Why Pack Light!

Ignoring this idea of PACKING LIGHT in one carry-on bag can bring you pain and misery in ways you never thought of that persist through out your Europe trip. As an independent traveler, negotiating your own transportation from place to place, you will be carrying your bag every inch of the way--up stairs--down stairs--across cobblestone streets--over high curbs--on and off buses, trains, plains, subways, taxis, and in and out of autos with mini trunks. Tour travelers may be thinking this is not an issue for them since their tour will be handling their luggage. Remember--you still have to get to and from your tour and some tours may have you do some of your bag handling--particularly if they use trains for transportation. Packing Light can seem like a tremendous challenge for first time travelers. But, I can assure you that you will be so glad you met it and will be thinking of ways you can get even travel lighter for your "next trip".

Still not convinced? then check out these advantages of Light Packing

THE ADVANTAGES OF PACKING LIGHT:

SAVES TIME:

• Checking it at the gate and by pass long check in lines at the airport.
• Zip immediately off the airplane to your destination, instead of waiting at the luggage carousel.

SAVES MONEY

• No porter tips (often not available in Europe) and airport luggage carts because you can easily handle your own bag.
• Easily volunteer to be bumped on a full flight.
• Probably catch less expensive bus or subway, instead of paying stiff taxi fares plus extra for your luggage).
• You can use the more available smaller (and cheaper) lockers at airports and train stations.
• With a small Light bag you will be more inclined to walk 6 or so scenic blocks to your hotel rather than pay for a ride for your bags.

AVOIDS HASSLES

• Waiting for taxis or slow coming buses--use alternative local public transportation what ever it may be!
• Wasting valuable sight seeing time chasing down lost luggage and making-do until it is found.
• Being without your bag(tooth brush and change of clothes) when your plane is delayed overnight enroute
• If you miss your connection, you can easily re-book yourself without worrying about where your luggage will end up.
• Small Bags fit easily through or over subway gates, onto train seats and overhead racks, and into tiny trunk spaces of rented cars.
• It increases your ability to take advantage of serendipitous opportunities when luggage handling is not a major operation

KEEPS YOU & YOUR POSSESSIONS SAFE

• You don't have to worry about your checked luggage ending up somewhere else for days and even weeks!
• You don't have to worry about someone stealing, dropping or riffeling through your checked bags (or another passenger's cracked baby oil bottle leaking onto and into your bag--a personal experience YUCK!) .
• You can keep it securely near you on trains and other types of transportation
• Avoid attracting con artists and thieves by looking like a typical tourist with a lot of luggage.

NOTE: The US Transportation Department's 1999 figures report the odds are greater than 1 in 200 that your bag on any given flight will be lost or misdirected; thus there is roughly one disappointed passenger on every flight. In less developed countries, the odds get worse. A surprising 87% of lost or stolen luggage originates at curbside check-in stations--avoid them. The most common cause of mis-routed bags is gate agent error. Know the three-letter code of your destination airport (LAX, JFK, LHR, etc.), and verify it on the (often computer-generated) luggage tag before your bag vanishes down the conveyor belt. Luggage decked with tags & stickers announces that youÕre a frequent flyer. Thieves target such bags, assuming you are a wealthy American traveler.

THE DISADVANTAGES OF PACKING LIGHT:

You will have to do some serious packing planning before you go.

You will have to wash your clothes more often.

You may have to shop for (or endure) bad weather if it suddenly turns harsh.

Continue on, and I will show you how to minimize these disadvantages. You will be so glad you packed light and may even become addicted to traveling this way once you've done it. 

Also see Mele's Packing Check List

    Selecting Clothes That Make Your Travel Smoother--being comfortable while being in tune to cultural customs

     How To Pack It All In One Carry-On Bag

     How To Select Your Travel Bag

    Airline Carry-On Limits  with links to Airline UPDATES

    The Best Travel Bags & Gear

    Senior reader Packs "Ultra-Light" --with 12 pound pack

     Oh Laundry!

     Laundry & Packing Tips --from Levi's to "paper" --a readers report

    How to handle cold weather dressing

     Europe Winter Dressing + Catalog Links   by: Lani Lok

    Weather Forecasts --Country by Country

    Check TERC's Travel Boutique--for bags and organizing accessories

    Next FREE PACK LIGHT Demo on Oahu

    I would like to add my comments!