How To Pack For A Trip With Rajiv Surendra

"If I don't look as good as I usually look, then I just put on a smile." There's a whole seminar in that sentence.

Rajiv: Confidence is the most attractive quality. Who cares what you look like? Also Rajiv: WHY aren't people wearing three piece suits on planes anymore?!?!😭 Love this channel so much 🥰

My father was an art teacher who took his students abroad every summer and winter break. That’s quite a bit of travel over 50+ years. Some of my earliest memories traveling with him involve washing clothes in hotel sinks and bathtubs. Pro tip: take laundry detergent sheets. They’re light, dissolve on contact, and have no risk of spilling. Plus, you can tear them in half for smaller sink loads.

This man is masculine elegance personified, really like these videos. As someone whose traveled across the Atlantic quite a bit, I follow the same principle of dressing well and wearing the heavy stuff. For packing but also you are more likely to find supportive airline staff to help in difficult situations if you dress well. It's stupid and I wish it wasn't like this but it is unfortunately. I dress very casually normally but when I travel I look incredible, nails, hairs, make up, etc. The amount of times I've skated by paying for luggage or got upgraded to better seats speak for themselves. I couldn't recommend it more.

As an over-packer who works really hard to take as little as possible, you've encouraged me to pack even less, I'm flying to Barcelona in a week's time, so I'm going to implement some of these tips. It might not be perfect the first time around but I'll definitely give it a go.

Can we take a moment to appreciate the penmanship 🤩

After a few years of considering the Wool& 100 Days Dress challenge, I finally committed this spring. I wore the same black lightweight merino wool sheath dress with various accessories, dressed up or down for 100 days straight, and it was truly life altering. During this time I took two, week long business trips. Besides undergarments, a nightgown, I only packed 3 other pieces of clothing, and a small bar of handmade wool wash for spot cleaning or laundry in the hotel. The temperature regulating and odor resistant properties of natural wool means that at the end of the day, you can hang your garment and let it air out overnight, and it’s good to go the next day, no funky dirty laundry or B.O. smell at all. Unless I spilled something on myself, as I am known to do, I only washed my dress once a week. No decisions about what to wear, completely comfortable, no worries about how my outfit looks and able to get fully dressed in literally under 2 minutes has made mornings so much easier. Since completing the challenge, I have purchased 2 other items from Wool& to round out my capsule wardrobe and could not be happier!

I am an Army Brat and was raised in the “You Pack It, You Carry It “ school of travel! We became experts at going light as kids. Just stopped by the Tumi store …YIKES! $150.00 for the just in case nylon bag. My budget is not that fancy. Will improvise.

There's only 1 thing I would add to the bag - 2nd pair of shoes! It's important to let shoes, especially leather ones, to rest for at least a day between wears. I also had shoes break when traveling and that's not an item I want to be shopping for in stress and rush. A beautiful and inspiring video as always! ❤

I'm a flight attendant, and this video is such a game changer. I'm going to start packing like this. And if you're ever on one of my flights I need you to sign my copy of your memoir! I've been reading it on this last flight and when I looked up, the passenger in front of me was watching Mean Girls and your face flashed across the screen. I thought that was so funny. I hope I can meet you one day! ❤

As an Australian who has family in England…for over 24 hours on planes in travel each way I definitely prioritise comfort over style but try to find outfits that still look chic.

I'm quite proud because I followed a lot of these tips intuitively on my week long trip to Italy recently. I managed with an overcoat, a light jacket, 3 pairs of shoes, 3 pajamas, 5 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 swimsuits and 1 dress (plus undies and socks). Only needed to carry an overnight duffel bag and a large tote (which I packed all of my toiletries, accessories and two extra purses in). Maybe a bit more than Rajiv, but I'm a lady and I need options 💅. Highly recommend washing clothes in the hotel sink. In lieu of laundry detergent I just used the hotel shampoo 🤷🏾‍♀️😂.

Rajiv, you are a gentleman and a man of distinction. I went to Morocco this summer for almost 2 weeks and packed a backpack and carryon with art supplies in it. If I had found an art supply store there, I would have just taken the backpack. Packing light eases the mind. Traveling is stressful enough. I had a cousin who shipped her stuff to my grandma’s house for Thanksgiving ahead of time. So she travelled with nothing essentially. If you factor in all the checked back age fees it’s genius! And saves one’s back. She is the master of light packing. Also, I just knew you were gonna pack laundry detergent! Did you make the detergent and put bluing in it for your shirts?

I’m the worst packer so this is eye opening. It never occurred to me to take laundry detergent. I use Earthbreeze sheets so that would be easy to pack. Thanks!!!

I like packing cubes. I started using them a couple of years ago. When you get to your hotel you only need to take the packing cube out of the luggage and put it straight into a drawer. I would also suggest, if visiting the UK, is to bring a fold up, lightweight, waterproof jacket (with a hood). When you are in the UK, if you don't want to buy an extra sweater or whatever, every town has a number of charity shops/ goodwill. You can pick up anything for a couple of pounds.

Rajiv looks damn good in that tweed suit 🔥I’m inspired

I love watching your calming videos and how you constantly give useful, practical advice, because many people just haven't learned so many little life skills. I've been a life long traveler and have my own system (6 weeks in Europe or Latin America, etc with a small carry-on capable) Tumi yes! I'm partial to the laptop backpack myself because no matter how loaded it is, it is easy for 5'3" me to carry comfortably. Travel size toiletries rule for us women who need more than you do :) Laundry soap yes, but I take it in bar form--one less liquid to deal with. A skinny little stretchy line to dry stuff on (some come with built in loops so no clips needed). Hair dryers are usually found in hotel rooms and can help dry undies and tops quickly. I also always use featherweight packing cubes to keep things organized and compressed, and if going from place to place, make it easy to unpack and pack up quickly. One doubles as a dirty clothes bag (fold the clothes flat so it doesn't "expand" in your bag!) Keep those wonderful videos coming, please!

Rajiv is like the parent I never had

There was a time when quality, pride, and care of detail stood above in one's work and product. I am totally emerging in the way this young man presents all of this for us to enjoy. We are the change makers.

I think it’s an American thing to live in sweat pants and yoga pants. 15 years ago my daughter went to do a year abroad at an American HS and was shocked how the kids dressed fo school. In France at that time, most kids would dress up for school….but I see things changing now. Europe has become Americanized in that sense. I’m all for dressing for comfort, but you can still look great and feel comfy.