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The Art of Travel |
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| 2007/12/27 |
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What to take with you when you travel is one way to make sure your trip runs smoothly. Here are some top tips for travelling light.
They say that when you travel, you should take half as many clothes as you think you'll need and twice as much money. Sage advice, indeed. Most of us end up taking way more than we really need and there are always those items that never even leave the suitcase. So what should you pack – and perhaps just as importantly – what should you pack it in?
When deciding what to take away with you – on business or on holiday – it's best to stick to a scheme of one to two complementary colours that can be mixed and matched easily. Natural fabrics are cooler but do wrinkle more easily than manmade materials – something to bear in mind if you don't want to spend the first day of your holiday ironing.
The most important issues about what luggage to carry are quality (buy the best you can afford), size (will you have to check it through or can you take it on the plane?) and transportability (because you are the one who will have to carry it after all).
First of all, the big question: to roll or not to roll? Luggage with wheels can make getting around an airport so much easier but they do add to the weight so think about that. Then decide if you should go for a soft bag or a hard case. Hard cases are heavier but certainly tougher if you are worried about your bag being, well, man-handled at the airport. A soft case has the advantage of weight and flexibility but won't protect your precious cargo quite as well.
When shopping, consider the overall shape of the bag, the number and arrangement of the compartments, the type and configuration of the zips, whether or not it has internal ties to secure the contents of the bag and external compression straps, look at the handle and shoulder strap design as well. A bag with soft sides is a good bet, particularly one with external compression straps that you can use to reduce the size of your bag even further (to conform to ever-changing rules on the size of carry-on luggage).
If you're travelling for business and want to travel light, choose a bag that has three main compartments (both full length and full width) with zips that allow you to access the bag easily from three sides. Internal ties that let you secure the contents to prevent them moving around in your bag are a great idea. While leather looks great, it can be heavy – especially when wet – so a bag of ballistic nylon or the like is a good option. Finally, always look for zips that can be locked with a padlock.
Backpacks are great for travelling around on holiday. Choose one with a good suspension system and a padded hip belt that distributes the bag's weight evenly. Some backpacks open up almost the whole way, others do not, but still look for internal ties to secure your belongings. External compression straps are a good idea too and also stop things shifting around. The shoulder harness and hip belt can be hidden away in a zipped compartment on some backpacks as well.
A day pack is a good idea when you're travelling as well, as you won't want to lug all your worldly goods along with you every time you set foot outside your hotel. A small light bag that can contain your daily necessities is a useful purchase. |
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| SUPER TIPS |
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1.Decant your shampoo, conditioner etc into plastic bottles. Only fill to the three-quarters mark and, as an extra precaution, pack them in plastic freezer bags.
2.As far as possible, keep your valuables with you in your hand luggage.
3.Roll your shirts like you would a sleeping bag to cut down on wrinkles (and ironing).
4.Take a separate plastic or cloth bag to put your dirty clothes in.
5. Fill your case but don't overfill it. Luggage will survive the journey better if it is full and will reduce the risk of breakages.
6. Tie a bright ribbon on your suitcase or use a flashy name tag to identify it easily. |
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 | Delicatessen & Cheese |
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| Cheese Basics |
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