In a few weeks I’m heading off to my very first Pro Blogger conference on the Gold Coast, I’m a bit excited but also a bit overwhelmed…already! There’s expected to be 600+ bloggers at the conference, all there eager to network, learn and mingle, can’t wait.
Since going through chemo my brain gets befuddled easily and wanders, which means I’m a bit of a time waster. What I should really be doing is making sure I’m good to go and ready for the trip. While the conference runs for a couple of days I’m actually away for ten days and the Mister is joining me for a break once the conference is done and dusted. I can tell you now I’m looking forward to ten whole days of not making the bed, not cooking, and no kids 🙂
So what to pack? I know right….how long is a piece of string?, especially when there is that pesky 20kg airline weight limit that’s going to cramp my style a bit. Then there’s all the stuff like gadgets, snacks and getting photo shoot ready. Oh, I forgot to tell you, I’m doing a swimsuit photo shoot for Curvy Swimwear while I’m there, makes me giggle every time I say it!
Are you headed away soon? Maybe you’re coming to Pro Blogger too? If you are say hi 🙂 I hope my tips on packing and travel help you. I’m also entering my article in a little writing comp in the hope it might win me some Virgin Australia velocity points, would be ace to take my family on a holiday. Right let’s get started.
1. Let’s start with being organised, print off all booking details like airfares, transfers and accommodation details and pop them in your carry on bag. It’s good to have info on your phone but if you lose it or have a flat battery then you need to have a backup.
2. I take daily medication, I know it’s a bore but necessary to keep that pesky cancer away. I suggest packing extra and split it up, some in your handbag and some in checked baggage.
3. Don’t forget your drivers license or ID, a boogie at a night club may result in being asked for proof of age which is great for the ego but not so much when they refuse you entry because you have no ID. If you’re headed to Pro Blogger pack business cards everywhere, ready to hand out at a moments notice.
4. Snacks are important so pack some healthy nutritious snacks, individually wrapped are even better.
5. If there’s a supermarket close to the hotel then take advantage and buy some water, fruit and snacks-even if you have meals sorted it’s good to be prepared.
6. Air travel is dehydrating and makes me puff up so I prefer to travel in an elastic waist, comfy shoes, a comfy bra and drink plenty of water. Some facial wipes and a rose hydrating mist are great pick me ups too.
7. Do you know what the best container to store rings and earrings in is?… an empty medication bottle. If it has one of those harder to get into child safe lids even better, just make sure you remove all labels to avoid confusion. Failing that I carry all my jewellery in their drawstring dust bags (think MIMCO) and pop those inside my shoes.
8. Shoes are also great for storing stockings and socks.
9. I carry lingerie wash bags, one for clean lingerie, one for dirty clothes and one or two for shoes. Nothing worse than grubby soles marking your clothes.
10. Get beauty ready before you head away. Spray tan, waxing, facial, nails, brow tint and maybe even a toner to freshen up your hair colour…well if you’re blonde like me.
11. Decant your expensive beauty products into smaller plastic travel containers. That way if you lose your bags you haven’t lost hundreds of dollars worth of products too…oh and it’s much lighter. You could also purchase mini products too like shampoo and conditioner or take nearly empty bottles and leave them behind when you head home.
12. Roll clothing like shirts and jeans to prevent creasing. In fact almost everything can be rolled, so much better for fitting more in too.
13. Invest in a portable charger for your gadgets, especially if attending a blogging conference like me. I can’t live without them.
14. Take three tops for every bottom and keep them in a colour palette that is interchangeable and complimentary. Have a look at some of my fave “travelling” pants here!
15. Make sure you have at least one light, one dark and one print top.
16. Layering shirts, tees and tanks is lighter and better for baggage limits than packing heavy knits and jackets. If it’s super cold then pack thermals.
17. Scarves and jewellery are the best way to add colour to an outfit and can take an outfit from ‘casual to rock star’ or ‘day to night’ in a flash. One pair of crystal (or diamond) studs will get you through a holiday.
18. I’m a shoe collector and travelling always messes with me, but with age and experience I’ve realised that you can absolutely do with less and taking limited shoes means you can definitely hit the shops for a special purchase. I favour one pair each of white converse, tan wedges, ankle boots in black or tan and one pair of rock star heels.
19. Pack a coat hanger because most hotels have those bloody weird hangers that can’t be removed from the wardrobe. Having a hanger allows me to hang creased dresses in the bathroom and steam them when the shower is on, a bit of a burst from a blow dryer is a good tip too.
20. Pack some makeup in your carry on and some in checked baggage, again if a bag is lost or delayed you aren’t left without your ‘face’.
21. If travelling to some place where you’ll be swimming or visiting the beach take two cossies. One is bound to be wet and there’s nothing worse than trying to wriggle yourself into a wet cossie.
22. Lastly, take ear-buds and an eye mask to block out the world when you need to rest. I also make sure I load up my iTunes account (for downloading new found apps) and I have all my favourite tunes on my mobile phone including some meditation music.
Phew…I absolutely could have kept going but I reckon that list covers most things. Just writing it has got me excited, I reckon I’m going to spend this weekend choosing which clothes to pack. Did I tell you I bought I bright pink suitcase? Well I did!
