When you plan a trip away, it is far too easy to start thinking of everything that you need to take with you, and it is far easier to pack too much, more than you really need.
The suitcase is open, the clothes are scattered everywhere, and you’re starting to wonder if you’re packing too much or if you’re not taking enough. You start to question whether you need ot take an extra top or if you need to pack for two types of weather. Things will go in and come back out, but chances are you will overpack if you don’t think about it properly.
Most travellers learn the hard way that the less you take with you, the freer you actually feel. You don’t realize how much energy luggage actually takes away from you until you’ve dragged it through the streets of hotels and intertrain doors that close far too quickly.
Travel is not meant to feel like hard work; it’s meant to move with you easily and flexibly. That’s what happens when you stop to think about your bags and start thinking about the actual place that you are visiting.
Let’s have a look at why it’s not always best to pack to the brim.
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Why We Overpack
Packing can actually be linked to our emotions. We feel like we are overprepared when we take extra items, so it is very easy to just throw them in. What harm could it do after all?
When we do this, we feel like we have a little bit of extra control over situations that may be unpredictable when we are traveling. However, this can be very restrictive, and it can lead to you having a very heavy suitcase when you don’t need it.
When you think about it, every extra item that you put in your suitcase is just adding extra weight, not just in the sense that you’ve got to carry it, but also in the sense that you have to look after your belongings. If you start packing extra things, then that means that’s extra pressure for you to make sure that you are taking everything home with you.
The Freedom of Letting Go
It’s hard to feel spontaneous if you are having to look around a big suitcase looking for an elevator that doesn’t exist, or even not being able to go into a smaller restaurant that you fancy. If you’ve ever landed in a new city early, waiting for your check-in time with all of your bags can be very awkward. It gives you a bit of an in-between feeling, which means it’s too early for you to start looking around and exploring.
That’s when luggage storage changes the whole rhythm of that day. You can drop your bags off somewhere, keep them safe, and walk out to explore your new destination and make the most of your time in a new place. You can stop for coffee, wander around the streets, or just sit in a park without feeling like you are on guard with your suitcase the whole time.
It’s a small change that many people haven’t tried, but it is highly recommended. It is available almost everywhere: in airports, train stations, and even small cafes that have partnered with storage platforms. Once you try it, you will wonder why you’ve never done it before. You can even do it on the day that you are leaving if you have to check out earlier than when your flight is.
Exploring Without a Schedule
You will find that some of the best travel moments actually happen when you’re not traveling with a complete plan. You might take the wrong turn, see a sign for a festival, or even just notice something happening in the local area.
These moments are hard to find when you are having to drag luggage around with you for the whole day or when you are trying to rush between different check-ins.
Letting go of an itinerary that is really rigid means that you have more room for spontaneity and to let your curiosity lead.
That’s the real purpose of travel, isn’t it? Really notice things around you, to look around rather than trying to plan what you are seeing.
The Slow Travel Mindset
Slow travel is not just about taking your time, although many people think this way. Slow travel is all about taking your time when you are wandering around, and if you are lugging luggage around with you, this is nearly impossible. Using storage means that you are able to stay in one place a little bit longer, and you may notice things that you may have missed if you were actually just pulling a suitcase behind you.
Packing light also means that you are able to slow down. It may even force you to go out and shop like a local if you run out of toiletries or need to have a new top for going out for the evening. You can head out shopping in the local area. This type of freedom will really change the way that you travel, and it will help you create fantastic memories in a place that you never thought you would.
The Last Morning
You have probably been here before; you’re on your last morning before you head home, but you are now stuck with your case because check-out was at 10 am! But just because you had to check out early doesn’t mean you should be lugging your case around with you all day or just sitting around and waiting for your trip home.
You might want to take a walk around or go for one last meal out. Maybe you visit the bakery you loved, or you go and see a site that you fell in love with. You’re still traveling on your last day, so you may as well make the most of it, so think about making use of tools like luggage storage or if your hotel offers storage.
Have you ever tried luggage storage while traveling? Let us know how it went. Did it help? Was it useful?
Zack Hart
Hey there! I’m Zack Hart, the pun-dedicated brain behind PunsClick.
Based in Alaska, I built this site for everyone who believes a well-placed pun can brighten a dull day.
Whether you’re into clever wordplay or cringe-worthy dad jokes, you’ll find your fix here. We’re all about bringing the world closer — one pun at a time.