What to wear/pack... Part 8

Hi Therese, I might have read all your "What to Wear" posts. They are so very helpful. I wanted to say: Thanks! I look forward to you adding to this thread.

Thanks, SUMMAGOLD.

So first things first: where am I going? Well, as it turns out the first stop on this trip is in Europe, but I continue on to Asia and Latin America. Yep, it's around the world, and the entire trip is via SkyTeam member airlines, booked using Delta SkyMiles. So I'm going to be logging some serious BIS time over the three week period of this trip, and all of it unfortunately in coach. The most direct flights possible, though, so there is some good news.

The first flight is from Atlanta to Paris, on Delta.

The second flight is from Paris to Tokyo, on Air France.

The third flight requires a several hour layover in Los Angeles, with the first leg from Tokyo to LA on Northwest, and the second leg from LA to Mexico City on AeroMexico.

Anybody care to bet money that all of these airlines have the same carry-on policies? Or even similar carry-on policies?

I'd bet money that not a single carry-on policy is identical among those airlines So you will need to pack according to the most restrictive policy of the bunch?

Yes, more or less. The most restrictive comes at the end of the trip, AeroMexico. So I could initially pack more of something that I'm going to consume along the way, like toiletries, and get more once I arrive there. I'm not sure how much overlap there is between U.S. and Mexican brands, but I'm guessing quite a bit. It definitely won't break the bank to buy soap etc. there, and I'm guessing I'll need sunscreen in any case (and there's not much point in schlepping it with me to Paris and Tokyo, where I most definitely won't be needing anything more than my usual SPF 15 moisturizer).

I have read your posting three times and I am at a loss as to what you want? It is not unusual for people to only take carry on luggage. I have done it for years. Being nice, , what your point?

This thread isn't a query, rogeruktm, it's a story.

You're right, all sorts of people travel carry-on only all the time, and it's not the least bit exceptional. But there are also lots of people out there who don't travel carry-on but would like to, and this (and the previous seven threads) addresses some of their concerns.

The questions that this thread answers come up quite frequently here. If you've got some suggestions to make along the way please feel free to share. If you are, as your name, suggests actually male then some of the things discussed here will make absolutely no sense whatsoever to you. Flat irons for hair? Wet vs dry mascara? Big questions for the high maintenance types like me, not so much for many travellers.

I really wanted to travel "carry on only" (inspired by many Fodorites!) and your previous posts really helped me figure out what to take, what I could really live without, and what I should purchase once I got to my destination. Thank you so much!

On our two week trip to Italy, my husband and I did great with just carry on baggage. Used a 19" Heys x-case and loved it (one leg was on City Jet and their restrictions were tighter than Delta's).

Used the washer/dryer in the apartment we rented a few times, and used the laundry service at the B&B twice - so no issues with clothing. Took just enough shower gel and body lotion to get through the first day - then purchased these items locally, used them during the two weeks and tossed out what was left when we departed for the airport to return home.

Managed just fine with the blow dryers provided at both the apartment and B&B. And also did just fine without the straightening iron for my hair.

And it was so much easier getting around with just a rollaboard and a messenger bag. I'm not sure I could have managed getting a large suitcase onto the Alilaguna in Venice!

And we barely made the City Jet flight - the AF rep at the counter told us that if we had checked baggage we were too late to board! But we didn't! So she got us onto the flight! YAY!!!

Thank you again for all your packing tips!

I now understand. I use a gym bag that holds 13 #'s. Nothing more! Can't think of why I would need more. Most often my host ask if I need anything washed. Last year in Whitstable my host put me in a ground floor room as she said American always over pack...she was delighted to see my small bag. Offered to do a batch. When I returned later my shirt and t-shirt, socks and short all were neatly laid out on the dresser. Came home with clean stuff for a change.

"And it was so much easier getting around with just a rollaboard and a messenger bag. I'm not sure I could have managed getting a large suitcase onto the Alilaguna in Venice!"

Perfect example of the convenience of small bags (whether checked for a flight or not).

"And we barely made the City Jet flight - the AF rep at the counter told us that if we had checked baggage we were too late to board! But we didn't! So she got us onto the flight! YAY!!!"

And an even better example of how packing carry-on only keeps you from being hindered by scheduling problems.

Very funny about the B&B owner assuming you'd have enormous suitcases that couldn't be lugged up the stairs, rogeruktm. If your loaded gym bag weighs 13 lbs then you're taking just almost as much as I do, as my rolling bag weighs a bit over 6 lbs empty. Again, I'm guessing that you're a guy, as most women would rather roll 20 lbs than carry 13 lbs. It doesn't sound like much, but when you've got the upper body strength of marshmallow and 2 km to walk it seems like a lot.

Therese,

I haven't had the pleasure of reading your other packing posts but wanted to chime in and say that I have been a "carry-on convert" for the last 4 years.

4 years ago a tight connection in Philadelphia for a flight to Rome prompted me to learn to pack light, especially since when I landed in Rome I was heading out on a 4 hour drive to Tuscany and didn't relish the thought of lost luggage!

Since then I've traveled to Ireland (for 2 weeks), Central Europe (for a month), Turkey (for 2.5 weeks) and France (for 3 weeks)all with just my 19" roll-aboard and a backpack style bag...I LOVE it...it really is a liberating feeling not to have to be bogged down with too much luggage...and as I always say...people use soap and shampoo all over the world, and some of my most memorable travel experiences was finding laundry detergent or a laundromat!

So, how much have I got to work with this time around?

Northwest turns out to be the easiest this time, as there's no weight restriction whatsoever:

"Northwest allows you to carry one piece of baggage on board the aircraft plus a purse or briefcase or laptop computer or small backpack. The carry-on baggage must be of a size and shape to allow for storage in overhead compartments or underneath the seat in front of you.

Dimensions:

Cannot exceed 45 linear inches (9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches)"

Delta's the next easiest, as only the carry-on is subject to being weighed, and at 40 lbs that's one incredibly heavy carry-on. They also mention a few items that are "free", like books and food and a bag of duty free:

"Carry-on Baggage

All Delta passengers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item that meet the criteria below.

Size and Weight Restrictions

If your carry-on bag doesn't meet these size and weight restrictions it must be checked, and all checked baggage rules will apply. Your bag must:

Weigh less than 40 pounds (18 kg).
Not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height).
Fit easily in our SizeCheck® unit (approximately 22"x14"x9").
Fit in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you.

Personal Items

You're allowed one personal item from this sample list:

Purses, briefcases, camera cases, and diaper bags
Laptop computers (can’t be checked and must be carried on)
Items of a similar or smaller size to those above

Other Carry-on Items Allowed

You may also bring these items onboard. They do not count toward your personal item.

Food items for immediate consumption
Assistive devices such as wheelchairs or crutches
One box or bag of duty free merchandise
A coat, jacket, or umbrella"

Air France permits a personal item in addition to your carry-on, but the two items are sujbect to being weighed together:

"1 piece of baggage (measuring a maxi of 55 cm, 35 cm, 25 cm *) including a garment bag
+ 1 accessory (examples: handbag, laptop computer, camera, etc.)
weighing a total of 12 kg."

And finally we come to AeroMexico:

"One piece of carry-on baggage is permitted on all flights besides briefcases, handbags and laptop computer, provided the external surface area does not exceed 1.15 m (45 inches) and together does not weigh more than 10 kilos (22 lbs)."

Careful reading reveals some issues, mostly having to do with the use of English. "Surface area" is not measured in linear inches (or linear anything else), but we know what they mean. And does the "together" in the last sentence mean that the total carry-on weight, including the personal item, is limited to 22 lbs? I'm thinking that it does.

On the other hand, it's AeroMexico. Do I seriously think they're going to give my bag a second look, much less weigh it?

Therese, yes a guy, an old one. 69 and the bag gets heavy even if only 13 pounds. Perhaps I can do without socks?

Therese, love to read a new thread from your travels! It is great to follow the process of your thinking and planning for a trip.

rogeruktm, I will be interested to find out how much (little?) 13 pounds looks like. It is the personal goal for my bag for my next UK trip, in April.

Hmm, not sure that I'd go entirely without socks, rogeruktm, but you could always look into microfiber types. I often pack for my husband, and am amazed at the space his underwear and socks occupy, as well as the weight (as they're typically cotton, pretty much the heaviest option).

Just count yourself lucky to belong to the half of the population that doesn't wear make-up or spend time doodling around with their hair.

As for what 13 lbs looks like, scotlib, it's actually just about what usually fits into a typical rolling carry-on if you're not including really heavy stuff like books or liquids. So if you use a really light-weight bag (fabric, without wheels), you'll make your limit without too much effort.

And finally, LowCountryIslander, my husband had a similar epiphany the day he walked right past baggage claim at Heathrow. He later described it to me as "euphoric."

Figured I'd get the real scoop on AeroMexico's carry-on policy by going to the Spanish version of the web site. I do not, for the record, speak Spanish, but I do speak French and Italian, and can read Spanish without any significant difficulty.

So, here goes:

"Se aceptará como parte de la franquicia además del portafolio o bolsa de mano o computadora portátil (LAPTOP), UNA (1) PIEZA DE MANO POR PASAJERO cuyas dimensiones lineales no excedan de 1.15 metros (45 pulgadas) y un peso máximo de 10 kg. (22 lb) A fin de ser alojados en los compartimentos superiores o bajo el asiento del pasajero."

Translation:

In addition to a briefcase, purse, or laptop computer, one (1) piece of hand luggage per passenger, total linear dimension not to exceed 1.15 meters (45 inches) and weight not to exceed 10 kg (22 lb). The item must within the overhead compartments or below the passenger seat.

