There is nothing worse than having to haul over-sized luggage along with you as you travel the globe. Some people are learning that you don’t have to trudge along a pair of shoes for every outfit that you plan to wear. Most of us realize that lots of heavy luggage are the equivalent of a millstone around one’s neck. It’s not the best use of time when you are trying to get away from it all. So, how do you change your habits mid-stream and learn to love traveling light? It’s not as hard as you think.
1. Try to take clothing that is on its last leg. Finally, the clothing that was totally five seasons ago can earn its keep. Whether it’s well -worn shirts, tops, jeans, skirts or underwear, you can wear it and discard or donate it before coming back home. It’s a great way to clear out the closet and finally put your neglected clothing to good use plus you will have more room for souvenirs!
2. If you are taking a short trip, try to edit your contents down enough to where it will fit into a carry-on. You know the old rule, lay out everything that you think you will need for the trip and then remove half of that. You will experience euphoric joy when you realize that you do not have to grow old standing at baggage claim when you can leave the plane with the bag you brought on.
3. If you are traveling with a lot of electronics, take a small power strip with you so that you will be able to charge them all at once without having to hunt for more outlets in your room. If you are traveling internationally, make sure that the voltage is correct for the country you are visiting. The USA uses 110 volts while Europe uses 220 volts so bring a universal adapter along with you. A simple Google search will let you know the voltage capacity in any given country.
4. Always carry anything of value in your carry-on, never, ever check it if you want to see it again. This means cameras or anything that set you back a few hundred dollars, not family heirlooms that should be left behind anyway.
5. Remember to follow the TSA’s rules and regulations by not bringing any sharp objects, your granny’s shotgun, lighters, liquids or gels over 3 ounces because they will be confiscated and you may find yourself on the business side of a jail cell in some instances.
6. Make a copy of your passport, flight itinerary, hotel confirmation and any reservations that you may have made and place them in your luggage (preferably checked luggage). Should you ever become separated, it will be easier to track you down, if not…well.…….. But if luck is on your side, you will at least have backups of your important paperwork once you arrive.
7. Carry a complete change of clothes in your carry-on. In the event your luggage is delayed or lost, you will have something to fall back on. Otherwise wearing the same duds over and over again will become so repulsive, it will self-destruct as a matter of honor.
8. Ziplock bags, you can never have too many (different sizes) and there is always a way to put them to good use. TSA actually encourages you to use them for any liquids that you may be carrying. You may want to uncap your bottles of liquid and cover the opening with plastic then recap it. This will provide a second barrier for you.
9. Take the guesswork out of what clothes you should pack by checking out one of the trusted weather websites like Weather.com. You can get weather forecasts 10 days into the future so you will be able to better plan your trip and hopefully it will prevent you from bringing unnecessary baggage.
10. I find that I can get so much more ‘stuff’ into my luggage by rolling my clothes up. For example, I will take a pair of pants and fold it in half lengthwise. Starting at the belt loops, I roll it over and over until I get down to the hem.
11. There were three great ideas that I got while on my first and last cruise. First, take a toiletry organizer that has a hook on the end. Since space is really a premium in those small staterooms, you will be able to have all of your makeup and toiletries in one small confined space that you can hang on the back of the bathroom door. Second, use a bungee cord to keep your door open if you have an outside cabin with a balcony.
It allows the room to breathe by letting the sea breeze in. Also, some of the doors will lock behind you, so keeping them open will allow you not to be trapped outside. Lastly, bring a bunch of multi-colored ribbons to affix to your stateroom door. It will differentiate your room from the other passengers. I can’t tell you how many times I got confused….they all begin to look alike after awhile.
12. Before stepping into the security line at the airport, make sure that any electronics and liquids are stowed in the front pockets of your carry-on luggage. It will enable you to quickly transition through the line without delay. Also, wear shoes that are easy to remove in order to save you time and aggravation.
How have you saved yourself from packing nightmares? Feel free to add your ideas in the comment section. Looking forward to learning new tips myself!
These are all great tips Renee!
Great tips, Renee!
I have also come to love those vacuum pack bags with zip lock that comes in really handy, especially towards the end of the trip when your bag is full of clothes AND souvenirs! You can use vacuum pack your clothes when your bags are full, if not, just use it as a laundry bag to separate out the clean and the dirty clothes.
Carrying your valuables all the time is the most important tip for me. Just to make sure that your things are always safe. We can’t really trust everybody in a place where there are lots of people whom we don’t personally know. As a precaution, we really need to put everything in safe.
Great tips–one I hadn’t thought of before was the power strip. Definitely including that next trip. Thanks!
Glad to be of service!!
Power strip and adapter are very important tips.Wearing my old rags– a no,no for me.
HA!! I had to respond quickly to this. I would never, ever, ever, expect the Glamour Granny to be less than glamorous and well put together!! lol Thanks for dropping by, Inka!
I was so ticked off at myself when I brought my powerstrip and forgot to bring an adapter for my 3 prong outlet!! I am always so glad when I have my ziplock bags – SO incredibly handy. I like to buy wine – a lot, so I also bring a wine diaper bag.
The biggest problem I have is remembering not to bring my shotgun…phew.
It kills me to think of one crucial part and forget the other too. It’s hard to forget to bring your shotgun….I know. Jen, you are adorable! lol
Great tips! I’m really bad about bringing a change of clothes in my carry on because I usually don’t have any room left after laptop and camera gear. 🙂 I will bring some deodorant and a toothbrush though. lol
A woman who has her priorities straight! I like it!
I like the tips. #1 is especially fantastic, I hadn’t thought of that! I’m always trying to thin out my huge wardrobe, so I’m going to try that on my next trip.
