How to Pack and Travel Light and Avoid Airline Fees
Almost everybody loves to travel but very few of us are efficient at packing light. After being a chronic over packer most of my life I have vowed to do better in the future. After all of the major airlines started to charge for checked bags that cinched the resolution to pack light for me. Let me share what I've learned with you from the best type of luggage to packing your clothes differently. (Click on pictures to see enlarged images.)
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Instructions
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First, let's start with the type of bag that you choose to use for your trip. Many years ago it was recommended to invest in a set of very heavy, well constructed suitcases. The type of luggage that would withstand anything...it could be thrown around in the bottom of the plane and never have noticeable damage. Fast forward to today. Once the airlines started really enforcing the weight limit to 50 Lbs per bag or pay a surcharge it became time to re-think that theory. Weighing a LARGE traditional style suitcase you will find it can weigh 16 Lbs completely EMPTY!! That is a significant chunk of your 50 Lb limit. And so begins the search for a lighter alternative.
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Enter rolling duffle bags - become a rolling duffle convert. They're the perfect alternative to traditional suitcases. Most weigh about ½ as much as a traditional suitcase of equivalent size and they hold as much or more inside. A typical 30" rolling duffle only weighs about 8 Lbs & is just about the perfect size to keep from going over the 50 Lb weight limit. Most are made from durable synthetic materials. Duffle bags also have a different "footprint" so they take up less floor space in your hotel room if you don't have room to store them. Most will also flatten somewhat and you can store them under your bed if space is an issue.
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The next step is to learn to use packing cubes. One concern some have with switching to duffle bags is that most do not have the tie down straps inside like traditional luggage. This was solved with the invention of packing cubes! These things are the BEST thing for organizing when you pack. You will wonder how you ever lived without them. I purchased one 3 piece set for each of us to use as a trial on a short trip and they worked out SO WELL that I recently ordered more to use for longer trips. They come in different colors so you can even buy a different color for each family member. Additionally, they come in different sizes so you can tailor them to your individual packing needs and luggage dimensions. Use one for tops, one for bottoms & one for undergarments & unmentionables.
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This is possibly the best tip...instead of folding clothes when you travel, ROLL them! Everything fits into the packing cubes all nice & neat and wrinkle free. This is a much more efficient way to pack and makes better use of space with the added bonus of not wrinkling the clothes. You can really get a lot of clothing in a packing cube by rolling everything.
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Finally, another great thing about using packing cubes is that you can easily just lift them out of your luggage, zip them open & fold the lid back around under the cube and then just set the cubes into the dresser drawers or armoire of your hotel room. I always used to feel uneasy about putting our clothes away in strange drawers and felt like I had to wipe them out with disinfecting wipes first but the packing cubes have eliminated that phobia for me. They are SO easy to use and are a more hygienic way to store your belongings when you travel. I cannot praise them enough. Packing up to go home is also a breeze. Just reorganize your clothes into clean and dirty and zip them back up again. They are a must have for anybody who's serious about packing light. They are truly a 5 star idea!
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Follow these 3 simple tips and travel lighter: 1) Don't fold but roll clothes 2) Use packing cubes for organization and to cut back on how much you take. Use one for tops, one for bottoms and a small or medium size for undergarments. 3) Try switching to duffle bags from traditional, heavier suitcases.
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Tips & Warnings
In case you DO find that you get a few wrinkles when you travel on your vacations I also recommend taking along some Downey Wrinkle Release which can also be found in a 3 oz travel size. It works wonders on any wrinkles that you might happen to get while traveling. No ironing required!! It's the perfect touch-up when traveling.
Center all of your outfits around just 2 or 3 pairs of shoes. Wear your biggest, heaviest ones and pack the two lighter pairs. You can also stuff little things into them in your luggage to save more space.
Because they hold SO much, that's the biggest problem with duffle bags - you can easily OVER pack them and have a problem with the weight limit. So I do not recommend that you buy one of the gargantuan sizes. Stick with about 30" or less or you will still over pack!!
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.ebags.com
