5 tips to travelling without excess baggage

Travelling to different places can get cumbersome if you are carrying too big a bag.

While it might feel like you will need to take everything you own with you, a few essentials should cover your everyday requirements for a few days.

Here are some tips you can follow when travelling solo or with your friends and family season…

1. Keep a packing list handy

The tendency most people have is to pack items they think they might need, ‘just in case’ the bare minimum is not enough. Alternatively, get a packing list ready of all the essentials you need and pack only those. There are simple packing lists online for you to print out if you think you will end up listing everything in your wardrobe.

2. Pick the right bag

Often, just taking the wrong bag will add to your luggage weight. If it is a short trip spanning about a couple of days, you do not need a trolley bag. Choose a light and sturdy carry-on bag — this would be sufficient for your essentials.

3. Pack the needed amount of clothes

Carrying too many clothes is one of the most common problems when it comes to packing. If you want pack more clothing, just pack an extra set instead of trying to stuff your entire wardrobe into your bag. Choose the lightest fabrics as they are likely to occupy the least amount of space and add the least amount of weight to your luggage.

4. Restrict footwear to a minimum number

If you think you need one pair each of formal and informal footwear, then take just that rather than multiple number of slippers/ shoes. Instead of taking shoe bags, use shower caps —they occupy less space and are a suitable cover for your footwear.

5. Take mini-sized toiletries

Perfumes, shampoos, soap, toothpaste — whatever be the toiletries you wish to pack, take only the quantity required and not more. Travel-size toiletries can be bought in stores or made by transferring the needed quantity of the respective products into the smaller containers.