8 things middle-class people pack on vacation that the rich just don’t

Back when I was music blogging in my twenties, I got to travel a lot—sometimes on my own dime, sometimes on a label’s.

And every now and then I’d end up in the orbit of very wealthy people. Watching how they traveled compared to the rest of us was eye-opening.

We middle-class folks pack like survivalists. The wealthy? They pack lighter, because anything missing can be purchased or delivered.

Here are eight things I’ve noticed middle-class people always seem to pack, but the rich simply don’t.

1. A full pharmacy in a ziplock bag

On one tour, I had half a backpack filled with pill bottles and blister packs: allergy meds, stomach tablets, vitamins, even cough drops. I wasn’t sick—I just didn’t want to get caught without something.

Middle-class travelers bring these because paying $30 for antacids at a hotel lobby store feels wrong.

When I later traveled with a band manager who lived in another stratosphere, he laughed at my stash. He had nothing.

His reasoning: if he needed medicine, he’d call the hotel front desk and have it brought up. Different worlds, different assumptions.

2. Snacks like we’re crossing the desert

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stuffed granola bars and trail mix into my carry-on, especially for budget flights where food costs more than the ticket.

Meanwhile, I once flew with a producer who only carried his laptop and headphones. When hunger hit, he ordered sushi in the lounge like it was a no-brainer.

That’s the divide: the middle-class traveler is protecting themselves from $9 Pringles. The wealthy just treat food as part of the trip.

3. Extra outfits for “every scenario”

I'll be honest; I used to pack like I was auditioning for a fashion show: sneakers, boots, formal shoes, three button-downs, gym shorts, and a jacket “just in case.”

And then, of course, I’d mostly end up wearing the same hoodie four days in a row.

That’s the middle-class mindset—we imagine every possible scenario and try to prepare for all of them in advance. Rainstorm? Packed. Hiking trip? Packed. Dinner at a five-star restaurant? Packed. Meanwhile, half of it never leaves the suitcase.

I saw the opposite approach in Barcelona. I met a few wealthy guys while out one night—friends of friends, not part of the company I was traveling with. They decided we should all head to a club. The catch? The club required formal clothes, and none of them had packed anything remotely close to “formal.”

For me, that would have been a crisis. Middle-class logic says: “Well, I guess we’re not going in.” Or worse—frantically digging through the suitcase hoping one of those “just in case” outfits will pass for dress code.

But these guys? They didn’t even blink. They went shopping. Within an hour, they walked back in with tailored jackets and crisp shirts, straight from the boutique down the street. Problem solved, no stress.

That was a real turning point for me in understanding the difference. Middle-class travelers pack to avoid being unprepared. Wealthy travelers just assume they’ll solve the problem when it arises—and money makes that a lot easier.

4. Travel-sized laundry detergent

Confession: I’ve stood over a hotel sink at 1 a.m., scrubbing T-shirts with Woolite like I was in a dorm. Middle-class logic says: why pay $10 per shirt for hotel laundry when you can DIY?

The wealthy people I met never even considered it. Laundry was “handled.” Or, in one case, simply avoided by buying new clothes halfway through the trip.

5. A stash of foreign currency

Before flying out, I used to make a trip to the bank to grab local currency, even at terrible exchange rates. It felt safer having bills in hand the moment I landed.

Wealthy travelers I met never carried cash. Cards and concierge services were enough. If they needed currency, someone else sorted it out for them.

6. Big guidebooks and printed itineraries

I still remember lugging around a Lonely Planet guide to Japan that weighed more than my camera. Every page had sticky notes.

One summer I met a music exec in Barcelona who pulled me aside when I pulled it out: “Why are you carrying that? Just ask the hotel or look it up.” For him, planning was outsourced.

Middle-class travelers prepare obsessively, fearing a missed train or hidden gem. The wealthy rely on guides, apps, or staff who curate the experience.

7. Backup shoes for every possible occasion

On my first festival trip abroad, I packed five pairs of shoes. Dress shoes, beat-up Converse, hiking boots—you name it. The bag nearly ripped.

Later, traveling with a very well-off publicist, I noticed he had only one pair of pristine sneakers. “If they get wrecked,” he shrugged, “I’ll buy another.”

That’s the mentality: middle-class travelers think in terms of preservation. Wealthy travelers think in terms of replacement.

8. Neck pillows and comfort hacks

I’ve been that guy with the inflatable neck pillow, sleep mask, and noise-canceling earbuds—an entire survival kit for economy flights.

When I once upgraded with miles and found myself in business, I noticed the wealthy around me needed none of it. Their seats turned into beds. Their “comfort hack” was the ticket itself.

The bottom line

Look, these are my experiences but I'm sure many of you will agree.

Middle-class travelers pack for preparedness and thrift. Wealthy travelers pack for convenience and flexibility.

In the end, both groups are after the same thing: memories, good food, maybe a story to tell later.