Vacation Packing Tips: Lighten the Load and Pack Like A Pro

Vacation Packing Tips: Don’t Panic, It’s The 21^st Century

Don’t be this guy. Credit: Bill Ward’s Brickpile, Flickr.

Learn to pack just the essentials and don’t plan for every contingency. Yes, you might blow a flip-flop or hopelessly stain your jacket — **it happens — deal with it when it does.

Take a few basic tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched. Packing easy care, wrinkle-resistant fabrics are key. Carefully inspect your choices. Can they be worn more than once without looking like you slept in it? Is it versatile? Yes, your new orange polka dot cardi is super-cute, but the dark navy will serve you better. Leave the former at home.

Minimize your toiletries. Toiletries can add a lot of weight and bulk to your luggage. Cut down your list and really minimize. No, you don’t want to spend your first hour on Bora Bora in search of deodorant; just pack enough to get you on your way and buy more when you need it. Nowadays, even the most remote outback has a mini mart.

Two weeks in Europe, one carry on size suitcase and weighs in at only 17.5 lbs. That’s traveling light!