She suggests travelers lay out everything they want to pack. “People tend to take too much. Before you pack anything in a bag, look at everything you are thinking of taking and ask yourself, ‘Do I really need to bring this?’”
Here are 10 more recommendations from travel writers, people who travel for a living:
1. Pick one basic color that doesn’t show dirt (such as black) then brighten with lightweight accessories like scarves. Make sure each item of clothing can be worn with any other item and will match with all your shoes.
· “I always stick to a single color scheme when I pack: black and white, khaki and navy, denim and red. It not only eliminates the need to pack multiple pairs of shoes and a variety of accessories, it ensures that I can mix and match as needed based on the weather, the day’s activities, or the formality of the establishments I’m visiting.” Kim Knox Beckius, freelance travel writer
· “If you select one base color, everything will go with everything else and you can bring less pieces overall,” Robin Robinson, travel editor, Toronto Sun
2. Wear your coat and heaviest pair of shoes on the plane and always get by with just two pairs of shoes.
· “With my heaviest shoes, coat, sweater et al on my back and feet, I can peel off as much as I want on the plane and get by with packing lighter clothes.” Lorraine O’Donnell Williams, travel writer
3. Pack clothes that can be washed in a sink and that will dry overnight.
· “Synthetic microfiber clothing lightens your load, can be washed – and dried -- overnight and never wrinkles.” Amy S. Eckert, freelance travel writer
· “Fast-drying clothes you can wash in your hotel room are the foundation of the go-light lifestyle.” John Flinn, freelance travel writer
4. Buy new lightweight luggage. Many older bags are very heavy by themselves. Advancements in plastics and materials have led to durable, strong bags that weigh a fraction of their older counterparts.
· “Many of the new, lightweight suitcases are every bit as strong as the older designs with a heavy metal frame.” Mary Ellen Botter, travel editor
5. Pack all heavy items in a carry-on bag, including cameras, books, reading materials and even shoes. Also bring a change of clothes and any medications needed, just in case luggage is lost.
· “I actually cut up guide books before I travel, taking only the pages I’ll need.” Elaine Warner, freelance travel writer
· “My vacation reading matter is magazines. When I complete them on the road, I can leave them behind.” Al Bonowitz, Hawaii Westways Magazine
· “So far, the airlines aren’t limiting weight for your carry-on, so take all you can carry on to lighten up your checked luggage.” Nicki Chodnoff, editor, Travel Savings Alerts Newsletter
6. Take only small bottles of shampoo and toiletries or buy them when you get to your destination. Remember the 3-1-1 for carry-on bags: 3.4 ounce bottles or less (by volume) must fit in a 1-quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag and only 1 bag per passenger can be placed in screening bin. The one-quart bag per person limits the total number of 3.4 ounce liquid volume bottles each traveler can bring.
· “Instead of toting a purse on the plane, ‘wear’ its contents in the pockets of cargo pants or a travel vest with multiple pockets.” Linda Coffman, freelance travel writer
· “Bring an empty water bottle through security and then fill it up from a water fountain on the other side to save on buying bottled water.” Laura Daily, consumer travel strategist
7. Pack clothes you no longer want and leave them at the destination or throw them away as you go to make room for souvenir purchases.
· “Most people take their best underwear on a trip. I take my worst. I wear it and toss it along the way. Two benefits – I lighten my load as I travel and I don’t return home with a bunch of dirty laundry.” Mary Ann Treger, freelance travel writer
· “I love leaving unwanted clothes at my destination, and when in Europe, I replace them with smart new clothes.” Christine Potter, travel journalist
8. Pack for the best possible conditions, not the worst.
· “Leave the raincoat at home, bring a fold-up umbrella. Unless you know you’ll be in icy conditions, leave the heavy coat, hat and gloves, but pack a lightweight jacket – travel specialists offer a range of these, some quite stylish. If the weather turns foul at your destination, shop a second-hand or thrift shop for better gear – and you can leave that for your chambermaid.’’ Bob Jenkins, freelance travel writer.
· “Go native. Live like a local. In Hawaii, buy a Hawaiian shirt. If in India, buy an inexpensive sari. You’ll blend in, you won’t feel like a tourist and you’ll be dressed for the climate.” Laura Daily, consumer travel strategist
9. When traveling within the U.S., ship items ahead.
· “Pack, then re-pack, tossing out half of what you packed first. But ship ahead if you can. I can ship from New York to Seattle with FedEx ground at only $1 per pound.” Robert Haru Fisher, columnist and contributing editor, frommers.com
10. Use lightweight clothing such as fleece instead of wool. Many synthetic fibers provide the same warmth without the weight.
· “Lightweight clothing dries fast, is compact and weighs next to nothing,” Eric Lindberg, freelance travel writer/photographer
Other top tens from SATW
Definitely would agree with most of your tips. I think it is a particularly good idea to buy your toiletries when you arrive to help you travel light. Wearing bulky clothes is always good and you really do need to maximise your cabin baggage allowance as I discuss on this page http://cabinbaggagesize.co.uk/travel-hand-luggage-only/.
Would also recommend checking the airlines baggage allowance before you fly so you can maximise it while avoiding fees.
David,
cabinbaggagesize.co.uk
Posted by: David | December 29, 2012 at 01:17 PM
As a frequent traveler I agree with all of these tips. I would add another - be realistic. Are you really going to work out in the hotel gym? No? Then don't kid yourself by packing your gym clothes. Does that sundress you've loved since you were 22 still fit? Not sure? Try it on before you pack it. You may have always intended to read that hardback copy of War and Peace, and a trip seems a perfect time to do it, but - trust me - it isn't. And you'll feel way more guilty about jettisoning it in a hotel room than you would a relaxing paperback.
Posted by: Elly Simmons | June 02, 2013 at 03:43 AM
Thank you, first time I've come across so many packing tips from seasoned travellers all in one place! The one from Ann Treger and Christine Potter, about bringing your worst underwear and other clothes, is brilliant! How come I haven't thought about that myself? ;-)
Nowadays there are plenty of high quality lightweight carry-ons in the market, as you can see in this post: http://travelgeardepot.com/best-lightweight-carry-on-luggage/
I can add another tips as well: do not pack for emergiencies, if one actually happens you can buy almost anything everywhere on the globe. Unless you are actually going trekking in absolute wilderness that is.
Posted by: Katrin | August 03, 2016 at 04:37 AM