When done properly, travel can be extremely rewarding, and not very expensive.

Let’s have a look at the time end of the travel equation so that you can save time that is often wasted during the chaos of travel. Time is money, after all.

1. Don’t pack what you don’t need. This one may seem obvious, but travelers seldom take this advice as it was meant to be taken. You can only take so much with you when you travel, so pack what you need according to direct utility. Make a plan, make a list of what you NEED to make the plan work properly, then pack your bags in order of precedence.

2. Pack more items that serve multiple purposes. When you can kill two birds with one stone, don’t hesitate to do it. For example, if you plan on hiking, and your destination is very hot, try to pack footwear that is appropriate for hiking, while also being more merciful on your sweaty feet.

3. Organize your suitcase effectively. This entails making proper use of all the space you have, and ideally using packing cubes as well. This allows you to simultaneously maintain better visibility and organization in your suit case.

4. Keep all tech accessories organized in a separate bag. You interact with your clothing in a completely different way than you interact with your phone or tablet. As such, you can save time and stress by doing as veteran frequent travelers do and packing the two separately.

5. Last but certainly not least, pack your passport and any other travel documents in a folder which you can readily access when the time comes. There is nothing quite like seeing someone scramble to find their passport, visa, or other documents in front of a terribly bored immigration officer. Whenever you are travelling abroad, look up travel advisories for your destination, should it be abroad so that you know exactly what you need to pack, and where you need to present it.