Unfortunately, going with only carry-on luggage is getting more difficult due to the newest rules about what you can actually carry on a plane. If you do want to keep it to just one bag that goes with you on the plane, check the latest regulations and leave behind anything that isn't allowed. It doesn't add that much expense to a trip to just buy these things at your destination.
In fact, buying things as you go is a great way to simplify packing. Why bring twenty things just in case you need them, and then have to lug them around for the sake of the six you actually use? If it is a vacation in particular, why not plan just a little extra expense, and buy necessities as you travel? Many have found that this is more practical and relaxing than over-planning a trip and over-weighting the luggage.
Some Other Travel Packing Tips
- Jewelry and other valuables are usually not covered by the luggage insurance the airline provides. Pack these items in your carry-on bag.
- Silk shirts can be rolled carefully so they will wrinkle less in soft-sided luggage.
- To conserve space, buy low-bulk items for travel. A down coat, for example, will compress to a fourth of the size of other coats, and keep you just as warm.
- Lightweight travel pants, made of soft nylon derivatives are very light, tough, and pack small. They are often found where they sell outdoor gear, but some styles are dressy enough for use almost anywhere.
- To bring more in less space, set aside your thinnest socks, lightest clothes and smallest items for travel. A small hairbrush may work just as well as a large one, for example. You might get to bring many more potentially useful items, and still have a smaller bag in this way.
- If you buy a bulky gift for a family member or friend back home, you may want to send it to them instead of carrying it around for weeks while traveling.
- Don't overstuff your luggage. remember that it may be opened and inspected, and the security officials may not know how to fit it all back in.
- Don't pack important documents, like passports and identification, in your luggage. Carry these on your person, preferably in a security pouch or interior pocket.
- Be careful when packing shampoo, perfume, skin cream and other liquids. Plane cargo areas are often not pressurized fully, so the tops can pop off of bottles and other containers. For added safety, pack such items in a sealed ziplock bag.
- Carry a list of what is in your luggage, in case you need to file a claim for lost bags.
In addition to using the travel packing tips above, have a good packing routine. For example, start by considering every circumstance you may be in during your trip, and making a list of items you'll need. Then, after packing, consider each item, and remove anything that really isn't likely to be used - especially if it can be easily obtained at your destination.
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Copyright Steve Gillman. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets Ebook, visit www.everythingabouttravel.com
