At this point, most green travelers know the basics of lowering your carbon emissions on the road. But there is one aspect you probably haven't thought much about--and it's likely to be one of the biggest contributions to your overall footprint. What am I talking about? Why your luggage, of course!

(Photo courtesy of IgoUgo member AmandaLyn)

When greening your luggage, you should consider three key factors: quality, materials, and weight. But first, let's consider if you really need new luggage, shall we?

Unlike travelers who loathe slapping down extra cash for baggage fees, I am thankful for them. Yes, thankful. It's as if the airlines were speaking to me when they began charging for those checked bags. They were saying to me, "Jennifer, stop packing so many shoes." You call it an inconvenience. Nickel and diming. Poor customer service. I call it tough love. Really, do you need anything more than a carry-on bag? I'm currently on a 10-day trip that includes stops in San Diego, Phoenix and Dallas, and I say, "No checked bag needed."

Kelly Vrtis, resident packing guru at The Container Store, would agree that you don't need anything more than a carry-on bag -- if you create a plan and invest in products that make packing easier. I asked Kelly to share her top packing tips with readers, and here's what she tells us.

Dear Editors,

I'm traveling from Puerto Rico to New York. Can I carry a bottle of perfume or cologne in my luggage?

Thanks,

Hector in Puerto Rico

Dear Hector,

This week's question comes from Hector in Puerto Rico, home to El Yunque rainforest:

I think we all remember that ill-fated time I washed my passport. Thanks to that lovely experience I learned all about the RFID chips in new U.S. passports. Even back in 2006 when Bush made the decision to include these chips, travelers were concerned their identities could be stolen through them. And as it turns out--people were right to be concerned. Your identity can be stolen through your RFID chip, but luckily there is something you can do about it.

This week couldn't go by fast enough, could it? In fact, you're already starting to pack for your Memorial Day getaway, aren't you? But, do you really need all of those shoes? Well...do you?! It's only a three day weekend. I say, pare down, and spend the $50 you would end up paying on roundtrip baggage fees on a nice dinner instead. Here's how:

10 Great Packing Tips

Last week, I was asked to appear on FoxBusiness.com's web show to discuss baggage fees. We also discussed tips to avoid the fees, airfare for spring, and the value of hotels.

It’s c-c-c-c-cold outside--and not only here in New York, where you can count on January being bitter. Huge swathes of the U.S. and Europe are being battered by arctic air this week, catching some sun-seekers by surprise. When I watched a video this morning of three children swimming at an icy Florida beach, I decided I had to offer up some tips for enjoying a trip even when the mercury drops. (For one thing, get out of the water!)

So here are the five things I always pack to keep warm--the items that I think make the most difference when it comes to staying comfortable in cold weather. I’ve used all five of these things in cities and in the backcountry, in wind chills that have dipped to -40 degrees. I even wore two of them on my walk to work this morning.

If you read this blog, you're probably a lot like us, constantly planning your next trip, collecting passport stamps like medals of honor, and always looking for that next peak to climb. The older I get the more keenly I feel that if I love travel this much, I also have a responsibility to preserve beloved destinations for my children and my children's children.

Responsible or green travel is at heart a conservation movement, a desire to keep pristine places around the world as they are--or even restore them to how they were. Here are 10 green travel resolutions you can make for Mother Earth. I've listed them from simplest to most ambitious so you can choose where you'd like to start. If we all make a pact to do just one of these resolutions, I think you'd be surprised at the huge impact it would have over time.

Even if budgets are a little snug this year, travel hopes remain high. Here's a list of affordable travel gifts for the globetrotter on your list. The best part? All of the items are $60 or less (and in many cases, much, much less). Happy holiday shopping!

For the Green Globetrotter

VeloPouch $45

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