How to Travel Light - Packing Tips for Travelling

When travelling, it's always a challenge to fit everything in. But there are several things you can do to maximize your space, so you have fewer hard decisions to make!

Assemble everything you plan to take before you start packing. Now, before you put one single thing in your case or backpack, decide what you’re going to wear to start your trip. I remember once (in my early days of travel) being so proud of the great job of packing I’d done – until I had to unpack the lot, because I’d left myself with nothing to wear on the plane!

Try not to choose a “going away” outfit that you’ll never wear again till it’s time to come home. That’s just dead weight! Sure, the climate where you’re going may be very different to where you start, but that doesn’t have to be a problem if you think laterally.

Say it’s cold at home and you’re going somewhere tropical. Don’t wear a thick sweater or padded jacket on your outward trip – it’ll be useless at your destination. Instead, wear a long-sleeved tee-shirt, topped off with a fine wool cardigan or sweater and a rainproof jacket. Each of these things, individually or in combination, may be useful on your holiday (nights can be cold, even in the tropics!). For women, a pashmina is a great accessory – it will give you an extra layer of warmth on your journey, then do double duty as a smart wrap at your destination.

Applying the principle of "double duty" like this is the main secret to saving space. Avoid items of clothing that can only be worn one way, because chances are they’ll only be worn once or twice and won’t “earn their keep”. For women, stick to separates you can mix and match to produce different outfits. If you're going to one major evening event, then an evening gown is fine - but for something like a cruise, where you have several special nights, bustiers and skirts/pants will give you more different outfits in far less space.

On a recent trip to the Middle East, our best investment (for both myself and my guy) was undoubtedly convertible long pants, with legs that could be zipped off to turn them into shorts (“double duty” again!). We topped those off with ultra-lightweight, breathable long-sleeved shirts. They were light and comfortable to wear, and because the material was so fine, the sleeves rolled up without becoming bulky. You can find both these at most outdoor stores.

If you’re really worried about the cold, thermal underwear is lightweight, scrunches down into nothing and is incredibly warm – and a lightweight fleece is a good buy.

Now you’ve chosen your clothes, it’s time to pack them.

Rolled clothes are easier to fit into odd spaces in your suitcase, and won't crease nearly as much as if you fold them. Pack big items first, and use scrunched-up undies and socks to fill in the gaps.

Don't roll up belts or ties. Leave them unfurled, and tuck them around the edges of the suitcase. That way they'll take up almost no space at all!

Shoes are always a problem, because they’re heavy and take up space. It’s a good idea to wear your heaviest/bulkiest shoes on the outward journey, so you don’t have to fit them in your luggage. You may be reluctant to do that (who wants to wear heavy shoes on a long trip?), but consider taking a pair of light slippers or socks that you can change into on the plane (you can stash your shoes in the overhead locker). Just make sure your shoes are not too tight, or you may have trouble getting them on again at the end of the trip!

Never pack empty shoes. Find small items to put inside them (socks, hairbrush, pens, ties etc). Put your shoes in shoebags or plastic bags so they don’t dirty your clothes.

If you're staying in hotels, there's no need to take towels. Sure, hotels say you shouldn't use their towels at the pool or beach – but that’s only because they’re worried about them getting lost. I’ve used room towels at beaches and pools all over the world, and never had a problem.. If you don’t want to take the risk, ask the hotel if they have pool or beach towels – many do. If you feel absolutely lost without your own towel, pack a microfibre travel towel instead.

The current ban on large bottles of toiletries has been a good disciplnie for many people!  I've never travelled with lots of toiletries, even if I'm going on a long holiday.  Part of the fun of travelling overseas is trying new things, so take the chance to try a French shower gel or an Italian face cream! If you're decanting, be careful not to overfill the bottles, because the contents will expand with the changes in air pressure – and you don’t want sunscreen all over your clothes.

The principle of double duty applies here, too. I generally take a SPF15 tinted moisturiser, so I don’t need separate face moisturiser, sunscreen and foundation. Prescriptives Super Flight Cream is a luxurious treat to soothe your skin while flying, and can also be used as a night cream and face mask at your destination, especially if you're going to be in a hot climate.

I always pack a rinse-off cleanser, so I don’t need toner – and it also makes a great shaving cream for my legs! There are several bronzers which can be used as blusher and eyeshadow. Soft eyeliner and lipliner pencils take up no space and can be used as eyeshadow and lip tint. Finally, choose a body sunscreen which is also a good moisturiser.

Actually, I rarely pack a body moisturiser, and I take only very small bottles of shampoo and conditioner. That’s because I generally stay at hotels, so I can be fairly sure there will be a free supply in the room.

Always put your toiletries inside a plastic bag, in case of spillage.

For my last overseas trip, which lasted six weeks, I travelled with one medium-sized wheelie duffle bag and a carry-on bag. My husband had a medium conventional suitcase and a shoulder tote. That trip took us from the heat of Africa to the chill of Northern Europe, and we never had any trouble keeping warm (or cool).

We’ve all heard the saying “pack everything you think you need, then halve it”. I’ve never been able to apply that rule – but then again, thanks to my own “rules”, I’ve never had to!

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All text copyright Marisa Wright.