"Pack Light"

by Valerie Bruce
(U.S.A.)

First and foremost, I tend to travel fairly extensively so I occasionally know what I'm talking about in this field.


I learned a great deal bouncing around from country to country but what I learned immediately was this: pack light.


Unless you are planning on spending at least a month in the middle of the Arctic you don't need eight pairs of pants, sixteen shirts and twelve pairs of shoes because chances are you're not going to wear all of them. There's also the fact that most hotels have laundry service.


If it doesn't fit in the overhead on the plane, you don't need to bring it in the first place. I'm serious. I've seen people take eight bags for a week long vacation.


If you pack light it saves you time at the counter, time getting off the plane, time in the airport. No one likes to stand around for a half an hour waiting for the carousel to regurgitate their luggage when they're on vacation.


It's aggravating and the simple fact that all black bags tend to start looking alike after you've watched a hundred go around and around doesn't help matters. However, if you can just grab your bag from the overhead, you can get started with your vacation. Or business trip if that's the case, though those are a little trickier in traveling light.


Also, if you are going to a country not your own, packing light helps tremendously in getting through Customs in most places.


On average you will spend at least a couple of hours in Customs depending on the place you're visiting. You do not want to be packing around eighty pounds of baggage. Believe me when I say there are some countries Customs that will upend every piece of luggage you have along with you and examine the contents, no matter how embarrassing, in front of everyone in line.


So, remember to pack light. If it doesn't fit in one bag, you probably won't need it on vacation. But that's just my opinion. Valerie Bruce U.S.A.