The Art of Packing Light.

Whether you pack a week before or the night before, the process is rarely easy or fun. I think I’ve truly mastered the art of packing light in recent years as a way to avoid extra costs on budget airlines and allow myself to travel more. Regardless of if it’s a weekend trip or a ten day trip to Europe, I typically only travel with a hard shell carry-on and a backpack. How do I do it? Read below for some of my biggest tips.

1. Pick what you want to bring, put it in a pile for a few hours, then go through and eliminate a few items. Note: This requires packing in advance.

2. Roll you clothes or use space saver bags.

3. Pack socks in shoes. And on the topic of shoes, keep them minimal.

4. Make a list and stick to it.

5. Rewear. Unless you’re getting really sweaty, you can usually rewear an item without a wash. You can also get small packets of detergent to bring with you and wash an item or two in the sink while traveling.

6. Wear bulky items on plane. For our flight to Germany I wore my thickest sweater, my biggest coat, and my LL Bean boots with two pairs of socks. Not ideal for comfort on the flight, but packing my LL Bean boots in my suitcase would have taken up way too much space and weight.

7. Create a capsule style. This is a big trend lately, that involves picking simple styles that all go together and make packing and dressing easy. Bring items you can layer and swap out for multiple outfits/days.

8. Bring travel sized toiletries. Even if they don’t make your must-use shampoo in travel size, purchase refillable containers to bring along your favorites and reduce your environmental footprint.

9. Don’t forget to leave room! If you’re heading somewhere known for a particular fashion item like purses and scarves, don’t forget to leave a little room for bringing back extras! This can also end up giving you another outfit option on the trip.

10. Ask yourself: do I really need this? Often times we pack more than what we need, or things we think we may finally wear because we’re on vacation. When in doubt, make sure you have some essentials, and leave the rest out.

At the end of the day, the trip should be about the experience over the clothing. Pack less and enjoy the trip more!

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Travel More, Spend Less.

As someone who has traveled so much at such a young age, I'm always planning my next adventure. I love when people say "you have to have a lot of money to travel.” My response? It's all about what you prioritize. Do you want a manicure every week and a Starbucks coffee or the chance to explore the islands of Greece? I choose the latter.  And guess what? I do it all on a relatively average salary with no help from outside sources. 

Here are some tips on how to travel more while spending less:

1. Travel in off peak season if you can.

Think about where you want to go, and when it may be most popular. Warmer destinations tend to spike in winter, while Europe’s peak time is the summer. Traveling in the shoulder seasons of September through early May to Europe can save you a TON of money; we're talking hundred of dollars. Additionally, every popular place tends to be swarmed with tourists during the summer, so going earlier gives you more access to the main attractions.

2. Set up flight alerts.

If there's somewhere I want to go, I set up a flight alert on Hopper, Google Flights, or Kayak. Most of these platforms will also show you if they recommend you buy now or wait when setting up the alert. For all flight deals from your closest airport, I highly recommend Airfare Watchdog. They’ll tell you the best deals on where you can go and when from your closest airport.

3. Not set on a destination? Find the best itinerary and price with these sites.

Skyscanner- You can type 'everywhere' and your dates and it will give you the cheapest options from your home airport. Alternatively you can put in a destination and look at the cheapest month. The list goes on of how it helps you find the best flights; this is by far my favorite site.

Rome2Rio- This site gives you all of the different options between point A and point B. It's great for Europe as it shows flight, bus and train options as well as prices to get you the best deal possible between any two places.

Kayak- Everything and more in a travel site. Flights, hotels, cars and travel tips.

4. Find free things to do.

Originally I had this one as ‘stay in a hostel,’ but I know many are deterred away from them for various reasons. If you find a good one, they can be an excellent deal and give you both breakfast and often a free walking tour. Which brings me to the current point here, finding free things to do wherever you go. Most cities have a ‘free’ walking tour, where it is courtesy for you to tip based on how valuable you found the tour after. This is a great, inexpensive way to see a new place. For other ideas, search for “free things to do in x.”

5. Get breakfast included.

When you get a free breakfast you can usually do a light lunch and snacks and splurge on dinner. This can save a lot of money, as can having snacks on hand.

6. Visit people you know.

If you even slightly remember someone that lives in a place you are visiting, ask them for recommendations! Best case scenario you get a free place to stay, and at the very least, they know what places are fun and worth the money, which is even better than a guidebook.

7. Go local.

I'm sure there are plenty of amazing things a car ride or short flight away from wherever you may be, so there's no need to go abroad to explore when the next adventure could be waiting in your backyard! Search online for state parks or look at your state's website for ideas.

8. Pack light.

The only time I’ve checked bags in the past ten years of traveling have been when I studied abroad and recently moved abroad. Nowadays most airlines try to nickel and dime you for every add-on, and the bag is not the place you want to spend extra. Additionally, when traveling to multiple places or on planes and trains, having one small bags makes it much easier to get around. I always travel with a backpack and hard shell carry on bag. I’ve done this for weekend trips and a ten day trip through Europe. The key is layering and bringing pieces you can rewear or mix into other outfits. I think I could do a whole other blog post on this topic alone!

9. Find the hidden gems and unique experiences.

I always try to read a variety of blog posts in addition to looking at the top spots on TripAdvisor before going somewhere new. This is a great way to find hidden gems that may not be listed in the usual “top places” travel guides. Additionally, I love the website Viator for unique experiences; I did a cooking class in Tusany through them.

10. Just do it!

If you're thinking about traveling and know the funds are there but you could save for something, really think about that something your saving for. A few years ago I really wanted a new camera, but realized I could borrow my parents for my trip to Europe and enjoy myself more not worrying about getting the perfect photo in the first place. Traveling is the best way to improve your life and gain a new perspective of the world.

Bonus tip: Get a travel credit card. I have the CapitalOne Venture Card and splurged on a nice hotel recently for a weekend away, and then used my points to pay for the stay!

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