So this version suggests that the personal item's weight does not need to fit within the 10 kg weight.

I'm at long last a convert to carry-on only whenever possible. I finished a 9-week European trip the first of October--it was so liberating to have one bag which could be carried on. I would never have tried it without reading some of the posts on Fodor.

That said, we knew at the outset we would have to check the bags for our intra-Europe Flybe and Ryanair flights which have miniscule overhead compartments. It turned out to be no big issue as we departed and arrived at fairly small airports--our bags were on the single conveyor belt before we arrived in the baggage hall.

Also, my bag could be expanded by 3" which was great for when I wanted to pack my coat or extra books.

I'll be interested in what AeroMexico tells you in LA--worse case they have you check it at the gate I suppose.

I only had to pack for summer/early autumn temps--am not sure I'd be as creative with major climate changes--that's when layering techniques would really come in to play.

About toiletries--while I hope some relief of current restrictions is coming, will you have to comply with the 3oz x 3 items restriction on all flights?

That was hard for me but I ended up carrying three 3-oz bottles of favorite shampoo and DH carried 2 bottles of conditioner and one of moisturizer. We took a chance on toothpaste which no one questioned--I'm still not sure whether or not it's considered a liquid!

Have a great time!

See above for a bit more info about the AeroMexico requirements, cathinjoetown. And look back at the Part 7 thread for my Ryanair flight preparations. I absolutely, positively wasn't going to check my bag, and I didn't. I looked a little puffy, it's true, but I didn't check a bag.

Toothpaste is definitely considered a liquid/gel, but there seems to be less and less scrutiny of items that aren't very threatening. One of my kids packed a half empty regular size tube of toothpaste on our recent trip to Texas, and TSA didn't even blink. In fact, they didn't even make us take our 1 qt ziplock baggies out of our carry-ons, a bit of surprise since we were flying out of a small airport, San Antonio. Atlanta stopped asking to look at your ziploc about 10 minutes after the rules went into effect, but smaller airports still tend to go through the motions.

T.,

It is highly variable--I had a very good pair of tiny nail scissors (1/4" blades) taken away in Bergerac, FR, which had made it through I don't know how many security checks before.

You are a true zealot to comply with Ryanair--I possibly (just) could do it for a short trip. I'll check your previous thread.

Time for a shout-out to fellow Fodorites crckwc1 and Challiman for mentioning the following company:

http://www.scottevest.com/

For Christmas I've asked for the Women's Travel Vest. Challiman got the Women's Essential Jacket and reviewed it for us, and I'm hoping to do the same for the vest.

So as to make sure that I do, in fact, get this item for Christmas (as my trip starts on Jan 1), I've just ordered it from Magellan. Why from Magellan rather than Scottevest? Because Magellan is a merchant at Delta's SkyMiles Shopping partner, so I'll earn 300 miles (plus 100 miles from my Delta-branded AmEx) for the purchase.

Merry Christmas to me.

The tiny nail scissors have to do with them being prohibited in Europe (or at least in France, where I surrendered mine) but not in the U.S.---in the U.S. you can now carry quite substantial blades (up to, I believe, 3" in length, but I should check that). So it's not just airlines but governments whose requirements vary.

Which reminds me to check Japan's equivalent of TSA...

Whew.

Checked Narita's web site:

http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/whats_new/070209.html

Looks like I'm good with the usual set of restrictions re liquids, etc.

Does anybody know if I can download movies to my iPhone?

scotlib,I think you want to know what I pack? Well for my normal 12 day trip, 1 cotton pants, bottom of bag. 13 pair socks, 13 shorts. 2 t-shirts, 2 long sleeve, button down shirts. Lined gloves and skull cap.

Fold up umbrella and plastic poncho.
Side pockets of bag I use for plastic bag of small sized shaving cream, deodorant,comb, tooth paste and tooth brush. Packet of pills. Couple of candy bars and a paper back book.

My gym bag has a shoulder strap which allows me to swing it back onto my back allowing me to walk with it as needed.

I wear the only sweater I take and my camera fits into my jacket pocket.

If I forgot or need anything I head to a "Boots" drug store.

Roger's list looks like a pretty typical low maintenance casual guy wardrobe. As you see later on, my version of packing light is a bit more, um, elaborate. I could travel this light, of course, but I don't, but because then I'd feel a bit deprived.

Thanks for the list, rogeruktm.

My final list will be a bit different, of course, but I will be going pretty low toward rogeruktm's list, Therese, because the 13 pounds mentioned earlier included the weight of the bag.

My flight home is on Virgin Atlantic. The carry on policy allows the (mostly) standard 22x14x9 inches but weight is restricted to 13#.

I knew the restriction when I booked. I wanted to try going that light.

I've bought a Western Flyer from tombihn.com. It's 18x12x7 inches and about 2 lb. Virgin also allows a handbag/purse, though it cannot be seen as being (from the web site) "used as a container for the transportation of articles which could otherwise be regarded as baggage."

Not entirely sure, but I assume that means it cannot be a huge tote though going light I would not want to lug anything huge, lol. I have a few options kicking around the house to consider.

Now, back to looking forward to your planning, Therese! Cheers.

That bag looks great, scotlib. Very similar to the backpack style Victorinox (Victorinox Standard Traveler 3.0 Standard Overnighter) that I got at ebags for my last trip and then decided not to use since I found the shoulder straps too long to use comfortably (but turns out to be perfect for my teenage son). Your bag is presumably better suited to a female frame.

Since Virgin permits a separate personal item you shouldn't have any trouble at all, since your toiletries bag (relatively heavy) can go in your purse, along with your meds, camera and jewelry if you carry any when you travel. The UK's particularly easy, as you'll have no trouble finding brands you recognize if you want to skip dealing with things like shampoo and deodorant on the trip. You could even start using Boots brands now, as Target sells a number of them.

You've also got a huge advantage over rogeruktm when it comes to underwear and socks/stockings: women's are smaller to begin with, and typically made of much lighter weight fabric. A single pair of my husband's socks weighs as much as several pairs of my tights, and a single pair of his (cotton knit) boxers weighs more than two weeks of my panties.

Upthread I posed the following question:

Does anybody know if I can download movies to my iPhone?

The answer appears to be "yes", but I'm doing a trial run at the moment, downloading a rental of "Transsiberian" from iTunes. My first download ever, so I had to set up an iTunes account, etc. It seems to be taking about as long to download as it will take to watch it (and that's via fairly fast connection).

You might well wonder why I'm interested in this particular piece of technology, and that answer lies in my itinerary: a total of 38 hours in the air, all of it in coach, and on various airlines on various sorts of equipment.

I've previously described how you can go about figuring out what to expect in the way of in flight entertainment, but since this is a new thread I'll go through it again.

The first place you'll want to look is the airline's own web site. In my case I'm flying on 4 different airlines, so that's 4 different sites. I'm not really all that interested in what the airlines have to say about their in flight entertainment, as it's typically just vague enough that you can't quite figure out exactly what will be on a particular flight. Options include nothing at all, movies projected on overhead screens, movies projected on personal screens that start at set times, and movies (and often other amusements) that can be ordered "on demand" (AVOD).

What I really want to find out is what sort of plane the airline expects to use on the flight, and what the seat map looks like for that equipment. The latter point becomes important when you realize that airlines often have more than one sort of configuration for a particular model of plane, so just knowing that it's a Boeing 767 won't be enough to really tell you much.

Next stop: seatguru.com

Actually, before we visit seatguru.com I'll tell you about another nifty site that can help: flightstats.com. You can plug in the flight number and date and get all sorts of information about the flight, including the scheduled equipment and the actual equipment.

You needn't even bother going to the site, though: just google the flight number (first two letter and the number) and it will find it for you. If it's a code share it will show those flight numbers as well, and sometimes that's a good way of figuring out which configuration it is, as one airline's seat map may be more detailed than another's.

So, once you're at seatguru.com you navigate to the airline, find the equipment, and compare the various versions (if there's more than one, obviously) to the seatmap info. Seatguru is by no means infallible, but by and large I find it very helpful.

As a result, I anticipate the following in the way of in flight entertainment:

ATL to CDG on a DL 767-300ER, 8 hrs: overhead projection

CDG to NRT on an AF 777-300 (or possibily -200 as per flightstats.com), 12 hrs:
personal TV (looks like it's on demand)

NRT to LAX on a NW 747-400, 10 hrs:
overhead projection

LAX to MEX on a AM 737, 4 hrs:
overhead projection

MEX to ATL on a DL 757, 4 hrs:
AVOD

So the longest leg is on AF (Air France), and that's good, because the flight's so long that I'd be hard-pressed to make my iPhone battery last that long (and the seats in economy don't have power to recharge it).

The next longest is on NW, and I'm either going to want to be able to use my iPhone or have a stand-alone DVD player along to help pass the time.

I'll have layover at LAX during which time I can re-charge my iPhone.

Time to go see how quickly my iPhone runs down when I watch a movie now...

Hi Therese-

As usual, I love to follow your threads on packing light. Have you ever considered creating a blog for all this info?

In looking at the tombinh website I saw a link to this site which you might find interesting:
http://www.1bag1world.com/
It's all about packing light. Lots of reviews of different products there too.

Nice site, Kristina, with lots of good advice, particularly if you want to go "ultra light." I think of myself more as "high maintenance light" in that I don't want to be slightest bit inconvenienced. Maybe I should call "lazy light." As for blogging, this is about as close as it gets.

