13 Little Packing Items that Upgrade Your Travel Experience
They’re all lightweight and easy to bring — even when you’re only allowed a carry-on
Several years ago, spurred by necessity, I learned the art of minimalist travel: I spent three weeks in Spain and Portugal without a single checked bag, just a purse and a backpack. This opened a whole new, liberating world for me. One with no baggage fees, no lingering around at the carousel after I landed, no struggling with giant bags as I made my way to my lodging, and a MUCH-simplified re-packing experience for any time I snagged a great deal for the next city and needed to get back on the road fast.
It’s amazing to move this unburdened. But to make the most of your trip when all you’re carrying is a backpack and a purse… or even just a backpack… you need to know which items give you the most value. Some of these are obvious. Some are not. To help you, I’ve compiled this list of multi-taskers and other all-star items that I highly, highly recommend.
1. An Extra (Pocket-Sized!) Backpack
When I moved to Europe a few years ago, I discovered something I’d never seen before: large backpacks that fold down to pocket size — and cost only €5. I’ve actually been traveling with one as my primary bag on most…
