Traveling with a minimal amount of luggage can save you money and reduce your stress. By packing light, you can easily find space in your suitcase for essentials, while also reducing the amount of time you spend travelling. However, tips on how to travel light can be difficult to follow. Here are 7 tips how to travel light:
1. Take half the clothes you think you will need. I have found that if you take half the clothes you think you will need, you actually will be able to do a lot more with less clothes. It will not seem as though you have packed so much, when you arrive at your destination and take a jaunt around the pool. Also, half the money you take with you goes through no where, for you have many inexpensive purchases to make.
2. Choose a colour scheme. It always seems so when you arrive at your hotel that you have five weirdly marked colour schemes to choose from. Yup, it is true. But you don’t have to take five different colours of clothes. As long as you clothes are black, navy, white, and Dark Burgundy (or Burgundy Gap, to be exact) you’ll be able to dress yourself with something that looks good. You’ll not look tacky with a bright yellow tank top and dark trousers, but you won’t feel the urge to buy something expensive (unless you’re visiting Paris) if you don’t feel comfortable in it.
3. Take two pairs of pants/stocks. Again, you’ll be able to dress yourself with something that doesn’t look too formal if you have two pairs of jeans. Besides, you’ll also be able to mix and match if you need to. I always take a pair of jeans (they’re a little longer in the back pocket than in the front) and a pair of shorts. Then I’ll add a pair of shorts if I’m going hiking or skiing. Generally, in the summer, you’ll want a pair of shorts, a tank top, and a sweater or jacket. In the winter, you’ll want a sweater/jacket and a scarf.
4. Wash your clothes as often as possible. This is where your money goes, so if you can figure out the system of laundry facilities where you live, you can launder a lot of your clothes every week. If not, you can do a lot of laundry every month or so. Even if you don’t have a laundry service where you live, try to find one nearby. Ideas: Minimize the blow on your clothes by putting them on a hanger overnight, or hang to dry over night.
5. Wear heavy clothes. heavy clothes dry fast. You can throw clothes away after they have dridered for a day or two. You need to wash clothes in cold water and then hang to dry. If you don’t have a dryer at home, you can use the dryer in your hotel room.
6. Go vintage. Vintage clothing are easier to dress up and make more formal. If you go to a museum, buy the first thing you see and wear. Want to go casual? Two days in a laid-back day at a restaurant? Be more comfortable by wearing HR suits or shirts with short vertical lines. HR suits can reduce the look of casual trousers.
7. Go formal. If you’re going hiking or skiing, don’t take too much fancy clothing with you unless you’re going to a winter event. Wear comfortable hiking boots that don’t require blisters. Don’t forget a good pair of wool socks. Look for a comfortable pair of dress shoes that won’t have already had a dry cleaner.