Pack Smarter, Spend Less: How to Travel Light Without Losing Comfort

Summary

Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways Episode: Pack Smarter, Spend Less: How to Travel Light Without Losing Comfort Release Date: August 13, 2025 Hosts: Sally French, Megan Coyle, with Tess McLendon

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Introduction

In this episode of Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways, NerdWallet Travel experts Sally French and Megan Coyle, along with guest Tess McLendon, delve into practical strategies for packing efficiently to save money and enhance travel comfort. Skipping the usual introductions, the hosts jump straight into actionable tips and personal anecdotes, ensuring listeners gain valuable insights without the fluff.

News Highlights

Before diving into packing tips, the trio touches on recent travel news:

• Southwest Airlines' Free Wi-Fi Trial: Megan highlights that Southwest is testing free Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members on flights departing August 13th and 14th, aligning with other airlines like Delta and Hawaiian that already offer complimentary internet services [03:17].

• Alaska Airlines' New Routes: Tess shares exciting updates about Alaska Airlines launching nonstop flights from Seattle to Reykjavik and London in 2026, expanding their international footprint [04:02].

• Air Canada’s Aeroplan Program Changes: Megan discusses Air Canada's shift to awarding points based on expenditure rather than distance traveled, emphasizing the importance of transferable points with credit card partners [08:34].

These updates provide listeners with timely information on airline offerings and loyalty program changes that can impact their travel planning.

Main Content: Packing Tips to Save Money and Travel Light

1. The Ten $10 Rule [13:04]

Sally introduces her signature packing strategy, the Ten $10 Rule, designed to minimize "just in case" items in luggage. The rule states:

“If you have a just in case item, something that you might need, but you know you can buy it at your destination, it is under $10, and you can acquire it in under 10 minutes. I say don't pack it.” – [13:38]

Examples include:

• Umbrellas: Instead of packing one, rely on the availability at your destination.
• Extra Toiletries: Only bring essentials like a toothbrush, assuming you can purchase additional items if needed.
• Beach Towels: If unsure about hotel provisions, plan to buy locally rather than packing heavy towels.

2. Avoiding Checked Bag Fees [10:15]

Sally emphasizes the financial burden of baggage fees, which can accumulate to $200 for multi-flight trips with airlines like Frontier that charge for both checked and carry-on bags.

“If you really, really need to check a bag and you also need that carry-on bag, there are some ways that you can avoid these fees...” – [10:43]

Solutions:

• Co-Branded Credit Cards: Many offer free checked bags as a perk, potentially offsetting multiple baggage fees.
• Elite Status: While earning elite status solely for baggage fee waivers isn't cost-effective, it provides added benefits like heavier baggage allowances.

3. Carry-On Only Approach [12:05]

Both hosts advocate for traveling with only a carry-on to eliminate baggage fees and enhance mobility.

“If you are not doing the gallon challenge every day, my hot take is you are not hydrated enough.” – Sally on hydrating effectively by minimizing luggage [00:47]

Sally takes it a step further by switching from a roller bag to a backpack, encouraging travelers to reassess the necessity of each item:

“When all your possessions are literally on your back, you start making different decisions about what is necessary.” – [12:14]

Benefits:

• Spontaneity: Easier to move around and adapt plans without worrying about luggage.
• Efficiency: Fewer items mean less clutter and easier management during travels.

4. Utilize Hotel Amenities [18:07]

Sally advises against packing certain items assuming hotels provide them. Many hotels offer complimentary toiletries and other essentials upon request.

“I was at the Kimpton recently and they had a whole sign of, like, all the things that you could request.” – [18:38]

Tips:

• Request Items: Items like toothpaste, razors, and face lotion can be requested from the front desk, reducing the need to pack them.
• Special Kits: Some hotel chains, like Lowe's, offer specialized kits (e.g., baby kits) that cater to specific needs without adding to your luggage.

5. Embrace Laundry Opportunities [19:30]

Megan stresses the importance of being open to doing laundry during travels to minimize the number of clothes packed.

“Don’t be afraid of doing laundry... you 100% do not need to pack so many clothes.” – [19:40]

Strategies:

• Pack Laundry Pods: Small, lightweight detergent packs can facilitate on-the-go washing.
• Reuse Items: Bring versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched or worn multiple times without washing.

6. Smart Use of Plastic Bags [20:10]

Both hosts recommend carrying a plastic bag for various uses, such as storing wet clothes, shoes, dirty laundry, or extra souvenirs.

