Well, I have just visit some travel forums and meet some questions about "PACKING". What things need to be packed and what we don't need to pack. It seems to be difficult for those who never travel before - or we call virgin traveler. It reminds me of who I am years before. So that, I read a very helpful article at one site guiding about packing, so I want to share some tip of how to to PACK LIGHT, PACK SMART .
Thanks to this guide, I think it is soooooooooooooooo helpful. Just take a look.
Pack Less
- Tackle the amount of stuff you're taking 1. Set out what you think you'll need to pack (include items like camera and guidebooks). 2. Put two thirds of it away. Even then, you may still find yourself with too much clothing while traveling. Force yourself to be ruthless! Try this test: put small items in the pockets of clothes you're wearing -- would you still want that stuff if you had to carry it on your body? Carry the light, right clothes Types of clothing are crucial to light,
- Bring soap (more on soap below) and you can get by with two shirts - one long sleeved, one short. Wear one while the other dries. You'll buy shirts
on the road , too. And if yours are logo shirts, give 'em away or trade 'em before you come home.
- Pack or wear zip-off pants with several pockets; the lower legs can be zipped off and you don't need to pack a pair of shorts. Dorky -- yes, very. Light, washable, easy -- yes, very.Pants pockets make the difference in easy road travel, too. I got four pairs of the same cargo pants at European H&M stores in spring '06 because they have seven buttoning pockets. My day bag was soon almost empty while the pockets got packed, and they're my new travel faves.
- Check out money belt you can wear like a belt, rather than the cloth pouches. Either way, do learn about travel money stashing in clothes.
Packing Space Tips
- Stuff shoes
- Shoes provide massive unused space in a backpack. Cram them with underwear and socks Speaking of shoes, consider Teva flipsoles -- built in indoor flip-flops save packing space. Looks -- not so much. Comfy, though.
- Roll your clothes
- Roll clothing you don't want to wrinkle. Some folks put clothes in plastic bags with the same goal in mind (haven't tried it).
- Keep toiletries tiny
- Buy sample size toothpaste tubes and deodorant.
- Stash small hotel soaps for travel use; carry in a small ziploc bag.
- Pour your own shampoo into a plastic travel bottle(obtainable at drugstores) -- better yet, use the same small soap (above) for your face, hair, body, as shaving soap and for hand-washing clothes. You can buy small laundy soap packets at laundromats
on the road (spendy but easier than carrying), or bring sample sizes. I've bought cups or capfuls of laundry soap at hotel front desks, too.
- Mini folding toothbrush is a must -- get 'em at Walmart.
All those clothing pockets can also become toiletry kits in packing - stash stuff that might ooze in a plastic baggie.
Pack the Right Bag
Bags sized for carry-on will also fit in most hostel lockers.
Tip: Current carry on bag size: keep it at or under 22x9x15 (ask when you buy your ticket). You can divide by sevens to be safe and keep carry on bags at 21x7x14.
Leave a Little Room
Lastly, leave some space in your bag for souvenirs. My souvenirs are often clothing which I can wear home and don't have to pack, like a Guatemalan shirt or a Mexican poncho. And if you find you were too ruthless about packing light and are short of clothes, you've killed two birds with one stone by getting an extra shirt and a souvenir.
Don't forget to bring a light heart.
If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.
- From: About.com: Student Travel -
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