My test run using my iPhone to watch a movie is finished, and here are the results:

1. Downloading a feature length film ("Transsiberian", which I quite enjoyed and you can check out here: http://www.firstlookmedia.com/films/transsiberian/) from iTunes took at least 30 minutes (sorry, didn't time it) and cost $3.99. Rentals from iTunes remain viewable for 30 days from the date of rental, and automatically delete 24 hours after you start watching. Movies that aren't recent releases are cheaper, at $2.99 per rental. You can also purchase movies, but I never watch a movie (on purpose, anyway) more than once.

2. Transferring the movie to my iPhone via "sync" took a couple of minutes. In order to download a movie to my iPhone directly I'd have to be on wifi rather than 3G, and I don't know how long that would take (and would obviously depend on the wifi signal).

3. The picture quality was excellent (apart from the small size, of course), and you can adjust the volume and reverse and fast forward just as you would with a DVD.

4. I used my Bose headphones to listen, but any decent quality ones should work. I'm looking into getting some small lightweight in-ear headphones to replace my Bose on-ear noise-cancelling ones. Or I should say that my husband is looking into it, as he's apparently getting me a pair for Christmas. Or possibly for my birthday, which is also coming up very soon. Not only are these smaller, but they don't require they're own power, so no battery or charger to think about.

5. My battery didn't even seem to notice that I'd watched a nearly two hour (111 minutes, to be exact) movie.

6. The iPhone hard drive is large, but not so large that I could store a huge number of movies on it. I also plan on putting music on it, so we'll see how much space I'll have left. I'm thinking maybe six movies.

One of the most frequent questions I get is "what about your laptop?" Well, in spite of the fact that much of my travel is work-related, and my work is very tech-intense, I don't need one, and in fact don't even own one. Instead I have the files that I need (typically PowerPoint presentations) on a flash drive and just internet cafes to stay in touch with work and family as needed. None of my travel (so far) is to areas that are so remote that anybody would be anxious about my staying in constant touch, so I don't usually even both with a cell phone.

But now that I've got the iPhone, I'll be able to skip even the internet cafe, as I can use the wifi option to check email anywhere. Do note that you want to turn off the roaming, as the iPhone will normally be "on" all the time, with potential for ridiculously large bills from overseas phone services.

I haven't yet decided whether to bother to activate international roaming for phone calls on my iPhone. Three different countries to consider, possibly three different types of networks, etc. Any experience with this?

Hmm, wonder if I could use skype?

i wish i were a 'carry-on'person
i wish i were a wash and wear kinda person

alas
i dont even carryon when the stewardess manages to spill the entire drink tray in my lap

i remain quite composed

but hey
theres hope for me
maybe one day when im older and greyer
i will simply wear all of my clothes in layers and strip off as the weather gets warmer
( gotta make sure i book the ticket in the right direction though)

i will follow this thread with interest!

As a photographer carry on only is impossible for me. My camera and lenses are my carry on.

Depending on the definition of "carry on" in play, there some that I'm happy to be, and some that I'm glad that I'm not, lanejohann.

For instance, when told that my carry on luggage won't fit in the overhead bin, I don't carry on as if the world were coming to an end, but simply carry on, serene in the knowledge that I tried my very best.

Hetismij's issue with photographic equipment is one of the more common ones when it comes to packing carry-on only, but I'm guessing it doesn't prevent her (somewhere along the line I formed the opinion that you're female, so please excuse if that's incorrect) from packing efficiently. Seems like it would be all the more important to keep the rest of your personal things pretty streamlined if you've also got a bag of heavy, fragile things to pull around.

Out curiosity, hetismij, what is the aggregate weight and volume of your photo equipment?

Oh I am glad you are posting this. I love these threads

Hetismij

DH is a photographer and refuses to travel without a large bag of heavy equipment. It irks me, but hey, what can I say? It pays the bills.

But we still do carry on only. He has to take a smaller piece of luggage, and crams it quite full. I don't know how he does it, but he does. I've seen undies and socks in the camera bag.

We used to check out bags on the journey home, until last May, when long waits for luggage, as well as immigration and customs, in Dulles, where every international flight arrived at exactly the same time, made us, and most other folks, miss their connecting flights.

United wasn't accomodating anyone on flights until the next day, and our bags were somewhere in the airport. We rented a car to drive home (at least 4 hours) and had to beg for someone to find our luggage. I cried a lot, which may or may not have helped. We finally got our bags, but it was three or four hours of horrible tension in the airport.

DH is a bear over travel glitches and the entire thing was just disgusting.

So when we leave Paris in February, I am mailing home everything heavy and dirty. If we get stuck someplace, I'll have what I need with me.

It's looking like a very Merry Christmas indeed. My scottevest just arrived and it's just exactly as it's pictured on the website:

http://www.scottevest.com/

The manufacturer describes it as close-fitting, and it is. I went with the small, but would have been comfortable in the medium as well (without sacrificing too much in the way of streamlined-ness), and if I wanted to put bulky items in it I'd definitely go with the larger size. If you tend towards the busty, or have a tummy, definitely go with the larger size, as it's fitted through the waist, with side vents to flare a little over the hips. The princess seams really are quite slimming, and the mandarin collar does not stand up too high, and is lined in soft material (so no problem with itchiness).

tuscanlifeedit: sounds like you've experienced exactly the sort of checked luggage fiasco that leads so many of us to look closely at what we really need to cart along with us when we travel.

At this point I'm quite sure that I could manage with a much lighter load than I presently do, but for now don't bother to go quite that light. Unless, of course, we count that time that I traveled to Toronto on business with nothing but the clothes on my back, toiletries, and an empty carry-on.

Well, and my pillow. That's the one thing I'd have trouble giving up. Hmm, I betting that I could compress it very, very flat (it's latex foam) in a sealed plastic bag and fit it in the back compartment of my scottevest. Storage and lumbar support in one.

Therese-
I just had this vision of you in your scottvest with the pillow compressed in a zip lock in the back. Then suddenly, the bag fails, the pillow puffs up, and you look like the hunchback of Notre Dame and are unable to lean back in your seat on the plane.
I say this with absolutely no malice, but I am chuckling like a crazy woman here at my computer.

"Hump? What hump?"

(for the youngsters out there, this is a reference from the movie "Young Frankenstein")

It's actually the non-seated version of this scenario that cracks me up, as the pillow is so compressible that I wouldn't have much trouble squishing it flat by sitting back on it.

It's the possible deployment while standing at check-in that strikes me as funny.

Wonder if deployment would cause a noise likethose which should not be done in public. Worse than a hump!

The noise would be one of air be gently sucked in, not rapidly expelled, so I think I'd be spared at least that indignity.

I pack efficiently, but check the bag. There is no way I could do carry on only. I am not prepared to risk my camera bag being too big/heavy and having to check it.
Depending on where I am going I usually have a rucksack that meets most carry-on standards (I always check before travelling) and carry one DSLR body and at least three lenses, plus a flash. It works out at about 10-12 kg, depending on the lenses, normally. I am considering giving up on quality in favour of practicality and buying an 18-250 lens for holidays, which will reduce the load considerably.
Another reason for checking a bag is to take my tripod - they are not allowed as carry on.
Your Scottevest looks great! I always have visions of those awful beige saggy vests with pockets everywhere, that men of a certain age seem to mysteriously grow, when I think of a travel vest. I could be converted to the Scottevest though. If only it would take a DSLR and a couple of lenses

I try and do any transfers within Europe if possible, allowing plenty of connection time which makes life easier on arrival, certainly when flying to the US.

Wow, 10-12 kg of equipment. You are a dedicated photographer, hetismij, but then many photographers seem to be. I'm just too lazy to deal with that much stuff, at least on holiday, but then you do end up with really great pictures. My 15-year-old daughter's recently been bitten by the bug (unfortunately for my pocketbook).

If you were to drop down to just one lens you could certainly manage. The back compartment of the scottevest is actually pretty large, and would accomodate (temporarily) some pretty bulky sorts of things. You'd want to wear something sort of flow-y over it (hmm, one of my large paisley scarves would come in very handy here) to make the, um, hump less obvious, and of course be careful not to sit back on it.

I could actually manage with the vest alone for a couple of days, packing a couple pairs of underwear, socks, and shirts in a compression bag and sliding it into that back compartment.

A bit upthread I mused a bit on the possibility of using skype (or something similar) while traveling to avoid roaming charges for phone calls. I've done some outside scouting on that question, and will be posting (I hope) some more once I get some answers.

In the interim I'll mention that I've apparently got really good shopping karma at the moment, as I've come across another brand of boots that I really like, ara. Here's the web site for the company:

http://www.ara-shoes.de/en/main.html

They actually make more models than are featured on the site. They specialize in waterproof boots made with Goretex. I have just purchased three (oh dear, I'm going to burn in hell, aren't I?) pairs: short brown ones with a pointy toe, short black ones with a slightly squared toe, and tall black ones with a pointy toe. Nice and warm, and a nice sturdy, not-too-high heel for walking. My orthotics fit nicely into them.

Now all I have to do is figure out which ones I'm going to take with me...

I did my first, solo, 3-week trip throughout S.E. Asia back in Dec 1998/Jan 1999 and did it with one carry-on suitcas, a purse, and a small bookbag. I didn't check anything in which was great. BUT, that was before all of the "liquid" and "other" restrictions.

I always travel with my liquid, Planet laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, peanut butter, and Swiss Army knife which I use a lot. I have had my peanut butter taken away from me at LAX by TSA. However, I have found a way around that one now. So, with the restrictions, it makes not checking baggage more difficult. Happy Travels!

I haven't found that the liquids volume restrictions have made any significant difference in the way I pack. If you were traveling light before they went into effect you were already meeting most of the criteria, and probably just had to re-work things a bit.

