Comfort first or style? Space in the luggage or add more to carry? How on earth will you fit all your shoes for your trip? Packing is already hard enough, and it just gets worse when we are forced to select only one or two pairs of shoes to bring with us.

Chances are, we bring a pair of heels and flip flops ready for nights out and the beach only to find out that we are going on a trek. Or we brought hiking shoes and a vegan gladiator sandal set without expecting to go to a fancy dinner. It’s a never-ending story of “what ifs”.

You Love Your Heels

As a traveler, you need to prioritize. How much do you value having the right pair of shoes for an occasion that might happen? If it is that important to you, then go for it! Pack all the shoes you’d like. Just make sure you are going by taxi and that your luggage won’t leave the hotel room. The less you have to carry, the better. And it is possible if you travel in style.

Don’t forget to pack a few handy items that will make sure your feet are pain-free. Our article onwearing shoes that hurt us will take you through all you need to know. The items, like padded plasters, are so small that they will fit anywhere in your luggage and will be a godsend when you need them.

Packing Tips

Going on a holiday and backpacking through a few countries are two, very different scenarios. For both,Allianz Travel suggests a few tips that you might want to take into account.

Three is the Magic Number

Travel bloggers and pros would actually suggest bringing two pairs of shoes is enough, but if you can fit a third pair that are small and easy to carry - you might as well. First, you have to go to the airport. If it’s winter, this is the perfect time to wear your boots or chunkier shoes. Wearing them on the plane means that you have more room in your luggage. You might even get four pairs to bring with you in total if they are small enough.

Bring the Suitable Shoe

Deciding on your outfits in advance is a great way to ensure that you are prepared no matter what. First, pick the shoes. You can always buy new clothes if you are missing something, but getting a good pair of shoes that are already broken into, that are good quality, that you can afford and that matches your travel wardrobe can be difficult. Your feet need to be comfortable otherwise your trip can turn into a painful experience.

Be Realistic

This can be the toughest part of packing. Will you really need those gym clothes and gym shoes? Do you have to have those sandals, with that bag and with this dress? It can be a tough call, but holidays are meant to be relaxing. Most of the time, people don’t even use half the stuff they brought with them and regret paying that extra charge on the flight.

Create A Palette

If you start by selecting a palette to work from rather than mixing and matching clothes, you can narrow down the wide choice you have left yourself spread across your bed. Start with neutral colors with a shoe that matches them. Move on to one or two statement pieces with the shoe that showcases the outfits.

Last, pick some comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes for the times when you are lounging around your hotel room or traveling. Once you have the palette, you can mix and match and see how many different outfits you can come up with and if the three shoes (or four) go with each.

Break-in Your Shoes

You’ve just finished shopping for your holiday and you’ve added a few new pairs of shoes to your collection. Now you need to break them in!

Make sure you shop a few weeks before you have to go and wear your new shoes. This will give the shoe time to get softer and mold into the shape of your foot. Another thing is to shop in the late afternoon when your feet are at their biggest. This will ensure that you bought the right size and fit!