10 Common Travel Packing Mistakes (And What to Do Instead)

No matter how many times I travel — and I’ve racked up over 100 countries now — I still see people making the same packing mistakes over and over again. And I get it. When you're excited for a Euro summer or a big Southeast Asia trip, it's easy to overpack, underprepare, or miss the things that actually make life easier on the road.

This post is your heads-up. A full breakdown of the most common mistakes I see (and used to make myself), and what I pack instead — especially when it comes to underrated MVPs like a travel towel.

Let’s save you some space, stress, and those “ugh, why did I bring this?” moments.

1. Packing a Bulky or Useless Towel

Let’s start with the big one. People either:

• Don’t pack a towel at all (because “the hostel will have one”)
  
  

• Pack a heavy beach towel from home
  
  

• Or grab a cheap travel towel that doesn’t work
  
  

Hostel towels aren’t always included, and if they are, they’re often damp, scratchy, or cost extra. A hotel towel isn’t going to the beach with you. And those cheap microfibre ones? The ones that feel like cling film? They don’t dry anything. They just push water around and then start to smell. Quickly.

What to pack instead: A proper travel towel — preferably a quick dry towel that’s compact, absorbent, sand-resistant, and actually feels nice on your skin.

I use (and designed) the Nomadique sand free beach towel with pocket. It folds up smaller than a tee, dries super fast, and has a zip pocket to stash your phone or key. Total game-changer.

 

2. Taking a Hairdryer or Giant Toiletry Bag

Unless you're doing a photoshoot or attending a wedding, ditch the full-size hair tools. Most places in Europe and Southeast Asia are warm enough that your hair will air dry quickly — especially if you're using your quick dry towel after a beach swim or shower.

The same goes for big toiletry bags. Do you really need three moisturisers and four different shampoos?

What to do instead:

• Use mini bottles or solid shampoo bars
  
  

• Keep skincare minimal — you’re going to sweat anyway
  
  

• Let your travel towel help you dry faster and feel fresher

3. Forgetting a Dry Bag or Ziplock

It’s 4pm. You’ve just had a swim. You’re on a scooter. Your swimsuit and towel are still wet. Now what?

What to pack instead:

• A simple dry bag (even a good-quality ziplock works)
  
  

• Wrap your travel towel around wet items to absorb excess moisture
  
  

• Tuck everything in your day bag and keep rolling
  
  

This saves you from soggy surprises later.

4. Overpacking Clothes “Just In Case”

I know, I know. That cute dress might come in handy. So might those heels. Or the second pair of jeans. But will they?

Probably not.

Overpacking just makes your bag heavier, harder to close, and more stressful to live out of. You don’t need outfit changes for every mood. Most travellers live in their comfiest pieces anyway.

What to do instead:

• Pack clothes that mix and match
  
  

• Stick to breathable, quick-drying fabrics
  
  

• Choose multipurpose items — like a sarong, or your travel towel, which doubles as a cover-up, mat, or blanket
  

5. Not Planning for the Beach (Even if It’s Not a Beach Trip)

Even if your main destination isn’t coastal, there’s always a chance of a day trip or spontaneous swim — especially in places like Croatia, Portugal, Vietnam, or the Philippines.

And nothing’s worse than being the one person fully clothed while everyone else is enjoying a dip.

What to pack instead:

• Swimsuit
  
  

• Compact sand free beach towel
  
  

• Flip flops
  
  

• Lightweight cover-up or sarong
  
  

• Zip pocket for valuables (hint: my beach towel with pocket handles this)
  

6. Assuming You Won’t Need a Blanket

This one always gets people on long bus rides, freezing ferries, or air-conditioned trains. Southeast Asia and Europe both love blasting the AC. I’ve been shivering in 35-degree weather — indoors.

What to do instead:

• Use your travel towel as a blanket or scarf
  
  

• Keep it at the top of your day bag
  
  

• It’s soft, easy to grab, and doesn’t take up space
  
  

Bonus: It makes a great pillow too.

7. Forgetting Laundry Essentials

If you’re travelling for more than two weeks, you’ll probably do laundry — either at a hostel, laundromat, or in the sink.

What to pack instead:

• A bar of laundry soap or a small bottle of detergent
  
  

• A sink stopper (if you’re old-school)
  
  

• Your travel towel — use it to roll wet clothes in and press-dry before hanging
  
  

Trust me, this cuts drying time in half.

8. No Plan for Wet Gear or Sweat

You’ve been to the beach. Or a waterfall. Or just walked 10km around Rome. Now you’re hot, sweaty, and don’t want to sit on your hostel bed in a sticky shirt.

What to do instead:

• Use your towel to freshen up
  
  

• Swap clothes quickly using it as a wrap
  
  

• Use it to sit on while you cool down
  
  

• Let your sand free beach towel double as a barrier for dusty benches or hot pavement
  

9. Carrying Too Many “What If” Items

“What if it rains?”
“What if I go hiking?”
“What if I end up at a fancy dinner?”

Yes, it’s smart to prepare. But it’s not smart to prepare for everything at once — especially if it means carrying extra shoes, jackets, or specialty gear you’ll never use.

What to do instead:

• Pack versatile items that cover multiple situations
  
  

• Rent or buy specialty stuff if the situation actually comes up
  
  

• Let your travel towel be your secret weapon — it’ll always come in handy, no matter what
  

10. Skipping the Towel Altogether

The biggest mistake? Not packing a towel at all.

I can’t tell you how many travellers I’ve met who assumed they wouldn’t need one — and ended up scrambling to borrow, rent, or buy something overpriced and terrible.

Don’t be that person.

Bring one towel that can do it all:

• Dry you off after showers
  
  

• Lay on at the beach
  
  

• Wrap around as a scarf or skirt
  
  

• Serve as a blanket, pillow, or yoga mat
  
  

• Tuck your stuff in with the hidden zip pocket
  
  

The Nomadique travel towel was designed for this exact purpose — it’s stylish, compact, sand-free, and totally ready for every “what if.”

Bonus Tips for Travel Towel Users

You’ve got the towel. Now here’s how to get the most out of it.

☑️ Roll it, don’t fold it – Tighter and more compact
☑️ Hang it as soon as you’re done – Dries faster
☑️ Use the zip pocket – Phone, keys, cash — all secure
☑️ Brush off the sand before packing – Easy when it’s actually a sand free beach towel
☑️ Keep it in your day bag – You’ll use it more than you think

Final Thoughts: The Packing Secret Nobody Talks About

Everyone’s talking about packing cubes, compression bags, or capsule wardrobes. But the travel towel? It’s your true ride-or-die.

You’ll use it on sweaty travel days, at hostel showers, on beach trips, hikes, boats, balconies, beds, buses, and boats again. It’s the one thing that’s always useful, always light, and always worth packing.

If you’re heading off on your Euro summer or Southeast Asia adventure, pack light — but pack smart.

Bring a beach towel with pocket. Make sure it’s sand-free, dries fast, folds small, and looks good while doing it.

The Nomadique travel towel was designed to be the one towel you pack and never regret. Promise.