Promised to continue sharing these excellent "Travel Light" tips from our Parkland colleague, Martha Bowser-Kiener. She has led numerous international tours for us in Community Education, as well as Study Abroad tours. She knows what she's talking about.
Here are Martha's suggestions for What to Pack:
* Consider the size and weight of every item you pack. It makes a difference. For example, jeans are great, but they're heavy and hard to wash/dry while traveling.
* Take things you wouldn't mind leaving behind. Hint: I often shop for travel clothes at Goodwill or tak old socks, etc.
* Take clothes you feel comfortable wearing--and that you can layer & mix/match.
* DON'T take anything you would hate to lose or have ruined on the trip.
* Take multi-purpose items, for example: mild shampoo can also be used to wash clothes and/or body wash; scarves can do double-duty as belts, and so on.
* Pack clothes that follow the "3-color rule: neutral + 2 coordinating colors."
* Take 2 pairs of shoes (plus sandals, if you wish).
* For toiletries, keep everything in multiple small, throwaway containers and pitch them as you empty them (hotel freebies are great!).
* Keep in mind: most hotels have hairdryers and irons. Some travelers even buy low-cost Euro hairdyers while abroad.
* Never leave on a trip without travel-size bottles of Febreze and a stain remover.
Next time: How to Pack.
