by Lisa Peel, International Education Coordinator, Terry
Travelers tend to fall into different categories when it comes to packing. Rick Steves, travel guru, says “there are two kinds of travelers: those who pack light and those who wish they had.” Despite knowing that packing light is a more comfortable way to travel, some of us fill our luggage with “just-in-case” items for every scenario, throwing in clothes we don’t even wear when we are not traveling. Others see packing as an art form and begin planning weeks or months before the trip to build a carefully curated list of travel essentials. If you long to be a smart packer, here are a few tips that you might consider.
First, limit yourself to one bag. Yes, it’s possible to travel for ten days with one bag. In fact, many of our programs limit you to one bag due to in-country transportation restrictions. (For those of you thinking no problem, the bag is just going to be really big, read on.) Remember that you will be carrying this bag yourself, so give it the “block” test. That is, carry it up and down a flight of stairs, around the block and up the stairs again. If you can manage without huffing and puffing then your bag is manageable. Now you just need to consult the airline regulations for height and weight.
Second, what you put in the bag actually starts outside the bag. Find a space where you can lay out all of the essentials in easy-to-see piles. Some people do this by outfit. Others do it by the must-haves (underwear), the nice-to-haves (a third pair of shoes), and the probably-nots-but-I’m-not-ready-to-eliminate-yet (anything that is serving as a security blanket for the travel unknowns). These piles start as a brainstorm and become more refined as you consider the weather, talk to other participants, and review your itinerary for special dress requirements. As you edit your piles, ask yourself, will I use this item more than once? Does it feel comfortable enough for me to lug around for a week? When in doubt leave it out. This layout also serves as a way to see what’s missing. If you don’t have a comfortable pair of walking shoes or raincoat, it gives you enough time to go shopping. The packing part of packing doesn’t have to happen until the night before. Be sure to wear part of your travel wardrobe to save space.
Third, be sure that most clothes can be worn together. Color schemes like neutral, black and gray ensure that everything in your travel wardrobe matches. For you fashionistas, bring a colorful scarf. For those of you concerned about recycling outfits, make a pact with fellow travelers that they will see you in the same clothes more than once. Other people you meet along the way aren’t likely to see you every day of your trip, so they won’t know the difference.
Of course, there is much more advice than three simple tips, but I don’t want to pack too much into this this post. Here are some more helpful links:
10 Days in a Carry-On with Pictures
A Definitive Answer to the Question: Roll it, Fold it, or Bundle it?
The Ultimate Packing List
First, limit yourself to one bag. Yes, it’s possible to travel for ten days with one bag. In fact, many of our programs limit you to one bag due to in-country transportation restrictions. (For those of you thinking no problem, the bag is just going to be really big, read on.) Remember that you will be carrying this bag yourself, so give it the “block” test. That is, carry it up and down a flight of stairs, around the block and up the stairs again. If you can manage without huffing and puffing then your bag is manageable. Now you just need to consult the airline regulations for height and weight.
Second, what you put in the bag actually starts outside the bag. Find a space where you can lay out all of the essentials in easy-to-see piles. Some people do this by outfit. Others do it by the must-haves (underwear), the nice-to-haves (a third pair of shoes), and the probably-nots-but-I’m-not-ready-to-eliminate-yet (anything that is serving as a security blanket for the travel unknowns). These piles start as a brainstorm and become more refined as you consider the weather, talk to other participants, and review your itinerary for special dress requirements. As you edit your piles, ask yourself, will I use this item more than once? Does it feel comfortable enough for me to lug around for a week? When in doubt leave it out. This layout also serves as a way to see what’s missing. If you don’t have a comfortable pair of walking shoes or raincoat, it gives you enough time to go shopping. The packing part of packing doesn’t have to happen until the night before. Be sure to wear part of your travel wardrobe to save space.
Third, be sure that most clothes can be worn together. Color schemes like neutral, black and gray ensure that everything in your travel wardrobe matches. For you fashionistas, bring a colorful scarf. For those of you concerned about recycling outfits, make a pact with fellow travelers that they will see you in the same clothes more than once. Other people you meet along the way aren’t likely to see you every day of your trip, so they won’t know the difference.
Of course, there is much more advice than three simple tips, but I don’t want to pack too much into this this post. Here are some more helpful links:
10 Days in a Carry-On with Pictures
A Definitive Answer to the Question: Roll it, Fold it, or Bundle it?
The Ultimate Packing List