10 Tips For Packing Light When You Travel
In my thirties and forties, I travelled every week for work. I learned early on to travel light. I had to carry my suitcase and laptop, and was going to make it as easy as possible to navigate airports, hotels and taxis.
I still travel like this now.
1. Pack on the day you travel
I don't pack in advance. If I'm leaving very early, I may plan my clothes packing the night before. Otherwise, I use the system below.2. Use it, pack it
As I shower and get ready, use toiletries, contact lens solution etc, I pack each item in my bag. That way I never forget any essentials.3. Wear one, pack one
With items like socks and underwear, as I put them on, I add the appropriate number of the same item in my bag. Away for five days? Put five in my bag.4. Never take more than you need
These days my wardrobe is mostly casual but in the days when I wore business suits, I applied the same principles. I'm a practical rather than a fashionable dresser so, on business trips, I took one pair of shoes, a couple of suits and five tops for a week. Plus, a pair of trousers for the evening. I used a laptop bag that doubled up as a handbag.5. Keep a travel bag ready
I don’t have a pre-packed bag but I do have a travel bag. It contains a spare toothbrush and charger, plus a bar of soap. But, apart from that, I pack from scratch for each trip.6. If you can’t carry your suitcase easily, it’s too heavy
I like bags and suitcases with wheels. Easy to manoeuvre. The key is to make sure they're light enough to carry when you can't wheel them.7. Hotel laundry bags
Most hotels leave a laundry bag in your room. Use it to keep dirty laundry separate from any fresh clothing. Laundry is ready to add to the washer when you get home.8. Easy wash only
In the early days, every Friday I'd land at the airport, head home, and unpack. Usually midnight by now, I would put my laundry in the washer and set the timer for 5:00 a.m. On Saturday morning, it would be ready to dry. But, I had to take my suits to the dry cleaners and needed to be there first thing so that they would be ready to collect later that afternoon.
This ate into my precious time off at the weekend. I soon found washable business suits and easy iron tops.9. If you don’t use something, don’t take it next time
When you travel regularly, you soon learn what you really need and actually use. In the past I've taken a lot of stationery ... just in case. Now I pack one A6 notebook and 2 or 3 pens.10. The return journey
I unpack in the same way I pack. I take items out of my bag as I need them and return them to their usual place in the bathroom.
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