“You put them in the plastic bag as if you bought them from the airport.” – Megan [20:23]

Advantages:

• Extra Space: Helps manage additional items without exceeding carry-on limits.
• Organization: Keeps different categories of items separate and easy to access.

7. Avoiding Expensive Travel-Size Products [21:25]

Travelers are often tempted by pricey travel-size toiletries sold at destinations. Instead, Sally suggests bringing reusable containers and filling them with your preferred products.

“Mini toothpaste is more expensive than just normal toothpaste.” – Megan [21:36]

Alternative:

• DIY Travel Kits: Use prescription containers or small reusable bottles to carry essentials, saving money and ensuring you have products you trust.

8. Multipurpose Souvenirs [23:53]

Instead of packing non-essential souvenirs that take up space, opt for items you can use during your trip, which also serve as memorable keepsakes.

“It’s like a multipurpose souvenir. When you come back, you’ll always remember it.” – Sally [24:03]

Examples:

• Sun Hats: Purchase a hat at your destination that you can use immediately, eliminating the need to pack one.
• Local Clothes: Buying a unique garment from your destination ensures it’s both functional and a reminder of your travels.

Hot Takes

Sally’s Approach: Minimalist Packing

Sally champions a highly minimalist approach, advocating for only the essentials and challenging travelers to rethink their packing habits. Her emphasis on reducing "just in case" items aligns with the Ten $10 Rule, promoting a more intentional and cost-effective travel experience.

Megan’s Approach: Flexible and Functional

Megan introduces innovative ideas like using clothing rental services, which allow travelers to access a variety of outfits without the need to pack multiple clothes. This strategy not only saves space but also keeps the wardrobe fresh and suitable for different occasions during the trip.

“I was really surprised because I started doing nuuly for some of these destination weddings that I’ve been going to.” – Megan [25:01]

Conclusion

Sally French and Megan Coyle provide a comprehensive guide to packing smarter, emphasizing the importance of minimizing luggage to save money and enhance travel flexibility. By implementing strategies like the Ten $10 Rule, opting for carry-on only, utilizing hotel amenities, and embracing laundry opportunities, travelers can significantly reduce their packing burden. Additionally, innovative solutions like clothing rental services offer practical alternatives for maintaining a versatile wardrobe without overpacking.

Listeners are encouraged to adopt these tips to not only lighten their load but also to make their travel experiences more enjoyable and financially efficient. Whether planning a short getaway or an extended adventure, these strategies ensure that every traveler can maximize their travel dollars and enjoy a more streamlined journey.

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Notable Quotes:

• “If you have a just in case item... do not pack it.” – Sally French [13:38]
• “You start making different decisions about what is necessary.” – Sally French [12:14]
• “Mini toothpaste is more expensive than just normal toothpaste.” – Megan Coyle [21:36]
• “It’s like a multipurpose souvenir...” – Sally French [23:53]

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Transcript

[Megan Coyle]

Today's episode is sponsored by Fiji Water. No way. I love hydration same and Fiji Hydration no less. It really is from the actual islands of Fiji. As in 1600 miles from the nearest continent. It's bottled at the source and untouched by man until you unscrew the cap and you don't have to go all the way to Fiji.

[Sally French]

Although you have been to Fiji. Megan.

[Megan Coyle]

Yes, and I was living off the Fiji water. I would get out of the ocean, take a little sip of Fiji Water. It tastes so good.

[Sally French]

And it's easy to get it here too. Fiji Water is the number one premium bottled water brand in the us.

[Megan Coyle]

It's my go to hydration for everything from beach days to jungle hikes or even just a little water on the hotel nightstand.

[Sally French]

Oh, you know I love my gallon challenge. I gotta say, if you are not doing the gallon challenge every day, my hot take is you are not hydrated enough.

[Megan Coyle]

Honestly, I agree. And did you know Fiji Water has more than double the electrolytes as the other two top premium bottled water brands? That's what gives it that extra smooth taste.

[Sally French]

Fiji Water is Earth's finest water, Megan. If I am doing an Orlando theme park in the summer, I'm like sometimes two G challenge, baby.

[Megan Coyle]

That's a lot of bottles of Fiji Water and I love that they're travel size so that they fit in my crossbody bag.

[Sally French]

I'm plowing through my Fiji Water bottles and luckily Fiji Water is environmentally responsible.

[Megan Coyle]

Yes. Since 2022, the 330 and 500 milliliter bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic. Fiji Water continues to lead the top premium bottled water competition on launching 100% recycled plastic bottles.