You mention both shampo and conditioners, Guenmai, and although I'd mostly given up using liquid shampoo when I travel, I was still using liquid conditioner on occasion. Those days are now, I believe, behind me, as I've found a product called hypbrid solid shampoo from Lush that meets all my needs, as follows:

1. It does not reek to high heaven. It's described as lemon and fennel, and when wet does smell slightly (and pleasantly) of both, but does not otherwise smell and does not leave any noticeable scent in my hair.

2. It shampoos and conditions, and unlike most liquid versions of hybrid products does not leave my hair limp and greasy, but bouncy and shiny.

3. Like other Lush shampoos, it lasts a long time and packs just like a bar of soap. Be sure to let it airdry (or help it along with your hair dryer) as soon as you're finished using it---if you let it sit in water it will get soft. If asked about it at security I'd call it soap---if you call it shampoo somebody might get confused.

http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/hair/solid-shampoos/hybrid

I use what ever is in the shower. Works for me

Go ahead, rogeruktm, gloat away. And be happy that the thought of plunking down $200+ on having your hair done simply never, ever crosses your mind.

You don't even bother to use a hair dryer, do you? My husband certainly doesn't, and I resent him for it just a teeny tiny bit every morning. I think I'd feel less strongly about it if he weren't the one who prefers my hair on the long-ish side.

You liked the Lush shampoo, Therese? I tried one last year and even though I have short hair, it did not please me at all.

Maybe I will give it one more try, and pick what you have. I don't remember the name of the one I chose, just that it was green, lol.

I had hair down to the middle of my back in high school. Started trimming it more every year after graduation. Now it varies I go in some walk-in place, ask for it "short" and then go for another cut 2-4 months later, all depends on how "short" the "short" turned out

I really go nuts if it gets down by my shoulders .. just too heavy. Never realized the weight when it was long, but I cannot stand it anymore.

Looking forward to more planning. Cheers.

Therese, guess you didn't read my trip report...in any event I was in Bridlington last winter and stopped at a barber shop. Turns out I was in a Polish area and he charged me the senior rate of 2 1/2 pounds. Good haircut. Would you like directions?

I'm guessing your haircut didn't involve two hours worth of sitting around with chemicals and pieces of aluminum foil stuck to your head, did it, rogeruktm?

The hybrid shampoo/conditioner Lush product that I'm using right now is gray, scotlib. I also like the white one called Shine, but didn't like the orange/yellow one called Godiva, largely because the smell was too strong.

There are two green versions, neither of which I've tried. In any case shampoo preferences are so individual that there really is no way to predict what will please. Short hair is particularly great for travel, and I've had my hair very, very short in the past, but my husband really dislikes it.

Back to tech issues for a while.

No laptop, in case you're joining this thread late, but I will have my iPhone with me. While traveling in the U.S. I've found my iPhone to be extremely helpful in the following ways:

1. Phone calls, obviously

2. Weather forecasts: the iPhone comes with a nice little application that updates every time you open it, showing the present conditions as well as a six day forecast. It is, as I type this, 51F and partly cloudy in Tokyo (at night) and 68F and partly cloudy (daytime) in Mexico City.

3. Clock: nice alarm clock feature, and you can also call up the times for locations around the world and look at them simultaneously. So no waking up my family when I think I'm six hours behind them and I'm really six hours in front of them.

4. Google maps and navigational system: I used my iPhone as a navigational system on a recent trip to Texas. Much better than my car's navi, actually, as the map's more detailed and it doesn't lock up while the car's in motion (don't worry, my husband was doing the driving).

5. Internet: Not only was I able to check my email and look up addresses and phone numbers and opening times and so forth, but I actually did things like check flight status and book a room via Priceline. Yep, an actual Priceline bid when the hotel we'd booked turned out to not quite what I'd hoped---I got two rooms in a 4 star for the remainder of our stay, and then went down and checked out of the first hotel.

All of these functions were carried out via AT&T's 3G network, but of course I won't be using that internationally, as data roaming is expensive, and even phone calls are expensive (and only slightly less so if you activate international roaming, for a price of course).

The answer is wifi, and here's my plan:

1. Use TruPhone (voip, like skype) via wifi instead of conventional phone service via 3G.

2. Convert ethernet signal in the apartment in Tokyo to wifi with an AirPort Express for access there.

3. Subscribe to Boingo Mobile for worldwide hotspot access. First month is free, $7.95 per month thereafter.

We'll see how it goes.

I'm also planning on viewing movies (downloaded from iTunes) on the transpacific journey, and have downloaded a couple of Japanese language applications:

1. a very simple Cool Gorilla English to Japanese dictionary that includes correct pronunciation (via the speaker)

2. a very elaborate tool called Kobota! that's got some very cool search functions

Neither of these apps requires internet access to work, so that's nice. Hmm, wonder how much space they take up on my hard drive.

hi Therese, from your other posts, i noticed you wear knee high boots on the plane. I was thinking of doing the same so that i can save room and weight in my luggage, but im a bit wary because i tend to get bloated after a long overseas flight. im afraid i wont be able to put my boots on! i got my boots from florence; they are sort of a modern twist to cowboy boots and so they dont have zippers. and sometimes my feet (the left one more specifically) dont slip right in. hmmmmmm.....

I agree, SUMMAGOLD, those boots sound like they might be a problem on a long flight. Most of my tall boots have zippers, as my calves are on the chubby side and many pull-on styles don't work for me.

You can, of course, keep your boots on during the flight---you're feet can't swell beyond their confines. But I like to get comfy and take mine off, and you probably do as well.

Oooh, that reminds me: two pairs of ara boots from Zappos will be waiting for me when I get home!

"Oooh, that reminds me: two pairs of ara boots from Zappos will be waiting for me when I get home!"


Therese, you should consider opening a new thread : "how to save room in my bedroom closet"

My tip : I use alum stone, an excellent and natural deodorant and an astringent. A 1" dice goes a long way and fits into a pocket or a handbag.

Alum stone instead of conventional deodorant/antiperspirant, pvoyageuse? In the south we say that women don't perspire, they glow, and I really glow quite a bit.

As for my bedroom closet, it's large. Plus I've got a teenage daughter who does a pretty good job of keeping it cleaned out for me. I'm constantly trying to figure out where such and such item has disappeared to, and finally check her closet and, voila, there it is.

Just heard back from Customer Support and Boingo, and they assure me that the details of my plan should work just fine.

I also use my carry-on allotment for my camera gear. I always check my clothes (and my tripod). I keep my checked bag as lightweight and unstuffed as possible. I put a smaller empty collapsible carry on inside also to use for purchases.

If I can only carry on the one bag, I put my clothes in the collapsible carry on and my non-valuable, non-breakable purchases in the regular checked bag. Anything valuable (usually small items) go in my photog vest (yep, the horrible looking one with all the pockets) and I wear it onboard.

So far this has worked well.

Yes, I'm also a carry on type of gal. 61 posts and no list, or did I miss it? Anyway, here's mine and my tips.
I use a 21 inch carryon, that I either put a foldable plaid plastic zipped bag in the bottom, that costs about $1.50 or if we're spending time in a condo with kitchen I check thru an extra (small) duffel filled with cereal, coffee, crackers, etc.. that we either use or leave and fill the duffel with dirty laundry that we check on our return.
I take a jansport regular backpack that holds, my small purse, docs, meds, makeup, blankie & neck rest, foldable cane, rain poncho, entertainment (books, cards, ipod, journal, camera)xtra glasses and sunglasses, alrarm clock, charger and cup and immersion heater and black slippers with removable insoles.
My carryon has enough bras & panties to either last the whole trip or half if I know I can find laundry services easily. I'm not into handwashing. I stuff them into ziplocs and remove the air and it really compresses the size.
I always have 1 pair of nice black slacks, 1 pair of jeans, and a black skirt or dress, that can be worn day or night depending on what I wear with them. Tops are always a black, white and brown cardigan with 2 or 3 white Tees, multicolored shells that go with everything and 2 or 3 shawls. Basically I take 5 to 7 sleeveless tops that I can wear more then once or send out half way thru the trip for washing. The sweaters I just rewear until I get home and then send them to the drycleaners. I usually wear black exercise pants and hooded top on the plane and wear that home again with a clean Tee shirt. My secret tip is no nightgowns or robes. I usually buy a XL cheap Tee wherever we are and that's my nightie for the trip. I pack 1 pair of sandals and the pair I wear on the plane are the other pair! In case of emergency I use the slippers with an insole. If we land at our destination early a.m and can't check into our room until afternoon, I stop in the airport bathroom, brush my teeth, wash my face, take a kind of sink bath, change tops, apply deodorant and change panty liners. It ain't perfect, but I don't feel as grody and I can move around without feeling like such a schlump!

to zwho...how do you get all those clothes into a 21" carry-on? I must not know how to pack because I can't do it. Do you roll everything up or what???

TAW - I didn't think I could pack that much in a 21" either. But then I tried it and realized that if you pack the bag FULL, it works. I always thought I needed air space in the bag, but I don't. I can pack the bag full and it all fits fine and actually doesn't wrinkle as much because things don't shift.

No clothing list yet on this thread yet, zwho, but if you'd care to look at old threads you'll see lists there. If you scroll through posts you'l be able to pick out the lists easily, as they're numbered. I also organize the lists into types of items, separately wet toiletries, dry toiletries, underwear, shoes, etc. as it's easier to sort through things that way.

Very busy weekend (traveling, of course), so I'll get back to this thread later today.

