How to be a Lightweight Traveller.

It is almost always best to travel light, so that you can avoid unnecessary delays, and get to your destination most efficiently.

1)Get a small bag. The bag should be lightweight and easy to carry. It is helpful to have a bag that can be carried as a backpack, or as a shoulder bag depending on the circumstances. It is also handy if it has wheels.

2)Check the weather report of your destination, so that you know what type of clothing to bring with you. For example, If it is going to be sunny, then bring a hat, etc. Plan your wardrobe so that everything matches with everything else. A good suggestion would be to follow a minimalist approach to fashion, such as bringing single coloured clothings as these are easy to match. One skirt and a single pair of trousers can be matched with a t-shirt, a blouse or a tank top to make six different outfits--plenty of clothes for a week journey. You can get fancy with a scarf, bandanna or a cap. Also, be sure you have appropriate clothing for area you are visiting.

3)Bring enough underwear and socks so that not much laundering is needed. And, bring laundry supplies, if you are planning on doing laundry. (Note: just put enough dry detergent in a ziplock bag for as many loads as you plan to do--don't bring the whole box.). Wisely choose clothing materials that dry quickly, such as Nycott, Polyester or alternative eco material, such as Soy so you only need a few pairs. If you hate doing laundering ( like me!), consider investing in anti-microbial clothing, so you won't stink that much.

4)Bring at least two pairs of shoes that you can walk in comfortably. I also suggest bringing a fun or fancy pair of shoes, in case you want to go someplace like a club, a fancy dinner, or the opera. You never know who you may meet!

5)Consider your packing space carefully. Put items inside of other items, like putting some items in your shoes. Roll clothes into small rolls can also prevent wrinking. Invest in wrinkle resistant clothings so you can squeeze them tight into your bag without looking shabby later.

6)If you have special supplies or equipment that you need to have with you and they are heavy, a way is to have these items sent ahead of you to your hotel or home stay where you can meet them later.

7) Keep necessary items you need in the top of your bag or in a separate hand bag, because you never know what may happen when you travel. As well, carry any valuables with you in this bag .Keep your ID, money, credit cards, in a security pouch or in secret, zipped pockets of your clothings. Keep some small currency in your pocket for little purchases (rather than pulling out everything each time). Carry photocopies of your ID, visas, and credit cards with you but in a separate compartment from the real ones (the idea being that if you lose one, you still have the other). Copies can also be scanned and kept on a USB thumb drive (possibly encrypted). Consider 'buddy packing' where your travel partner keeps your important photocopies and you keep theirs.

8)Not all clothings are created equal for travelling. Some clothings are designed to be light weight. When travelling to cold places, consider warm clothes that have a high warmth to weight ratio.

Other Travel Tips
-Instead of bringing liquid based insect repellent that are heavy and subjected to air line regulatory restrictions, get those non-liquid based ones or even investing in insect repellent clothing.

- Always have extra quart size ziploc bags (for various uses) and a plastic shopping bag in case your clothes get wet and you cant dry them before you pack again.

-Carry a bag of nuts. You never know when you might be on a long train ride with ridiculously expensive food. Nuts are good for you, non perishable and they satiate your hunger.

-Avoid bringing things that you "might" need, simply because you really like them. If you know that you are going to be hiking across Central America, and camping in the outback, then you probably are not going to need that fabulous Betsy Johnson empire mini dress. Take a photo of it, and bring it with you. You can look at it while you are in the outback to remind you of more glamorous times that you will revisit when you return.

-Last but not least,if your bag feels heavy while you are carrying it out of your house, then you have too much stuff.