[Sally French]

I love water and you know, if I see a Fiji Water bottle available, that's definitely the one I'm going for.

[Megan Coyle]

Fiji Water, Earth's finest water.

[Sally French]

Stay hydrated like us travelers.

[Megan Coyle]

Tess, what kind of packer are you? Light packer or over packer?

[Tess McLendon]

Megan, you're going to make me admit this publicly? I overpacked for a trip to Europe this spring and then bought another suitcase while I was there.

[Megan Coyle]

Tess. Oh no. I hope you're never doing that again.

[Sally French]

No way.

[Tess McLendon]

Absolutely not. I am a changed person. Or at least I hope I am. And I think listeners are going to be changed people too if they're overpackers once they hear your Sally's packing tips today. I hadn't heard some of these.

[Megan Coyle]

Give us some credit, Tess. We can do better than packing cubes. Welcome to Smart Travel, a deep dive into the tips tools and tactics to maximize your travel dollars. I'm Megan Coyle.

[Tess McLendon]

And I'm Tess McLendon for Sally French.

[Megan Coyle]

And we're the travel nerds ready to help you plan your next big trip.

[Tess McLendon]

And Sally apparently feels so strongly about packing light that she skipped packing her microphone this week.

[Megan Coyle]

Yes, today she boarded the new Star of Seas cruise ship from Royal Caribbean for their media launch. It's one of those massive floating cities complete with a water park and an ice rink.

[Tess McLendon]

Yeah, she's gonna report back on that next week. All right, let's do the news for.

[Megan Coyle]

This week as we do in pretty much every episode. We'll talk about some credit card companies that are nerd wallet partners in this episode, but that doesn't influence how we discuss them. The benefits, terms and fees mentioned were accurate at the time of posting, but things can change and some offers may have expired by the time you're listening. For the latest details, follow the links in the episode description. All right, if you have a flight on Southwest Airlines today or tomorrow, that's August 13th or 14th, you might be part of the airline's new trial of free WI fi.

[Tess McLendon]

That is right. Southwest is testing free WI fi for Southwest Rapid Rewards members and you can join the Rapid Rewards program for free and it lets you earn rewards on Southwest.

[Megan Coyle]

Southwest is following airlines including Delta and Hawaiian, which already offer free WI fi on many of their planes. I've been really impressed with the free WI fi on Delta this year, and my sisters just flew Hawaiian and said the Internet worked great over the Pacific Ocean.

[Tess McLendon]

Yeah, American and United aren't far behind. United started outfitting its planes earlier this year and American is rolling out free WI Fi starting in January 2026.

[Megan Coyle]

Southwest Flyers need a win this year after all the changes like new checked bag fees and seat selection fees. But again, free WI fi isn't going to set them apart from any of the other airlines.

[Tess McLendon]

All right. Well, in other airline news, Alaska airlines is adding two new long haul international routes. In 2026, it will begin flying nonstop from Seattle to Reykjavik and London. These are Alaska's 4th and 5th intercontinental routes from Seattle after Tokyo, which launched in May of this year, and Seoul, which launches on September 12, and Rome, also launching in 2026.

[Megan Coyle]

And Alaska Airlines has a sleek new design for those long haul aircraft that are flying those routes. The livery, the appearance of the plane's exterior is inspired by the northern lights, which just made an appearance in some states in the US Last week. I'm jelly if any of our listeners got to see those Tess, you're based in the Pacific Northwest. Will you be driving to Seattle for some of these new flights?

[Tess McLendon]

I'm more likely to fly from Portland. It's a three hour drive if you don't hit traffic, which is very, very, very rare. But there are certainly more non stop international options out of Seattle, so a quick hopper up there is sometimes worth it. By the way, I did see the Northern Lights twice last year when they made it down to our latitudes here in Portland. And Megan, it's as incredible as you imagine. Find a way to see them someday.

[Megan Coyle]

What? Oh, my gosh. Did you get good pictures or is it one of those things, like you have to be there and just burn it into your brain?

[Tess McLendon]

Oh, no. I am a photographer and I had my whole setup. I absolutely froze because it was early May. But, yeah, I'll send you one of my shots.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, perfect. So if you're one of those people looking to book some of these new flights out of Seattle, those flights to Rome, London and Iceland will be available to [e-mail] this fall.

[Tess McLendon]

And also, now might be a good time to join the Alaska Airlines mileage program, if you haven't already. They are offering a $50 flight discount to new members in California or Hawaii and $25 off to new members in other US states except for Alaska. You just have to register by December.