Hi TAW, It's not so many clothes. We're talking 3 cotton cardigans, 6 or 7 lightweight sleeveless Tees or shells, a jersey dress or skirt, 2 pairs of pants, not counting what I wear on the plane. Undies, bras, a couple of pair of socks and sandals. I promise it all fits. I also have my backpack thats stuffed full, and I have been known to take a jacket and just wear it on. But you really can travel indefinitely with this amount as long as you can find laundry services weekly. I've used this basic plan for cruises and just add a bathing suit and wear a hat on the plane. The key is scarves and mix and match!

Finally back on the forum after being away over the weekend. This was a weekend getaway to New York with my 15-year-old daughter. I packed one carry-on (19" in maximum dimension) for the two of us. I won't go into the details of what we packed, but believe me it was way, way more than we needed.

As usual I packed my pillow, and yesterday morning as I was finishing primping in the hotel bathroom (since I had to go directly to work from the airport, dropping my daughter off at school en route) I was issuing last minute orders to my daughter: pack your iPhone, brush your teeth, put on your shoes, etc. One of my commands was "Put my pillow in the suitcase and zip it shut."

So my daughter looks at the suitcase, which appears to already a bit overpacked, with clothes bulging from the opening, and replies, "Um, Mom? There's no way this pillow is going to fit in this suitcase."

To which I answered "Hah!" And then I showed her how to do it, stuffing the corners in and thin zipping it shut while I smashed down on the suitcase. No problem.

Textiles are very, very compressible, and toedtoes' point about tightly packed garments being less prone to wrinkle is an excellent one. I do the least folding possible, and place dry cleaner garment bags between items that are particularly prone to wrinkle as well.

Therese, can you write a bit about your pillow? The kind, why you always take it, and where could one be bought?

Many thanks.

Ah, my pillow.

My pillow (well, pillows, as I use three of them at home, and my husband and children each use two) is natural latex foam. I can't remember the first time I used one of these pillows, as I was presumably still a toddler. I had very bad asthma as a child, so bad that my very first memories are of being in the hospital, under an oxygen tent. In an effort to keep my asthma under control my mother was instructed to keep the household as dust-free as possible, and one of the very specific recommendations was that I use a natural latex pillow. Apparently natural latex pillows don't tend to harbor dust mites to the degree that other types of pillows do.

As it turns out, though, latex pillows have some other advantages. They offer great support while still feeling very soft, and they retain these qualities for a long time (I replace our pillows perhaps once every five years, possibly even less frequently). They're routinely recommended for people with neck and back problems. They also feel cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Unlike memory foam or tempurpedic-type products they don't retain an imprint, but spring back in shape immediately, and they aren't stiff the way eggcrate foam tends to be.

So I am now pretty much addicted to this type of pillow, and although I can certainly sleep with other types I typically end up with a stiff neck (and not infrequently a very stuffy nose from an alleric reaction, though my asthma is now quite mild). My husband had never used one until he met me, and now prefers this type, and my kids will come steal one of mine if they can't find theirs.

I mentioned above that I use three of them when at home, but I don't use all three of them under my head. One is for my head, one is for between my knees (women who've been pregnant will recognize this trick for preventing lower back pain), and one is an extra for reclining when I read in bed. When traveling I just use one, of course. I sleep more soundly, and that's especially helpful when I'm traveling for work, as I wake better rested and prepared for the day ahead.

As for where to find them, I've seen them at stores that specialize in bed linens, and also at stores like Sears. I've never seen them at either Target or Macy's (and I've looked). If you google "natural latex pillow" you'll get lots of hits. Overstock.com has them at the moment for about $30; full price they tend to run about $50 per pillow (or quite a bit more if you buy it from a very fancy place that yatters on and on how about how "natural" they are).

They are very, very compressible. You can either squish the air out (as I did above, while my daughter look on incredulously) or suck all the air out with a vacuum (after placing in a airtight bag, obviously).

So that's the story of my pillow, and a good example of how a person can be high maintenance and still pack light.

I really need to start thinking about what I'm going to take on this trip, and I'm having a bit of "packers block". I leave in a couple of weeks, and have to pack for all three destinations: Tokyo and Paris and Mexico City/Puebla. Tokyo and Paris wardrobes are very similar: winter city wear. But not only will Mexico be warmer (daytime temps look to be in the 60s and 70s, nighttime chilly) but I'll be there with my husband, and so going out a lot in the evening. This calls for some serious flexibility.

Oh, and I'll need a bathing suit. All of my destinations are cities, though, so why would I need a bathing suit?

When confronted with packer's block it helps to go back to basic principles:

1. Pick a base color and stick to it.

2. Layer.

3. Make sure that everything goes with everything else. If an item can't be used in more than one way, leave it behind.

ttt

Bathing Suit?
Well, the easy answer would be hotel pools. But in Japan are you staying in an inn with a traditional Japanese spa?

Yep, an onsen. I'm not staying at a ryokan (traditional inn), but onsens are to be found in other settings in Japan. I'm visiting one in Hakone (a day trip from Tokyo) with an ex-pat friend.

So far as I know there's no pool at my hotel in Paris (and if there were I don't see myself using it in January), but I may be doing something similar to an onsen in Paris: a hammam. Last time I visited one that wasn't associated with a mosque, but this time I'm considered going to the mosque. The restaurant's supposed to be great as well.

Finally, my hotel in Puebla does have a pool, and it's located on the rooftop, adjacent to the bar. So some night swimming might be cool. Mexico also has hot springs, so I may be able to convince my husband to visit one with me. Better make sure he packs his suit.

Peace of cake! We are going on 3 years into an open ended world tour as a family, so have become pros at traveling light.

In late Oct til just a day before Thanksgiving, we flew coach:

euro air Malaga to Madrid
Delta Madrid to NYC

Then after a week

Virgin NYC to SFO

Then a small airline to Utah, another small airline to Denver from Sj and back to SJ via United ( I think) after a week

Virgin SFO to NYC

Then NYC to Paris via Air France

euro air Paris to Malaga

We had 3 small day packs, one for each of us ( my daughters on wheels although it also has straps so can be carried too).

We had 3 seasons of clothes, things for night, day, professional meetings, homeschool supplies,books, swim suits & computer. It was our first time back to the States in over 2 years.

Our only problem was coming back because we bought so much and relatives gave us so many gifts..we had to buy another bag. We bought it on the way to the airport and still did it all as carry on.

We also carry my daughters violin because we do videos of her where ever we go. ( Got a great one at Rock center!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9rDTZj-m4

It is a lot easier traveling lighter and getting on and off was more challenging with our small pack AND the new carryon.

Because even my young daughter has it down to a science, it was all fairly effortless for us. We wear a lot of black, exofficio type clothes.

It took me about 5 or 10 minutes to pack & we were real pleased with exactly what we had.I never looked up the carry on restrictions, but knew the basics even though we rarely take flights on our world tour ( we prefer slow travel & land or sea).

If there is anything I can add that might help ( as it seems you will have some similar concerns ie weather and airlines), let me know!

http://www.soultravelers3.com

Wow, that's quite a trip, WTnow. Your daughter's getting an early introduction to the world, and from the violin video appears to have collected a pretty extensive wardrobe as well. Do you buy her ensembles at your destinations? Very cute.

Thanks! My daughter does have the most clothes by far ( grin) & yes we do buy some as we go. Luckily, they are small and do not take up much space. Hubs has the least amount of clothes.

When she outgrows them we give them to a friend in Spain who uses what fits for her daughters and passes it on to poor kids in Argentina.

It is probably not as much as it appears in the video as it was taken over an 18 month time frame. She actually wears a lot of layered black as we all do on a daily basis, but we try to have something more colorful for the video days.

Kidlet also has the most books. We primarily travel by small RV or stay in long stay rentals, so we can carry more books & things. We do often go off on jaunts from the RV or rental base for a month or more ( using various transportation & lodging choices)& that is when we have gotten the practice on quick, efficient packing.

Otherwise we have a teeny, tiny drawer each for clothes. We actually find ourselves thriving on this free and most simplified life.

Happy travels!!

Toedtoes has just started a very timely thread on the Travel Tips forum about choosing colors for a travel wardrobe, so here's a link:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1874&tid=35172789

I say timely because I had finally decided which direction to take my color palette for this trip and was getting ready to post it.

And so here it is: purple.

Purple? Seriously? Yes, seriously.

Okay, so I'm not really talking about my true base color, by which I mean my shoes and handbag and so forth. Those are black, and so is my coat, my scottevest, and a whole lot of other stuff that I happen to own. But my accent color this time around is going to be purple.

So in fact it's black + purple.

I'm still trying to decide what I'm going to bring, of course. You might think that my choice of my purple as my accent color would be limiting: just throw some black bottoms and every purple top I own into the suitcase and head on down the road, right? As it turns out, though, I've got quite enough purple in my wardrobe to overpack. Plus I've got to make sure that everything goes with everything else, and that all of my planned activities are covered.

So far planned activities include:

1. museums, concerts, restaurants in Paris: very easy, just the usual nice casual/dressy sort of stuff that I usually wear

2. same activities as above + onsen in Tokyo: again very easy, with the addition of a bathing suit

3. same activities as above + my husband in Mexico: not so easy, as my husband will want to do some hiking sorts of things, and I'll want to go out dancing, so now we're potentially looking at some difficult decisions to make, especially shoe-wise.

So before I choose my clothing items, I'm going to have to make some decisions about footwear.

Next stop, shoes.

Christmas finally finished, and my husband and family sent off for their winter holiday (skiing) while I stay and keep the home fires burning. Christmas (and birthday, as I was nearly a Christmas baby)gifts included a couple of cool tech items that I'll mention:

1. Scottevest, described upthread, which I'd already gotten but since it was technically a Christmas gift went ahead and put it under the tree. The vest is specifically designed so that you can "wire" yourself, running the cords for your headphones from various pockets (where you've stored your iPhone or iPod or whatever) up through the garment to the neck. So the cord stays out of your way, and you can basically wear the whole get-up while you get up to use the WC on the plane.

