My blog on how to pack light & travel solo.

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5 great reasons to travel solo & travel light in Japan.

After nearly four weeks in Japan, it is at the top of my list of best countries to travel light and travel solo in. Especially solo female travellers. When you visit Japan, you will experience the exquisite culture where every detail is deliberately perfect. Whether it be the hospitality, the food, the gardens, the shrines and temples, the transport and the accommodation – it is all done with the most incredible attention to detail.Japan is a feast for all your senses, and it can be done with ...

A light hiking packing list for a day or multi-day hike.

Planning what you carry for a short hike or long-distance hikes takes time and consideration. Safety is the number one, non-negotiable rule that must be followed. Whether packing for a day or a week, you need to be prepared. Ultimately, what you pack and how much you pack needs to be what works best for you and the conditions you’ll be hiking in. You need to consider the terrain, the weather forecast (and the worse-case weather scenario), the season, and how much you can cope with carrying. It...

Why solo travel is the best adventure for travelers.

I’m a huge fan of solo travel. As much as I love traveling with my family or friends, there is something special about my solo adventures. Since my first solo trip back in 2017 to Croatia and Italy, I’ve learned to relish my free time, have been open to making new friends (especially other solo travelers), and I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone big-time!  I’ve done small group tours, independent travel, daytrips, and just chilled out by myself: happy in my own company. Solo ...

Packing light for a 4-week carry-on holiday in London and France in autumn (fall).

What better way to learn about packing light than to hear from someone who has just enjoyed her first carry-on experience - with no lost luggage! My friend and Regency Romance author, Leigh D'Ansey, has just got back from four weeks in London and France. With all the news and worries of losing bags, Leigh studied up on how to travel with a carry-on bag only. I was thrilled when she agreed to write a blog post for us all here to share her experiences. Read on for Leigh's impressions of how packin...

How to pack a light, carry-on bag for your next winter vacation.

Travelling light in winter requires a carefully thought through winter travel capsule wardrobe. This post is jam-packed with packing tips, so your bag stays light! We've just been away for ten days in the South Island of New Zealand. With temperatures ranging from 2 to 15 degrees Celsius (that's 35 - 60F), I needed to be prepared for anything the weather-gods threw at me, but I still wanted to pack a light carry-on bag.  I flew with six kilos of gear - so how did I do it? There are no affil...

Travel light to The Cook Islands!

Updated blog: Thinking of heading to the tropical Cook Islands?   Luxury. Relaxation. Tropical beaches.   Rarotonga has it all, and they're waiting for you.  (There are no affiliates in this post.)...

Don't lose your luggage. 5 tips on how to travel with carry on.

There's been so much in the news lately about lost luggage, and massive delays at airports. It's no wonder people who said they'd NEVER travel with carry on, are changing their minds. So, I've put this blog together to help those people for whom travelling light was never on their radar. ...

4 easy rules to pack the best travel shoes for your travel capsule wardrobe.

Shoes can be the heaviest and biggest space-consuming items we pack in our travel bags. They take up so much room. Rather than just tossing in 10 pairs and hoping we've got everything we need, this article will teach you how to pick the best shoes for your trip that won't weigh you down.   With these four easy rules, you'll be packing the best shoes for your travel wardrobe in no time at all. I mention a few shoe brands in here that I use - None of these are affiliates. These are simp...

6 great walks around Lake Tekapo, New Zealand.

If you want a great variety of day hikes with spectacular views you can't go past Lake Tekapo. Set in the McKenzie Country of the South Island, surrounded by mountains, Lake Tekapo offers some of the most jaw-dropping scenery. Many of these walks are easy to get to as a tourist. I've focused this blog on the six hikes I did in summer while on a five day stay here. Lake Tekapo is a spot for all seasons. Lupin flowers flourish in early summer, the mountains are snow capped in spring, winter brings...

3 fabulous reasons to pack a Travel Capsule Wardrobe.

A travel capsule wardrobe gives you a much simpler way of travelling. It takes away a lot of the indecision, the unpreparedness, and the weight of overpacked luggage. We've all got stories of lugging heavy, jam-packed bags - you know, the ones where you had to sit on the suitcase lid to do the zip up!!! I see you! My favourite was stuffing in as much as possible into my backpack, fearful that the seams would rip. And then being asked by the customs officer to "Open your bag, Maam." "Wi...

5 great tips on how to pack light for a Christmas trip.

Tis the season to be jolly...with a well packed bag!!Are you heading away for a short trip over the Christmas season? Catching up with family and friends? Want to give traveling lighter a go? Then this blog is for you! Full of tips to make the most of your trip by taking less....

7 hostel myths busted - Why you should consider staying in a hostel.

Hostels are a great accommodation option for travellers of all ages. But there are plenty of myths around about hostels. Let me bust some hostel myths and why you should consider staying in a hostel. As a regular hostel user I’ve met fellow travellers from all walks of life, and all life stages.  From families with young children, and teenagers, to backpackers, middle-aged couples and retirees. Hostels provide a space that meet many people’s accommodation requirements - warm, centr...

