13 April 2012
There is an art to travelling light. Frequent fliers who spend their week crisscrossing the friendly skies know how important it is to save time and money. Travelling light saves you both. Travel needs to be simplified.
Why are you bringing that golf shirt you have not worn in two years to Barbados? Why did you jam all those toiletries inside your carry-on? The hotel has a spa, right? You do not need to bring one with you. The next time you book a ticket to a distant shore, remember to pack a light bag and keep an even lighter itinerary. Here are three tips that will help ease the load.
1. If you can pack all of your belongings into a carry-on, then forgo checking a suitcase. While packing an overhead bag is a sure-fire way to save time at the airport, as you will skip the crowds and chaos at the baggage claim, it is also a good way to save money. Baggage handling fees are expensive, and the money you save with a carry-on can be put to better use at a golf course or a three-star dinner.
2. Getting your belongings to fit inside the carry-on is the real art of travelling light. You are going to have to leave things at home. Laptops and other electronic gadgets do not belong on holiday. Most toiletries can be found at hotels, so you can cut back on the bathroom clutter that fills up the carry-on. Pack a few favourite outfits that can be easily mixed and matched.
3. Packing light is about carrying the essentials. It is not about being prepared for every possible situation or event that may occur on your travels. In other words, if you find yourself in need of an item, simply buy it at your destination country.
