Things to Leave Out of Your Suitcase

Coco Channel once said to remove at least one accessory before leaving the house. The same rule should apply to your suitcase. Here are a few things you may want to leave behind before your next trip.

Umbrella
Leave your umbrella at home. On crowded city streets, these become incredibly cumbersome and may be more trouble than they’re worth. In European countries, you may find many locals don’t use them anyway. It’s much easier to stick to a raincoat and avoid the hassle.

High Heels
Ladies, try to ditch the high heels. Leaving them at home will save you from potential calamities while attempting to walk across cobblestone streets, slippery marble and spiral staircases. If you find you absolutely cannot live without your trusty heels, try to choose a pair with a chunky heel to give yourself more stability or pack a pair of wedges.

Money Belts and Neck Wallets
These are unnecessary items for most travelers. As long as you keep an eye on your wallet, and avoid leaving it the front-most pocket of your backpack, you’ll be fine. Anyway, it’s extremely awkward to put your hand down your shirt or pants to access your cash. If you feel like you desperately need a secret stash, keeping some cash in your bra or the bottom of your sock can always be a safe bet.

Sewing Kit
If you are prone to making unintentional holes in your jeans, or constantly find yourself losing buttons, a sewing kit may not be the worst idea. However, if you lack the sewing skills needed to mend your clothes, then don’t let your Mom sneak a sewing kit into your bag. And assuredly, if you find yourself desperately needing one, you can usually find a small and inexpensive kit in most pharmacies.
Expensive Accessories
Eliminate the risk of losing a precious necklace your grandmother gave you or your expensive class ring by leaving them at home. If you absolutely need to accessorize, limit yourself to pieces that match everything in your suitcase, and make sure they are stored securely. Old pillboxes and film canisters are great options to store small items of jewelry like earrings and rings.