So you’ve decided to make a bold move and pack just one bag for your next travel adventure. While everyone is different in terms of what they like to pack and have with them on a trip here are a couple of tips for double-duty (i.e. multi-purpose) items and clothes that should help with your endeavor as well as some links to additional resources like packing lists.
- Smart Phones & Digital Gadgets When it comes to travel, smart phones may be the single greatest invention of our time. Being a Mac aficionado I’m naturally partial to the iPhone but many of the newer smart phones including the Android and even the Blackberry have some of the same or similar key applications. Wherever you’re headed, you have the equivalent of a GPS in your pocket with Google Maps and numerous apps that can help you navigate the local terrain either by foot or by car and uncover hidden treasures you might not have learned about in a travel book!Granted, using your smart phone while travelling overseas can be pretty expensive, but you can switch to wireless access to save a little on the cost for data transfers –enabling you to search the Web or check your email while on the go. Even if you opt not to use the phone your gadget can do double duty as a digital camera (most newer phones have the ability to take higher resolution images and even videos, so you won’t need to drag along a separate camera). Your smart phone can double as a flashlight, an alarm clock, and as a music player.
If you’re a voracious reader and like to devour books while on vacation, consider a Kindle digital book reader – it’s small enough to fit into a purse and way lighter than toting books around. The iPhone has a Kindle app that allows you to read books on the phone if you can cope with the smaller screen!
- Practical Clothes & Footwear What to wear is always the biggest challenge when packing for a trip. A lot depends on the nature of your travels, what the expected weather forecast looks like, and whether you need to dress up. If haute couture is a requisite for your trip, then packing only one bag may not work for you. Choose dark clothes that dry quickly and either don’t wrinkle or look good wrinkled. And women can use lightweight colorful scarves to accessorize outfits. Of course, it’s good to have a pair of comfortable shoes that can be used for getting around but are dressy enough for dining or a night out. If you must bring dressy shoes then pick a pair of slip-ons and wear them while traveling to facilitate moving through security at airports.A quality rain shell jacket can come in handy if it rains and do double duty as a windbreaker when layered over a fleece jacket or warm sweater, and it can roll up small. Convertible pants, men’s swim trunks that can double up as shorts, and ladies tankinis that can double up as summer tops are also good choices. Remember to not pack specific outfits, but focus on simple, easy-to-wear pieces that you can mix and match.You can always buy clothes while traveling. Last, but not least, a tote bag that can fold up into a small pouch or a lightweight duffle, is great for short trips to the grocery store or Laundromat and as a catchall for souvenirs or gifts you purchase on your trip.
For more resources on packing light check out the links in Go Green Travel Green’s Ultimate Guide to Packing Light.
While the term “eco-tourism” tends to conjure up images of what some refer to as “volunteer vacations” where you might be involved in a beach clean up project or wildlife preservation program, you really don’t have to sacrifice comfort or go for an adventure in the wild to do it. There are as many different ways to green your travel, as there are ways to travel. It’s all a matter of degree and commitment.
