Tips to travel light and organized

It sure is quite a hassle to carry those oh-so-big bags and carry-on’s while traveling. You don’t realize it when you pack them, but you will have a better travelling experience without those heavy bags, whether you travel to one destination or multiple. Yes, I know it is rather exciting to pack for your next travel adventure and sometimes, we cannot help but go overboard. The most experienced travelers will tell you that it is so much more convenient, not to mention smart, to bring only the essentials and travel light whenever you go out of town.

Here are a few travel packing do’s and dont’s that I bear in mind every time I have to pack for our family vacation. Mind you, the rules never change whether we are going away for a quick getaway or a week-long trip to a far-off place. Read on to learn something you might find useful for your next trip.

Flipflops pack small and light!

Love ‘em flip flops. These lightweight shoes are such space savers in your luggage and the ideal choice for travelers. In most areas, they are fashionable enough that you can wear them either with casual beach attire or with some nice dresses and slacks. Beautiful accessories will complete the look. These days, slightly more substantial light shoes such as Sanuk or Tom’s are available that are just as thin and easy to pack.
Keep things organized in resealable bags

Re-sealable bags do the trick. If you aim to keep everything organized when you are travelling alone or with your family, then those nifty re-sealable bags will be your best friend. These bags make organizing your clothes, toiletries and other travel essentials easy as pie. If you are a mom with a number of children, you can neatly pack each of your brood’s stuff in separate bags so they can easily retrieve them later. Packing before going home is also easy with these clear and labeled bags. The newest addition to this are compressible clear bags that do not let the air bag in after it is squeezed out, therefore saving a lot of space.
Encouraging bigger children to pack their own bags. It will be of much help if you let in the children on the packing chores. If they are bigger, you can even inspire them to bring their own backpack to travel. They can stuff it with items that might come in handy while you are aboard the plane or train, like a book or a plushy to keep them entertained, or packs of snacks in case they get hungry while on the road.
Do not over-pack. Easier said than done, I know. It might be overwhelming to pack especially for a travel adventure you have been dreaming about for a long while. You might want to bring as many items as you can fit in your duffel bags. But, trust me, you will only end up having a hard time carrying those over-packed bags. So be smart and create a list of the stuff you really need to bring so you can be sure that you are only bringing the essentials. If possible, try to live off this lot for a few days to find out what you use and what you don’t use – Haven’t we all packed extra shirts or pants that we rarely wear at home but thought would be great while on vacation? Chances are if you don’t wear it at home, you won’t wear it on vacation. While you are at it, do not forget to include your camera, your mobile phone charger, vitamins and med for the kids and your wallet on the list.
Make an itinerary. Once you are at your dream travel destination it is easy to get excited and eager to explore as many things as you can. It is best that you do your research in advance and create a list of the places to visit and the things to do when you get there. Being organized even while traveling will allow you to enjoy your vacation to the fullest – minus the stress and the headache.