“He who would travel happily must travel light”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
When traveling it is important to travel light in order to reduce hassle and stress. The biggest benefit of traveling light is that you can keep an eye on it. Of all the travel skills you might acquire, travelling light is the one most likely to result in enjoyable, productive, stress-free travel experiences. The following top ten tips for traveling light will help make your journey a smooth and enjoyable one:
1. Get the right bag/ suitcase. Look for durable, expandable, soft-sided bags and make sure they’ve got wheels. With new luggage quotas and weight restrictions it is also a good idea to get a traveler’s rucksack or a big hold-all sports bag.
2. Going to a new place with tour guide information and phrase books is always advisable. You may be tempted to pile your bags with tonnes of books , but don’t. The best option for this is to photocopy the pages you need so you don’t have to carry around heavy books all day. Photocopy sections of guide books so that at the end of the trip the copy goes in the trash. Or else carry one with route maps, accommodation listings, etc.
3. Write out a clothing plan and make a packing list. You may feel like throwing in your whole wardrobe just in case, but listing what you intend to wear each day is a lot more efficient. Just pack a few extras in case you spill food or get wet.
4. Don’t overdo the toiletries. You can easily buy them anywhere and most accommodation provide you with the basic toiletries.
5. Don’t be afraid to do laundry, if it means packing half as many clothes so be it.
6. Choose dark (black, dark blue, purple, green, dark red) or neutral (all browns and shades of gray) coloured clothing, so any dirt or stains acquired along the way won’t be too apparent. Try to stick to two or three colours, so that all your clothes mix and match.
7. Roll garments up into tight tubes to save packing space and avoid major wrinkling. Rolled clothes are easier to fit into odd spaces in your suitcase, and won’t crease nearly as much as if you fold them. Doing so allows you to find what you are looking for without taking everything out of your bag and stop all your tightly packed rolls of clothing from coming unrolled and ending up in a pile on the floor.
8. Don’t pack your towels. If you’re staying in hotels, there’s no need to take towels. Of course many hotels may not allow you to use their room towels at the pool or beach. Ask the hotel to provide you with pool or beach towels. However if you must carry your own towel, pack a microfibre travel towel instead.
9. Get one of those bags that fold up into a small package to slip into your backpack. You can use this to collect your souvenirs when you are leaving. Alternatively, mail your purchases home as you go. This reduces what you must carry around with you.
10. Bring old clothes and undergarments and dispose them each day leaving more room for mementos to bring home if you choose. It also cuts down on items that need frequent washing while away.