Hi!  This is Linda substituting for Steve today on The Traveling Professor's travel blog.   With hundreds of international and domestic trips over the past few years, probably the most valuable thing I have learned about packing is what not to bring along.

Before deciding what to pack (or not to pack), take a good look at the type of trip you are taking.   Will you be in multiple hotels, on/off busses or trains or boats or ferries?  Is this an adventure trip, or a casual trip.  Are you going anywhere that "fancy" clothes are needed?  The type of trip you are on will affect what get packed, but in general, I have listed things that I never bring on a trip.  

Here is a list of things I never pack on an international trip:

Hair Dryer:  Hair dryers are bulky and take up valuable space in a suitcase.  These days almost ALL hotels and lodges have hair dryers.  Don't pack one.  Don't bring a curling iron either.

Jeans:  Denim is heavy and bulky.  If jeans get wet, they take a long time to dry.   For the past few years I have been wearing these Eddie Bauer Rainier pants.   They are lightweight, dry quickly, and they look good even after 2 or 3 weeks on the road.  A much better choice than wearing jeans.  They have excellent pockets too.   A pair of Eddie Bauer Rainier pants weighs 10.58 ounces where a pair of Lee jeans weighs 1.26 pounds (or 20.16 ounces).

Flashy Jewelry:  Look at it this way, once you lose jewelry (or have it stolen) overseas, there is no way to get it back. 

Too Many Shoes:  I can write a whole other blog post on this.  Nothing takes up space in a suitcase more than shoes do.  The best scenario is to take only the shoes on your feet and maybe ONE extra pair at most.  And, I NEVER take heels.

A Checked Bag:  If you check a bag on a flight, you are just looking for trouble.  From my experience in traveling with our small groups, it seems that about 10% of those people who check bags either never have them delivered or they are delayed in having them delivered.  It sounds like a risk a traveler might want to take, but when your number is up and your bag does not get to its destination - there is a good chance your trip will be ruined.  Looking for a good carry-on suitcase?  Try the eBags Mother Lode line of luggage. 

Looking to travel?  Take a look at our small group tour calendar.