Travel Packing Advice
Travel Ready Packing:Pack Light, Dress Right-Anytime, Anywhere
| Always Travel Light |
| Of course, you should always travel light. It doesn't matter how long your trip is, you will be surprised at how you can get away with taking very little. The author of Travel Ready Packing is providing some free suggestions on this page. She has been traveling for 25 years, and has been on every type of trip imaginable and has lived overseas for long periods of time. |
| WHAT EVERY TRAVELER NEEDS: |
| Bags Inside of Bags: When you are traveling you are moving around. This means that you always need a bag for carrying something. If you pack smaller bags in your larger bag, you can make your load even lighter after you arrive. Nobody goes on a trip and comes back with less than they brought. Leave space for purchases or use one of your extra bags. Swiss Army Knife: This is a valuable tool for a variety of reasons, and I have used one on every trip I've ever taken. But, be careful, it must now be packed in your checked bag. A Method for Washing Your Clothes: Light packers need to be good at either locating a place to wash or have your clothes washed, or be able to wash your clothes in the sink. A Good Watch: Time is everything. You wouldn't want to miss a plane, bus or train because you didn't have a watch. A Good Suitcase: Duffel bags may be appropriate for some trips, but for most trips they don't make sense. A small suitcase with wheels is the way to go. Minimalist Attitude: Break your necessities down to the necessities. This means, reasonably determine what you need and what you don't need. Do you really need to bring your cell phone to an area that won't have any coverage? Do you really need your laptop, or can you use a computer at an Internet café? |
SAVE EXTRA BAGGAGE FEES ON EVERY FLIGHT YOU TAKE
| WHAT TRAVELERS DON'T NEED: |
| Don’t bring lots of gadgets that promise convenience but only weigh you down. Ex. Do you really need a travel iron? If you need your clothes ironed, you can have them ironed locally at the dry cleaners. Overseas travelers don't need to bring electrical devices such as hairdryers. They won't always work, they take up lots of space, and they’re heavy. Lots of shoes. Shoes take a lot of room and do not pack well. Two pairs of shoes and a pair of flip flops, no more. You don't need a different outfit for everyday. How many times have you packed stuff that you never wore? This one is for women. You don't need your entire bathroom. Only take products that you have to have. You don't need all your hair accessories for a trip, do you? Take what you use the most-- no more. |
| SIMPLY THE BEST METHOD FOR PACKING YOUR SUITCASE: |
| A combination of rolling and folding is the best. If you need to roll something to make it fit into a space, then roll. If not, fold. Use dry cleaner plastic bags to fold your clothes in. The bags are very thin, keep your clothes from wrinkling, and provide protection in case your bag gets wet. This is truly the best tip for packing you'll ever get. Use your space well. Instead of just throwing everything into your bag, pay attention to how the space is being filled, and where empty pockets are forming. Look for an item that will fit into the empty space and fill it. |