[Megan Coyle]

31, 2025, then you have 28 days to use that flight discount. So maybe wait for those new international flights to go live if you're planning on using the discount for that.

[Tess McLendon]

Yeah, lots of promotions right now. American Airlines and World of Hyatt Elites have an ongoing offer where you can status match by October 31st and get instant elite status in the reciprocal program for the next 90 days.

[Megan Coyle]

Then there are two challenges to keep that elite status. If you stay 10 nights at a Hyatt in those 90 days, you can keep the entry level Hyatt Exp Explorer elite status through February 2027. But get this, if you stay 20 nights, you can earn their top level of elite status. It's called globalist status. Through February 2027. Who doesn't want to.

[Tess McLendon]

Be top tier anything, right? Yeah, and that top tier status is super valuable. It comes with free room upgrades to standard suites, free parking on award nights, club access, free breakfast. Oh, Sally's gonna go for that one. And the ability to gift guest of honor status to someone for their Hyatt vacation. Maybe you'd do that for me? I know you're a Hyatt, Stan. Pretty please?

[Megan Coyle]

Yes. Oh my gosh, I wish. I have to do this challenge first.

[Tess McLendon]

Okay.

[Megan Coyle]

Globalist status usually requires 60 nights per year to earn, but with this promotion, you only have to stay 20 nights. So it's a really good opportunity to lock in high level elite status, especially if you have a special trip coming up next year.

[Tess McLendon]

Maybe all the way across the Pacific. I spent three years living in Southeast Asia, Megan, and Malaysia is a hidden gem. Incredible food if you can handle the spice, which honestly I barely could. But Hyatt just opened its first Park Hyatt in Malaysia last week. It's between levels 75 and 114 of the Merdeka 118, the tallest skyscraper in Asia Pacific.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, I love Malaysian food. I also love Park Hyatt. They are so luxurious. There you go.

[Tess McLendon]

You're going to Malaysia.

[Megan Coyle]

Yes. Park Hyatt's are so luxurious and extreme with travelers. Luxury hotel chains are driving a lot of the revenue growth for Hyatt this year, according to their earnings report last week. That's similar to the pattern we've been seeing with Hilton and other hotels.

[Tess McLendon]

Now, if you need a cheaper way to get to Southeast Asia. Cathay Pacific is offering travelers up to 17% savings on flights to Asia through September 3rd of this year. They fly to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, and more from the US I cannot recommend this part of the world more highly. Go immerse yourself.

[Megan Coyle]

And new and existing Cathay World Elite MasterCard holders get an additional savings of up to 15% as part of the sale. So you can stack this discount.

[Tess McLendon]

And to round out the International Airline news, Air Canada is making some changes to its Aeroplan program. In January 2026, it'll start awarding points based on how much you spend with the airline, not the distance you fly.

[Megan Coyle]

This is pretty much how all the US Airline loyalty programs work, with the exception of Alaska Airlines. And I think unless you have elite status with Air Canada, you're going to be earning a lot less aeroplan points for your flights.

[Tess McLendon]

And this is why it's really good to have transferable points. It'll be harder for most people to earn aeroplan points with flying, but it is a transfer partner of almost all the major credit card programs. Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt. So that might be an easier route to Air Canada points. With this change, we'll pack the list.

[Megan Coyle]

Of transfer partners of all the major credit card programs. You can find that in the episode description. And Tess, thanks so much for filling in for Sally today.

[Tess McLendon]

Always happy to see you next time.

[Megan Coyle]

Up next, Sally and I will share some of our non obvious packing tips. But before we get into that, you may have heard we're running our annual listener survey. And yes, there are some prizes. We're giving away the first ever Smart Travel branded merch. It's super exclusive. Only seven people will get it. I don't even have one yet. This survey takes just a few minutes and we read every response. This is your chance to help shape what we cover on Smart Travel and how we cover it and how the show evolves. Head to nerdwallet.com/travel survey and fill it out by September 15th to be entered for a chance to win. All right Sally, let's talk packing. Now, we're not here to tell you how to roll your clothes tighter. We're here to help you actually figure out some ways that packing Smart can save you money. Like hundreds of dollars actually.

[Sally French]

Yeah. So for starters, to spell that out, pretty much every airline charges bag fees these days. I would say it's usually about $35 for a checked bag on domestic flights. Sometimes budget airlines or a basic economy fare on a traditional air carrier will charge you for carry on luggage. I think of an example like Frontier. They charge for carry on and checked bags. That can run you potentially an additional 200 round trip for that Frontier checked bag and carry on.

