I’ll be honest with you. The first time I ever traveled abroad, I thought I had it all figured out. I watched a couple of YouTube videos, skimmed through a few blogs, and even made a checklist that I felt was bulletproof. But the moment I rolled my oversized, jam-packed suitcase into the airport, I realized I had already made my first mistake. That trip ended up teaching me more about packing than any tutorial ever could.
So, if you’re about to take your first international trip or maybe just want to avoid repeating my rookie mistakes, let me walk you through what I learned the hard way.
The Overpacking Disaster
Like many first-time travelers, I was terrified of running out of clothes. My brain kept saying, “What if I need three pairs of jeans? What if I go to a fancy dinner? What if the weather changes overnight?” So, I shoved in way too many outfits, including things I never ended up wearing.
The result? My suitcase was so heavy that I had to lean on it just to zip it up. Worse, at the check-in counter, I watched the number on the scale climb higher than the airline’s baggage allowance. I ended up paying a ridiculous overweight fee that could’ve easily covered a nice dinner in the city I was traveling to.
Lesson learned: You really don’t need as many clothes as you think. Most places have laundry services, and repeating an outfit is not the end of the world.
👉 What would’ve saved me back then are packing cubes, specifically compression ones. They not only organize clothes but also squeeze out extra air so everything takes up less space. If you don’t have any, I recommend checking out the BAGAIL 8 Set Packing Cubes on Amazon. With over 40,000 positive reviews, they’re affordable, durable, and they would’ve easily prevented me from sitting on my suitcase like a wrestler.
Shoes: The Biggest Culprit
If there’s one thing that really weighed me down, it was shoes. For some reason, I thought I needed sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, dress shoes, and even boots… for a ten-day trip. You can already guess how many I actually wore. Yep, just two.
Shoes take up a crazy amount of space, and stuffing them randomly into my bag made everything even messier. Not to mention, one pair ended up getting squished so badly they looked like they’d been run over by a car.
Lesson learned: Pick two or three versatile pairs and leave the rest at home.
👉 Now I always use a travel shoe bag to keep my footwear separate from my clothes. It keeps things organized and avoids dirt transfer. A good one to try is the YAMIU Travel Shoe Bags Set of 4. They’re lightweight, breathable, and perfect for both sneakers and heels.
Toiletries Gone Wrong
Another rookie mistake: bringing full-sized toiletries. I thought, “I’ll just check my bag anyway, so why not?” Well, dragging around a heavy suitcase with huge bottles of shampoo and lotion was not fun. To make matters worse, one of the bottles leaked, leaving my clothes smelling like coconut conditioner for the entire trip.
Lesson learned: Always go for travel-sized bottles or better yet, refillable containers.
👉 One of my favorites now is the Gemice Travel Bottles Set. They’re TSA-approved, leakproof, and come in a set that fits perfectly into any toiletry bag.
Forgetting the Essentials
I was so focused on clothes and toiletries that I forgot a couple of real essentials: a universal power adapter and a decent neck pillow. The adapter mistake left me unable to charge my phone the first night, and the neck pillow mistake left me with a sore neck after a long-haul flight.
Lesson learned: Prioritize comfort and functionality over fashion when it comes to travel gear.
👉 For adapters, the EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter has been a game-changer for me. It works in over 150 countries and has USB ports, so I can charge multiple devices at once.
👉 For comfort, the Cabeau Evolution S3 Neck Pillow is one I personally recommend. It’s memory foam, super supportive, and way better than the floppy cheap ones they sell at airports.
The Checked Bag Nightmare
Because I packed way too much, I had no choice but to check my bag. I thought it was normal, until I stood at the baggage carousel after a 12-hour flight and realized my suitcase didn’t arrive. That moment of panic, standing there while everyone else collected their bags, is something I’ll never forget.
My suitcase showed up a day later, but I had to survive without half my belongings in a country where I didn’t speak the language. It was stressful, expensive, and completely avoidable.
Lesson learned: Whenever possible, travel with carry-on only. It saves money, time, and peace of mind.
👉 If I had invested earlier in a reliable carry-on, I would’ve avoided the mess. The Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Luggage is a fantastic choice with thousands of reviews. It’s lightweight, durable, and fits most airline overhead bins.
Final Thoughts: Packing Smarter, Not Harder
Looking back, I realize my first international trip was one big experiment in what not to do. Overpacking clothes, carrying too many shoes, dragging along full-sized toiletries, forgetting essentials, and checking a bag I didn’t need—every mistake was a lesson.
Today, I travel lighter, smarter, and more comfortably. The best part? I spend less time stressing about my luggage and more time actually enjoying my trip.
If you’re preparing for your first big adventure, learn from my mess-ups. Keep your packing minimal, invest in a few good travel essentials, and focus on the experiences instead of what’s inside your bag. Trust me, your future self will thank you.