Interestingly, both my husband and my children (who'd heard about the item, but not actually seen it) all commented that it was "actually pretty attractive." High praise indeed from this crowd.

2. Shure SE210 isolating ear phones.

I've been using Bose on-ear noise cancelling head phones for several years and love them. I use them on planes, where they get rid of the sound of the plane (which is a great deal louder than you realize until you get rid of it) and vastly improve the quality of the sound coming out of the in-flight entertainment. I also use them when my husband wants to watch football on TV in our bedroom and I want to listen to music and read while sitting next to him. They do have a couple of drawbacks, though: they're not all that easy to sleep in, and they don't block out conversations and crying children. In fact, conversations and crying children are appreciated with even more clarity if you aren't listening to music or a movie. Finally, they require power, so you can't use them during take off and landing, and you have to keep them charged (so have to drag along a charger as well as an adapter in some instances). Oh, and they're fairly bulky, so not ideal for packing light.

So, enter the Shure SE210: http://store.shure.com/store/shure/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/productID.105181400

These aren't ear buds that rest outside your ear, but instead actual plugs that fit inside the canal, just like the earplugs that you use to sleep. Lots of different adapters to find the proper fit, and I'm still working on finding it, but so far am very happy with their performance. Plus they're small and lightweight, and don't require a charger. I did take my airplane adapter plug and in-line attenuator from my Bose headphones to improve their versatility.

3. Airport Express: http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

This item is what I'll be using to convert the free ethernet access in the apartment in Tokyo to wifi so that I can use my iPhone there (instead of lugging along a laptop). Looking around on the web suggests that this may not actually work in the absence of an actual computer to set up the wifi network, but I tried it at home and it worked just fine. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I've also subscribed to Boingo, supposedly giving me much broader access to wifi in Tokyo and elsewhere. We'll see.

Hmmm, I still haven't gotten around to my shoes, have I?

Sorry for this long hiatus---very busy at work, and now my internet connection at home has gone out, and the phone company is taking its sweet time about fixing it.

As time is growing short I'll just post lists.

First, shoes:

1. Black leather boots, low heel, (nearly) knee high, tapered toe that's a bit squared off.

2. Black gore-tex boots, mid heel, (nearly) knee high, tapered toe (not as squared off as the first pair).

3. White keds-style canvas tennis shoes (which I'll only be using in Mexico, for some light hiking).

I'll be wearing the leather boots on the plane.

this is a lot of good advice, but some people may assume from your post that Bose headphones require a charger. I don't know what kind you had, but I have the Bose II that surround the ear and they don't require any charger. They run on a single small battery (AAA as I recall), and since I just use them on the plane, it doesn't even use up one on a roundtrip.

I know you've traveled enough to know how your shoes will work, but your list also sounds like it wouldn't be very good for many people. HIking, even light hiking, in flimsy canvas sneakers is not a good idea, for example. And lots of people couldn't stand to wear boots up the calf, certainly not on a plane trip. I couldn't, it would drive me nuts.

I've only used the on-ear version of Bose headphones, and the charge lasts a very long time. The charger isn't prohibitively large, but it does account for space and weight, and of course the headphones themselves are bulky (compared to ear buds or in-ear style earphones).

Until I got the Bose version I was using a cheap-o pair (a gift from work) that took a single battery and worked quite well. I never had a fresh battery go bad on me during a flight, but I did have to remember to install a fresh battery (of the correct size---AA? AAA?)before I took off, as it not infrequently would go dead in between trips. This happened to my husband recently when he was using them. So the nice thing about the Bose rechargeable battery is that I know exactly how charged it is, as I charged it myself.

Both require electricty to function, however, and in my experience this meant that they didn't work at all during landing and take-off. So I either had to miss the last 6 minutes of "Mamma Mia" or break the rules about turning off my headphones. Fortunately I didn't really care too much about the ending to "Mamma Mia."

You also make an excellent point about the shoes, Christina. The not-too-sturdy (but sturdier than they sound, actually) tennis shoes are on purpose, as they dictate the level of hiking that we'll be doing and mean that my husband can't drag me off to scale rocky volcanic slopes. There is a method to my madness.

High boots certainly won't work for everybody, and in my experience there really aren't any shoes that work for everybody. The boots are very versatile in terms of winter wardrobes, though, and since I have to wear an orthotic for anything more strenuous than remaining seated during dinner or a theater performance, I'm pretty limited in my options. Even traditional lace-up style orthopedic shoes are uncomfortable for me due to a weird bony prominence on the medial aspect of my ankle.

Generally speaking, though, warm (for winter), waterproof (for rainy), sturdy, supportive, and broken in are what we all want in our travel footwear, and these fit the bill in this instance.

Since shoes are actually a sort of outerwear (especially in Japan), let's complete the list of outerwear items:

1. Coat. I live in Atlanta, so don't need a true winter coat. Instead I use an all-weather style of coat and rely on extra layers for the few really cold days that we typically get in January and February. The coat itself is black water repellant microfiber that reaches to mid-thigh and zips shut. There's a separate shorter closure that also zips shut that I can use to keep the coat closed but give me room to sit (as the coat is quite fitted, with princess seams running the length). It's got a hood, and a nice soft furry liner that buttons in and out. The pockets are very large, accessed by vertical zippers on the princess seams in front, so I can fit lots and lots of stuff in them if need be (and thereby forego using a purse entirely if I'd like).

2. Scottevest. Lots of discussion of this upthread, so I won't describe it in any more detail. I've now got ot "wired" with my headphones running from one pocket (where my iPhone will live) and my in-flight necessities in another: eye shade, inflatable neck pillow, sleep med and usual AM meds to take with breakfast before landing in Paris. Now to figure out what to do with the other 30 pockets...

3. Gloves. Purple fleece from Lands End.

4. Scarf. I don't have one in purple (yet...), at least not a large pashmina-style one. So I'm taking an apple green one with small gold flowers in the weave.

5. Earmuffs. My ears get cold very easily, but I hate wearing hats as they make my head sweat (and of course they ruin your hair). I use a style called 180s that wrap around the back of your head (underneath my hair) rather than over the top. If it were to get bitter cold I'd wrap more of the scarf around my head and put my hood up.

6. Umbrella. Haven't decided for sure whether to bring it. It's black with multicolor polka dots, and is very small. Maybe.

Packed my suitcase last night, as the next 1.5 days are a bit hectic, and I was shocked, I tell you, positively shocked, to see how much fit into my 19" rolling bag.

I think I may need to look for a smaller bag so as to limit the amount of stuff I can drag along with me.

It may take some coaxing to get me to reveal just how many items of clothing I've decided to bring on this trip. Shocking, really.

Argggh, just finished listing everything and it disappeared into the ether instead of posting.

So, long story short:

Three pairs of trousers

Four dresses (including the one I'm wearing on the plane)

Two cardigans (including the one I'm wearing on the plane)

One turtleneck sweater

Eight (or possibly more) non-sweater tops

It all fits on top of a bottom layer of footwear, underwear and socks/stocking (stuffed into footwear), "dry" toiletries, electical gear, bathing suit, nightgown, etc. Each item is separated from the one below it by a sheet of drycleaning plastic, with another sheet of plastic at any folds.

It zips easily without my pillow on top (but would still zip with it), and since I've decided to take a day pack for my personal item I'm going to put the pillow in there so as to keep it from being empty and have the pillow available for the flight. The packed bag weighs 10.5 kgs. I'll can easily move some heavy items into my personal item if I need to make a 10 kg cut off, or even onto my body (pockets of coat and sccttevest) if I need to Air France's combined personal item + carry-on limit of 12 kg.

I still don't know how you all pack so much in a carry on! I did a 'dry run' with DH's stuff and this is what I was able to get in the carry on:
2 pr shorts
1 pr long pants - light weight
6 shirts
6 pr underwear & socks
bathing suit
sandals
toiletry kit

total weight 20 lbs and case is full!


I haven't tried my stuff yet

Yours will be much easier, TAW. Unless of course you dress like a man, which I'm guessing you don't. Your husband's socks and underwear are almost certainly heavier and bulkier than yours, and his clothes are probably larger overall as well. The total weight of 9 kg is good (especially if you're dealing with a bag that's not ultra-light, as they can easily weight 8 lbs/3.6 kg all on their own).

Some tips:

1. Use every last bit of space (unless you're worried about going over a certain low weight). There is a lot of space in between small items and inside other items (like shoes, though your husband's sandals might not work).

2. Once your bottom layer of stuff is finished, start stacking your clothes. Cut dry cleaning bags into sheets (I get either 8 or 16 sheets out of a single dry cleaning bag) and lay one over your shoes, etc. Don't do any folding ahead of time: just lay the item in the suitcase in such a way that you only need to fold it once (for a shirt or trousers) or twice (for a dress, or trousers if you're very tall). Place another piece of plastic anywhere you've made a fold.

Once you're ready to put the next item in, put another piece of plastic over your first item and repeat. Remember to tuck the corners of the items down into the corners of your bag: this will keep them better anchored so that they don't slip around, and maximize the remaining space.

Keep going until you've run out of space. Note that you might run out of clothes before you run out of space using this technique, so resist the urge to pack more stuff, and also resist the urge to use outside pockets if your suitcase came with them. There are inevitably some last minute thing you need to slip into those outside pockets, and that's alot easier if you haven't already stuffed them with panties.

