Almost every one of us who has packed for a trip would have always encountered situations where we have packed much more than was actually necessary. Most people in their excitement of the vacation forget the basic rule of traveling. Travel Light. The goal should be carry the bare essentials and not the extra stuff.

It is a very common habit of most of us that we do not give a single thought before we start our packing and by the end we tend to take our whole closet with us thinking that we would require each and every item. In most cases, the vacation has been planned well in advance, and we are well aware of what kind of vacation it is going to be. Hence it is imperative to invest some time and list down all the places you would be visiting and what kind of activities you would be involved in. This will help in knowing what type of clothes you would require to carry.

First of all you should select a suitable wheeled suitcase. There may be many cheap suitcases available in market but they may not last long. It is advisable to invest in some suitcases which suit your need and which are also durable. But you need to take into consideration the size and weight as well as there would be some restrictions on cabin baggage particular when you traveling by air.

Once you are done with your suitcase, you should be ready with a detailed list of things that you need to pick or plan to purchase. A good thumb rule is to pick lesser numbers of pants in preferably dark shades which can match with various shirts. Not more than two pairs of shoes, your daily undergarments, jacket or sweater depending on the weather of the place you are visiting.

Clothes are not only the stuff you are going to carry with you. Toiletries will also be part of your luggage and it is advisable to carry toiletries in small sizes that are now easily available in the market. These will take less space as compared to the larger size bottles. Also carry only those items which would be of the utmost use. Do not forget to carry your toiletries in a zip locked bag; this will keep your clothes safe if any of the bottles leak during traveling.

Once you have collected all the stuff that you are planning to carry with you, before you pack it in - take one final look. This will give you one more chance to eliminate few things which would actually not be required. Rolling up your pants while packing it in will help minimize wrinkles. Also keep your extra pair of socks and in your shoes while packing to save some space.

Be very careful when selecting heavy clothes like jackets and sweaters. Make sure you check the weather and carry these items only if necessary. When in doubt, just remember the golden rule - travel light. Another good reason for traveling light is that you would have room to shop and who doesn't love shopping.

You must have realized by now that packing a suitcase is not an easy task. Hence do not keep your packing for the last minute. Start planning the day you have planned your vacation. Also avoid packing any cash, travel documents, passport, and other valuables in your suitcase. Carry them with you. Follow these tips and your suitcase would be lean and you would travel happy!

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