THE WORLD IS YOURS. SIMPLY OPEN THE DOOR AND KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND...
PACK LIGHTLY
Pack lightly! This cannot be overstated. You really only need a backpack. When planning for my semester in Europe, I read travel guru, Rick Steves’s travel book, Europe Through The Back Door (2015), and thought it would be impractical to fit everything into one carryon bag or backpack. However, with practice I was able to do it to where I had extra space. I became a true believer.
The best trick to make everything fit into one carryon bag is to roll your clothes. As long as you don’t need to be too formal, rolling your pants will not be a problem. Even so, most hotels and hostels offer laundry services. You can use whichever style bag works for you, but I recommend a hiking backpack with zipper access to the top and bottom. This avoids having to empty the entire bag to get to items at the bottom of a traditional backpack.
35L Paladineer pack used while trekking through Germany. 4 days max pack.
NEVER UNPACK
This may sound strange, but it is much easier to manage your belongings when everything is kept in place. Things never get lost or go missing. This also saves time especially if you’re traveling to a different place every couple of days. If I am running late for a plane or train, all I have to do is grab my bag and go, instead of emptying drawers to repack my belongings.
Since I only pack a carry-on, I never have to wait in lines at check in, wait for my suitcase at the luggage belt, or carry a large suitcase down a building without an elevator. Last minute changes in travel plans are not much of a bother. By not weighing myself down and marking myself a helpless tourist, I can be mobile, spontaneous and in control.