When it comes to traveling, the excitement starts to build once you start packing your bags and luggage as you anticipate the first step onto and off the plane. The issue with packing is trying to figure out what to bring and what you can leave at home, but that’s not the only thing you need to consider when it comes to your luggage.

Dealing with luggage while traveling also means figuring out how much you’re going to pay for it at the weigh-in, how much you can bring, and how to safely secure your belongings so nothing gets stolen. Making sure to have the appropriate luggage for your trip will be a big help. For example, if you are going on a cruise, it'll be beneficial to check the best luggage for cruise travel. It might dampen the excitement a little bit, but it’s good to start thinking about these questions before you arrive at your destination, so here are some ways to easily and practically deal with your luggage.

Find a Space to Store It

A good rule of thumb while traveling is to never leave any belongings out, even in a nice 4 or 5-star hotel. It’s not to slight any of the locals, but there are bad apples wherever you will go in the world. If you were staying in a hostel somewhere in France, you’d want to find a secure place to stash your bags or belongings, and luckily you can store luggage in Paris quite easily now. Many places you will travel to will offer these kinds of services because they want tourists to have a good time and get a good impression, and these storage spaces can even insure some of your items as well for added security.

Get Lighter Bags

Simply put, your luggage might be too old school and cumbersome. Many old brands of luggage were large and obtrusive sized bags and suitcases, so you need to go modern and shrink down the size of your luggage. This is going to save you a lot of money when you weigh your bags at the airport, it’s going to be easier to fit into a car, taxi, or bus, and it’s also going to be much easier to get around from place to place. The smaller your luggage, the more mobile you can be, and that gives you more time to explore.

Use Rollers/Wheeled Luggage

If you do need bigger luggage, it’s always a good idea to spring for ones with rollers or wheels. You don’t want to be dragging a bag or suitcase wherever you go and the amount of effort to carry heavy luggage is going to drain you out. The best solution is always to get something more mobile, so even finding smaller sized cases and bags that also have rollers will keep your arms and back from getting sore which means you have more energy for doing activities on your trip.

Pack Lightly

Another uncomfortable truth is that you might be a bad travel packer too. It’s alright, it won’t hurt your ego to admit that sometimes you stuff your luggage with too much, but it’s also a good time to figure out when you’re bringing stuff you likely don’t need. For guys, you probably don’t need that big electric razor set if you’re only going for a week or two, and ladies, pick a few pieces for a nice date night, not the whole closet. It’s good to bring the essentials like your bathroom needs (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss) but you don’t need to pack tons of soaps and washes. Keep yourself on a minimum and reserve space for one big item like a camera, but otherwise focus on just bringing a small assortment of clothing, especially if you plan on shopping.

Use a Travel Backpack

Finally, you could always downsize even further from smaller, more compact luggage. The best trick to travel lightly with luggage is to purchase a durable and all-purpose travel backpack. Not only is it safer to keep your belongings in a bag that is strapped to your person, but travel bags are also a lot more mobile and you can store them quite easily. This one bag can serve all of your purposes, and many travel bags are waterproof which is a big bonus if you’re doing a lot of on-foot adventuring.

The excitement of travel starts to build as you get closer to your departure date and so does it build when you start to pack and plan out what to bring. However, to make sure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible. These tips will help you nail the luggage skills of an expert adventurer.