Beitel travel advice

With the many different baggage restrictions on flights, buses, trains, and ships, many people who travel, especially abroad, have had to learn to pack lightly.  While some may find this impossible, there are some ways to pack lightly that are quite simple.

First, examine the outfits you plan on wearing.  If you won’t be doing anything that requires formal dress, excellent.  That means you can pack much lighter.  If you are, you have a few obstacles.  For women, travelling with a formal dress may be difficult, and you should simply resign yourself to ironing it when you arrive or, if necessary, even dry cleaning it.  For men and women wearing dressy jackets, you may consider wearing them while travelling.  While it does mean you run the risk of getting them dirty, keeping them out of your bags both saves you space and keeps the garment somewhat wrinkle-free.  You can also wear your heavy coat instead of packing it.

Jeans are a great way of saving space simply because you can often wear the same pair for several days.  Likewise, you may be able to wear an over-shirt twice before washing it if you don’t get it dirty.  T-shirts and underwear, however, should be changed daily, especially if you’re in a warm environment and may be sweating.  However, if you don’t mind spending a little extra money, you can always go to a shop and buy new socks and underwear when you arrive and throw them away when you leave.  This can be expensive, but it does save space in your luggage.

If you’re travelling with someone, think about combining your luggage.  By going with a slightly larger bag, you may be able to eliminate a piece of luggage.  This can save you money since you won’t have to pay for shipping it plus make it easier to haul your luggage around.

Carry-on bags are another good way of saving space.  If you’re only going to take a book or a few snacks in your carry-on, think about adding your toiletries and other small items to the bag.  You may even be able to fit an extra pair of shoes in your carry-on.  Just be sure it still meets the size requirements for a carry-on bag.

Finally, don’t over-pack.  Think about what you’ll be doing, and don’t take too many changes of clothing.  If you know you’ll be buying a souvenir t-shirt, you may even take that into consideration and wear it after buying it.