🌍 Ten Tiny Travel Fails and What They Taught Me

 

🧳 I Packed for 5 Days Like I Was Moving to Another Country

Let me start by admitting something: I am that traveler — the one who packs for every possible scenario, weather change, mood swing, and fashion emergency. When I planned a five-day trip to the mountains last month, I told myself, “This time, I’ll travel light. Just essentials.” I genuinely believed it. Spoiler alert: I ended up packing like I was preparing to move abroad.

It began with the basics: a pair of jeans, a few t-shirts, one jacket. Simple, right? But then, the spiral began. “What if it rains?” I added an umbrella, raincoat, and waterproof shoes. “What if we go out to a nice restaurant?” In went a dress and heels. “What if the weather suddenly drops to freezing?” Boom — thermal layers, gloves, and a woolen scarf.

And that was just clothes. Let’s not talk about toiletries. Full-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, two moisturizers (for dry and extremely dry skin), sunscreen, lip balm, hair serum, and a backup hair serum — because why not? Add to that a small pharmacy: painkillers, motion sickness pills, Band-Aids, muscle spray, and even cough syrup (just in case the mountain breeze got cheeky).

I packed three books — two for reading and one for the ‘cottage aesthetic’ Instagram photo. I included a journal, five pens (I don’t know why), snacks, a backup charger, and a small power bank for the backup charger. By the end of it, I had one massive suitcase, a backpack, and a canvas tote that was supposed to be “just for the road.” My luggage looked like I was fleeing the country, not heading for a five-day break.

When I reached the station, I saw fellow travelers breeze by with compact backpacks and easy confidence. Meanwhile, I was sweating under the weight of my own paranoia. Still, I comforted myself thinking, “At least I’ll be the one everyone borrows things from.”

The punchline? I wore two outfits the entire trip. The weather was stable, we didn’t go anywhere fancy, and the only book I touched was the one I used for the photo. Half the toiletries stayed unopened. The umbrella never left my bag.

But here’s the truth: I regret nothing.

There was comfort in knowing I was prepared. I had choices. I didn’t wear the third pair of socks, but I could have if I wanted to. My bag may have been heavy, but my mind was light — free from the “what if I forgot something?” anxiety.

So no, I’m not a minimalist traveler. I’m a “pack-it-all-just-in-case” traveler. And that’s okay. Maybe one day I’ll learn the art of packing light. Maybe. But until then, I’ll be the girl dragging her suitcase up the hill — slightly over packed, slightly out of breath, and 100% ready for whatever the journey brings.