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It is very important to travel light as a budget traveller. If you over pack, you are much more likely to pay extra money on excess baggage fee, porters, luggage carts and taxis. This can be avoided if you pack sensibly and stick to bringing only your essentials. The cost can seem insignificant, they can really add up, especially on a long, multiple city trip. If you carry a backpack or one luggage, you won’t need to resort to taking the cab to your hotel from the airport or vice versa or even from city to city.

Here are some light packing tips based on personal experience.

1) Try to avoid checking bags whenever possible. Not checking a bag means you save time as you don’t have to wait at the baggage carousel and beat the crowds at the railway station.

2) Airlines have gotten much more strict lately with luggage limits, with most major carriers now allowing only one luggage plus a hand carrier. Generally, you are allowed only 20kg worth of luggage and not adhering to that limit will result in paying unnecessary fee which can be quite exhorbitant.

3) To make the most of this policy, carry small bottles containing shampoo, cleanser, toner and mosituriser. Opt for a small tube of toothpaste too to save on luggage space and minimise the weight.

4) Wear your largest shoes and bulkiest clothing on the plane to save space in the suitcase. For instance, a pair of hiking boots or sneakers can take up valuable luggage space, so pack your smaller dress shoes and wear your boots or sneakers on the plane. Also, invest in a quality pair of stylish yet comfortable walking shoes. Shoes that are comfortable and attractive can be paired with a variety of outfits for a different look. Put them on when travelling on the plane to save space.

5)Plan your outfits carefully to minimise the pieces needed. A stylish black skirt or pair of pants can be worn several times with different shirts or blouses. A pair of jeans can be worn several times so keep to just pair for shorter trips. Minimise your packing to include just one T-shirt or top a day. The next day’s top can be worn in the night to replace the sweaty T-sirt or top worn during the day.

6) Avoid packing accessories and jewellery on a trip to save space. If a tie is needed to be worn, limit to just three depending on the length of the trip.

7) Try packing a large oversized t-shirt in place of a bulky bathrobe or pajamas. An oversized shirt can be great for wearing right out of the shower or as a pajama and it can double as quick cover up after a visit to the hotel pool.

8)Try rolling clothes and undergarment instead of folding them. Rolling clothes allows you to pack more clothes into a smaller space, and helps keep clothes wrinkle free as well.

9) Pack a large but foldable extra bag in your suitcase, and use this bag to carry the purchases and souvenirs you buy on the return trip.

10) Invest in inexpensive biodegradable disposable underwear when travelling for a number of days. You save on space and a trip to the laundromat in the long run.

Packing light is easy and all you need is some practicality and creativity. You will benefit a lot from being a light traveller.

Tags: packing tips, travelling light