If you’re anything like me and bringing your entire wardrobe only to wear the same three outfits every day is a regular occurrence then learning to pack light can be a real struggle, because of course I can justify bringing that eighth pair of formal shoes that I’ve never worn. However, when you end up carrying around a bag that feels like it weighs three times the amount that you do, for some reason those extra shoes don’t really seem like a fabulous idea. So instead ditching the shoes and learning to pack light is the only way to go.
Making a plan and list of the kind of clothing you may need ensures that you don’t throw in any last minute unnecessary ugly clothing and prevents you from leaving clothes behind in between destinations, you also have a handy reference in case of stolen or lost luggage.
Research the seasons and weather forecast of the countries you are visiting, along with local rules when it comes to clothing, especially for women. Take a mixture of comfortable casual and formal clothing, when in doubt light layers are always the way to go. Also if visiting holy places such as the Vatican City displaying bare skin is prohibited, therefore remember to pack and dress accordingly for these places. Examine your intended clothing items and remove any items that may only be used once if possible.
Remember to purchase a travel kit in a waterproof case, these items exist for a reason and can greatly assist your travel experience. Any toiletry items should be purchased in their pre-existing travel sizes as this can greatly save luggage space.
To ensure everything is as neat and small as possible iron everything you intend to take before you pack. Practicing folding to the point where you think you could enter some kind of international clothes folding competition, this not only saves space but also time. Try to think ahead about what items you will be wearing first and place them on top, this simple act stops you from reaching your first destination and creating the world’s largest clothes pile by looking for that one specific t-shirt.
Lastly, always keep important travel documents, medication, jewellery, checklists, keys and valuables in your carry-on luggage, it is certainly not worth leaving these in checked luggage.