In 1940s films, glamorous characters board steam ships with an army of porters to lug their many bulky suitcases (all beautifully matching of course). But in today’s age of airline travel, that kind of thing would never happen (not for us normal folks anyway). Nowadays you are charged up $100 for checked bags on a domestic flight, gone are the days of packing every item of clothing that you might conceivably wear on your European vacation.
I’ve had many a holiday (pre kiddie) with just carry on luggage. It saves on costs, time and makes things a lot easier. Here are my top ten tips for packing light for your summer holiday!
1. Make a list, and check it twice.
As you organise what you absolutely need, you’ll realize what you don’t need.
2. Pack a little detergent and a cheap camping clothesline.
If you can spare 10 minutes a night to wash your unmentionables and what you wore that day, you can save a lot of space in your suitcase. Washing your stuff in the shower, rolling it into a towel, squeeze out the excess water, hang it up to dry and in the morning, clean and fresh.
3. Start liking the layered look
Wear multiple layers of lightweight attire, which will trap air and conserve body heat. Large lightweight cotton wraps are are really great to travel with, cool in summer and warm in winter.
4. Make ‘repurposing’ your new buzzword.
You won’t have to pack as much stuff if you pick items that can serve double or triple duty.
5. Pack wrinkle-resistant items.
Certain fabrics simply hold up better on the road, and the latest generation of wrinkle-resistant synthetic blends are one example.
6. Go with a consistent colour scheme.
When everything in your travel wardrobe matches everything else, you increase the number of mix-and-match options. To change up a look include a few of your favourite coloured scarves, they don’t take up any space and are are great accessory.
7. Get over your shoe obsession.
Limit yourself to packing no more than two to three pairs.
8. Pack tight
The tighter and flatter you can get your stuff inside your bag, the more space you’ll have for more stuff. Rolling or bundle-wrapping your clothes, in which you wrap garments tightly around a central core object.
9. Think miniature
When in doubt, smaller is better. Don’t waste precious space in your toiletries bag with full-size containers of deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and lotions (and they are likely to be confiscated when going through security). Instead, pick up some sample sizes at your local chemist or decant them into travel-sized mini bottles
10. Pack a lightweight turkish towel
These make the perfect beach towel, bath towel, sarong and pareo. It is specially blended from fast drying cotton, does not mildew, doesn’t hold the sand like heavy wet terry towelling and easily rolls small to fit in your suitcase. Designed to be a multi-functional lightweight bath towel that seconds as a tablecloth, table runner and picnic blanket.
The point is: Be smart and pack light. You’ll save the extra costs on paying for checked luggage, you’ll save time having to wait for your luggage to come through on the airport carousel, you’ll save your back having to lug all the luggage around and you’ll minimize the chances of leaving something behind at a hotel.
P.S. But unfortunately I’ve found out, there is no such thing as packing light when you have children because there are an endless lists of favourites that need to come along with them when they go anywhere . . .
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