What is slow travel, and why do it?

Want to know the best way to travel? TRAVEL SLOWLY!   I am huge fan of slow travel. It's been an absolute game-changer in my travel experience, and I'm dying to tell you more. So read on, to hear what is slow travel, and why you should do it....

Best tip on how to pack light - learn to count the squeezes!

So, you want to pack the entire contents of your bathroom cabinet when you travel? What if you could pack all the liquid cosmetics you use at home and have it all fit in a small toiletry or cosmetic bag?  You think I'm kidding, right?  Read on... Let me show you my best tip on how to pack light with liquid cosmetics. Please note: There is one affiliate link in this post. If you buy through the link, I get a commission that goes towards covering the free content I create! :-)...

What's the best travel diary to travel light with?

I LOVE to write, and my favourite writing of all is travel writing - no surprises there ;) A travel diary has always been an absolute must-have in my travel gear. But my diary has evolved over the years. So I'd like to share that diary journey, and help you decide what's the best travel diary to travel light with for you....

How to add style to your travel capsule wardrobe with scarves.

If you've got a simple, mix and match travel capsule wardrobe, the best way to give it variety and different looks is by adding in accessories. The simplest accessories are jewellery and scarves. Today I'll focus on scarves. This blog contains an affiliate link - if you click on the link and end up buying then I get a commission. It's my way of keeping the content free for you and paying some of the bills :) I only connect myself with stuff I use and love. ...

A great accommodation option for women over 50.

Finding accommodation that is safe, feels like home, where you meet the locals, and get to know them before you stay, sounds like a fabulous accommodation option. This week I want to introduce you to Sue-Anne - the woman behind a new accommodation option for women over 50, SisterStay, that offers those options!  We met on Instagram and have built a great friendship. (I am not an affiliate of SisterStay - I'm just sharing cool stuff that needs to be celebrated!) In this interview I ask ...

International travelling light inspiration!

Buongiorno a tutti! (Hello everyone!) Meeting people from around the world has to be one of the things I love the most about travel. While the pandemic put a halt on meeting people face-to-face, travellers have found alternative ways to meet. My Instagram and Facebook communities have introduced me to a whole range of fellow travelling light enthusiasts!  This week I'd like to introduce you to Viviana. She's a 50-something Italian woman, living in the South of France. Viviana has soothed my...

A great travel bag: A review of the Journey System from Idea Mountain.

I have developed a taste for travel bags! I don't collect them - I only buy what I need. But I do analyse bags closely, with a slightly nerdy approach!  I was generously gifted a bag by Tys Sniffen, the owner and founder of the Journey System at Idea Mountain. Tys asked me to give the bag a go.  I was worried that I wouldn't like it, and I didn't want to do a bad review. My whole focus is very much about being honest and upfront with the people that follow me. I need to believe in prod...

Travel bags: The science & people behind them.

You know about my passion for packing light, right?  Well, when I meet other light travellers, the energy and conversation is both enlightening and hilarious as we compare stories, travel bags, gear, scenarios... I think you get the picture! So I was thrilled to interview Tys Sniffen, who is the owner and founder of the Journey System from Idea Mountain. We are so on the same page when it comes to packing and travel. And it's great to get the travelling light perspective from a guy.&nb...

Save the planet - travel light.

There are so many reasons why packing light can save the planet. It's not just about the bag and its contents - it's about your movements, your change in mindset over what you really need, and how you think about what you carry....

What to pack for a tropical getaway.

A recent 5-day trip to Rarotonga, Cook Islands, in the South Pacific had me reviewing what I needed to pack for a tropical getaway.  With the weather looking decidedly nicer than early winter in New Zealand, I spent time looking at the different climate and what I would be doing there. Travelling light should surely be easier when able to leave the bad weather gear at home....

Meet travelling light enthusiast, Ashly, from SPLICE clothing.

The travelling light community is fast-growing, and I love meeting others as passionate about it as I am.  I want to introduce you to some of my connections, affiliates, social media friends who I have met along the way. They inspire me and make my journey that much more delightful.  My first guest interview is Ashly, from SPLICE clothing - it's the reversible clothing brand I've spoken about before, and I am an affiliate - which means if you click on the link further down the page and...

Travel tips I learnt from my Mum - A Mother's Day blog.

My Mum is my biggest cheerleader and my biggest influencer on shopping for travels. She has encouraged me to see the world, take up new challenges and live life to the full. I was out shopping with her recently and I realised just how much my shopping and travel decisions have been influenced by her. ...

Post-pandemic travel planning.

With the vaccine roll-out, the possibility of overseas travel is looking more likely. It's still baby steps at the moment but I think we're all hopeful that safe travel is on the horizon. While we're still mostly at home, let's not waste this opportunity - but instead put this time to good use and get ready for when we can travel. Let's get our post-pandemic travel planning sorted!...