Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER TWO—
PACKING
There is an old axiom about travel from a 1949
Reader's Digest
that says “Take half
as many clothes and twice as much money as you think you'll need for any vaca-
tion.” While cliché, this advice still rings true and travelers continue to struggle
with the concept of traveling light. I've seen backpackers with bags so heavy they
can barely stand. You don't want to be this person, trust me. This chapter will talk
about everything you need to know about packing—from finding the perfect back-
pack to helping choose the right pair of socks.
Benefits of Packing Light
Ask any veteran traveler and they'll all endorse traveling light. First, it allows you to travel
more freely and easily. You might not realize it now, but you're going to encounter crowded
public transportation (usually with lots of stairs), bustling cobblestone streets, small trains/
planes, narrow hallways and staircases, tiny hostels, and other difficult travel situations that
make traveling with a lot of stuff extremely difficult and stressful. When you travel light, all
those obstacles suddenly become less daunting.
