Organize your travels: pack light!

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As much as I love to travel, I really hate packing.  It’s such a headache to predict exactly what you’ll need/want on your trip, especially if you’re going somewhere where the weather can change pretty drastically.  I used to pack pretty heavily because of this desire to be prepared for anything.  Over the past few years, I’ve gotten more organized in my packing though and can now pack much more lightly.

My favorite packing experience was when I went to New York in August 2007 with just a small backpack.  I had a couple of changes of clothes, toiletries, and my notes on my plans for the weekend along with my confirmation numbers.  I felt so light!  I didn’t have to wait for my luggage or worry that it didn’t make it, and it was so easy to just take the bus into Manhattan.  I was also proud of the packing prowess displayed for a weekend trip to Chicago earlier this month.  Even though it would be snowing there, my husband and I took a camera backpack, a laptop backpack, a tote with my purse and books, and a very small wheeled carry-on.  Considering we carried so much technology with us, it was quite a feat.

Accepting that packing light is the way to go is the first step, and it can be a tricky one.  The second step is how to actually accomplish packing light.  There are so many tricks!

1. Pack just a carry-on if at all possible.  This allows you to avoid wasting time at baggage claim, and you don’t have to worry about your lugage getting lost.  If you can’t just pack a carry-on, do remember to pack a change of clothes in your carry on just in case.
2. Pack clothing that can be worn multiple times, that goes with multiple other items (it’s easiest if you go brown OR black so you only need one handbag and more limited shoe options), and that is fairly anti-wrinkle.  Don’t forget to roll your clothes!  Wear any bulky items, like boots or coats, onto the plane.  For me, the worst is when we cruise – I want to have an outfit to wear during the day and then a separate dinner outfit, and I like to have a different dinner outfit for each night.  I have promised myself to NOT do this next time we cruise.  We’ll see how it goes.
3. Get travel sized toiletries.  I keep a toiletries bag packed all the time so I don’t even have to think about it.  I just have to grab sunscreen, aloe (if sunburn is remotely likely), and my makeup.

Rick Steves recommends, “Pack for the best scenario and simply buy yourself out of any jams.”  Don’t forget to leave room for souvenirs though.  If I’m going somewhere I know I’ll want to bring back more than postcards, I like to pack a small empty bag within my luggage.

Image from Sydney Morning Herald.