Do you travel light or loaded?

@marguicha (223720)
Chile
July 16, 2010 8:20pm CST
I used to travel with at least 2 big suitcases. They were full of those "just it case" things. After three or four trips I discovered that any dress could be called "formal" if I wore it with a small addiyion like a scarf, a very inexpensive mock jewelry and I put on some make up and a good perfume. So now I only take one suitcase and not very big. My back is more important than vanities. I carry some clothes to change on the plane only if I´m going to a country where the climate is different from mine. How about you? Do you pack a lot of things or you just carry the essentials? Share!
4 people like this
36 responses
@cheongyc (5072)
• Malaysia
15 Sep 10
Wow, seems like you could enjoy the big capacity of the big luggage that you are carrying. It's great to be able to bring along things which are important to you. I do not carry things unnecessary if I am traveling. For me, it would be tedious and deprive fun of traveling if the luggage is too heavy. Therefore, I usually bring along the minimum set of cloths needed, plus a backup set. Happy posting and have a nice day!
@cheongyc (5072)
• Malaysia
15 Sep 10
Ya, the world had changed a lot. The airport security is 20 times stricter than 30 years ago (I suppose ). However, it's pros and cons. At least our safety is better assured. Renting a locker and the freedom of leaving bags behind in the airport is so nice. But it's vulnerable to malicious attacks. Thanks for your reply and have a nice day!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
17 Jul 10
I don't travel but if i did i'd go as light as i could.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
18 Jul 10
U would be more than welcome. Bring a big bag so u can stay longer. Hugs,
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
I´ll go someday with a small suitcase and ring your bell.
1 person likes this
@shibham (16977)
• India
18 Jul 10
hi marguicha... i always tend to travel with light coz its too hard to carry all those while u need to walk. so i have a kitbag and a middle size bag to carry my stuffs. have a nice day.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
I do the same and it´s more than enough for me. Take care and happy posting!
@shia88 (4571)
• Malaysia
19 Jul 10
Hi, During travelling, I don't like to bring too heavy luggage. I will only packs the necessary stuffs into my luggage and I will bring one handcarry too. For the clothes,I prefer to bring something light and not very thick clothes ,unless I go to cold countries ,then I have to bring sweater along.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
20 Jul 10
Weather contitions are important. I don´t usually have many problems there because I´m always seeking the sun.
@annavi23 (6522)
• Philippines
18 Jul 10
you know,i seldom travel.well,i guess if nly i had to go to a place for some reasons,i'd just bring what i really need to bring.but sometimes those things gets so many and feels like i'm already packing things for like what i needed a week.even i am only heading for three day travel.hehe. i can say i'm not that good when it comes to packing.sometimes i want it light but what i end up is having loaded things to bring.hehe
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
23 Jul 10
It happens that way sometimes. You plan something but then you want to put "just one more thing". It is like overeating.
20 Jul 10
I used to travel like you because I'm always so afraid to forget something when out of the country so I try to bring too much " just in case " things with me. My mother would always joke about it saying I'm only going for a holiday not migrating to another country. :) But there was one time, I bought too much things and I also brought a lot of things during my travel, I was charged for excess baggage. It really cost a lot. So from there, I learned my lesson, the costly way. Now, I travel lite. :)
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
22 Jul 10
I have been charged for excess baggage, but that was a long time ago. It was when I traveled with my husband and I just bought whatever I wanted. I remember once, when the children were small, I bought bed sheets for the whole family in the US as they were more beautiful. At that time, we could onlly get white shhets for our beds and if we wanted somethin better, we had to embroider them.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
17 Jul 10
I try to travel as lightly as possible. I have never used suitcases and I use my backpack instead. I take a day pack as well and a small holdall bag. I have my money belt on and always take my handbag. In the bottom of my backpack I put my clothing. In the middle part I put things like my toiletries, snacks and my travel towel. In my day pack goes things to care for my toddler son and baby daughter. In my holdall I pack my children's soy drink powder and my son's catheters. On my latest trip I managed to out my daughter's travel cot in my backpack. I tend to carry the essentials.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
Hi maxine! I can´t use a back pack as my back is not suitable for eavy things. But I also travel light. It seems you manage to get a lot of things into your backpack. I also carry a very good money belt. It is very important not only for money but for the passport and even my house keys and my pills.
@rowantree (1186)
• United States
17 Jul 10
I'm an overpacker. When you said your suitcases were full of those "just in case" things, that describes me exactly. Just in case it rains, just in case it's cool, just in case it's really hot, just in case we go here or there...LOL. Now I try to tone it waaay down. I think a lot of people are traveling much lighter now that the airlines are charging so much for checked luggage.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
I learnt to take less before that, when I had my back surgery. And I often wonder if I would have needed surgery had I treated my back better. We care about abusing animals but often carry more weight that we should. I hope you forget the "just in case" as I did. If the Queen of England invites you for tea, then buy a new dress. Happy posting!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
18 Jul 10
I'm a minimalist. And I figure if I find that I need something desperately I can buy it (within reason)...
