Travel Smart: Pack Light and Save on Baggage Fees
Traveling light is traveling smart. While it is not difficult to stuff everything in a huge suitcase, “just in case” you need all that stuff, trust us when we say it can cause more difficulty than convenience during your trip. Needless to say, it will also cost you more on airline baggage fees.
If you are worried about converting from being an over-packer or need more pointers on light-packing, here are some helpful tips on how you can travel smart and save on baggage fees.
Know your airline’s baggage policy.
Most airlines in the Philippines are not overly strict on carry-on baggage, but just to be safe, always check the free baggage allowance allotted for your trip and don’t bring in an oversized backpack or suitcase. Passengers are usually allowed up to two carry-on bags. Ideally, you can bring one main backpack and a smaller sling bag where you can keep your valuables for easy access.
Choose a smart backpack.
Although small suitcases may be permitted as carry-on, we strongly believe that traveling light means ditching the suitcase and setting your hands free. Choose a durable and lightweight backpack with many compartments and pockets for organization and lockable zippers for security. Wheeled backpacks are also a smart alternative to suitcases. These types of backpacks may be a bit expensive but they’re a wise investment especially for jet-setters.
Plan your outfits and choose lightweight clothes.
If you’re just traveling around the Philippines, that means you don’t need to worry about packing bulky winter jackets and pants (whew!). Choose comfy and lightweight shirts (or mini dresses for the ladies!) that have matching colors and styles, so you can mix and match them throughout your vacation. Synthetic fabrics are more advisable than cotton because they are lightweight and dry more quickly. That means that on a long-term trip, you can wash your clothes and wear them shortly after.
Rolling is out. Bundle packing is IN.
We’ve all heard that the best way to pack more clothes is by rolling them, but it’s been proven that it’s not really the most space-saving and it can also be unpretty when unrolling your now wrinkled clothes. By laying your clothes flat and folding them together, your clothes become more compressed. Plus, it ensures fewer wrinkles on your clothes! You can also use a compression bag to help tighten your bundle.
Ditch the towel and blanket.
Towels and blankets are heavy and take up a lot of space in your bag. If you’re staying at a decent hotel, then we’re quite sure you’ll be provided with clean towels. Instead of a blanket, bring a multi-purpose sarong. You can use it as a blanket, a head scarf or a stylish beach cover-up.
Bring pocket-size toiletries or don’t bring them at all.
In the first place, big bottles of lotion or shampoo are not allowed at the airport. You can buy travel-size bottles or buy small 100-ml containers so you can just pour some from the big bottles enough for your trip. Better yet, just buy what you need at a local store or a convenience store when you reach your destination. Toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste are also provided when you stay at a hotel.
Do you have your own light-packing tricks? Share them in the comments below!
Written by Rizelle “Rei” Leaño
