Indie Places

No matter where you travel to, chances are you’re going to buy some sort of souvenir or gift.  Much of the time, you’ll be able to fit these purchases into your luggage, but sometimes, you may find that you’ve either purchased too much or have been given too many items (such as from a business meeting) to fit in your baggage.  In this case, you may have to ship some items home.

Now you have to decide what you want shipped.  If you’ve attended a business meeting and have items that will be needed right away when you return, you may actually have to ship some of your personal items home.  This could actually include some of the clothing you took on the trip.  In that case, select the items you won’t need right away.  This might include formal clothing, or it might include things like shoes.  You may also want to ship any souvenirs you purchased.

On the other hand, if you were on holiday and bought some rather large items or bought a lot of stuff, you might need to ship these things home.  Make certain none of them are items you’ll need within a couple of weeks—shipping can take a long time unless you pay extra.  Generally, your hotel can tell you where to go to ship things.  Some hotels on luxury holidays can even ship packages for you.

If you’ve travelled overseas, be ready to pay.  Shipping across an ocean is not cheap, and it takes longer.  If you’re shipping breakables, you may need to pay extra for insurance, plus you’ll want to make certain they are packaged well.

Occasionally, you may need to ship items to your destination, especially at business events.  In this case, contact your hotel first and make certain you know where to send it and how to properly address the package.  Make certain you mail the package in plenty of time so that it will arrive before you do.  You don’t want to get there only to find that the important items you needed are stuck in the mail.

If you fly regularly, you know just how annoying it can be to lug several heavy bags through airports and hotels.  How many times have you found yourself pulling several heavy rolling bags or having two or more bags over your shoulders?  To avoid the potential aches and pains that come with heavy luggage, here are some ways you can cut down on your packing. Don’t over-pack.  If you’re not going to need a really nice outfit for anything, don’t take one.  Avoid any clothing that you’re only taking “just in case.”  If it’s not necessary, it should stay at home.  Likewise, women should only take a small amount of makeup and jewellery. Purchase small travel-sized toiletries.  You don’t need to take a large bottle of shampoo for only several days or a week.  If you can’t find your brand in travel size, you can buy small bottles and fill them from your larger bottles. Think of the various ways you can mix and match your outfits.  You can often wear several different shirts with one pair of trousers.  One nice jacket can also go with different outfits, as can an over shirt.  You can also wear your jacket on the plane so it doesn’t take up room in your luggage. If you don’t mind spending a bit of money, you can always purchase toiletries at your destination and then throw them away when you leave.  Your hotel may supply soap, shampoo, and conditioner for you to use so you can leave that behind if you like. While these tips may not save you much space individually, if you combine them all, you’ll notice that your bags weigh significantly less.