As a travel writer, I used to think I had packing down to a science. But, each time I cursed cobblestone while bumping my suitcase through Europe or yanked a rolling bag through sand to reach my beach bungalow, I realized that even the chicest suitcase will still weigh down your trip. These days, I travel nearly half the year—for work, for pleasure, for whatever you call family trips with a toddler. And I almost never bring a suitcase. Instead, I rent nearly everything I need and have it sent directly to my destination. Once I got a taste for traveling hands-free, I was hooked.
Here’s exactly how I pull it off, and how you can, too.
Fashion Things First
Let’s start with the obvious: clothes. You probably already know you can rent a designer outfit for a wedding, but you can also build a full travel wardrobe and have it shipped straight to your hotel or Airbnb. While buying new vacation clothes is a thrill in itself, shopping a rental site can bring you the same fresh look without the suitcase––or post-vacation laundry. In major cities across the U.S. (and more globally every day), you can rent everyday outfits, travel-friendly layers, and statement pieces for nights out, plus accessories like hats, bags, and sunglasses.
Rent the Runway is my go-to in the U.S.—they offer a “Reserve” option in which you choose specific items for your trip window. You can set the drop off location as your destination and have it picked up there, too. I try to stick with designers whose fit I am familiar with instead of trying to guess on sizing, and I check the weather report ahead of time to make sure to add in a coat if it’ll be cold. For my recent 40th birthday celebration in Las Vegas, I arrived with just what I wore on the plane and had five head-to-toe looks waiting at my hotel. International options are popping up as well; HURR in the U.K. and Trent in Spain offer similar services.
Courtesy Michelle Stansbury
The author on her 40th birthday trip, for which she rented five full outfits.
I also check whether the hotel offers laundry service or identify a nearby fluff-and-fold to wash my travel clothes (usually a Spanx AirEssentials coord set) so they’re fresh for the way home. For longer stays, this works for outfits you want to repeat, as well.
Borrow the Beauty Tools
Upscale hotels have been stepping up their amenity game, and I’ve learned to take full advantage. Want a hair straightener? Many properties will lend you one on request. Need a skin care fridge? Ask the front desk. Prefer a garment steamer to an iron? Odds are they have one. When in doubt, I email the concierge before I arrive with a short list of things I might want to borrow or rent to see what they have available. They’ve seen it all—and they’re usually happy to help. My go-to is a curling wand and I was able to try a Dyson Airwrap for the first time during my stay at Badrutt’s Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Now, I ask for it wherever I travel.
When I visited the Golden Door in Southern California, the room came stocked with an entire high-end skincare line, including bamboo face scrub and a peel-away masque. But, if you’re in an iconic beauty destination (Japan, Korea, France, etc.), plan a trip to the local pharmacy or beauty store for the day you arrive to stock up on toiletries and discover new products. I also use vacations as a time to splurge on blowouts instead of lugging my hair tools—some airports even have a salon in the terminal so you can get glammed up on a layover. Look for a Be Relax Spa, which has dozens of airport locations offering express blowouts, or search for a more high-end salon experience wherever you have a layover, like the Cuttour Hair Studio at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore.
Sea, Slopes, and Safari—Rent Adventure Gear
Cold-weather packing is a suitcase killer. Between boots, puffy coats, and thermal layers—not to mention ski gear—it’s a lot. While I rarely travel to chilly destinations, I couldn’t turn down an incredible assignment in Iceland and didn’t want to invest in a kit I wasn’t sure I’d ever use again. By borrowing location-appropriate gear, like a snowsuit, through my hotel, South Iceland’s Hotel Ranga, I got top-quality without the commitment. Since they don’t carry as extensive a selection as an online rental site, choices were limited, but they still had enough options in the usual sizes.
Courtesy Michelle Stansbury
For a safari in Africa, the author was able to rent a Canon camera.
Same goes for tropical getaways. While you probably don’t need to rent a bikini, the rest of your beach gear can likely be procured at your destination. Think: snorkel set, beach umbrella, cooler, and boogie boards or surf boards. Many hotels now offer a little library of books you can borrow if you’re looking for a beach read, so I leave my Kindle at home and instead pick out a paperback to toss into my bag once I arrive. Since I’m particular about using mineral sunscreen, I order a full-size Sunly directly to my hotel so I can reapply without worrying about spreading only 3 ounces of SPF out across the entire trip. If you’re shipping an online order to the hotel, make sure to include your booking confirmation number, along with your name, to help ensure the package gets to you upon check-in.
If you love photography—or want to try out a professional camera in a beautiful locale—try renting a high-end camera and lens. My favorite part of going on safari in Masai Mara, Kenya was discovering that there was a Canon photo studio at the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge that lent me nearly $8,000 of camera equipment so I could capture stunning photos of lions hunting, cheetah cubs playing, and giraffes backlit against the sunrise.
Family Vacations Are No Exception
Courtesy Michelle Stansbury
The author and her 3-year-old daughter
Many of the trips I take are with my daughter, now 3 years old, which means packing—or planning—for two. While I understand the urge to overpack with a little one in tow, since I’m a single mom, I also don’t want to be burdened with carrying too much stuff. If you’ve ever tried flying solo lugging a pack-n-play, car seat, and a stroller while also wrangling a toddler, you know what I mean. Instead, we take the small Stokke JetKids ride-on suitcase to cruise around the airport (and fill it with snacks and plane activities) and rent nearly everything else.
BabyQuip is the gold standard for renting kids’ gear during travel—they operate in hundreds of cities around the world and offer everything from strollers and SlumberPods to toy packages tailored by age. I use them even when I travel solo for items like blackout curtains, humidifiers, and a white noise machine to create my very own sleep-cation. They expanded into pet gear earlier this year, if you’re traveling with a fur baby!
So… When Do I Bring a Suitcase?
Honestly, not often. For off-the-beaten-track trips without access to much urban infrastructure, it’s good to be prepared with everything you need. Or, for travel that involves changing locations every couple of days, like my recent island hopping whirlwind in Fiji, I’ll bring a compact bag.
Packing light isn’t just about saving space; it’s about freeing yourself from the baggage of, well, baggage. The last time I walked right past baggage claim and into the Parisian sunlight with nothing but my tote bag and a croissant? I’ve never felt more main character energy.
Read the original article on InStyle