The Lightweight Traveler

Is that suitcase about ready to explode? Here's how to trim your travel gear.
Almost every traveler is familiar with the overburdened bag. There you are, walking the streets of some foreign capital, dragging your giant suitcase behind you. You're wearing a backpack and toting a handbag. Your shoulders ache and you're pretty sure the muscles in your arms are stretching like modeling clay. You promise yourself a massage at the hotel—wherever the hotel is, you still can't find it—and you also promise, next time, to get organized, to take only the essentials, to pack lighter.
And then it starts to rain…
Whether you're a seasoned business traveler or a weekend day-tripper, a veteran Eurail backpacker or a student flying to Grandma's house for the holidays, you're more likely to travel this month than any other time this year. And, for millions of Americans, this means long lines, overbooked flights, lost luggage and entire days of snow and sleet. There's no better time to rethink your packing habits, because for a lot of us, the holidays offer too much baggage already.
Here are some ideas for travelers looking to take a load off:
Bring only what you can carry
At home, your house may feel like a grocery store: You may think you have a good reason to bring half the possessions you own. (Curling iron? Check. Seven-hundred-page biography of Harry Truman? Check.) And in an airport, time slows down. There's a lot of waiting—to check in, to pass through security—and there's a lot of sitting around. When you're parked at Au Bon Pain, waiting for your 2:30 flight, you may have a distorted idea of how much your checked luggage will slow you down. But when you arrive in another city, you have to 1) pick up your luggage on the conveyor belt; and 2) lug it to your hotel of choice. Before you head to the airport, try a test-walk with your bags. If you start to huff halfway around the block, you probably need to start a luggage weight-loss program.
Wheels and straps
For most body types, a backpack is the perfect luggage: It comes in any size, and it straps ergonomically to your spine. You may opt for a student's book-bag or a hiker's rucksack—whatever fits your needs (and your stuff). But if you're transporting a tuxedo or ball gown, a backpack obviously won't cut it. The best suitcases have small wheels attached at the bottom, and retractable handles for easy pull. Some people opt for mini-dollies, which can be folded out; travelers simply stack their smaller bags on the platform and strap them in with a bungee cord. But dollies risk tipping over or dropping one of your smaller bags when you're not looking—or, more nefariously, losing a bag to thief on the street. Make an effort to contain your belongings, so that nothing is loose or vulnerably jutting out.
Check as little as possible
As an airline passenger, you may carry one bag aboard a plane—a bag that is, in the most restrictive scenario, 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches deep. Moreover, it can't weigh more than 40 pounds. (Most airlines also allow you to bring one "personal item," such as a briefcase, computer tote, purse or diaper bag.)
Each airline has slightly different requirements when it comes to checked bags, but one rule is nearly universal: You may only check two bags, and neither can exceed 50 pounds. (When you book your tickets, make sure to ask about any special requirements and permissible carry-ons, like camera cases or small duffle bags.) Pay attention to the rules or it could cost you—you'll pay at least $25 extra if your bags are between 51 and 70 pounds, and a third checked bag will run you an additional $80-$85.
The basic rule of thumb is this: The less you have to check, the better. 2005 was a landmark year for lost luggage. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines lost more than 3.5 million bags last year. If you do decide to let your airline handle your bags, it's a good idea to keep important documents on your person, your most vital belongings in your carry-on, and replaceable items (as well as liquids, gels and aerosols that are more than 3 ounces) in your checked luggage. Odds are you'll find your luggage safe and sound at baggage claim, but with carriers losing up to 10,000 bags a day, it's best to keep your knickknacks close, but your valuables closer.
Prioritize
People bring all sorts of bizarre items on their trips, especially around the holidays: alpine skis, cardboard boxes full of DVDs, samurai swords, dismantled bicycles—virtually anything imaginable, minus restricted items like explosives and weapons. (For a complete list of prohibited items, see the Transportation Security Administration's Web site.) The most important things are the ones you cannot live without, literally: money cards, identification, special medication and travel information—in essence, anything you'd usually carry in your wallet or purse.
Next, think of the things that will keep you comfortable. Is it raining in Florida? Bring a raincoat. Will you be walking a lot? Wear sensible, arch-supporting shoes. Do you have a meeting with the regional manager? Pack your best tie. But if you can live without something—like a hefty CD binder, an electric shaver, or your bedroom alarm clock—leave it at home. It will only weigh you down.
If you can buy it for cheap, don't bring it
Almost everyone now knows that liquids, gels and aerosols are restricted in carry-on luggage. To bring these items aboard the plane (save for a few exceptions, such as baby formula and certain medications), they must be in containers of 3 ounces or less, and they must fit in a single quart-size, zip-top clear-plastic bag. But ever since the ban on liquids was first announced, passengers have learned that some things, like soap, shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant, can be easily obtained at an airport or hotel convenience store—and liquids and gels are generally among your heaviest belongings.
Be sensible about what accoutrements await you: Hotels almost always supply towels, for instance, but you need to bring your own bathing suit. There's no need to pack a bottle of Suave shampoo, but for people with psoriasis, you might want to take along your Denorex.
Through wind, through storm…
The holidays are a messy time for travel, because every airline passenger has usually stuffed their bags with gifts (if this describes you, be sure to keep your presents unwrapped, per tsa requirements). Such bloated luggage—as well as the high seasonal demand for air travel—has the potential to mar your airport experience.
Organized holiday travelers, however, can try sending their gifts by post. For every gift you package and stamp, you're shaving pounds from your total baggage weight—and FedEx is less likely to damage your fine china or blown-glass punchbowl than an overtired luggage porter. Plus, with innovative services like Luggage Express, a company that provides door-to-door baggage shipping, you can transport more while carrying less. Now, isn't that a weight off your shoulders?

Source:Hindustanis.org