[Megan Coyle]

And if you're hearing this and thinking well good thing I don't fly Frontier, I want to point out that if you're flying multiple flights a year with a checked bag or you're doing a multi city trip, those costs can add up even if you fly with a full service airline.

[Sally French]

Yes. So if you really, really need to check a bag and you also need that carry on bag, there are some ways that you can avoid these fees, especially if you are willing to pledge allegiance and be loyal to one airline. So you could get your preferred airlines co branded credit card. Of course check the benefits. But many of these cards actually offer free checked bags as a benefit for holding those cards. And we have a list of those cards with free checked bags that we'll put in the episode Description. What I like about these is that the annual fee is often less than the cost of checking a bag three times. So two round trip flights with that checked bag. In most cases you've already gotten your money's worth on the fees alone.

[Megan Coyle]

The other way is to earn Elite status. Now I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars trying to earn elite status just to save on baggage fees, but I do want to point out that some airlines allow elite status members to bring on heavier bags for free. For example, United airlines let elite status members bring bags up to £70 for free instead of the usual £50.

[Sally French]

I can bring my dumbbells.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah.

[Sally French]

Again, though, even in that case, it might be cheaper to pay the overweight bag fee than spend all the money and time earning elite status just to get that benefit.

[Megan Coyle]

Absolutely. And of course, the method everyone already knows and loves for avoiding bag fees is going carry on only. Yes, I'm definitely team carry on after my whole lost luggage debacle.

[Sally French]

I am sorry about that. But I got to say, Megan, I take it a step further. I ditch the roller bag, which I know you have, and I go with just a backpack.

[Megan Coyle]

Yikes.

[Sally French]

Okay, so I gotta say, I started doing carry on only, and then I shrunk it down even further to just see, like, what can I fit under my seat? And I gotta say, when all your possessions are literally on your back, you start making different decisions about what is necessary. It's not just will I use this? But will I carry this for 12 blocks in Paris, up and down the train stairs where there's no escalator? I might even possibly take it to the top of the Eiffel tower with me. Who knows? Just before your flight.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, I like that. I saw the photos from you taking your backpack all the way up the Eiffel tower. It also seems like it lets you be more spontaneous, which is super fun. All right, let's do our favorite money saving packing tips.

[Sally French]

I think the reason why we wanted to do this show was primarily to talk about my signature packing tip. I coined this term. I'm still working on my trademark. It is called the ten $10 rule. So I just got to say shout out to a couple friends. Andrea Sachs at the Washington Post and then Elaine Guzak at the New York Times. They both wrote about this ten $10 packing tip that I came up with. Andrea's story is particularly funny because it's called A ruthless guide to flying without bag fees.

[Megan Coyle]

Wow. So she even considers your packing rule to be ruthless.

[Sally French]

She did, and maybe it is.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, well, why don't you explain it?

[Sally French]

The ten $10 rule goes like this. If you have a just in case item, something that you might need, but you know you can buy it at your destination, it is under $10, and you can acquire it in under 10 minutes. I say don't pack it.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay, so give us some examples.

[Sally French]

Yeah. So really, these are the just in case items. It is like an umbrella, even if it's not raining all the days straight, it's extra toiletries that you might need if you run out. Beach towels because you're not sure if the hotel has them. Things like that. I'm saying do not pack the poncho unless you are absolutely sure it is rainy season or, you know, you are headed to Tiana's bio adventure at Disneyland. And do not bring a second book unless you're absolutely sure that you're going to finish it first. Basically, do not bring the sunscreen if you are not sure you're going to go tank top or shirts off. If I'm going to be in long sleeves all day, then just get the sunscreen if you need it while you're there.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, man. I always bring this on screen. I like this rule though, because it's pretty flexible based on where you're going. Like if you're traveling to a vacation rental in the middle of nowhere and the closest pharmacy is 30 minutes away, then trying to buy new sunscreen might just be really stressful. But in that case, packing more up front might make more sense.

[Sally French]

So I kind of think of this as a guideline. And even to go someplace in 10 minutes might be faster for me because I'm super agile versus someone who's like, I gotta wrangle all the kids and I gotta roll out their stroller and all that. So I do want people to know this is a guideline. And even, you know, someone who's on a really, really tight budget, they might say this is a 10, $5 rule because maybe they can't afford to part with $10. And that totally makes sense. At the same time, someone might be like, my rule is ten, a hundred dollars because they want to pack super light. And if they might need it and they're fine, spine, you know, an all new leather jacket for a hundred dollars, go for it.

