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Time has come for us to be in the high travel season again. Which is also the high season of the crowded, sweaty and most of all stressed out tourists who lift their much too heavy and too big suitcases through the airport. Again and again I wonder if they have packed their bags for the Fashionweek. Otherwise I can hardly explain to myself how to get several heavy suitcases on arrival. Per person. For 3 days. For Mallorca. All the stress then: "Where has this gone, where has that gone and where do we actually have to go? Oh, I'm not allowed to take a pocket knife on board?! Why do I have to pay extra because my suitcase weighs 100kg?"

Phew! But travelling can be so relaxing. If you do it right.

The fact is, most people don't know how to correctly pack and always take far too much unnecessary stuff they don't actually need. This is not just impractical and makes the journey to and from the airport unnecessarily complicated, stressful and uncomfortable - an already full suitcase also prohibits you from shopping a little during your holiday and bringing one or two souvenirs with you. At the latest when you discover a pair of cute shoes at a market on the other side of the world, which you certainly won't be able to get to so soon, you ask yourself if you really had to take a curling iron, straightening iron AND a hairdryer with you and you get a little annoyed about how much space terry towels take away. There are many things you can skip and in an urgent situation you have the possibility to buy the one or other product that you need now.

I personally have been travelling internationally for many years with a maximum of 15 kg in total for about two up to three weeks holiday. Depending on where I go, I have a suitcase or backpack filled to a maximum of three quarters and a not very full bag as hand luggage. For three to five days a half-full sports bag is enough for me. Only the bare essentials and the one or other goodie I can't travel without. But more about later.

Let's start with the basics. If you travel with luggage you should choose it according to your needs. Suitcase or backpack is the first question I ask myself before I pack. I have a medium sized hard-top case, a trolley in hand luggage size, a 45 litre backpack and a small daypack with 14 litres. If I already know there are many stairs at my destination and I travel to many different places, maybe even by foot, I usually choose my backpack. The chic trolley is great for business trips and I use the daypack for day trips or city trips. I always use special hiking backpacks, never "normal" backpacks for travelling. After a short time, these backpacks can cause back pain because they are not designed to carry a lot of weight, but as accessories for everyday life. For beach and shopping holidays I trust in my hard case. Whether hard shell or fabric, 2 or 4 wheels are a matter of taste with a suitcase, but you should not save on the product. Usually buying luggage is a one-time investment and in midsummer it is extremely reduced. Cheap suitcases can break quickly, especially in critical areas such as handles, zippers or shells. The same goes for backpacks. Not only are straps, buckles and seams usually not very robust, the fit is usually not very sophisticated. If you have carried 15kg on your back for a while, you will appreciate a clever and above all suitable padding. Optimum fit and comfort can be experienced from many specialized brands, so make sure you get comprehensive advice from an outdoor specialist and try out different styles with weight in it instead of ordering online or choosing a product from the supermarket. To make sure that no buckles are torn off when you check in your luggage, you can buy very practical protective bags for your backpack. No matter what you decide, choose patterns, bright colours or at least a eye-catching detail. This makes it easier for you to locate your luggage and reduces the risk of someone confusing your bag with their own. Don't use any locks! If your baggage has to be checked, it must be broken into by the airport staff. If you are worried that the lock might open, choose a lashing strap.

Now I have chosen my piece of luggage and I'm ready to pack. It is important to know what belongs in the hand baggage and what belongs in the check-in baggage. All items with a volume of more than 100 ml are not allowed in hand luggage. Even if they are half full. This rule is still often ignored. At Frankfurt Airport, for example, an average of around 50 tons of beverages and cosmetics are sorted out each month, writes the operator. In hand luggage, you may carry a maximum of one 1 litre reclosable transparent bag with small liquid bottles of up to 100ml. This regulation has been in place since 2006, but on almost every trip you can still experience discussions about the expensive 200 ml tub of body lotion, which now has to be thrown away. Please read your airline's instructions carefully before travel. You must always be aware that a suitcase may get lost or arrive too late. For this reason it is essential to pack the necessary daily medication and a change shirt. Laptop, tablet and camera also belong in your hand luggage. The equipment in the case can be damaged and therefore liability for damage is limited. It is also advisable to wear a warm pair of socks and a cardigan or zipper hoodie, as it can get cold above the clouds. For longer distances we recommend a leggings or trousers with a soft elastic waistband, a light shirt and a comfortable bra without underwire. To make the safety check as quick as possible I always wear shoes without buckles, no jewellery or belt and put the bag with the liquids, laptop and camera on top so that I don't have to mess around in the bag. I also have an extra bag that I take out on the plane with everything I need for the flight, like pills, glasses, headphones, neck pillow, toothbrush and books. This avoids annoying rummaging in the luggage box during the flight. Good preparation is half of the battle for a stress-free trip.

