Learn how to pack for a trip in the most efficient way
I am a seasoned traveler. I was a business consultant and traveled five days a week. I know travel a lot as I am a dual citizen of the US and EU and love to travel. I have learned a lot about how to pack for a trip. I would like to share this with you. I have four stories here about life and packing your bags.
Pack for a trip with the idea of less is more
The wisdom of less is more is applies to packing. Let me give you tell you four stories and you will get the idea. The you can decide if you really travel light.
Luggage as a consultant -Story one
When I was a consultant I packed my suitcase with everything I needed once a week. All my shampoos and workout clothes and a change of clothes for the week. When I got back home I unpacked and did wash all Saturday. I would bring a couple books to read for the plan and the hotel room. Further the traveling was harder because my bags were heavy. After a few years all I brought was a change on t-shirts and underwear. I wore a wrinkle free white shirt and khakis. I would pack a tooth brush and toothpaste. Nothing else. I would put this in my laptop bag. Therefore, there were no bags to check or collect. I would just carry this and for five days I was set. In the Hotel I read the Bible or went to sleep. It was a much simpler way to pack.
Do not pack at all – Story two
Story number two about packing My friend George Wheat and I were going out of the country for a long weekend, before I met my wife. He is a childhood friend and I have learned a lot from him. This is the way he packed. He slept in is jeans and a t-shirt and stood up and said I will be out in the car. Nothing else. I said what about the bathroom? He said he would use the bathroom at the airport and at the hotel they have a toothbrush. He took nothing and packed nothing. He said it is more fun that way. You can enjoy life more.
We had a great time exploring this foreign country with nothing to fetter us down and did not miss anything. When we got back home, there was nothing to wash or clean or unpack. So after this story can you say you travel light?
On the plane the best thing to do is cross your arms and close your eyes and just kind of space out or sleep. Do not busy yourself with work or watching the movie. Save your energy and rest your eyes for when you get to your destination. I do not care if you are a girl or a guy or going to another country. You do not need to pack much. Mainly just a couple of pairs of under garments and a toothbrush. Nothing else and your trip will be a lot more fun.
Feng Shui your vacation – Story three
Why can I write this? I have traveled more than almost anyone reading this. The less you have the more you enjoy your trip because you shed all the things that are nothing more than your grown up version of security blankets. When I got rid of all the things I owned when I lived in Boston it opened up the possibility of a new life. I read some Feng Shui books and did just this. Then I moved to Europe where I have lived for many years. I felt weight down by my stuff in the USA which was really just baggage holding me back. Now I have new stuff, but the point is, if you need a lot of stuff there is something psychologically holding you back in your life.
Traveling with children – Story four
If you have children you need a couple more items for them, but do not much. We just got back from a 30 hour trip with my 17 month old. We packed toys she did not play with. All I needed was to show he videos from my computer we downloaded from YouTube and home videos. Or play with her with the cups and forks and talk with her and play simple games with our hands and voice. Remember when you are packing anything you think you might need you can get when you are at your destination, and probably a lot cheaper, unless you are going to Switzerland or something.
Therefore, the rule for packing is pack nothing or little. This is how you pack for a trip. After reading my for travel packing stories tell me what you think. Also, let me know how you pack for your trip.
2 responses to How to pack for a trip
LOVED the story about George – I LOL when I read he slept in his jeans and t-shirt and woke up/got up and said he’d see you in the car! Not sure I’m ready for THAT, but appreciate the opportunity to be more thoughtful about what we’ll be packing for our trip to the East Coast. And I LOVE the possibility of being unfettered…lovely. And although is is challenging to travel with young children, we are memory-making, so I hope to make our trek to the East enjoyable along the way.
How to pack for a trip
The story about George true, but not for everyone. I guess my point is when you over pack it makes your trip weighted down. If you travel with kids of course that is a different story as the packing for kids must be about them and their needs.
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