[Megan Coyle]

And just to clarify, you do pack the essentials though, right?

[Sally French]

Yes, yes, yes. So these are like just in case items, because I fully understand, like a toothbrush under $10, you can get it in under 10 minutes. But these are those things that you think you might need. So again, we're talking like sunscreen. If you're not totally sure, you're rolling out to the beach, you might be in a sweater anyway that day. These are the just in case items. But really, I know so many people who pack these just in case items. And I'm like, do not do it.

[Megan Coyle]

Okay? I'm worried about our listeners. I think sunscreen's an essential and you should just pack. You should wear it any day, no matter whether you're going to beach or not.

[Sally French]

Megan, we should tell the listeners we are talking right now in San Francisco where it is foggy. It is 50 degrees. We rolled up in our full parkas, so face sunscreen is essential, but nothing else.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, sunscreen first, everyone. Okay, our next tip is sort of related to that one. Stay with us. You'll hear it in a minute. Today's episode is sponsored by Saily, the new ESIM app from the creators of NordVPN.

[Sally French]

These are the same folks who've been keeping your Internet safe. Now they are keeping you connected in more than 200 destinations, zero roaming surprises, and zero airport SIM card chaos.

[Megan Coyle]

With Saily, you download the app once and you're good to go. No new sim for every country, no shady kiosks or awkward language barriered tech support.

[Sally French]

Oh, thank goodness. And the pricing is so much better than roaming. You can choose from local, regional or global data plans. Whether you are hitting one city or six, your coverage keeps up.

[Megan Coyle]

It even has a built in ad blocker that stops browser ads from loading, which can reduce your data usage by up to 28.6%.

[Sally French]

Ooh, very smart.

[Megan Coyle]

And you can activate Saily's security features to change your virtual location, block malicious ads, and stay safer with web protection. That way you can browse safely at the beach, the cafe, or wherever you can find a signal and a sangria.

[Sally French]

Ooh, the perfect combo. Plus, they've got 24. 7 customer support and a full refund. If your phone happens to not be.

[Megan Coyle]

ESIM compatible, download the Saily app in your app store. Use code smarttravel at checkout to get 15% off your first purchase.

[Sally French]

That's smart travel for 15% off.

[Megan Coyle]

Hey everyone. Sally and I are always looking for new ways to help you get the most out of your getaways. Which is why we'd love your opinion on how we could make this show even better.

[Sally French]

Take a few minutes to fill out our listener survey and you'll be entered to win some seriously fun prizes. One winner will get a Polaroid Go instant camera and six people will win the Bagu Cloud Carry on bag, which is one of our favorite travel bags. You know I'm team Carry on only.

[Megan Coyle]

Just go to nerdwallet.com travelsurvey and complete the survey form by September 15th for a chance to win. You can read the official rules for more details, which again can be [e-mail] TravelSurvey thank you and good Luck. All right, Sally, our next packing tip. Don't pack the hotel freebies.

[Sally French]

Yes. I love this one. And this totally goes in the whole 10, $10 rule where you can acquire a lot of things in under 10 minutes, particularly if you are staying at a hotel. And generally the nicer hotels do this. So I learned this a few years ago. I was flying to Santa Barbara. The TSA took my toothpaste. Boo tsa. And so the safe with Sally and me was like, let me just go down to the lobby of this hotel in Santa Barbara and see if by any chance they have toothpaste. And you know what they did? They handed me like a little case with like, toothpaste, toothbrush, some razors. It was amazing. And it was free.

[Megan Coyle]

Wow. I've seen fancy hotels have all sorts of things, not just toothpaste, but like little combs, like a razor. If you need it. You just have to call the front desk.

[Sally French]

Yeah, yeah. I was at the Kimpton recently and they had a whole sign of, like, all the things that you could request. And they were even things that, like, I don't use in my everyday life. But I was like, oh, my gosh, maybe I should get some nice face lotion or something.

[Megan Coyle]

Absolutely.

[Sally French]

The other thing is that some hotels even take this as well. Step further. So I was talking to someone who represents Lowe's hotels. They are a smaller hotel chain and they even offer what they call hello bellow baby kits. And these include all sorts of items for babies because we talked about how much parents might need to pack more or it's harder to wrangle children, but their baby kits include things like baby bathtubs.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, that reminds me. Even Disneyland first aid has a bunch of stuff you might need, including free band aids if you start getting blisters from all the walking.

[Sally French]

Yes. You know, you just go to city hall on main street and they hand you like a little stack of bands. Band aids.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah, it's great. Okay, so one of my biggest packing tips is just don't be afraid of doing laundry.

