Travel Planning - Part 2, Get Packing

Article by: Tom Hall, August 2006

What to take

Be aware, especially on a longer trip, that some countries are very fussy about what they will and won't allow in. Just been volunteering on a farm somewhere? New Zealand will want to scrape the mud off your shoes and confiscate your honey.

'Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify', wrote Henry Thoreau. After your third stab at packing for a weekend in Berlin, you'd be inclined to agree. There's a direct correlation between the size of your bag and your level of on-road happiness. There's an efficient beauty in breezing through check-in and customs with hand luggage only; and a slumping misery in waiting at baggage carousels at the other end.

Neal Bedford, author of numerous Lonely Planet guides heartily agrees. "It's an old chestnut, but pack light", he says. "Wherever you're going, the people of the country are normally better prepared for the conditions than you'll ever be." Less is more. And it's not hard - every traveller is carrying too much. If you're going somewhere tropical, a few tops, shorts, smalls and socks will do. An ultra-small raincoat and hat will top off the outfit. Shoes are bulky, so drop that extra pair. Halve your stuff. Halve it again. Add books, washbag and medical kit. Zip up bag and don't look back.

Of course, there's more to luggage than backpacks. Here are a few standard options:

Backpacks may look innocent in store, but purchase badly and they transform into instruments of torture.

Wheelie

Beloved staple of business travellers and short-breakers, wheelies are a back-saving form of luggage. Keep an eye on size and weight if travelling hand luggage only.

Best for: city breaks, 1-2 week holidays, or as an impromptu seat in busy departure lounges.

Holdall

If you're travelling light, this is simple, stylish and easy to carry. These have been out of vogue for a while but celebrity patronage has reinvigorated the holdall. There's nothing like slinging one in the boot of a car and heading off on an adventure.

Best for: looking like a 1930s gangster on a city trip. However, may not age as well as a friendly backpack or look as official as a wheelie for business travel.

Hardshell

Normally large, bulky and bomb-proof, these always seem to be circling baggage carousels with no home to go to. Still, if you want something tough, this is it.

Best for: family travel, one-centre holidays and getting gifts home in one piece. The additional weight can cause problems with excess baggage charges if you're not careful.

'Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify', wrote Henry Thoreau. After your third stab at packing for a weekend in Berlin, you'd be inclined to agree.

Another realisation, often to the dismay of weighed-down travellers, is that you can normally buy things you need when you get to your destination. From the classic items - tents and sleeping bags - to cosmetics, clothes and medical items. Neal Bedford notes "Of course you've got to be careful with medication (take a bunch of stuff to relieve any sickness you might catch), but things like clothes, bug spray, footwear (unless you've big feet), even bags, are better purchased in the country you're travelling to." In short: if in doubt, leave it out.

Be aware, especially on a longer trip, that some countries are very fussy about what they will and won't allow in. Just been volunteering on a farm somewhere? New Zealand will want to scrape the mud off your shoes and confiscate your honey. Many places don't like letting any food in and you can expect a rigourous search at customs. In some countries your bag will be searched for expensive electronics or designer goods which you may be required to pay a duty on if they were purchased in a tax-free zone. Check these regulations out in advance and leave prohibited items behind.

It's best not to get too bogged down in the packing process. Unless you're planning on diving, climbing or camping, let it take care of itself. Packing is most beautiful when you don't think about it and most miserable when it enslaves you. Trust us on this one and travel light.

For those about to pack, we salute you.