When on holiday do you dread going over the weight limit? Or maybe you are backpacking and you don’t want to carry a heavy load around with you. Well here is a list that suggests things not to pack and hopefully will help you on how you can lighten the load.

1. Soap – now a day’s most hotels have soaps in their rooms, if not it isn’t that expensive to buy from the local shops. This also includes shampoo, I would buy a tiny travel bottle when I land and leave it behind once my holiday has finished. If you need or want to take some soap and shampoo, they can be bought in travel sizes.
2. Jeans – if you are going on holiday where it is hot, you will not want to wear heavy, bulky clothing also it would be impossible to wash them in a sink if the hotel hasn’t got a laundry room.
3. Towels – now this is a item that will be provided by the hotel and something you don’t need to pack. If your hotel doesn’t provide towels why not re use some of your clothes they are something you need to pack and easy to wash and dry or a microfiber towel.
4. Jackets – if you are going to a place where it is hot you won’t need a thick winter coat maybe take a thin jacket in case the weather becomes a bit nippy. If you are going somewhere cold then you will need a thicker coat not a thin jacket, take what is suitable for the trip / holiday.
5. Expensive Jewellery – Do not take expensive jewellery with you on your trip as you wouldn’t want to be a target of a crime or a victim.

If you don’t agree with this list then please don’t follow it, don’t let this list be do’s and don’ts, if you feel like you really need to take soap and it’s really important to you then buy a travel one. Also leave room in your suitcase for the fun items and souvenirs you purchased on your holidays.
Don’t forget to pack your passport and travel insurance and holiday documents also store them digitally on a USB as a backup.

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After checking in and going through security, there are always a few hours to kill at the airport before boarding the plane and jetting off on cheap package holidays in the sun. Trying on expensive sunglasses or browsing duty free are not the only things to keep you occupied though, as airports can be fun and fascinating places. Here are a few ideas that are sure to keep travellers entertained – just don’t forget to board the plane on time!

1. Check out the Planes
It’s not every day that the general public can get so close to a real life airplane. As several planes will be sat right there on the runway, it’d be rude not to check them out. Watch as they land and take off, observing the range of different colours, models and sizes or count the number of windows on each plane – a great way to pass the time.

2. Check out the People
Airports really are full of fascinating people from every walk of life. All sorts of characters can be found, from businessmen speaking loudly on their mobile phones to tired-looking mothers trying to control their four kids. People-watching never gets boring as there’s always something amusing to see.

3. Hit the Shops
Whether they’ve been planning their trip for months or they’ve booked late holidays at a bargain price, many passengers forget to take something important with them. Every type of shop imaginable can be found in the biggest airports though, selling everything from sunhats and books to flip flops and medication, so there’s no need to panic.

4. Play a Game
A great way to while away an hour or so is to play a game or two. Whether it’s a Sudoku or crossword for one, or a fun game of cards with the whole family, it’ll be time to board the plane in no time.

5. Start Writing a Holiday Diary
It’s always fun to look back on any funny moments and anecdotes from a holiday and the best place to start putting pen to paper is at the airport. All sorts of strange and unusual people are sure to pass by, so make a note of what they’re doing and the things they’re saying and enjoy reminiscing once the holiday is over.

6. Read a Book
It’s always useful to pack a book in hand luggage rather than in your suitcase so it can be whipped out at any moment. Time is sure to whiz by whilst reading a few chapters of a good book, rather than just staring intensely at the departures board.

7. Grab Something to Eat
Most airports offer a wide selection of food and drink outlets – it’s as if they know passengers will be hanging around for hours! Take advantage of this though and sit and have a tasty bite to eat because later on in the day all that will be available is the dreaded airplane food!

8. Chat to Someone New
There’s no better place to chat to a new person than at an airport. After all, everyone is bound to have something in common – going on holiday! Use that as an easy conversation starter and chat away to the person sat next to you. With a week or two stuck with the same people, it’ll be refreshing to talk to someone new and it’s surprising how interesting this can be.

9. Make a Phone Call
Airports can often be full of businessmen frantically making last minute phone calls before getting on the plane, but they can also be a great place to enjoy a phone call with a friend or family member. Find a quiet place to sit and enjoy a good natter – just try not to show off too much about going on holiday.

