pittpurple

Hi all,

We leave for Spain next Tuesday (!!) and I'm trying to organise my packing this week - this is a much longer trip than I typically take so I'm struggling a bit.

We're spending two weeks in Spain - the first week traveling from Madrid to Cordoba to Granada (each for 2 or 3 nights) and then a full week in Nerja in an apartment with a washing machine. We are checking a large backpack and I'll carry a smaller backpack and my husband will have a small duffel with our electronics and books. (Books are a real challenge - I read a lot and would typically bring a book for every two days - but for a 2 week trip that's a bit difficult!)

I know my original list is too large, any thoughts?

Shoes:
Hiking Sneakers
Hiking Sandals
White flats
Sandals for beach

Bottoms:
2 Jeans (I only wear jeans)
1 Jean capris
2 Bright coloured skirts

Tops:
1 black cardigan
2 black tanks
1 white tank
1 pink tank
1 white t-shirt
1 black t-shirt
1 coloured t-shirt

Other:
Swimsuit
Swimsuit cover-up
PJ's
Socks, etc. for 1 week
Waterproof shell
Umbrella
Jacket

My difficulty is that it's showing around 60 degrees in Madrid and 85 in Cordoba... so I need stuff for all the possibilities in between.

I typically live in jeans and t-shirts and have lots of problems with my feet so the shoes seem necessary - they just take up so much room! We are super budget travelers and stay in hostels and never go to fancy places, so none of that is necessary. This plus my toiletries won't fit in the bags so I have to cut something out.

Oh yeah - I'll wear the hiking sneakers, jeans, cardigan, jacket and one of the shirts on the plane but obviously will have to carry them around for the rest of the week that we're traveling around.

pittpurple

oops - pressed post too soon!
Thanks for any help you can offer!
PittPurple

lincasanova

nights can be cool everywhere.

i donīt doubt you will be able to find used book stores on your trip with books in english. there may be an english free paper in many places.. especially down south.

in most cities anyway there are normla book stroes that carry novels in english.

i would bring darker flats.. just because the white ones will probably get pretty dirty travelling around.

suze

I think your list is pretty good.

I would cross off about 1/2 the tops. You don't need 4 tank tops, for example. 2 is plenty and take the dark colors (leave the white and pink at home).

Same for shoes. I would never travel with white ones. Do you have something similar in a dark color?

Books are tricky. I've solved the problem by getting out of the habit of reading so much when I travel. Instead I pick up local newspapers and magazines (yes in Spanish) and make do with just a couple novels.

bdjtbenson

I'd skip the hiking sandals. Hiking sneakers, a pair of sandals (preferably something that can look a little dressy with a skirt AND be worn to the beach), and a pair of walking shoes is plenty. If you don't mind walking in your hiking shoes, you may be able to live with two pairs of shoes.

If you only wear jeans, why bring skirts? I would suggest one jeans, one jeans capris, one skirt in a color that matches well with the tops you will bring and a pair of yoga pants for casual, laundry days, lounging, using the bathroom down the hall or sleeping if it's cold.

You have eight tops including 2 black tanks. Pare it down to 5 or 6 total tops plus the black cardigan sweater.

Don't take PJ's use the yoga pants and a t-shirt/tank for sleeping if you need it.

If you can wash a pair of socks, underwear (and t-shirt) daily, you can take only 3 or 4 pairs instead of a weeks worth.

Take a water proof shell. Don't bring a jacket; instead add another light sweater for warmth under your rain shell. If it's really cold (rare in Spain) you can layer a t-shirt, cardigan, sweater and shell to stay warm.

I usually skip the umbrella and buy one there if I need it. It's more likely to be warm and raining in Spain so it may be good to have for this trip.

suze

That's a good point. I never wear skirts myself. Since you life in jeans normally, I'd think one skirt is plenty.

suze

Or none

Once you wear something besides pants, then you need more shoes!

lincasanova

actually, spain would be about your best bet if you decided you needed another pair of shoes once here.