Scott….you are a rare man to have a large wardrobe….I thought that was only reserved for us girls….lol!
I agree with all you tips – but I don’t go along with Tip No. 1 – I don’t ever like wearing old worn-out clothes. When in Paris, dress like a Parisian, and be proud of yourself!
Yes, John….the French are tres chic….which is why I love them!
I am a “packing light” guru! I’ve been to Europe 5 times, traveled around the US in winter, and never carry more than a backpack. I still tend to overpack but I definitely know all of the rules when it comes to packing light. I think most people pack far more than they need (I am one of those but still manage to get it all in a backpack).
Now, that’s what I’m talking about!! Fantastic, Jeremy!
I like packing light and figuring out ways to pack less but still have everything I need. great tips!
It’s very liberating!
Useful tips Renee! I always try to get all of my belongings in a carry-on sized bag and just like you, I also roll all my clothes up so they are the smallest possible size.
Thanks, Mark! It’s amazing how much space you save doing that.
Packing cubes! I swear by them; keeps things tidy and organized. 🙂 I travel light… considering the fact that I travel with everything I own, lol.
Great tips. I don’t know why but I’ve never thought of rolling up clothes for more room. Thanks
Great tips Renee – the ziplock bags one is so true, they always come in useful!
I only have old rags for clothes so no worries on that front…
I hadn’t thought, ever, of wearing old clothes that can be discarded on the trip back! It’s definitely a big yes for me. I like to travel light but without sacrificing any little thing that is important for me to bring along, so rolling the clothes is worth a try 🙂
Excellent tips, never could have thought to take old clothes on a travel and donate then while coming back… the return luggage is always too heavy, this will surely help a lot of people.
I always like to travel light, why pack more than we need…
Great tips, great read! This made me laugh out loud: “You will experience euphoric joy when you realize that you do not have to grow old standing at baggage claim…” 🙂 Thanks!
Great tips. After lost passport incident my brother had I now always make a copy of my passport. Luckily I have never had to use it but it only takes one mistake to mess up your entire vacation.
Hello Renee, I love this article. Thank your the tidbits on leaving colorful ribbons on the outside of my cabin when on a cruise. Also, thank you for travel tip for shoes and liquid products on planes. cheers!
My pleasure, Adam!
There is only one fact about packing. There is always one thing being forgotten way back at home 😀
Your comments above are really good and i am glad you are taking attention in replying to every individual. I really appreciate that.
I am planning to take my 1 year old niece along with the family.
But carrying baby stuff are really a challenge. Can’t understand which one to omit.
feels like the kid may need it during the trip. Medicines and baby food are a must. No compromise on that but the rest is a challenge !
Thanks in advance for your reply..
Hi Ashish!
I have never traveled with a baby before. You didn’t mention if you were driving or flying or how long you would be gone. I would say a good rule of thumb is to carry only the essentials. If the baby requires medicine, is she well enough to be traveling? Also, hotels will be able to supply things like cribs and maybe even a playpen. I would make arrangements for that now. If you are flying or driving be sure to bring snacks and some soft toys to keep your niece occupied. Other than that, do not carry anything superfluous….it would just be taking up space.
Travel packing – this is what I hate most when traveling. I’m always having hard time editing/arranging the contents of my luggage to fit more things in. Thanks for sharing these tips Renee!
I’m getting ready to leave for an extended backpacking trip. I’ve noticed that most of my electronics accept anything from 100-240v so if you have one adapter for the power strip you don’t necessarily need a converter. As for luggage, I defiantly recommend front loading, top loading can be a pain.
I always have issues when it comes to packing my stuff while on trips. Thanks for sharing some tips, it’s worth a try. I hope I can improved my packing abilities on my next trip.
Number 1 is a great point, I’ve never thought of that. More often than not we go on holiday and come back with twice as much after shopping and buying new things, but if you take clothes that are near the end of their life then just donate them away in the country you are in – brilliant
Less it more!!! I tell myself that every time I pack my suitcase.
And if you really need it… you can always buy it!
So glad I found your blog! really good tips about having adventures on a budget 🙂
I think that you have covered almost everything about 12 Travel Packing tips that will make trip less hectic!. Thanks Renee…
It’s very useful tips for travelers and I. I’m fram Chiang Mai, Thailand. My wife always have a problem about her luggage on our long vacation. She’s spent packing time for 2 days. lol So, I saw your tips and i would recommend to her also. 🙂
Thank you very much to sharing a good thing!
Best regards,
Bee
Hi, i am velissa vim from china. I have two baby daughters, and whenever we plan to go on a foreign vacational trip, we always face problems of luggage. Your tips are great, and i have bookmarked your page to keep me updated on your coming posts. Thanks a lot.
When I travel I usually never check anything in I just bring a hand luggage bag, this is usually enough to fit around a weeks clothes tooth brush and my laptop. Which is all I ever need anyway 😀
I like your tip on copying everything and it’s something I have recently started to do.
Great post! Rolling your clothes is definitely the biggest space saver ever! One tip, I always overload my carry on bag with my heavier items (electronics and heavy clothing) to save weight on my checked baggage to be sure not to pay excess baggage.
Rolling up clothes works a treat! And I find that it doesn’t tend to crease as much as folding either. Perfect solution.
I also pack as much as I can in my carry on luggage. Jewellery, a few outfits, any valuables, as much cosmetics as i can – I’m quite a paranoid flyer and always think the worst. If I know I can last a fair few days from this one bag then i’m happy. Great post! 🙂
Travel can be a real hassle, and I’m not sure I know anyone that loves to pack for trips. Most people I know also grossly overpack for any trip they go on. While yes, it’s great to be prepared, but if you can fit everything into a carry on, or better yet, a backpack, then why not? Great tips!