Packing as few things as possible, and packing them as efficiently as possible, is vital to a good travel experience. Who wants to be lugging around an enormous bag all over somewhere you’ve never been before, when you could be enjoying your trip instead? And with the long lines at airport security these days, you’re going to be carrying that bag a lot. Ease of mobility can be crucial, even on a short trip. Also, if you can manage to limit yourself to just a carry-on, think of all of the time you would save bypassing the baggage claim, and not needing to wait for porters to help you, not to mention the added peace of mind that comes with having your bag with you at all times.
It’s important to remember that you can often buy many of the things you might pack, such as clothes, underclothes or toiletries, at your travel destination. Why not welcome the chance to check out a local market in search of an extra item of clothing, or even a local (but exotic to a traveler from elsewhere) store for toiletries or common items like underclothes? What are the options for lotion in Paris? At the end of your trip you’ll be left with an additional souvenir, and the memory of an unexpected adventure. In addition, hotels often provide commonly-needed items such as toiletries, hairdryers, bathrobes and more. A quick call to them may eliminate several things from your suitcase.
When choosing what to pack, it’s wise to bring items that can serve more than one purpose whenever possible. Bring the swim trunks that can double as shorts, or the shawl for cool nights that can also be used as a beach cover-up, for example. Also try to bring clothing all within the same color scheme, as this will allow greater mixing-and-matching, expanding your wardrobe without expanding your luggage.
Many travelers find it helpful to make a list ahead of time of of everything that they might need to pack. This way they can more-easily think and rethink what they’ll end up packing, rather than just spreading everything out on the bed.
Try to plan on doing some laundry while on the road. This can greatly decrease the number of clothes needed on any trip. And pack clothes made of fabrics that can even be hand-washed well.
Many travelers even send home purchases or soiled clothes to avoid carrying them around for the rest of their trip. Often, the postal charge is less than any excess baggage fee might be.
You’ll bitterly regret not having wheeled luggage, preferably with a telescoping handle, or at least a lightweight wheeled trolley to carry your older suitcase on. Take it from someone who had to (literally) drag a bag through Logan Airport in Boston once, until they thought of getting a trolley, and vowed to never let it happen again.
Be sure to learn your particular airline’s baggage allowance rules in advance. No one wants to be that guy arguing with the baggage check person.
Travel with good-quality, sturdy luggage that’s easy to pack and transport. It’s definitely a wise investment.
For more information about traveling light, check out One Bag – The Art and Science of Traveling Light. It’s an amazingly thorough, well-respected resource that’s useful to any traveler, whether their trip is short or long.
