travelphile

Perhaps only funny to me - but...

Does anyone else pack like a champ to go on an extended European vacation, but takes everything but the kitchen sink for a weekend trip near home???

I was reading http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34679970 and thinking how I had this packing thing down - but the last time DH and I went away for a friend's wedding, we almost loaded the whole car! Not to mention how we pack for a weekend home to see family for a long weekend...

Just me???

djkbooks

One of the advantages of traveling by car is you can take everything you MIGHT need and sure is great to have along if you do.

crefloors

No. not just you. If i'm not flying and if baggage weight won't be an issue, I usually end up with more stuff. Like I don't transfer cosmetics and toothpaste, and lotion, stuff like that into the small travel sizes or small bottles. I just take it in the bottle it's in. Also, I'll take my blow dryer..I don't take it when going to Europe..I have short hair so the hotel blow dryers work OK for me..so things like that.

Worktowander

Happens to me, too. It's one of the great mysteries of the universe.

FainaAgain

When I travel by myself I pack light. With my husband, who doesn't care about weight, I pack more.

LoveItaly

Yes travephile, travelling by car means you can cram all kind of items you do not need and will never need into the car, LOL. Travelling by plane means you have to schlep the baggage to checkin, the carryon the entire flight. And airlines have size and weight requirements so we all think about what we are packing. Think we are all the same. Not just you, believe me!!!

travelphile

Faina - funny thing isn't it? My DH has the theory that if he MIGHT need it, its going with him. He will bring something ridiculous like 6 pairs of socks for 3 nights, LOL. Luckily, ONLY if he has the car.

What are some funny things you bring with you? For us, multiple pairs of shoes, for EVERY occasion.Oh, and jackets - it might rain, snow, be warm, be vest weather...

tedgale

I am sure it is not "just you".

but on the other hand, it definitely is not me. Or rather "it is not I".

So:

As you might well expect of a person who writes "It is not I', I am a perfectionist.

In my case, this entails taking exactly what I need and not a bit more.

It's a bit of a game, really -- I'm neither humourless nor anal.

And of course, the point of the game is always to be appropriately dressed -- there is no pleasure in mere scruffiness.

DeborahAnn

travelphile, Have experienced the same regarding packing. I think it is because I will spend hours (months) thinking about what I will pack for a trip to Europe. Its part of what I love about planning. Fine tuning, taking exactly what I need, not too much, not too little, ah the joy of a perfectly packed suitcase . With a short weekend getaway or a visit to family I always seem to be throwing things into the suitcase at the last minute.

One time I had such a large suitcase for a domestic flight that I got socked with a hefty charge for exceeding the luggage weight. What was I thinking??? Deborah

BTilke

Yes, we are driving from the UK to Austria this week (taking the autotrain under the Channel) and the back of the Laguna will be fully loaded with stuff we wouldn't take on a plane trip: a picnic basket, a full size pillow, a small portable fan, my own hair dryer, full size toiletries,

One thing I always take though, plane, train or automobile, is my breakfast outfit. I like to eat breakfast before showering and getting ready to head out for the day. So I always pack one outfit that's quick to get into: pants with elastic waist and pocket for my room key, a light cotton pullover sweater and a pair of lightweight slip ons (even if it's the dead of winter). I wear it only for the trek down to the hotel dining room or a dash to the corner bakery. It's only worn an hour each day, so unless I spill something, I wear it for every breakfast.

LoveItaly

BTilke, I thought I was the only one, LOL. I prefer my coffee in the hotel room but if that is not possible I am exactly like you! Take care.

Scarlett

LOL, we pack a lot when the car is involved. But then, I don't really pack like a champ for Europe..
BTilke, we brought the coffee maker with us on the last car trip

djkbooks

BTike - yes!

The "lounging" attire must stay behind when flying, along with our travel fridge (for "real" cream for the coffee, water, juice...), one-cup coffee maker...

Same goes for the outerwear. Layering does the job, well enough most of the time, but it's so much nicer to just have the perfect jacket.

Then, there's the reading material, travel guides, maps... No matter which you finally select for lugging, one you really wish you had along was "cut".

AnneO

Hmmm...as I now have virtually everything I own with me thanks to Katrina, I am amazed at how much junk I am moving between my cousin's house in BR to work, my parents home in Alex for weekends, the house I rented (where I can't take my dogs), and hoping to get back to my home. I am hauling EVERYTHING around all the time, because I don't know where anything is! My thought as I packed for a five day work week was that I need to apply my Europe packing model to my every day life now! I just saw pics of our safety deposit box vault...regret to say that my tickets for Europe and passport have been officially "gunked up"...now we'll see how difficult it is to replace all that stuff! Really though...gratefull o have stuff to haul around...and I really will get organized again one day!

Danna

My daughter and I went camping at a park 4 miles from our home and had to have things brought from home for dinner.

We had FILLED a stationwagon for one overnight.

travelphile

Danna - don't even get me started on how much I bring camping - we just upgraded from a pop-up

I truly have everything for every situation in my camper!

and I laughed at djkbooks - I'm the queen of reading material for even a trip across town (when I'm not driving of course!).

worldcom

Shoes - a heavy item and a bulky one, but there are high sandals, flat sandals, casual tennis shoes you can actually walk in, flat shoes that you can mostly walk in, and pumps...dont get me started on colors of the above or boots, have been known to take and entire bag....

men have tennis shoes, black shoes, brown shoes and maybe sandals

unfair

ncgrrl

Oh, my yes.

For the car trip, I take my pillow and a small buckwheat pillow (both can fit into the same pillowcase or I could have them separate). And clothes and shoes and stuff.

If I'm visiting my brother and SIL I'm usually a courier service too. M&D has something they need or vice versa. And them my Mom thinks they never go to the grocery store (?) so usually some food is transported.

Last car vacation I took all my knitting and crocheting stuff. I have friends who do scrapbooking on vacation. And my friend who takes the mixer with her along with her chef's knifes and spices. I'm surprised she didn't take her cookware.

cobbie

My friend proudly told me she took 35 tops on an 18 day trip to Europe. Then she explained that included twin sets, ponchos - not just blouses. She has a husband and two sons to carry her luggage. She once came to visit me for 5 days & had 5 bags (she had flown). I prefer to travel light on planes & bring more on the car trips.

tedgale

5 days, 5 bags? I don't think I could have a friend like that.