Secrets to Traveling Light - Tips & Tricks
Visualize your trip
- Think through your entire trip day by day
- Consider what you’ll be doing, picture each activity, and then observe what you’re wearing and utilizing
Lay everything out and pack deliberately. Here are 2 approaches:
- Gather up, and lay out the things you might want or need. Then remove all that you can do without until everything fits into the space available – preferably a single bag; or
- Start with a clean slate and only lay out those items you can’t do without. All must fit into the minimum space you’ve allotted – again, a single carry-on is best.
Have your wardrobe do double or even triple duty
- Mix and match as much as possible
- If necessary, things can be laundered at your destination
Acquire a "travel-friendly" wardrobe and accessories
- Find clothing that can serve more than one purpose or function
- If you don’t have the item you need, go get one
- Use travel-sized personal care items
Get the right kind of luggage
- Look for durable, expandable, soft-sided bags
- Make sure they’ve got wheels
- Best of all - use carry on luggage like a roll-aboard bag
Consider what will be available at your destination
- Call or email ahead to find out if need be
Launder items at your destination
- Hotels often offer laundry service
- Coin laundry may be available within or outside of your lodging
- Wash some things in the sink
If you’ve just got too much to take, consider:
- Shipping a bag or two ahead
- Buying some things after you arrive. Since you may plan on buying some articles of clothing for yourself anyway, why not just plan on using them while there
- Deciding to do without
If you acquire too much as your trip progresses:
- Ship things back as they accumulate or as you no longer need them
- For longer trips this should be done more than once
- This includes gifts for yourself and others
- If your trip involves climate changes, ship back the cold or hot weather gear
- Leave stuff behind or give it away
Too much luggage! A perfect example of "go home and do it again"
