Topic	How To Travel Light
Read Time	5 Minutes
Author	Laura Radford, Travel Writer

HOW TO TRAVEL LIGHT

Travelling light is always a good idea! The extra freedom and flexibility it will give you is so beneficial, not to mention it is also cheaper! No costly extra charges for hold luggage or hidden extras for excess baggage. It should always be about packing the essentials, but more often than not, we travel with far more than we actually need, and pay the price for it! Here’s a few tips as to how to travel light, you’ll never look back…

SMALL LIGHTWEIGHT CASE

This might seem obvious, but it is SO important. Heavy duty suitcases can add an additional 1-2kg on top of our baggage allowances with airlines, so choosing the right one is critical. Also, keep it small, you won’t need or use even half of the stuff you’re envisaging packing for your trip abroad, so sticking to a small, lightweight case will ensure you don’t overpack unnecessarily, and of course it’s far easier to transport around.

PACKING LIST

Lots of people swear by using a packing list when planning a holiday, and rightly so. It takes the stress out of remembering if you have packed your toothbrush, or flip flops! Helping to prevent you from forgetting the necessities. A good tip is to have this as a spreadsheet or a list in your phones notes area that can also double up as a checklist, so once its in the case, you can tick it off, knowing it’s taken care of, and there’s no chance of it slipping your mind!

MIX AND MATCH ITEMS

This is a really savvy packing tip, and is important if you’re travelling light or just with hand luggage for instance. Plan your items so you can mix and match. Instead of packing 5 different pairs of shoes, pack 2-3 different outfits that go with the same pair. Clothes weigh less than shoes and won’t take up as much space. You could even adopt the 5,4,3,2,1 packing rule for a week’s holiday – that’s five pairs of socks & underwear, four tops, three bottoms, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 hat. Or the 80/20 rule, pack 20% of the clothes you wear 80% of the time – this way you know you will pack, only what you will wear! Simple right?!

USE PACKING CUBES

Packing cubes are a must for any regular traveller. They keep your suitcase nice and organised, and stop you from shoving too much in. They are designed to help you make the most of your space, and means when you get to your destination, you know exactly is in each. This way you can find what you need quickly, without having to rummage through your whole suitcase. Genius!

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