How to travel smart and pack your suitcase

Capt Krishan Sharma

Summer is around the corner and most of us get confused as to what we need to carry and how to pack our clothes on our vacation. There is no thumb rule as to what we should carry etc but it doesn’t require an expert to tell you how and what to do.

There are 7 simple tips one must remember to become a smart traveler:

1. First one must know where you are travelling (e.g. Cold/Hot climate, temp. etc; Do a research)
2. For how many days you are out: Exclude you travel time.
3. How many pieces of luggage, weight and hand carry-on bags allowed by the Airline.
4. Once the above 3 steps are done, you need to make a list of items you need for your trip.
5. Warm weather 7 days trip: Light clothing 3/4 tops, 2/3 pants, 6 sets of under clothes. One all weather light jacket, swim suit, rubber sandal, sneakers, medicines, toiletries. Cell charger/ converter etc. Above items do not include the items you may be wearing.
6. Cold weather: Carry thermal under clothes, slightly heavy overcoat, foldable umbrella and all weather boots and a sweater, besides the above items, minus swimwear.
7. How to pack the above items: All clothes should be rolled tightly and you may not need ironing at all. Most of the hotels around the world have ironing facility. And if not in your room, one can ask for it. Keep all toiletries items in a zip pouch; medicines also in a pouch. Put shoes and sandals in separate plastic bags so that the dirt doesn’t get everywhere in the suitcase. Carry extra linen bags for soiled clothes.
8. Always try to travel light: I have travelled around the world along with my wife with just one checked-in bag of 50 lbs and 2 carry-on bags of 15 lbs for a five weeks trip. Believe me, that was one of my best trips. Since then, we have been travelling with just our hand- carry on 5 to 7 days trips. This further opens the door for you, if you need to buy gifts and other heavy items on your trip without having to pay for excess baggage.
9. Most important of all is to make photo copies of passport and credit cards you are carrying with you on your trip. Keep one copy at home or with one trusted relative back home. Another copy in your checked luggage. Now you can take photos in your cell phone also. If by chance you lose or any one of the above are stolen, you have all the items to confront authorities by getting duplicates at your destination and from the embassy abroad. Always write your name and address inside your checked luggage.

The writer is a former airline pilot, in-flight supervisor and now Managing Director & Jt. Editor India Post Newsweekly and has traveled to more than 100 countries.