Optimize your luggage

When you travel abroad, the worst thing you have to deal with is heavy and cumbersome luggage, carrying too many kilos of items you don’t need. The seasoned traveler knows what to pack, how to pack, and how much space should be left in the suitcase when done. Here are some tips to make your next trip smooth sailing with easy-to-carry luggage.

Inventory.
First you determine how many days you will be away and how many nights you will spend in each hotel in the city. We all want to have some variety in our wardrobe, but by mixing and matching a few key pieces, you can expand your fashion without packing your wardrobe in your suitcase. Try two or three basic neutral colors for your pants and add just three or four top pieces for color. This reduces the use of dresses or suits that add weight and bulk to your luggage. To make sure you’ve put everything you’ll need in the cases, start with a list of what you’ll need. As you pack each item, remove it from your inventory list and you can be sure you didn’t leave anything important behind.

Hand luggage.
Your carry-on gives you some extra space, but make sure you don’t overload this bag, as you may have to dig along the way. Suitable items for carry-on luggage include extra money, personal effects such as cosmetics and cigarettes, and of course any medication you are traveling with. Never pack your medications in checked baggage, as there is a chance they could be lost or stolen, leaving you in dire straits when you reach your destination.

Space saving techniques.
When traveling in temperate climates, you will need light clothing such as cotton. The traditional way of packing is to fold clothes as you would when placing them in a drawer. However, to save space in your suitcase, try rolling the item up tightly to double your packing space. For loose items like socks, hair accessories, and underwear, place them in a clear plastic bag to keep them organized and within easy reach when unpacking. Also, you don’t want to use up the last space in your luggage when you leave. Remember that you may want to buy souvenirs on your trip and you will have to free up at least ten percent of the useful space in the suitcases to store them.

dry cleaning
If you can avoid bringing only dry cleaning items, you’re already ahead of your foreign laundry bill. This type of garment can cost four times the cleaning bill of normal wash-and-wear garments, so plain cotton is your best travel companion.

Worry-free luggage.
For the passionate traveler, one of the best investments you can make is to purchase a set of rolling luggage. Some of the best brands have increased the rolling motion to turn in all directions, making transporting the case a doddle. Although there are rental cars at an airport, assume that you will not be able to get one and will have to manually maneuver your bags. If you arrive at the airport during peak hours, the chances of running out of a cart are high and you want to be ready with mobile luggage you can run with.