The storage of my check-in luggage is now decided according to the type of holiday. Is a pure beach holiday on the horizon? Then I will definitely have a second bikini with me and mainly light dresses, skirts and shirts that you can wear perfectly over the swimwear for a walk. For a party holiday you should leave more room for accessories, jewellery and bags. An adventure backpack trip calls for breathable, practical clothing as well as hand wash cream and basics such as pocket knives, rope and dishes. If you just want to go shopping, old clothes and shoes that have been worn out and can go straight to the garbage can be useful to make space for the new achievements. The following Must Have Basics are valid for all journeys:

A Basic top in black and white, to wear underneath when it gets fresher or as a multiflexible top for combining. Long, casual fabric trousers and a cardigan e.g. for trips to churches, temples, mosques, air-conditioned malls or such like. A skater dress for spontaneous cocktails or a nice restaurant in the evening. A coloured belt that spices up simple outfits. A bag (shopper) for everyday use. A pair of sneakers that are best worn during the flight since they take a lot of space. On vacation, nothing disturbs you more than painful feet. A moisturizing cream and a sun cream tailored to your skin. In many Asian countries, in particular, some local care products contain substances to bleach the skin. In some southern countries, for example, there are no sun blockers or no high UV protection that matches the needs of light skin. You should also pack a hair oil to avoid hair dehydration caused by sunlight. A first-aid kit containing at least plasters, diarrhea tablets, mosquito protection, painkillers and disinfectants is essential.

If you are travelling with your backpack, you should also add an easy-to-clean microfibre towel to your list, as these can be folded very small and take up very little space, unlike opulent terry towels. Shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are now available in every drugstore as solid soaps. Toothpaste can also be replaced with practical drops. These replacement products are not only environmentally friendly as they are free of plastic waste, they are also a great solution for traveling with hand luggage only.

To these basics you can now combine upper and lower parts and extend the cosmetic range variably but you should not overdo it. Only pack clothes that can be combined with all other items. This is how you get the most out of your reduced wardrobe. If you've booked a hotel room and don't insist on your special shower products, you can easily leave your shampoo and shower gel at home, as most of the items are provided free of charge. The same goes for towels, hairdryer and bathrobe. The available utensils can often be found in the room description during the booking process.

Are all things ready to be packed? In this case, sort things out critically again. Note that you may still need space for souvenirs or shopping achievements.

Those who pack a backpack for the first time should definitely read these instructions on the left for correct weight distribution.

There are some general tricks to use space effectively for suitcases and backpacks. Socks and small garments fit perfectly into shoes. Make-up, hair oil and other products with a lot of volume I always fill into smaller bottles. I pack these small cans and bottles in a separate bag to protect the clothes from leaking out. Additional protection is provided by a small piece of transparent film that is screwed between the bottle and the lid. If you roll the clothes instead of folding them, it saves space and reduces creases and wrinkles in the clothes. I personally bundle a top with briefs and socks for every day together. This not only looks tidy, it is also effective and space-saving. You can see how it works on the picture to the right.

If the check-in luggage is not completely full, but offers some air, everything has been done correctly. Your suitcase should be light enough to lift a few stairs and your backpack should ideally be a quarter of your body weight. If you check in online the day before at the latest and have your passport and ticket ready, nothing stands in the way of a relaxed journey with uncomplicated luggage.

Travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer.