TRAVEL TIPS: Avoid Baggage Fees: What Not To Pack

With most major airlines now charging for checked bags, many travelers are striving to pack more efficiently and fly with only a carry-on. The goal is simple: to visit your destination without running out of clean socks or overstuffing your suitcase. But it's not that easy. If you've struggled over whether you need a raincoat for your trip to Cairo (just in case) or wondered how many guidebooks is too many, you're not alone. Packing for a trip is often a struggle to distinguish what we want to bring from what we need to bring.

Here are five tips from IndependentTraveler.com, a leader in online travel information, to help achieve this goal:

1. Rethink the Wardrobe

Stick to wardrobe essentials. Choose clothes in neutral colors that can be mixed and matched and pack a travel-size packet of laundry detergent to wash clothes while traveling. Bring no more than two pairs of shoes: one to be packed and one to be worn on the plane.

2. Simplify the Beauty Regimen

Don't lug an army of beauty products across the globe. Instead, use hotel toiletries or pack products with multiple uses, such as a moisturizer with SPF or a combination shampoo/conditioner. To meet security requirements, pack products in containers of 3 ounces or less in a quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.

3. Pick One Favorite Guidebook

Don't weigh a suitcase down with books. Pack one comprehensive guidebook and use Internet cafés as necessary to look up additional information on the road.

Need Luggage or a new Carryon? Up to 60% Off on Luggage, Handbags, Backpacks & More. Free Shipping at eBags.com

4. Leave the Crown Jewels at Home

Leave all valuables at home. Fancy watches and jewelry are targets for thieves and can prevent travelers from fitting into the local culture.

Fall Clearance Sale!! Up to 60% Off. Swimsuits starting at $19.99. Shop Now While Supplies Last.

5. Forget the Gizmos

Pack only indispensable electronic gadgets. Skip the toothbrush sanitizer, ocean sound machine and other extraneous items.

To help travelers pack more efficiently, The Independent Traveler offers an interactive packing list (www.independenttravelercom/packing). featuring more than 100 commonly packed items. This online tool lets travelers create a personalized packing list to save, print or e-mail to friends.

Find Travel Deals Click here and get matched to the best of over 6,000 travel experts who plan the trips you want to take.

Packing for a trip needn't be a struggle once you distinguish between what you need and what you think you need.