Affordable Travel

We have all face the problem at one time or another, and some of us face it every single time we open and shut the luggage: how do you get all this stuff in there? Of course there are those who know how to pack for an overnight trip, but are overwhelmed by the logistics of trying to fit enough into a suitcase for more than a couple of nights away from home. Interestingly enough, and not surprisingly, these same people who never have enough luggage space also have pretty packed closets back home, and are the kind of people who shove everything under the bed once the closets are stuffed to the brim. But there are solutions for travelers who want help packing, and they mostly require a little planning and patience to implement.

At travel stores there are many tools - some of them are basic gimmicks - to help in this regard, and some of them actually work. For instance you can buy a number of “caddies” to help you pack your personal grooming items - shampoos, razors, make-up, and such - and when you get ready to unpack, you really don’t have to. You just hang the caddy up and use what you need from it and then close it or roll it back up and toss it into your bag.

But one of the most useful things for packing is free, and that is the method of rolling things that you don’t worry about wrinkling, such as tee shirts and towels, into right rolls, the way you might roll up a carpet for storage. Just by tightening the way things are rolled, you free up an enormous amount of hidden space. For instance, roll your socks and then pack them inside the space in your shoes, to save space.

The customs offices of the world are great places to lose things, not by accident, but by deliberate and vigilant customs officials who confiscate those things that are not allowed into a country. If you are traveling with agricultural products, for instance, you might be surprised to find out that they can’t be imported, because of government regulations intended to help prevent the accidental importation of pests, bacteria, and other undesirables. After all, it is believed that some of the world’s great plagues were started by the transportation (unknowingly) of disease through agricultural products or the rodents and insects that tag along on them as little stowaway passengers.

Customs officers will usually require that you hand them a written document, filled out before you land and then turned in when you cross through customs, that states whether or not you are carrying such products. And they are willing to forgive innocent mistakes, without coming down on you as if you were a criminal smuggler. But that doesn’t mean they will let you break the law, either. If you have packed yourself a nice ham sandwich with lettuce and tomato for the arrival snack, you might end up handing it over - and the customs people will perhaps eat it for you at their own lunch break. Similarly, if you are carrying a dozen roses that your boyfriend gave you in the departure lounge, those might end up on a customs officer’s girlfriend’s breakfast table by morning, thanks to your losing them at the border. After all, they are agricultural products. So what if you want to bring some Holland bulbs back to grow tulips in your window boxes? The best thing is to have the florist sell them to you and handle the shipping themselves. And if you want to pack a lunch, bring one that is already sealed up, like an unopened snack bar or an unsealed package of nuts.

Cheap, classic, simple rubber flip flops - those sandals that come in different colors are great for wearing at the beach - are actually one of the best items to include in your travel wardrobe. When packing to travel, space is always a prime consideration, because you can’t pack everything but you don’t want to leave out anything essential at the same time. So you have to make smart choices regarding what to carry, and that is usually based upon which items in your luggage can accomplish more than one task. If you have a pair of flip-flops, you can cover several travel needs at the same time.

They are good for the simple reason that they are cheap, so you can afford to take two pair in case you lose or break one, and they don’t take up hardly room in your suitcase. We know one frequent traveler who keeps four pair on hand at all times, and they take up the same amount of room as one shirt.  Keep a pair with you on planes, and you can slip into them for a comfortable way to pad around the plane while you give your shoes, and your tired feet, a break. Then of course you can wear them anywhere during warm weather, and they are perfect for wearing at the lake or the ocean, or on board a boat - as well as beside the pool at your hotel.

And if you are concerned about the health of your feet, as any traveler should be, keep a pair to wear in the shower. No matter where you shower, wearing flip flops is recommended as the best way to avoid and prevent skin infections such as foot rash and athlete’s foot, which can be caught by using public showers. So when you pack for the next trip, throw in a pair or two of flip-flops and travel smart while traveling light.

Traveling is an art and a skill, and the seasoned traveler knows that a big part of traveling smart is carrying the right stuff – and not carrying the wrong stuff – so that you can travel light as well as right. Some essentials that you might take for granted won’t be there when you need them most, and if you can figure out which items to carry with you to avoid that scenario, you are way ahead of the crowd. For instance if you are going to Guatemala, you may expect to find plenty of good chocolate, since they grow it there. But they export almost all of the good stuff. If you want to have first class chocolates for your week in Guatemala, buy some at home and take it with you. If you are going to India, you might want to bring along your favorite antibiotics, because you might get sick and not find them there. If you’re going to the Andes Mountains, bring along some polartech fleece, to keep you warm, and if you’re heading out to Tehran, don’t forget to bring along your favorite Beatles records on a portable player, or you might not hear many Beatles tunes while you’re away.

Most veteran travelers will say to carry your favorite medicines and brands of personal hygiene products like razors, toothpaste, and condoms, because you might not find those particular brands where you’re going. Take plenty of good batteries and if you have a quirky camera, take film for it. And of course, comfortable shoes and extra pairs in case you lose a pair, are a must.