[Sally French]

Yeah.

[Megan Coyle]

Cruises have it, some vacation rentals have it. And if there is easy access to a washing machine, you 100 do not need to pack so many clothes. My mom used to have us literally bring three outfits for our two week trip to visit family in Hawaii.

[Sally French]

I respect your mom.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. It's really easy to toss a couple of laundry pods in your suitcase. Yeah, I know that probably falls under your 10. Under $10. But since I usually only need one or two, I just pack them from home.

[Sally French]

But you also know you're going to need it. You know you're going to do laundry.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah.

[Sally French]

So you pass my test.

[Megan Coyle]

Sometimes I'm a little ambitious about it. I'm like, I'm going to do laundry like three times and I do it once. But it's fine. No one.

[Sally French]

You can pack two extra laundry pods.

[Megan Coyle]

I also always like to bring a random plastic bag.

[Sally French]

Oh, yes, that's such a good tip.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. Like from the grocery store or takeout or whatever. Because you can put so many different things in it. You can put your wet bathing suits in it, you can put your shoes in it, you can put your dirty laundry in it. But if at the end of the trip you find yourself with some random souvenirs that don't fit in your carry on, you put them in your plastic bag as if you bought them from the airport.

[Sally French]

Yeah.

[Megan Coyle]

And the gate agent usually won't count like a plastic bag of takeout food or your snack haul as part of your carry on allowance. So it just gives you a little extra breathing room. But it has to be in that little plastic bag. Yeah.

[Sally French]

Oh, you know, I actually thought, when you said plastic bag, I thought you meant like Ziploc bag because I always bring a Ziploc gallon bag for like my swimsuit and all that. And then sometimes like if you have snacks or whatever. I was at the Graduate Hotel and in the room they gave like little checks mix, but it wasn't like pre packaged so I put it in my gallon bag.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, wow.

[Sally French]

Okay.

[Megan Coyle]

But the gate agent might stop you if they saw you carrying around a Ziploc bag. They might be like, that's a third item.

[Sally French]

No, I don't think so. Test it out, people. Find out. Find out.

[Megan Coyle]

Right. Okay. And then I also think that travel size things are a scam.

[Sally French]

They're. Yes. They're so expensive.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. Like the cost per unit is just, just laughable. Especially if you're buying some random travel size thing at a tourist.

[Sally French]

I swear, like mini toothpaste is more expensive than just normal toothpaste.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, 100. It is absolutely worth the money to buy some of those travel size containers and take the products you already like and use at home with you on travel.

[Sally French]

Yeah. You know my hack, I do pack sunscreen when I'm going to beach vacations. Megan and I take like prescription drug containers and then when I'm done with them, I put sunscreen in those. Oh, yeah. And then you have like mini packs of sunscreen.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, I love it.

[Sally French]

Like you take one every day.

[Megan Coyle]

See the last one I think people don't talk about enough is if you're going on vacation where, you know, you might be buying some stuff and you might not have enough room on the way back, you should pack things you're okay with getting rid of at the end of the trip. Yes.

[Sally French]

Oh, I totally do that. This is also a good tip.

[Megan Coyle]

Like, I brought an old pair of running shoes when I went on a cruise, because after the cruise, I just tossed those because they were falling apart. And that gave me enough room to take back a new pair of sandals I bought.

[Sally French]

Right. Oh, my God. That's my favorite trip. I'm glad you do that, too, because I was like, am I the only unhinged one who's like, my shoes that are too smelly to wear again? Their last trip will be in Europe.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. It's a good way to go, I think.

[Sally French]

Sorry, Europe, that I'm wearing smelly shoes.

[Megan Coyle]

But reuse as many things as you can. I don't recommend buying things to toss them away.

[Sally French]

Yeah. So, Megan, now I know you're quite the reader.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah.

[Sally French]

You like to pack books on your trips.

[Megan Coyle]

I love packing books. I felt, like, a little targeted when you mentioned, like, don't pack a second book. That was aimed at me, wasn't it?

[Sally French]

I don't know. I don't.

[Megan Coyle]

Well, what I do is I don't take my most prized books on vacation. So I'll take, like, a beach read that I got as a gift, and then I'll finish it on vacation. And then you know how some hotels have, like, a little bookshelf?

[Sally French]

Yes. Free library.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. I'll just put it there at the bookshelf for the next person. So that makes me feel like I've donated it or like I've given it another chance at life.

