There was a time when seven pieces of matched luggage, stuffed full with sport, daytime and evening ware, plus jewels, furs, hats and accessories, were necessary when traveling. Of course there were ladies’ maids, porters and bellmen to help transport this array of goods.

For the most part those days are gone forever. Not many of us have ladies’ maids and porters are few and far between. There are still bellmen at better hotels, but I have found that it is often me who transports my bags to my room.

Hence, packing light and as small as possible is not only smart, it is also a lot easier to navigate airports, train stations, and hotels, not to mention those tiny rental cars in foreign countries.

Here’s my advice on packing for today’s tote-it-yourself voyager:

1. Buy a sturdy, soft-sided, expandable suitcase sized between 22 and 26 inches with a pullout handle and wheels. Be sure to put an ID tag on it and your name and address inside.

2. Keep your clothing color-coordinated with interchangeable tops and bottoms, with as few of each as possible.

3. Limit underwear and socks to five changes. You can do hand washing of small items in your hotel room.

4. Choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics and roll garments before placing in suitcase.

5. Use sides of suitcase to place smaller items and shoes.

6. Limit your shoes to three pairs. One pair of sturdy walking shoes, an alternate walking shoe and one pair of sensible shoes for dress-up.

7. Use Ziploc plastic bags in all sizes to hold smaller items and messy stuff like shampoo. Take a few extras to hold dirty laundry and odd items gathered along the way.

8. If hair drier and/or electric razor are necessary, be sure they convert to 220 volts, and take proper plugs for electrical outlets in your destination countries.

9. Take a “day bag” large enough to hold your wallet, camera, journal, pens, guide book, map, sunglasses, water bottle and various small items used during the day (lipstick or balm, breath mints, sunscreen, pills, etc.). Additions might include a folding umbrella, rain parka, sweater, shawl, or hat.

10. Take a small, battery-powered alarm clock.

Click here for Jacqueline’s road-tested packing list for summer trips.