Packing for a multi city summer trip

Most people pack for a single destination. A multi city trip is different because you deal with varying humidity, different dress codes, and the frustration of carrying a suitcase that gets heavier as you buy souvenirs. I once worked with a client who spent three days in Mexico City and four days in Tulum. She packed heavy sweaters for the highlands and then struggled to fit them in her carry-on while trying to find something light for the beach.

The secret to this kind of travel is a modular wardrobe. You need pieces that work in pairs. If you are heading to a resort after a flight, choose verdusa swimwear cover ups because they work as dresses for dinner or wraps for the pool. This reduces the number of separate outfits you need to track.

The logic of fabric choices

Cotton absorbs water and stays wet. Linen wrinkles if you look at it wrong. I suggest merino wool or high quality synthetics for the long hauls. When I helped a business consultant plan his European summer tour, we focused on dark neutrals. Dark colors hide the dust from train stations and cobblestone streets. He carried three shirts and two pairs of trousers. He washed them in hotel sinks every third night.

Avoid packing “just in case” items. You will not wear those five extra pairs of socks or that formal blazer if you are spending your time at beach clubs and cafes. Buy what you need there if an emergency happens. Local shops often have better style options than what you can cram into a suitcase from home.

• Use packing cubes to separate day wear from evening wear
• Carry one oversized scarf for planes or chilly churches
• Limit shoes to one pair of walking sneakers and one pair of sandals
• Pack electronics in a single dedicated pouch
• Choose a crossbody bag with a locking zipper for crowded markets

Managing transitions between climates

Moving from an air conditioned airport to a tropical street creates temperature shock. Layering is the only way to handle this without changing clothes every hour. I remember a client who traveled from New York to Bali; she wore her heaviest jacket on the plane and folded it into her bag immediately upon landing.

Coordinate colors so every top matches every bottom. If everything is beige, white, or black, you can mix items randomly without thinking about it_ The goal is to spend less time deciding what to wear and more time seeing the cities on your itinerary.