Note that these packing tips are simply guidelines, not any sort of rule, so don't worry if you do it another way. Lots of people use the rolling technique---I've never tried it, as I'm already happy with this method.

I learned this method from my father, by the way. He worked as an engineering consultant (a "time and motion" expert), and traveled every week. He'd come home on Friday, take my mother out and hang out with the kids on the weekend, and then leave again on Monday. My mom ironed his shirts, but he packed his bag.

I got to work on a project with him once (in Montreal, where being francophone came in very handy), and the first thing he told me was that we'd be traveling carry-on only. No exceptions.

Thanks for detailing your method of layering with the plastic dry cleaning bags - I will definitely try this on my next trip.

I usually use those soft packing cubes, as it is easy to just unload the cubes into the drawers at my hotel, and everything has it's place, but I find that they do take extra room and add to the weight of my suitcase. I'm curious if the layering with plastic gets cumbersome when you are in destination...do you leave your clothes in your suitcase or do you completely unpack your suitcase in each place you stay?

Happy New Year!

Lisa-
Instead of the packing cubes, I use zip lock bags in 1 qt, 1 gal and 2 gal sizes. I like the ones with the plastic tab zipper on the top "one-zip", which makes them easier to close. These serve essentially the same function as your cubes, but are much lighter and thinner.

I don't use packing cubes for precisely the reason you describe, LisaCA: they take up space and (more importantly) weight.

This packing technique (with or without the plastic bags---I really only bother with them if I have to keep something looking really spiffy for work, or when I'm packing a day or too in advance of my trip, which was the case in this instance) actually leaves you with a sort of "block" of clothes. So if I'm only someplace for a night or two I typically don't unpack everything and hang it up, I just remove the entire block of clothing and then unstack and re-stack to select the items that I need for that day. The plastic actually makes the stack a bit less stable, such that if you were to leave it sitting unsupported on your bed, say, the layers of the stack could start sliding apart. This doesn't happen if you don't use the bags (coefficients of friction and so forth), or if you just make a point of making sure that you've got some support on one or two sides. No crisis if it does slide apart, as it's all still tidy and easily re-stacked.

So, on this trip I'll be doing some short stays for the first part (two nights in one hotel, one night with a friend at her home, one night in another hotel), so won't hang everything up, just lift out the stack to get to the stuff below and then re-pack by putting the stack back in.

Tokyo is a longer stay, in a single apartment, so I'll unpack entirely, and also do laundry so that everything's fresh for Mexico (which is a short stay followed by a long stay).

By way of illustration, I realized this AM that I'd packed something in the bottom of my suitcase that I'd likely want access to during the trip, my dry shampoo. So to get to it this evening I'll just lift out the stack and then put it back in once I've retrieved the shampoo.

Like Kristina, I do use a lot of ziploc bags, but find that the small ones (the snack size) are more helpful for me, as I use them for all sorts of miscellanous stuff. One of these days I'll track down some 2 gallon bags and see how they work.

Wow - I envy you. You must be about a size two. While I am a 20in carry-on -type packer, I can usually only fit one black skirt, two pair black slacks, three blouses, a sweater, (plus wearing walking shoes, jeans and sweater for travel) - since mine are size 16. And one extra pair of shoes - size 11 take room!

But I definitely agree that the key to success is to determine what YOU consider essential. Then do a trial - live out of your suitcase at home for a week!

By the way, the difference between packing for 3 days and 3 weeks is how often you do laundry (and wheither or not you find it acceptable to wear clothing more than 1 day - I usually wear my clothes twice so 3 changes is a week's worth of clothing for me)

Ha! A size 2? Hardly.

But as you've illustrated, a size 16 can certainly manage. My mother is a size 16 and she did a week in Rome with me last winter and had no trouble whatsoever. We even had a washing machine available to us, as we were in an apartment, but I don't recall her giving me much (if any) laundry to do.

My husband is a bit over 6' tall and has disproportionately long arms, so his clothes are also pretty big, but it still works out for me.

Two tips for guys:

1. If you wear dress shirts, have them laundered and folded professionally (usually tucked into little plastic sleeves). Incredibly easy to pack, and they will look good for a couple of days if you have them starched (which I find the laundry does no matter what I tell them in any case).

2. Wear undershirts under your dress shirts and they'll stay fresh.

Have just looked at Delta.com and find that my flight is oversold and that they're looking for volunteers. So I'll be volunteering for alternate routing if it still gets me there in time for lunch (originally due in early AM), and if the deal is good enough I might cancel lunch altogether (though it's with friends I haven't seen in a while). If I do this I'll likely be going directly from the airport to the restaurant. Fortunately I travel wearing a dress, so won't be concerned about showing up at a nice place in sweats with "juicy" written across the butt.

Alternate routing much more feasible for me without a checked bag, of course, and with it typically comes a voucher for future flights. We'll see.

Checked in on-line, so that's set.

All sorts of electronic glitches have dogged me. First the phone and internet (same company---who thought it would be a good idea to have the phone company, of all people, handle the internet as well?) went out on Friday and it STILL hasn't been fixed. And my computer at work is locked down such that I can't use iTunes, so I wasn't able to download any movies (as you can't do that over wifi).

I did manage to download 5 podcast episodes of "Wait, wait, don't tell me" from NPR, so that will keep me amused. I'm now trying to decide whether or not to bring my portable DVD player (with three brand new rentals from Netflix that arrived yesterday), which would also mean bringing the charger. Grrr.

But worst of all, yesterday all of my downloaded iPhone apps stopped working. The icons are still there, but when I open any of them they immediately crash. I've done all the usual fixes and so far no luck, and the lack of internet at home prevented me from doing any more troubleshooting. So no Boing and no Truphone, and neither of my groovy Japanese language apps. Double grrr.

So last night I called AT&T and had them activate a roaming data plan (as well as international roaming for phone calls). That experience, at least, was pleasant: the rep was very nice and very knowledgeable, and the iPhone will work in Japan. The roaming isn't unlimited, though, so I'll need to keep things under 20 MB (which based on my past usage should be fine). Overage runs about $5 per MB, so not the end of the world.

Now I'm going to go check out Northwest's site to see if they've updated the overhead movies for January.

Okay, at least one of them looks decent: "Ghost Town" with Ricky Gervais. I'll survive.

Therese-what a bummer about all the glitches!
If there is an Apple store in Paris, perhaps you can get some help with your missing apps once you arrive. Not the best way to spend your time there, I know, but might be worth it.
Have a great trip!

An excellent idea, Kristina, and I've just printed off a list of stores in Paris from the French Apple site. Apparently there's talk of Apple putting a store right at the Louvre, which would be very convenient for those headed there. I'm not, though, so will hope that I manage to be close to one on a day they're open.

Japan also has iPhones, but the idea dealing with two foreign languages at once (Japanese + Apple) is a bit daunting. On the other hand, how cool to go to Akihabara with an actual errand to do.

In the interest of keeping my email data stream to a minimum, I've just unsubscribed to a couple of busy listserves that I normally follow. That should help conserve my 20 MB.

I should re-name this thread something like "tech + travel = fun". Or maybe not.

Pager signed off? Check.

Voice mail greeting at work changed? Check.

Posting via iPhone from the Air France lounge at Malpensa (Milan).

Did I mention that I was taking a side trip to Milan? Let's just say it's been a very hectic 24 hours for travel, due to snow storms in Europe.

And boy howdy, am I ever glad I packed carry-on only...

I'll post details of my weather- complicated journey later, when I'm at real keyboard. For now, just a tech update.

1. Air Port works beautifully, turning the free Ethernet in this apartment into a nice strong wifi signal.

2. My apps are working again, including TruPhone, so cheap calls home.

3. Roaming in Japan with the iPhone is seamless. Not cheap, but good when I need it.

Therese, I've read through all your packing threads over the past few weeks and I feel like I know you. I'm also a rather high-maintenance "packing light" die-hard, so I've appreciated the thought and level of detail you've been willing to share here.

When do you return from your latest jaunt? And will you tell us if you missed anything you wish you'd packed, and if you included things you ended up not needing?

Thank you!

Thanks, tld. The one thing that I meant to bring but forgot was my groovy set of behind-the-head earmuffs. And I haven't seen them anywhere, so somebody should start importing them..

I'd considered bringing a swirly skirt for swing dancing (which I did last night in Tokyo), and sort of wish I had, but only sort of.

I'm enjoying your pre-travel and traveling report so much. Your packing ideas are great, and it is amazing how much will fit in a 19 or 21 inch bag. I'm definitely doing that for Rome in March. And I'll be wearing my Scottevest Jacket! I used it for Christmas travel and it was great, I had everything I needed during the flight (and then some) right there, no climbing into the overhead or folding myself double to get it out from under the seat. Mine isn't as fitted as the vest, but I like the roominess and the ability to pack stuff without looking, as someone said, like the Michelin Man. It is very convenient to get tickets and other travel docs, and the zippers keep things in their place.
So, have a great trip and I'll be following along with great interest.

Tokyo's been fun. More details later.

Next stop: Mexico City.

Since my apartment here in Tokyo has a washing machine (but no dryer, and no central heating either) I've washed pretty much everything worn up to this point.

For the flight I'll pack as usual, paying particular attention to in-flight comfort: the scottevest contains everything I'll need along the lines of entertainment, and I'm packing food as well.

Time to go take a bath and get the day started.

Have just bathed for the second time today, this time at the Delta Crown Room at LAX, waiting for my connecting flight to Mexico City. I'll taking a nap, relying on my iPhone (in the pocket of me scottevest) to wake me.