When I had my vision (dream) of attending pro blogger some 12 months ago I saw myself at the airport with a pink suitcase, which is a bit indulgent because I live in a house of full of males. A few weeks ago I stood in a store looking at the black suitcase and the pink suitcase for fifteen freakin minutes trying to decide which to buy. Would I be conservative and buy the one the whole family could use or would I honour my ‘vision’ and all my hard work? Yeah, I honoured my hard work and purchased the pink one. No regrets, I’m worth it and I’m pretty sure it will be easier to spot on the airport carousel too!
Will I see you at Pro Blogger? Is it your first like me?
What’s your best travel/packing tips?…please share for the good of everyone planning a trip.
I never carry hand luggage anymore- just a big handbag with all the necessities in that. But I do pack a small, flat handbag that weighs nothing in my checkin luggage to use when I arrive at my destination. I am only small with troublesome shoulders these days and find I can’t cope with hand luggage anymore, especially if travelling alone. I also carry a USB with all my travel details, passport number and copies of documents as well as printed versions in a folder. I remove and destroy each page as I have ticked off that hotel/travel destination and ditch the folder at my last stop.
Ahhh great tip on the USB…will use that one
Excellent tips and a huge YES to the pink suitcase! I bought a mustard yellow one for my first overseas holiday and I could always spot it easily on a carousel (or getting thrown about by baggage handlers into the plane :/ ) When I upgraded to a super light four wheeled jobbie before my last holiday, I went for the purple eggplanty colour. I *nearly* chose the pink but my husband and I often share a suitcase for a quick trip so it was a bit of a compromise 🙂
Hope you enjoy ProBlogger!
Eggplant sounds awesome too Beth. I’m looking forward to PB…and the holiday afterwards. Xx
I bought a 2 socket, 4 USB port powerboard from Aldi at $20. It has 3 adapters for different countries. Just returned from USA and it got a big workout.
Great tip thanks x
Jen I love all of those tips – you are spot on!! I’m also going to ProBlogger but I’m a Brisbane local so there isn’t a flight for me, but I’m still obsessing over what to pack! I mean we’ll be in a room full of bloggers – a fair chunk of us being style bloggers…. no pressure! lol. I look forward to seeing you there and best of luck with the Virgin Entry. x
Oh cool see you there!! I’m going casual…comfort trumps when travelling.
I love the pink suitcase! I need to invest in a new case, now I want to think in pink! Great tips here. I take my jewellery in a jewellery wrap and I always keep it in my hand luggage, because I would be devastated and it would be expensive to replace if it got lost! All my current cases are boring and black so I always tie a colourful ribbon around the handle and attach a wacky luggage tag to help me locate it on the luggage carousel! I travel with medication that has to be refrigerated, so I’ve got a special freezer pack thingy that stays cold for up to 24 hours. I won’t leave home without it! Good luck with your comp!
Some great tips with the jewellery and cold pack. I picked my suitcase up at Target for $130.
Awesome tips Jenni! You’ve covered everything! I’ve been wondering what to pack for PB since I booked my ticket!
I shall be looking out for your pink suitcase and will come and say hi! Cant wait! xx
please do Shannon, I can’t wait to meet everyone and learn some ‘stuff’ x
You will see me and I too am a first timer. Good work on the pink suitcase, great choice. I completely get the coat hanger tip. Steaming your clothes in the shower is so easy but you just can’t work with those locked in hangers.
Oh cool Karin, please say hi I’d love to meet you
Hahaha that pink suitcase is fabulous!
I know, thanks Jodie I’ll be hard to lose LOL
That pink suitcase is awesome! These are great tips, I haven’t even thought about packing or what I’m taking yet. Thankfully I don’t have to worry about bag limits as we live about 45mins from the Gold Coast 🙂 Looking forward to meeting you!
Lucky you, it’s an expensive little trip for us Southerners…almost at $2000! Can’t wait to meet you too x
These are great tips and I love that you you treated yourself to a pink suitcase! I’m going to Problogger too so am looking forward to meeting you. My packing for travel trip is that I always pack too much so I now lay everything out including accessories see what can be mixed and matched and then put somethings back in the wardrobe. x
Oh cool, please say ‘hi’, it’s all starting to feel real now and the introvert in me is starting to freak out!
JEN (great name BTW) loved your post full of great tips -practical and sensible. I think we think similarly.
Sadly i won’t be there next week. Hopefully will make it to next PB conference. Enjoy this one. It will be huge. And totally rock that pink suitcase. You “own” it.
Jenn
I look forward to catching up next year then ?
I’m in that mad flap zone. Great tips. Zoe xx
I started packing yesterday…I’m away for 10 days and want to take more shoes but the weight limit is telling me to settle down ?
Hi, Jenni! Your packing tips are amazing and very clever. It is a very good idea to plan what you need to take with you. Thanks for sharing your experience and ideas with us:)
Thanks Lucille
Hi Jen you pretty much have things covered but lavender essential oil in water is good for getting out creases in clothes and also for making the bed smell lovely and helping you sleep!