How to Travel Light
Vacations are a time for you to relax, enjoy, and have fun. You take vacations to relieve stress, and you definitely want your vacation to be as relaxing and stress-free as possible. Yet if there’s anything that can ruin a vacation from the very beginning, it’s having to carry a lot of luggage. You may take up a lot of time checking in luggage, hauling it to your destination, unpacking stuff, and going through the whole routine all over again.
Traveling light can spare you the drudgery of unpacking and carrying luggage, so that you can spend more time enjoying your vacation than preparing for it. Traveling light also saves you money on cargo fees, fuel, and other charges and costs. Here are some tips that you can use if you want to travel light.
Pack Only What You Need
It’s very easy to pack too many things, but it’s also easy to pack too little for a vacation. When preparing luggage, pack only the stuff you really need. Make a list of things that you absolutely need to take on a vacation. Here’s a short checklist to help you out:
Toiletries
Toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash
Soap, shampoo, and conditioner
Hand towels and body towels
Deodorant, perfume, musk, and cologne
Clothes
One or two changes of clothes for every day you’ll spend on vacation. Make sure they’re comfortable and lightweight; if the hotel or inn offers a washing service, you may want to cut back on the changes of clothes you’re bringing along.
Bedclothes
Changes of underwear
A light bed sheet, blanket, or sleeping bag
Travel Essentials
Cameras
First-aid kit (it also helps to pack some antacids and anti-diarrhea medication)
Passports, identification cards, driver’s licenses, and other travel documents
Loose change for emergency calls and toll fees
Pack Properly
Often it’s not what you’re bringing to a vacation that’s causes the problem, but how you pack your luggage. Cramming clothes and luggage into a bag only adds unnecessary bulk and weight into your bag, which makes it difficult to carry and unpack. Here are some ways to get your packing going:
Get a good traveling bag. Suitcases, stroller bags, and duffel bags designed for traveling are perfect for any vacation. Try to stay away from full-body backpacks; you may not be able to check them in as carry-on luggage, and you may not have the strength and stamina to carry it along.
Maximize space. Instead of dumping clothes and other travel essentials into a suitcase or traveling bag, take extra care to fold them. Use all the pockets and compartments of your bag to save on space.
Try to pack stuff in just one bag. Cramming clothes may also give you the impression that you need more bags, when you can do with just one traveling bag. Make sure, though, that the bag does not rip at the seams, or that the bag is not too bulky when you’ve finally packed up everything you need in it.
Take It Easy On Souvenirs
More packing problems come by towards the end of your vacation, especially if you buy a lot of souvenirs. There’s nothing wrong with buying souvenirs, but make sure that you can still carry souvenir items along with carry-on luggage. A few souvenir t-shirts or a curio item is usually enough to remind you that you’ve been on vacation to a certain place.
Traveling light doesn’t mean that you would give up on creature comforts and make your vacation less pleasant. With these tips to help you lighten up the load during traveling, you can spend less time packing and hauling your luggage, and more time enjoying every bit of your vacation.