Packing Light For Travel

Only Pack What You Can Carry
Only pack and bring as much as you can carry by yourself from the car to the plain/train/bus. This will cut down on trips back and forth and cut down on having to give big tips for help. This will also make you narrow down what you bring and avoid the unnecessary items.

Packing for Out-Of-The-Way Travel
When going through mountains and what not, bring cans of Spam and baked beans. If you are stuck in the middle of a Costa Rican mountain in the middle of the night with a flat tire and no phone and you are really, really hungry ... put it on the engine, baby. Perfect meal!!!

Portable Hairdryer
Always take it with me you, and don't have to carry the heavy converter, transformer and adapters required for such appliances. Just plug it in and dry! It saves both room and weight.

Pre-Packed Cosmetic and First-Aid Bag
Always keep a separate cosmetic bag for trips. This way you do not have to pack and unpack everytime you go away. The extra item you can add to your list is a small first-aid kit with bandaids and a container of insect repellent.

Lost Baggage Protection
Print a copy of your itinerary on the back of a business card (there is software to print on business card stock if you are so inclined) and put it in a luggage tag on your suitcase. Alternatively, put a copy of your itinerary in an outside pocket of your suitcase with the note 'itinerary in outside pocket' emblazoned near your name on your luggage tags (you should have at least 2-3 luggage tags on each piece). When I've been forced to check baggage, this technique resulted in my baggage being returned to me much sooner than it otherwise would have.

Lint Brush Substitute
Instead of a lint brush, pack several of those clear plastic, adhesive airbill pouches used for Federal Express packages. They're flat, light and disposable, and they work very well.

Luggage Size is Important
Some people with large luggage actually had to wait for a larger cab or van to pick them up. Most cabs were small cars, not the larger cars we are used to here. Even cabs picking up at the airport were smaller sized cars. Something to think about when you are choosing which luggage pieces to take.

Mobile Luggage
If you are travelling with children or the elderly, get a rolling carry-on. If you have rolling luggage, the carry-on can also strap on top of it.

Net Laundry Bags
Use net laundry bags to put undies in after wearing. Ready to wash - and then makes sorting easier, especially if traveling with others.

Never Underestimate String
Always travel with a long piece of string in your pocket. It can be used to hold together your suitcase if the zip bursts, to create an improvised washing line, or to keep the kids happy playing cats cradle when a flight is delayed.

Newspaper Bags
Ever wonder what to do with all those long narrow bags you get with your daily newspaper? They are great as shoe bags. Can also use them to keep hairbrushes and comb in one place. The best thing is - they are free and you always need a small long bag for those last-minute purchases.