How to Travel Lighter
Learning to travel lighter can be an absolute game-changer on a trip. For one, nobody likes to haul around a gigantic suitcase everywhere on their destinations list; kinda sucks the fun out of things, and I know that from experience. Not to mention, lighter travel can mean cheaper travel, as you can opt not to check a bag at the airport, breeze right through security and relax at the gate instead of spending 30 minutes in line at check in. Packing light just makes things simpler, and today I’m sharing 5 ways that you can lighten the load on your next trip!
1. Keep Your Carry-On Liquids to a Minimum
You can do this by choosing solid toiletries instead, like using toothpaste tabs, opting for powder dry shampoo , and investing in a shampoo bar or shampoo paper. These are great ways to make space for the things that can’t necessarily be substituted out for a solid, such as sunscreen, makeup, etc.
If you can condense your liquids down to the quart-sized bag required by the TSA, then you can potentially avoid having to check a bag, which not only will save you tons of time and energy, but also a lot of money!
2. Consider Washing Clothes on the Road
If you happen to be lucky enough to book yourself a BnB or Airbnb with a washer and dryer, that’s even better! If not, I’ve made a habit of packing one or two tide-to-go packs in my liquids bag and my super-compact clothesline from REI so that I can wash clothes in my accommodation’s sink or bathtub. Washing clothes during your trip will allow you to pack fewer outfits without sacrificing hygiene, and of course you will save tons of space.
3. Invest in Some Packing Cubes
You’ve probably heard this one before, but they really are life-changing. Not only can you compress things down a bit more than you would when just throwing all your stuff into a suitcase haphazardly, but they also help me keep my belongings organized all the way to the end of my trip. I no longer have trouble finding what I’m looking for, and my suitcase never looks messy!
Another bonus is that they also provide a sort of limit when I’m packing my stuff before a trip. I feel like I have to condense my necessities into the cubes, and they help me to make decisions on what I need and don’t need on my vacation.
4. Pick up Some Travel Containers
These can be great to use if you have liquid toiletries such as sunscreen, bug spray or skincare products that are in larger packaging and want to compress them down to bottles that are just big enough for the length of your trip. I personally have what you could call an ‘extensive’ skincare routine that I absolutely do not skip, so travel containers really help me to bring everything I want to and still leave room for my other liquids. Here are some good ones I purchased from The Container Store!
5. Really Consider What You Need In Order to Have a Good Time
This is where you really have to know yourself. Personally, I can skimp on the outfits and makeup products, but I tend to carry a lot of tech, like cameras, lenses, laptop, etc. For me, having that stuff on my vacation makes me super happy, because I really enjoy taking and editing photos from my trips.
Think about what it is that is going to allow you to enjoy your trip, whether that’s amazing fashion, that super comfortable pillow from home, maybe a couple good books. Know what you need, and try to go lighter on everything you can spend a week or two without.