Packing Light - What Do I Really Need?

I can't reiterate enough how important it is to pack light. You will be so much happier. Not only the sheer weight lifted off your back (yeah, pun intended) but you'll also realize how little you really need to get by, and happily so. The art of simple living is good practice.

But seriously, budget travel or not, moving around with heavy luggage is a pain. On a recent trip to Mo'orea, my friend packed too much. The journey from Tahiti over to Mo'orea on the ferry was a hassle for her with her heavy luggage and she was angry at herself with every step with that heavy suitcase. Now imagine really budget traveling and hopping on and off buses and trains and walking to your hotel.

Packing your wardrobe is a whole other topic. See The Process for Creating Your Perfect Travel Capsule Wardrobe <.

For all your gadgets like snorkel gear, toiletries, cameras, you will have must-haves and nice-to-haves. Most of the nice-to-haves should stay behind. If it's something small, you might bring it in hopes of that moment when you need this odd little piece of duct tape and voila! you have it! Leave jewelry at home unless you have one or two things you love to wear all the time and the only purse you will need is something to hold a bit of money and some sunscreen. If there are practical items you didn't bring, you can probably buy them, so it's not worth bringing the kitchen sink just in case.

And for shorter trips like a couple of weeks. Surely you can survive a couple of weeks without 4 pair of shoes and a facial mask (right!?). Leave that stuff at home. It's time to shed the idea of packing that ballgown just in case the occasion arises! ;)

Think Camping. Budget travel is more like camping! No, that's not good. My friends would never go in that case LOL.
Regardless, you'll start to learn what are your little luxury items you love to have. One of my new ones is a tiny pack towel that I keep in my purse and use it any time I need a cloth - mainly to wipe the sweat when hiking (or just riding a hot bus!).

I have a lot of things listed in my packing list and I do pack all of that for each trip. But if you really want to pare it down, you can get away with much less and be fine. What do I actually end up needing? Of course it varies a bit by location but usually I could get away with just this:

• flashlight
• washcloth
• phone & charger
• sunglasses
• chapstick
• outlet adapter
• headphones
• compression socks
• blow-up pillow
• pen & notepad
• hat
• flat sink stopper
• laundry line (braided)
• A daypack or sling bag
• coin purse for all money
• first aid kit (keep it small - no more than a snack-sized ziploc)
• insect repellent
• sunscreen
• hair clip
• travel size shampoo, conditioner, body soap, deodorant, hairbrush, tweezers, nail clippers, floss, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor

And almost without fail, I always wish I brought less clothing, not more. You end up having your go-to outfits and you wear those over and over again. At the end of each trip, I take note of what would have been the perfect wardrobe. It's almost always the same.

• 2 capris
• 1 dress
• 1 skort
• 1 shorts (to sleep in)
• 1 leggings
• 2 tank tops
• 1 bra tank
• 1 sleeveless top
• 2 t-shirts
• 1 loose / conservative shirt
• 1 over shirt
• 2 bras
• 5 underwear
• 1 swimsuit

So the main takeaway here should be to pack what you'll absolutely need, give yourself some fun items, but don't go nuts. Your main fun will come from your traveling and you won't need your extra "stuff" to entertain you. You don't need a ton of outfits, you don't need a ton of anything. And you'll be happier and lighter and easier for it.