10 Things You Don't Need to Pack -

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Professional travelers tell you what not to pack in your suitcase, but less often than you would think. Are you ready to pack smarter? Here are 10 things you don't need to pack and should leave at home to make your suitcase lighter.

1. If you are going on a five-star cruise, leave your expensive jewelry at home. Don't show off flashy stuff. When traveling through local markets and train stations, I recommend that women turn their engagement rings around so that the stones of the ring are facing their palm. Don't check the jewelry you bring on the plane if you insist on bringing it for a fancy wedding. Don't wear it out on the town. I would suggest putting your valuables in a safe at the front desk of a hotel or cruise ship.

2. Chances are that wherever you're going, they'll have an iron. On a cruise ship, irons are a fire hazard, and there are other ways to get wrinkled out of your clothing. Hang your clothes in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. The heat will cause the wrinkling to stop. I don't need to worry about ironing because I like packingwrinkle-free clothing. A small bottle of anti-wrinkle spray is much smaller and lighter than an ironing board.

3. Do you really need all of your tech gadgets when you travel? If you want to reduce your tech collection, leave the others at home. If you can download the app on your iPad, you can leave your book at home and just read it on the iPad. You can leave their respective chargers at home as well. A tech organizer is a traveler's best friend to keep your tech gadgets in order.

4. When you travel, why take up so much space with your products? Unless you are going camping or staying in a hostel, wherever you go will have it all. If you don't like the hotel's amenities, you can always go to a pharmacy or grocery store. If you must have your favorite hair product, make sure it is in a container that is smaller than the original, and if you are checking it, make sure it is in a container that is smaller than the original. These travel bottles will do the trick.

5. I'm always surprised by travelers bringing their own hair dryer. I suppose some people would rather just bring their own hair dryer, since a study revealed that hair dryers are the dirtiest thing in a hotel room. If you use a few different styling tools, you might want to consider the Revlon hair dryer brush, which combines a hair dryer with a brush and flat iron. My wife is a big fan of it.

6. Travelers used to have to stock their suitcases or carry-on bags with thick and heavy guidebooks. Don't get me wrong, I love guidebooks, but this is the 21st century and you can find all the information you need online or on your phone. Before you leave on any trip, download the apps of hotels, airlines, car rental companies, tours and attractions and save them all to one folder for easy location when you need them.

7. Pack half the clothes and the other half the money. Those are words to live by. Lay out all the clothes you plan to bring as you prepare for the trip. Only pack half of it. I used to over pack and then I got wise. My wife used to travel with a suitcase the size of a steam trunk, but once she saw all the advantages to packing light, she started using a suitcase that was 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465, which was carry-on only for her. Carry-on only is impossible with two kids, but it is more important than ever to pack smart.

There are 8. Don't bring expensive designer luggage as it only draws the attention of thieves. Who are you going to rob if you're a thief, someone with a designer bag or someone with a generic suitcase? The case is over.

There are 9. I once had a girlfriend who had to bring seven pairs of shoes with her on every trip because she needed them to match her outfits. That relationship ended soon. I bring one pair of walking shoes and one pair of dress shoes when I travel. Women with smaller feet can usually fit a few options. One pair of heels, one pair of running shoes, and one pair of flipflops or ballet flats are recommended by my wife. My wife recommends the Adidas Ultraboost as the most comfortable running shoes she has ever worn and are perfect for travel since they are slip-ons so you don't have to fuss with laces.

10. Many Americans don't know that it is illegal to bring over-the-counter drugs into some foreign countries. In some countries, these drugs include asthma and allergy drugs. Many products that contain pseudoephedrine are not allowed. It's a good idea to look up the U.S. embassy for specific details. Japan is an example.

Most of the things listed will save you space in your suitcase, but some can also save you time in jail.

What are you leaving at home? What additions would you make to this list? Share your thoughts with a comment below.

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