How Do I Travel Light?

The key to travelling light is to consider the destination. Research the weather forecast, find out what facilities are available where you are staying, and look at the local surroundings to get an idea of what activities you will be doing. This may sound obvious but many people travel to the south of Spain in winter time armed with bikinis, only to find it is raining!

Start by getting out any clothes that you wish to take. When you have your outfits, look at them practically. Remove any that you know you will not or are unlikely to wear. Now remove any garments that stand out as being mismatched. You will not wear them, unless you buy something to go with them, which defies the point of travelling light!

Take into consideration the amount of time you are going to spend in your destination. This will give you an idea of how many outfits you need. Usually one outfit per day and one per night is the necessary amount. Try to take items that can be worn more than once, changing the combination or adding jewellery to create a different effect. Make sure that the underwear you pack accentuates the outfits chosen.

Now, decide upon your bare essentials. If the hotel has a hairdryer or iron for instance, there is no need to take another. Reduce your toiletries to what you actually need. Take travel sized samples or dispense into travel sized containers that readily available. Do the same with accessories. Do you really need a different belt for each day? Choose shoes that can be worn on multiple occasions and that suit the terrain.

If you are taking activities with you such as games and books, make sure you take into consideration the amount of time you will have available to spend using these items. Be realistic. They are heavy and cumbersome items and you can always find something to do.