India, May 23 -- Don't listen to the minimalists. To overpack is not to overdo. It is to prepare for being fully yourself on a holiday. Packing a spare kurta, a just-in-case ensemble for a night at the opera, your trusted ionic hair dryer, that second pair of statement earrings, midnight munchies from home - these are not signs of excess, but of intention.

The travel industry is obsessed with hacks: Lipsticks that double up as eye-shadow, collapsible mugs, crease-resistant shorts, reversible hats, inflatable this, multi-use that ... Seasoned travellers know that they rarely improve a vacation. What they do instead is make travellers feel virtuous when they should really be feeling comfortable.

Cutting back works for the budget, for the ...