Overseas Travel Packing: Do as I say, not as I do, says MaNdlovu

I’d love to tell you that after years of travelling, I’ve finally found the secret to packing light. That would be a lie. Who sat on their suitcase in a Los Angeles hotel room, struggling with the zipper with only five minutes left before the airport shuttle arrived? Me! I say this while covering my eyes in embarrassment.

If I’m being honest, I feel even more embarrassed about the fashionable snow boots I took with me for two weeks in America during winter and never wore at all. They travelled thousands of kilometres with me, only to return home in exactly the same condition they left in. So, for once, to my aspiring global travellers: please do as I say and not as I do.

I do, however, have a system I’ve been using for years. It’s nearly foolproof if you actually follow it. About a week before I travel, I take out my suitcase and begin planning. I check the weather forecast for my destination and then lay out my outfits on the dining room table, one day at a time. I match tops with trousers, add a few accessories — usually scarves, caps, or beanies — and assemble outfits suitable for different times of the day.

Everything is perfectly organised and ready to go straight into the suitcase. Until the anxiety kicks in. What if I spill something on my jumper during the day and need another for the evening? What if I end up attending a show and don’t want to wear the same outfit again? These are the kinds of questions that start to creep in. Over time, though, I’ve learned something reassuring: almost every city I’ve visited has a laundry service within walking distance of the hotel. Using a neighbourhood laundry is usually far more affordable than the hotel service. Hotels charge per item, while the laundrette across the street often charges per basket or by weight. When you think about it logically, you could pack half the clothes and simply wash them as you go. Lighter luggage is always a win.

And while we all enjoy a fashion moment and the occasional social media photo, the truth is that nobody notices if you wear the same pair of jeans twice. I definitely have. Many times.

While I chuckle at myself for carrying those snow boots around for two weeks, I’m still glad I did the research beforehand because being overprepared is far better than being underprepared. To be fair, the only reason I didn’t wear the snow boots was that I had packed waterproof trainers with a good grip. They did the job perfectly, no slipping on icy pavements and no wet socks from melting snow. But that small victory only happened because I had spent time researching how to pack for below-zero temperatures. Months before a trip, you can easily check the average temperatures for the city you’re visiting, along with practical details about the weather, the roads, and even the pavements.

Knowing exactly how to pack, right down to the type of shoes you’ll need, can save you from having to buy expensive items abroad. As someone who is unapologetically frugal, I prefer to buy what I need in rands rather than stand in a foreign shop doing exchange-rate calculations I could have avoided.

The truth is, packing in any form is an emotional task. Whether it’s the joy and anticipation of what’s to come, or the quiet sadness that comes with packing because you’re leaving a place that has become part of you, it’s easy to pack with your heart rather than with practicality. I’m probably not as bad as I used to be, but it might take a bit more time before I fully detach the emotion from it, and start following my own advice.

* Sané Ndlovu is a proudly local, globally curious travel writer, PR practitioner, and avid solo traveller.