If you are going on vacation, it pays to travel light. Firstly, you won’t need to pay the $15.00 luggage price plus $50 to $100 for a second bag. Second, you will be able to navigate your way through the airport faster. Finally, you won’t need to spend any time at the luggage carousel, which is one of the least enjoyable parts of any trip.
Traveling light doesn’t must mean shoving every into one bag because you can also be penalized for having too heavy a bag. Furthermore, you don’t want a bag so heavy you can’t manipulate it.
It’s a pretty tall order to be frugal and fashionable with just a few key items, but it can be done. Here are the things you will need.
1. Three piece wardrobe set in microfiber or Jersey Knit: These are great travel fabrics and can dress up an outfit in a second. These fabrics do not wrinkle, it does not stretch out, and it always looks good. For men, a suit jacket and slacks will look great with any shirt and tie. For women, an interchangeable skirt, dress, and/or slacks will make dressing on the road very easy. Such an outfit starts at $50.00 in full retail which is an excellent price for an outfit that will last years and could become a major wardrobe staple. You can also find microfiber outfits easily at your local discount store. Spiegel sells separates you can coordinate for very little in their clearance department.
2. Little black dress: Every vacationer should have an especially dressy outfit with them. These are readily available at Ross or Marshall’s for less than $30.00.
3. Swimsuit: Hotel swimsuits cost a fortune. For this reason it is important to remember to bring one with you. Your travel swimsuit should be a one piece or tankini, preferably in a style that will allow you to have it double as a top in a pinch. Check out the Speigel summer sale to get a great swimsuit for less.
4. Scarves and shawls: These lightweight pieces or fabric can be worn in any number of ways. Scarves can be tied as a blouse, a swimsuit cover, a belt, or neck decoration. Since it makes sense to keep your travel wardrobe in one color family for greater mix and match flexibility, bringing a few brightly colored scarves will help to stretch your wardrobe. You can get high quality scarves for as little as $3.00.
5. Lightweight tops: To finish out your travel wardrobe, you will need two or three lightweight tops. They can all be exactly the same, such as three white tank tops, or three black blouses, but at least one of them can be something outstanding. Remember these tops should be so lightweight and easy to travel with that you can put them all in one quart size to gallon size ziplog bag. Some great deals can be found at MagicScarf.com (starting at $10.00 each). Walmart and Target sell basic T’s and tanks tops in all colors for less than $10.00 each. Gauze tops are also a great lightweight shirt option.
Bonus: Wear your favorite pair of dressy jeans (khaki or dark colored lounge pants will also work). They will keep you warm and protected from the elements during your flight in both directions and to use for sight seeing. Your sweater or jacket should also be carried on your trip.
All you need besides these items are your toiletries and underwear. Your toiletries should fit into one quart size Ziploc bag and your underwear should fit into a gallon size bag.
Put all of these items into your weekend bag and have fun for one to two weeks!
Andrea Hermitt writes for parenting (specifically teens), the home blog, and also the frugal blog, and homeschooling at families.com.
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