(NAPSA)—With most major airlines now charging for checked bags, manytravelers are striving to pack moreefficiently and fly with only a carry-on. The goal is simple: to visit your destination without running out of clean socks or overstuffing your suitcase. But it’s not that easy. If you’ve struggled over whether you need a raincoat for your trip to Cairo Gust in case) or wondered how many guidebooks is too many, you’re not alone. Packing for a trip is often a struggle to distinguish what we want to bring from what we need to bring. Here are five tips from IndependentTraveler.com, a leader in online travel information, to help achieve this goal: 1. Rethink the Wardrobe Stick to wardrobe essentials. Choose clothes in neutral colors that can be mixed and matched and pack a travel-size packet of laundry detergent to wash clothes while traveling. Bring no more than two pairs of shoes: one to be packed and one to be worn on the plane. 2. Simplify the Beauty Regimen Don’t lug an army of beauty products across the globe. Instead, use hotel toiletries or pack products with multiple uses, such as a moisturizer with SPF or a combination shampoo/conditioner. To meet security requirements, pack products in containers of 3 ounces or less in a quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. 3. Pick One Favorite Guidebook Don’t weigh a suitcase down with books. Pack one comprehensive guidebook and use Internet cafs as necessary to look up additional information on the road. Packing for a trip needn’t be a struggle once you distinguish between what you need and what youthink you need. 4, Leave the Crown Jewels at Home Leave all valuables at home. Fancy watches and jewelry are targets for thieves and can prevent travelers from fitting into the local culture. 5. Forget the Gizmos Pack only indispensableelectronic gadgets. Skip the toothbrush sanitizer, ocean sound machine and other extraneous items. To help travelers pack more efficiently, The Independent Traveler offers an interactive packing list (www.independenttraveler. com/packing) featuring more than 100 commonly packed items. This online tool lets travelers create a personalized packinglist to save, print or e-mailto friends. For more packing and travel tips, visit www.independent traveler.com.