10. Go Online
Many airports now have free Wi-Fi so passengers flying with laptops are able to browse the web at their hearts content. Forget about the usual popular sites such as YouTube and Facebook and try researching a particular subject to learn something new. Films and TV channels are also readily available online so travellers can relax with their favorite program before boarding the plane.

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Our desire to travel and explore remains strong, but we’ve all felt the economic crunch to some degree. Now, almost all of us have to get by with a little less, but that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our adventures. In fact, this article will explore ten smart ways to travel that will maximize your budget, and even let you do more with less.

1. Target the best dollar value.
The dollar is strong, but currency markets remain in flux. Travelers can maximize their budgets by monitoring global exchange rates, and then traveling to the areas where they get the best return on the dollar.

2. Take a cruise.
Cruises are generally fantastic value, but the current savings available are at all-time highs. Not only are the major liners offering significant discounts, they’re adding a wide range of luxury enticements.

3. Not all airmiles credit cards are equal.
For frequent flyers, airmiles credit cardsare vital to long-term savings. When choosing one, take your time, and do the research. Don’t get caught up in the marketing and branding. Stick to the numbers.

4. Don’t hoard miles.
Hoarding miles is a common mistake, and it often causes the saver to miss out on some great deals. If your heart is set on a particular destination, get more out of your miles by traveling off-season and on non-peak days.

5. Be loyal.
Extend your consumer loyalty beyond the airliners. For instance, all hotels track customers. They know how often you stay there, and they have built-in unadvertised reductions and other perks for their best clients.

6. Sleep like a local.
Of course, even with benefits, extended hotel stays can be too expensive. The alternative is to rent an apartment or house, and there are many such fully furnished residences in major cities throughout North America and Europe.

7. Opt for all-inclusive packages.
Travel packages have significant built-in discounts and other benefits. Some travelers consider travel packages to be a series of compromises, but with all the options available today, that simply isn’t true.

8. Cook for yourself.
Eating out three meals or more per day for an extended period is quite costly. Instead, choose accommodations with a kitchenette, and then you can immerse yourself in the local lifestyle by shopping locally and preparing the meals.

9. Use public transportation.
Rather than rent a car or take taxis, use mass transit, and research the area before you go. In most major cities, you can purchase temp passes (three days to a week at a time) that let you use the entire system at low cost.

10. Talk to locals… online.
The best way to experience an area and save money is to know what the locals know. In the information age, doing so is simpler than ever. A wide range of travel and geo-wiki websites exists for just that purpose. Use them.

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One of the greatest myths about travel is that is expensive. The ads always show fancy vacations, expensive activities, over priced resorts, and expensive dinners. I think this is one of the reason people get so turned off by travel. They simply think they can’t afford it.

But years of travel have taught me that is wrong. Travel can be inexpensive. Do you spend a lot of money during your day to day life? Probably not. Neither do the locals where you go. Travel isn’t all about being fancy and expensive. If you travel and live like a local when you go overseas, you’ll find your trip to be very inexpensive.  Shop at the local stores, avoid the tourist areas, stay in guesthouses and locally owned B&Bs (and not huge chain hotels), buy tourist passes for all the attractions and you will find yourself saving a lot of money when you travel.

Moreover, since most people can’t afford all those fancy holidays, you can often find great cheap holidays on sale. By looking online, you can find some great last minute deals on holiday packages. Companies unload their unsold inventories at great prices. Another way to get a cheap holiday is to book as a package. For popular, resort like destination (Hawaii, Canary Islands, Mexico), booking the airline and hotel together off an aggregator site will save you hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I never book separately because it will just end up costing more.  Normally, I do everything apart but for those package destinations, a package is the cheapest way to go.

Another great money saving tip is to book in advance and off season. When the travel is off season, you can find great deals as companies try to entice buyers to come visit. Most people never go off season so companies have a lot of space they need to sell.

Travel doesn’t need to be expensive. It can be very cheap. You just need to be smart about it and not believe all the hype. There are many ways to get a cheap holiday and I never pay a lot of money for my travels.

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