We probably all have bad this kind of situation: packing too many clothes that we don’t get to wear them all; or pack so little that we have to do laundry in the hotel. The ideal packing is to have just enough and wear them all before we come back. I have this relative who even packs 2 scales with her to go on trip just in case one fails. Now that’s an extreme. Number one, she doesn’t need to weight herself for 10 days in Europe. Number two, if one scale fails, that’s OK.
With the increased fees at the major airlines and limited carryons, we really need to pay attention to what and how we pack. The most important rule is that never pack the things you don’t even wear at home. There’s a reason why you don’t wear them at home, because they’re either uncomfortable or impractical. Unless you’re taking a luxury cruise, there’s no need to pack all fancy dresses, gowns, and black tie stuff. Pack what you wear everyday. Count the days you will be traveling and add one formal wear on top of that.