[Sally French]

Last item that you use, leave it behind. You don't need to bring it again with you. Yeah, I really like that idea. And then the other thing is, when you're actually buying souvenirs, I always think about being targeted about what I'm buying. And often I'll buy souvenirs that I can actually use on the trip. So you might say, like, I need a sun hat. Rather than buy a sun hat from, you know, Target in your local town. Just, if you're going to the beach, just buy a sun hat there. I was in Thailand, and there's so many cool beach tanks, beach hats, all these things. Just buy that in Thailand, and then you have your souvenir there.

[Megan Coyle]

There you go. I love that idea. And plus, you'll always remember it. It's like multipurpose souvenir. When you come back, you'll also be like, I was in Thailand.

[Sally French]

I have a cool banana romper from Thailand.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh, cute. Okay, I think that's a good one to end on. I think it's hot takeoffs time.

[Sally French]

You ready? Yeah. Megan, you have one?

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. Sort of related to packing, but I like using a clothing rental service for months that I'm going to travel a lot.

[Sally French]

I've never used a clothing rental. Rental service.

[Megan Coyle]

Oh. I think you might actually really like it because it feels like part of the vacation budget is buying clothes that help you fit in there. You know, like if you're going to a beach, you want, like, beachy clothes and stuff like that. And maybe you don't always have that just, like, laying around or it's from, like, your trip to the beach like three years ago.

[Sally French]

Right.

[Megan Coyle]

But you do a clothing rental service and suddenly you have access to all these different clothes. And this is for people who want.

[Sally French]

To look cute on vacation.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah.

[Sally French]

Cute clothes.

[Megan Coyle]

Who doesn't want to look cute? I mean, I want to look like I fit in.

[Sally French]

Yeah. I don't want to say want to look cute because we all do. But, like, I'm so functional that I'm like, I don't even care.

[Megan Coyle]

I was really surprised because I started doing nuuly for some of these destination weddings that I've been going to.

[Sally French]

How do you spell that?

[Megan Coyle]

N U u L y.

[Sally French]

Interesting. I love these startups. Have, like, ridiculous spellings. Oh, definitely.

[Megan Coyle]

If I didn't tell, you would have no idea. But I will say that service has saved me a couple of hundred dollars because I literally. I rented my bridesmaid dress.

[Sally French]

Interesting.

[Megan Coyle]

I rented my western outfit for a trip.

[Sally French]

Bridesmaid dress. That's great.

[Megan Coyle]

Yeah. I rented a going out outfit for city. I know people who rent, like, ski jackets and stuff from there.

[Sally French]

Interesting.

[Megan Coyle]

There's a couple of companies that do this. Rent the Runway. Yeah, that's what I've heard of newly stitch fix. I think there's actually a bunch of them out there. There's a lot of different price points. Like the one for newly, you get six pieces for like $110 or something like that for one month, but you get multiple pieces. Whereas, like, rent the Runway. Sometimes you can only get one piece at a time. So find the one that works for you. Hope you guys look fabulous on vacation listeners.

[Sally French]

You heard it. You can look fabulous and also pack light. Email [e-mail] or you can even leave us a voice memo where we can play it back on the show and.

[Megan Coyle]

Follow us on Instagram. I'm miles with Megan Co. Megan with an H&CO.

[Sally French]

Like CO and I'm on Instagram as avewithsally.

[Megan Coyle]

Instagram is fun because this podcast is just us talking to each other, but then we can talk to you too on Instagram.

[Sally French]

Yes, I want to know what you guys look like too. And with that you've made it to the end. Surely that means you are a fan of the show if you've made it this far. In which case, please rate and review. You can leave a comment and also a star rating.

[Megan Coyle]

Come back for more by following the show on your favorite podcast app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadio. That way you can automatically download next week's episode and all the future episodes to come.

[Sally French]

This episode was produced by Hillary Georgie and Tess Vigland. Claire Socie helped with fact checking, Nick Karisini helped mix our audio and here's our brief disclaimer.

[Megan Coyle]

We're not financial or investment advisors. This is info is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes and may not apply to your specific circumstances.

[Sally French]

Thanks for listening. We hope you're inspired to keep your passport full and your wallet even fuller. See you next episode.

[Matt]

Hello, this is Matt from the Explorers podc. I want to invite you to join me on the voyages and journeys of the most famous explorers in the history of the world. These are the thrilling and captivating stories of Magellan, Shackleton, Lewis and Clark and so many other famous and not so famous adventures from throughout history. Go to explorespodcast.com or just look us up on your podcast app. That's the Explorers Podcast.