The Three-Pile Approach

Packing light is your goal at the beginning of every trip. Gather everything you'd like to take and then place each item in one of three piles: Essential, less than essential and optional.

Here's the tough part: eliminate the third pile entirely and about half of the second pile. It sounds drastic at first, but this exercise will begin the process of carrying as little as possible on a trip. Some hear this advice and dismiss it as impractical.

But when you consider the ways excess baggage devalues your trip, the effort and the self-discipline you exhibit at this early stage is important.

Remember, the biggest packing errors almost always involve "too much" rather than "not enough." It's important to be realistic at the very start of the packing process and take along only the essential items for your trip.

Commit at the Start to One Bag Travel

If you faithfully followed that first step, it should be possible to put every "essential" that remains in one carry-on sized bag.

Although the definition of "carry-on sized" will vary slightly by airline, you can buy luggage that is likely to meet almost any standard. Even if your trip does not involve flying, it is best to limit yourself to one small bag. You'll thank yourself when the budget room with a view is up three flights of stairs in a charming hotel that just happens not to have an elevator.

You'll be happy when you climb aboard a crowded (but cheap) subway train for a ride to your destination with only one small bag in tow. One final benefit of one bag travel to consider: you will look more competent and confident dragging one small bag than trying to fumble with multiple bags.

Buy Instead of Pack

There are always bulky items that should not make it into your luggage.

These include big soap dispensers, large containers of contact lens solution, or large tubes of toothpaste. Many of these are not permitted in carry-on bags for security reasons.

Should you do without soap, lens solution or toothpaste? No! Just buy the small-sized versions before you leave, or (even better) buy whatever size you like after arrival at your destination.

Don't pack items that can be purchased for nominal prices at your destination. The need to buy toothpaste gives you a good excuse to visit a destination store that caters to locals. That will give you a better idea of how people live day-to-day--one of the reasons for travel. Don't take this advice to an extreme: Know the important exceptions, such as buying medicine abroad.

Light Laundry Duty on the Road

There are many ways to do laundry on the road.

Some hotels will clean your clothes while you sleep for a reasonable price. Others will charge an outrageous price for this service. If that's the case, you might want to wash out a few items in the sink and let them dry overnight.

With that strategy, it pays to choose clothing that will dry fairly quickly. Another thought: minimize the amount of clothing you need to pack by choosing a simple color scheme and sticking to it.

Dark colors are often best. Washing out items during your trip might seem at first to be a lot of trouble. But take the word of veteran travelers, who say almost without exception that they learned hard lessons lugging around too many changes of clothing. A few minutes washing out key items will pay dividends.

Assign Some Items "Double Duty"

A baseball manager puts much value on a player who can perform at several different positions.

Packing light calls for you to view the items you pack in that one carry-on bag the same way. Find pieces of clothing that can be worn in several situations.

For example, men's swimming trunks also can be worn as shorts on a warm day. A tee-shirt can double as sleeping attire. These might not seem to be ideal choices, but they are workable.

You are looking for the easiest route to lightweight travel.

Make sure everything you pack will earn its keep. Another tip: some people pack their least favorite pieces of clothing and then simply discard them rather than bring them home. That makes your suitcase lighter by the day and saves you the expense of cleaning those items.

Pack Some Empty Bags to Fill with Dirty Laundry

When the goal is packing light, we've already mentioned the value of washing out a few items of clothing during the trip. We've even suggested throwing away soiled clothes that you don't particularly like.

But late in the trip, it is a good idea to begin filling a small nylon bag with soiled items that you'll take home to wash. Emphasize the word "small" here. This bag can be used to cushion some of your potentially fragile souvenirs.

If you think you'll need two of these bags, go ahead and fold several into your bag before leaving home.

More Empty Bags to Stash -- For Shoes

A change of shoes is sometimes important, especially if you'll be doing a lot of hiking or if you get caught in troublesome weather. Because these soles are likely to be dirty, and because the supply of clothing is limited due to your newly acquired good packing sense, bring along some plastic shoe bags to protect the clean items in your suitcase.

Remember the advice about seeking dual purposes for everything you pack?

These shoes can serve as storage containers for small items that might get lost in your bag and later fall out--keys, small electronic devices, and coinage can be stashed in your extra pair of shoes.

Pack Travel Documents Last

Pack all documents, maps and other items last, so they are "on top" and easy to find. This is a strategy that pays dividends in a busy airport or train station. No one wants to fumble through your belongings to find a map or the directions to your next hotel.

It is important to limit this strategy. For example, do not pack your passport or your boarding pass. Keep those items close to you in a money belt or in a zipped pocket that is always close to your body.

Maps can be replaced easily if someone decides to rummage through your luggage. Key documents, when stolen, can ruin your trip.

Now that your packing is completed, take a look at the outside of your baggage.

Be certain your luggage is clearly labeled with contact information at your first destination and that the labels are securely fastened to your baggage. Even though the strategy we've outlined here is for carry-on travel, it is still possible to lose a bag or have it stolen from you in an airport, train station or bus terminal.

Since so many bags look alike, it's also possible that someone will grab your bag by accident. It's far easier to stop that person and point out your ownership of the bag when you have a name and address attached in an obvious location. There are also moments when some airlines will make you check a bag you thought you'd be able to carry-on. If that moment occurs, you won't want to be fumbling for an address label.

There are some items that should not leave your control. Even if you decide to check your baggage and pay the fees for that privilege, always carry-on anything that you cannot replace immediately: prescription drugs, organizers, and important documents are just a few examples of items that need to be close to you at all times.

It pays to be prepared, as I once discovered in the midst of New York's busy Penn Station.

I experienced a kidney stone attack just as I was about to board a train. Because I had prescription medicine close at hand, I was able to continue with the trip and did not incur any cancellation fees. Don't take chances--be prepared!

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