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
You are right. And if you can´t buy it, chances are that you don´t own it either or wouldn´t want it to get lost at a trip.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
17 Jul 10
I've always travelled light. The lighter, the better. For the few times when I have visited friends, I've even been known to mail my clothes (as well as mailing the returning clothes). That way, I've been able to fly with just a carry-on. It was terrific not having to worry about lost bags.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
THat´s a good ides when you are going to stay in the same place for a while! At least, I´d send them when I return. I´d be worried if they don´t come when I start my visit.
1 person likes this
@o0jopak0o (6394)
• Philippines
17 Jul 10
used to travel heavy but i am changing it. But the bad thing about this is im thinking too hard what to bring.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
Chances are you won´t need the heaviest things you were thinking of taking! Relax and if it is very necessary, buy something you desperatly need. Happy posting!
@jzumari (101)
• Philippines
17 Jul 10
Yeah I travel with my things all packed up tightly, so it is heavy. My principle in traveling is to bring all the things that I might need so I will be always prepared. It may be kind of a hassle at a first glance but once you have all you need, everything feels fine. The only disadvantage with my principle in traveling is the fact that I need to carry heavy bags! Its kinda tiring LOL
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
I couldn´t handle a heavy suitcase with my back as it is so if it´s heavier than what I can handle easily, it doesn´t go.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
17 Jul 10
I would like to travel light instead of carrying with a bunch of stuff on my shoulder. I always like to carry less, but more cash on my pocket.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
You can only carry as much cash as you have. But as cash goes, credit cards are easy cash everywhere and it´s not as dangerous.
@lunchz (43)
17 Jul 10
i like to travel in a light manner. i only take things that i really need and not heavy to my bag, 1 backpack is all i need and that's all.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
18 Jul 10
My back is not appropiate for backpacks anymore but I use a rather smallish suitcase for most of my trips. I also carre a small bag with me to the cabin where I put extra clothes if I´m going to another climate.
@limlobin (103)
• Philippines
17 Jul 10
It really depends where I'm going and how long will I be staying there. Mostly I travel lighter than many of my friends or family. Call me lazy, but I don't wanna travel with so much bulk at hand. I usually packed more underwear than any other clothings I have. And always fortunate to find a laundry shop where I'm going.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
I´m like you. I travel light now. I have a hanbag to put a change of clothes only if it´s needed in the trip and my camera. The rest of my luggage is one small suitcase that I can carry easily.
@Muteki (114)
• Japan
17 Jul 10
There are times when I have just travel with the essentials, underwear and towels, and the only clothes going were the ones I was wearing at the time. Whenever I travel back to my native country I intend to buy a whole leap of clothes, so I always go with a relatively empty suitcase. I suppose most of the bulk is baby items.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
I don´t take with me towels anymore because all hotels have them. That goes for soap too and shampoo. If I find out that they don´t put it in the bathroom. I but one at the place where I´m going.
• Philippines
17 Jul 10
It depends on where are go going, but one thing is for sure, I never travel without money in my pocket... (lol) ;)
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
I travel with little money now, mainly change to take a cab and the like. Credit cards have made traveelling very easy. I take out the money I need in the country I´m in and they give it to me in their currency.
• Philippines
17 Jul 10
I used to pack so many clothes before when going on trips. Most them were left unused and only contributed to my stress, lolz. But i normally bring a lot of underwears, specially in vacation trips. Now i've been more practical since i already had a baby, so many things we have to bring on our trips because of the baby essentials.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
I have changed my habits too, because of my back. But now I don´t travel with chidren. I have travelled twice with my grandchildren, but my daughters took take of their excess luggage. My task was to spoil them so they wouldn´t get too bored.
• United States
17 Jul 10
I always travel with one suitcase or bag,I just dont need that much when I travel.Well actually I have only traveled once,to Florida to see my uncle.Anyway,I dont travel heavy,once I had seen a movie about some guy and he was going to Las Vegas!He had like five bags.Then I thought to myself,what could this one guy possibly bring!Ooops,sorry rushed of from reality again!So as I was saying I dont find a need to travel heavy its too much of a hassle!Well,bye!
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
17 Jul 10
I know what you mean! We don´t wear that many clothes in our own house and we have more social events because our friends are there. At Las Vegas nobody cares what the other person is wearing. You´d have to dress as a slot machine to get eyes fixed on you.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
17 Jan 11
I always travel light. The main reason is I don't spend time packing my things before I travel. Work is so busy that I always forget to pack a day before. I usually pack 5-6 hours before travel time. So I just pick up what I need and go straight to the airport.