So you’re packing for your next trip. Nothing can be as exciting as getting ready for a trip to a foreign country to temporarily escape the monotony and/or stress of your everyday routine. Even just thinking about it can already make someone excited as he anticipates for that day when he leaves home and steps out into the big world again.

It’s always good advice to travel light, especially with the exorbitant rates of excess baggage weight. There’s no point trying to squeeze in a lot of stuff in your suitcase that you won’t really need while you’re away from home. And when it comes to packing things, our clothes usually take the lion’s share of the space.

Here are tips on what to take with you when traveling in terms of clothing:

A pair of jeans – If you’re going on a 4-day, 3-night trip to a foreign country, you don’t have to pack more than one pair of pants, especially if you won’t be attending any business meeting. If it’s purely a pleasure trip you’ll be on, a pair of good ol’ jeans will suffice. What’s great about jeans is it can go with practically any shirt or shoes you put on.

A jacket and/or sweater – This would really depend on the country you’re headed for. However, even if you’re visiting a country with a warm climate, you might still need something to get you warm when the temperature gets uncomfortably low on the plane. In case you have plans of having dinner at an upscale restaurant, its dress code may require its customers to wear a jacket.

Clean shirts – You probably noticed the emphasis on ‘clean.’ You don’t pack dirty or used shirts with clean ones as the bad scent of the former may contaminate the latter. Imagine that scenario wherein the person inspecting your suitcase frowns upon opening it because of the unpleasant smell emanating from it. Packing and wearing clean shirts is not only about looking and feeling clean; it’s also part of maintaining good hygiene.

Undergarments and socks – Since these are small pieces, try to pack as many as the space inside your suitcase allows. Undergarments and socks are things you change on a daily basis, so pack as many pieces as the number of days you intend to be away.

Footwear – Aside from a pair of canvas shoes or sneakers, you should also pack a pair of slip-ons or thongs. They’ll come in handy during those long walks while you’re out exploring the place you’re visiting.

Finally, research as much as you can about the outfits that are considered acceptable in the country you’re visiting. There are cultures that find certain outfits irreverent, scandalous or offensive. The rule of thumb is to always be on the safe and comfortable side when choosing which outfits to pack next time you travel.