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How to Pack Light for Your Vacation

By: Matthew Kepnes

There's an ancient phrase that when you travel you should pack half as much as you need but double the amount of money you bring. After going around the world twice, I couldn't agree with that statement more. It's very important to pack very little on your holiday. Packing light helps you avoid fees on airlines, saves space, and gives you less weight to carry, and allows you more freedom.

It is often said that the stuff we own, ends up owning us. When we travel, we plan too much. We typically pack lots of clothes and stuff because we feel that you never know what might happen. So we leave for a two week holiday with a backpack packed with half our wardrobe. However, the secret to travel is to pack light. We often go on an adventure and only end up using half of what we took, upset we took so much in the first place.

When I travel, all of my belongings fit into a tiny daypack and a large backpack or duffel bag. I have traveled for over a year without ever needing anything more. In fact, I often find I still pack too much!! When friends come and visit me, I am amazed that they took so much stuff. They ask me my tips on packing light. I'll tell you what I tell them.
Here's how I pack light and how you can too:

First, scribble a list of everything you think you might want. Everything and anything. From clothes, to toiletries, to electronics, to jackets, and everything in between. This packing list will usually ends up pretty long. But that's ok, we'll get it down fast.

Next, look at your list and think about it in relation to your trip. If you are going to the islands, do you really want pants or jeans? If you are going to Rome in July, do you really want to pack long sleeve shirts?

Next, you should have cut your packing list down a bit by eliminating those items that didn't really have much to do with your destination. Now, let's take a look at your toiletry list. Why are you bringing so much? In this age of over caution, people tend to pack every medicine known to man just in case.

Let's be real- do you ever use most of them? Can't you buy them at your destination? So go minimal. If you do get sick, you can always by Tylenol medicine there. Take only the bare essentials. A few pills that take up only a little space- you don't need the whole box.

What about the non-medical supplies your packing? Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, and shaving cream is what you need. If you are staying at a b &b, you don't even need soap or shampoo since it is provided for you. You're going on a trip not to a corporate function so lose the cosmetics and facial products.

Now, think about your packing list. What can you buy there if you really need it? Probably lots. Toss the bug spray, the suntan lotion, and whatever else you are bringing. You can't take it on the plane anyways.

Ok, final step on the path to packing light. We've probably cut out a lot of your list now. The next step is to just throw out another half. You are holiday, relaxing. Things don't get very dirty and you can wear the same shorts a few days in a row. Get rid of the towel- just borrow the one from the hotel. Take half as many clothes. Wear many longer or don't wear any! You never wear everything you take and unless spill something or sweat through your shirt, you can use it for more than one day.

That's it. That is the trick to packing light. Cutting, cutting, and cutting until you get to the essential items you need to pack. If you follow my opinion, I guarantee you will pack light and make the whole packing process much easier.

Article Source: http://www.topicinfo.com

Matt is an avid traveler who has backpack the world. Find more about packing light at his website.

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