Mufsin Mahbub
When packing for a trip, I like to pride myself on being a light packer but there’s really no great mystery behind traveling light.
The secret is just good planning: If you decide what to wear before you leave, you’ll have no reason to over pack.
By employing a few smart strategies, you should be able to fit everything you need in one small piece of luggage. Whether you’re going away for two days or two weeks. Here are some tips to help you get prepared for that big road trip.
- Before each trip, make a list of the materials you will need for your trip. This includes what you will wear each day during the trip. I like using the web site OneBag.com, which has lots of great tips, as well as a downloadable packing checklist.
- Get the clothes that you will need and use them to your advantage. You can bring one jacket when it gets cold, but otherwise bring at least two sweaters. Also bring some t-shirts and shorts/pants so you don’t end up wearing the same thing twice. Make sure you iron your clothes prior to the trip.
- Don’t bring a lot of footwear. Especially women tend to have a hard time deciding what shoes to wear, so don’t exert yourself. On most vacations, you just need two pairs of shoes. Bring some running shoes if you are going to do some jogging on the trip.
- Pack some travel-size items. You can go to Bed, Bath & Beyond and get travel size lotion, moisturizing cream, or even deodorant. Some medication wouldn’t hurt either if you have asthma or just have the allergies.
- Leave some stuff along the way. Travel with older socks, undies, and paperback books that you can get rid of as you go. That way, you’ll have room in your suitcase for things you buy on the trip.
- Suitcases and bags tend to get lost. Make sure you have a luggage tag or label your bag with your name and a phone number where someone can reach you while you’re on your trip. Place a card with your information inside your bag as well.
