Gap year travel tourists making their first trip abroad have been urged to go against their initial instincts and pack light by TrekAmerica.
The operator claims that this applies to technology as much as other baggage such as clothes.
Its Top Ten Tips for First-Time Travelers observes: "If there's one mistake first time traveler will make, it's taking too much stuff, most of which will not be used.
TrekAmerica also advises travelers that they can save money by purchasing a local sim card for their mobile phone rather than using their own.
Tourists can also avoid lugging around a battery-laden backpack by trying "a multi charger or solar-powered charger to keep your MP3 player and mobile phone batteries topped up".
Meanwhile, in an article for the San Francisco Chronicle, John Flinn advises "go-lite" tourists to pack their own rubber plug and detergent so that clothes can be washed during their travels.
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