimized their possessions to only owning what can fit in one bag. If done properly, it is entirely possible to limit your travel possessions to what can fit in a carry-on-sized bag.

How Do You Make A Capsule Wardrobe?

As mentioned above, a capsule wardrobe is a set of clothing designed to mix and match and not trigger any fashion faux pas. It allows the most versatility between all items despite the setting you might find yourself in. It can be created by creating a set of matching items that are versatile for any occasion.