It’s happened to all of us at least once. That’s why traveling light can be learned, and has many advantages, as you can imagine. More practical, more comfortable, it saves time and energy, and it’s less stressful. Lost, stolen or damaged luggage… the less you have, the better you’ll feel. Travelling light doesn’t mean going without comfort: discover our 5 tips to help you lighten your luggage (and your mind at the same time)!

1 – To travel light: make a list

Making a list obviously ensures that you don’t forget anything when you pack your bags, but more than that, you’ll realize how much you were planning to bring with you, and little by little, you’ll be able to reduce that list to the bare essentials. In other words, you’ll take with you only what you really need, avoiding the ‘I’ll take it just in case’ approach that quickly becomes cumbersome. Think back to your last trip and ask yourself if there were things on that list that you didn’t even take out of your suitcase… Making this list will also help you find tips for traveling light and optimizing your suitcase.

2 – To travel light: take a lightweight travel bag

It may sound logical, but we don’t always pay attention to it when choosing our travel bag or suitcase. Many bags weigh a lot, depending on the material they’re made of, and therefore already account for a good part of the weight you’ll be carrying. Investing in a lightweight bag or suitcase can easily save you a few kilos. Today, there are ultra-light yet very strong materials available. This is particularly interesting for back-packers, cyclists, hikers or even bikers who need to carry their luggage or store it in small cases. Think about the size of the bag, too, and opt for a small format to avoid the temptation to add unnecessary items!

3 – To travel light: pack useful clothes

First and foremost, you need to check the local weather forecast. It’s never 100% certain, but it will help you determine the type of clothing you’ll need. Here are some other tips for traveling light:
Plan what outfits you’re going to wear (1 outfit per day, or even less if you know you’ll have access to a washing machine).

– Choose all-purpose clothes that go well with each other.

– Don’t take clothes you’re not used to wearing, preferring your staples.

– Take several layers of clothing to adapt to changing temperatures.

– Choose clothes that are easy to wash and not too wrinkle-prone.

– For accessories (jewelry, belts, etc.): don’t overdo it!

– For shoes, always choose 2 pairs (hiking/town, elegant/comfort, beach/town, etc.).

4- Travel light: a toiletry bag with essentials

You can also lighten your toiletry bag. Choose small formats for your products, or even special travel-size bottles that you can fill with the quantity you need. Another effective solution is to use 2-in-1 products or solid cosmetics (in a small format so as not to weigh too much). 
Remember that for cabin luggage, only containers of less than 100 ml are authorized, and must be placed in a transparent plastic bag of no more than 1L. 

5 – Travel light: scan your documents

As far as possible, opt for digital documents, as bringing paper documents with you can quickly become cumbersome. Even your bank cards can be on your mobile phone! Do your check-in online to get your boarding passes directly on your mobile phone, take a e-reader, download a digital travel guide… That’s how you’ll be less cluttered!

So you see, when you travel light, it’s not just a question of weight, but also of mindset. Apply these 5 tips for travelling light on your next trip, and you’ll never go back.

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