Therese-Glad you are having a good time.
Wondering what you thought of this...
At one point I was considering a week long trip to Ireland in April via an Aer Lingus package. Then I looked at their carry-on rules. You can bring a 22" bag plus personal item, but the max weight is 6 kilos (13 lbs).
Would you pack for the max weight or would you check a bag?
Personally, I couldn't do it (keep under the weight) with my DSLR Camera and laptop plus clothes and toiletries, especially with the weather so cold.

Thanks Therese,
Great thread - I'm off for a month in March,April and will use some of your tips. I'm a light packer and can always use tips on how to do it better.

Kristina,

Why would you bring your laptop on this trip?

And how much does you camera equipment weigh all by itself?

Therese-
I bring my laptop on every trip. I really like to have it with me. It weights 2 lbs and is smaller than most magazines. I use it to write, access the internet, download photos, etc. I have no interest in replacing it with something smaller as I like to have a decent keyboard and various software for my website with me.
My camera stuff weighs another 2 lbs or so.
My suitcase weighs probably 5 or 6 lbs.
That would leave me with 3 lbs for clothes and toiletries. Yes, I could get a lighter bag, but I still don't think it would be enough.

I'm not doing that trip anyway, but my question was rather, what do you do when faced with such a severe weight limit as 13 lbs total?
Do you limit yourself to that amount?
Check a bag?
Not take that flight?

Here's what I would do:
If I could avoid that airline, I would. If not, I would still pack my 22" bag but I would check it. But I would pack everything valuable and a change of clothes in whatever bag I did carry on. I might even try to carry on the 22" bag and see if they are making people adhere to the weight limits, but I would be prepared to check it if I had to.

As I've said in the past, I have no problem doing carry-on only for just about any amount of time, as long as the weight limits aren't less than 2o-25 lbs.

Assuming that the flight with the 13 lb limit offered considerable advantage from either a cost or scheduling perspective, I'd take it. The weight limit wouldn't be a problem for me, as my camera and "laptop" ( iPhone) are small. I would probably go with a much lighter backpack ( could even use the day pack that I brought for the present trip), and keep toiletries to a minimum.

Cold weather packing is actually much easier than warm weather packing, as hardly anybody sees anything of you other than your coat and scarf. You'll wear a sweater under you coat, and under that sometimg pretty lightweight, and that lightweight layer (and underwear and socks) are the only things that you need to change, and of course you cab rinse some things out if you'd like.

Kristina - the only way to know for sure is to do a test pack. Pack with what you think you need and weigh it. If it's underweight, then you're good to go.

If it's overweight, then review your gear and see what you can skip.

You might surprise yourself with what you can do.

Now, having said that, I always check my clothing and toiletries. My camera bag itself weighs 20lbs, so I don't have any option (and leaving gear at home is NOT an option). If I had to do a 13lb max, I'd use my photog vest and fill it as full as possible to move 7lbs out of my camera bag.

I've packed carry on only enough to know my limitations and 13 lbs is just too light for me. As much as I prefer to travel carry on only, there are certain sacrifices I am unwilling to make.

Therese, I guess I was just wondering if there was any situation where you would allow yourself to check a bag.

Toedtoes-I understand your thing about the camera gear. Not taking it is not an option for me either, though I certainly don't bring as much as you do.
I spent all day today at a National Geographic Traveler Magazine seminar on Travel Photography. It was great and we got to see all the gear those professional guys travel with. Waaayy more than I ever would, but I'm not a professional.

Sure, I'll check when/if:

1. Really tiny plane, but that's typically a gate check, so not really the same thing.

2. Last leg of a trip, if I've shopped to excess and/or acquired large volumes of liquids (not infrequently as gifts from people who don't think about how heavy they are).

If my bag goes missing at this point (and it's happened twice) I just fill out the paperwork and head home to wait for taxi delivery of my bag.

It's about time to describe my 24 hours in travel hell that I mentioned up thread, particularly as it illustrates just how much easier it all was as the result of packing light.

First, some background info: I've got old friends in both France and Italy, but when I first planned this trip decided that I would concentrate on Paris. But then one of my friends in Paris had to cancel, and another friend in Milan convinced me go to Italy after all.

So there I was, yet again considering a non-protected connection. We all know how this story goes, right? Anybody want to supply the details?

I think Theresa is a magician when it comes to packing! However, she's a slim, smallish magician. (I was intrigued and looked up her earlier posts.

I'm 5'10" and big. I couldn't possibly fit those clothes in MY size in a carry-on. But I probably could do it in the next size up bag, which I think is a 22" and would have to be checked.

I noticed her tendency to wear clothes made from silk, lightweight and synthetic fabrics. That is something I try to do, but I am addicted to corduroy and wool, and I do most of my traveling between January and March so some warmer, heavier items are inevitable.

May I suggest people consider a raincoat (kneelength) with a warm, zip-out lining for outerwear? Wear it on the plane and it's not a packing problem. Include a warm hatted, like a knitted cloche, a warm scarf (this is the time to indulge in cashmere) and thin kid lined gloves (again, cashmere is good), none of which take up appreciable space, and you're pretty well protected from the elements.

As for laundry, I have discovered soap in tablets, and I usually pack a baggy with 6 tablets for a 2-week trip (good for 3 loads of laundry). Takes up no space and you don't have to buy soap you won't use up.

And I cannot stress the value of really good, well-designed, sturdy but lightweight luggage with really durable wheels and a quality frame. If you like to travel, it's the best investment you can make.

I think the *right* suitcase is to some extent a personal choice. It depends on who you are, what you like to do, and the way you organize your packing. I like one big open space in my suitcase and compartmentalization in my carryons. But that's just me.

Awesome thread -- sorry Theresa, "story" -- this!

I wear the same basic clothing regardless of the season. In winter, I add long lightweight underwear (CuddleDuds) and heavier outerwear.

I wouldn't have minded having some long underwear on this trip, as I think I mentioned upthread, not to wear outside (as I was plenty warm) but inside, in my quite chilly Tokyo apartment. I'd sent all my long underwear with my 15 year old daughter ( who is about the same size as me) on a ski trip with my husband and son, though, and didn't bother to buy more.

The perfect travel coat as described by ecbutler is exactly what I brought. I prefer earmuffs over a hat and choose a coat with a hood: great for unexpected rain, and if it's really chilly (as it was in Paris) I can wear a scarf over my head, inside the hood. I like lined leather gloves, but for really chilly weather they aren't enough for me, and this time I brought Lands End fleece gloves. Again, if it's really chilly I use another scarf wrapped like a muff.

I really like scarves.

My choice in fabrics, by the way (lots of cotton, lots of lightweight silk and synthetic knits), as also noted by ecbutler, I'd mostly to do with the fact that I live in Atlanta. So wool is really sort of useless to me as I can only even consider wearing itl a few weeks if the year.

But no worries if you do own wool as it's great for packing: very compressible, wrinkle-resistant.

So, it's about time to re-visit hell, and see just how much less infernal the experience was rendered by packing light.

My original plan was to arrive in Paris on Friday and depart on Tuesday. In order to fit my side trip to Milan I had to decide how much risk I was willing to assume. Would I elect to spend Monday night in Milan, flying back early Tuesday with a several hour layover before my flight to Tokyo departed? This option maximized my time in Paris.

Or would I spend Sunday in Milan, returning Monday AM? This option was less convenient all around, burning up more travel time and requiring another change of hotel rooms.

In the end I chose the latter option, and in doing so took two things into account: winter weather and Malpensa (or any other Italian airport, frankly).

Sunday afternoon's flight from CDG to MXP goes smoothly. I catch the Malpensa Express train to Cadorna station, switching to the subway to reach my hotel near Garibaldi,

Shower, change, have a nice dinner, go back to my hotel, and sleep. Get up, shower, dress, pack, re-trace steps to MXP in plenty of time for my mid-morning flight to CDG, where I've booked a room via Priceline at the CDG Sheraton. If my flight's on time I'll have the afternoon and evening on Paris, and an easy stroll to my flight to Tokyo that afternoon.

If...

I arrive at MXP in plenty of time. I have deliberately chosen an Air France-operated flight rather than an Alitalia one, such that it somewhat less likely that a strike will affect my travel. This ticket, like my other itinerary, is an award ticket, booked using Delta SkyMiles, but the flight is not a Delta codeshare, and when I first try to check in at the Air France counter the agent has some trouble locating my reservation in the computer (and I have only my Delta confirmation code, not the ticket number for either Delta or Air France, silly me). I finally suggest that she call the Delta counter (which is staffed at this time of day) and she finally takes my advice and it's all fine.

I check the monitors for the gate number, go through security, and locate the gate. Not too busy yet, as it's still early. I use a nearby pay phone to call my friends and let them know that I'm all set, and return to the gate to await boarding. And right then is when things start to go bad.

----and????

So there I am, back at my gate, and realize that something is altogether not right: instead of more passengers at the gate there are fewer, only an older couple speaking to the gate agent, and she is tellng them that she'll go with them to collect their luggage.

Ruh roh, as Scooby Doo would say.

Hoping that it's nothing more problematic than a gate change I find a monitor and to my chagrin see the fateful word "cancelled". No gate agents whatsoever in the area and no obvious transfer desk unless I go back out through security. But I do see the Air France lounge, and even though I'm not officially eligible to use the lounge for this itinerary I figure that the agent there will at least be able to tell me where to go.

Therese -- I'm absolutely fascinated with your packing light skills. I'm still trying to master them although I must say I've improved from my very first venture to Europe 30 years ago when I lugged 2 very heavy, big bags, a tote and a purse. I'm down now to a 22" checked piece, a small tote and my Scottevest. I'm working on trying to pack lighter for carryon and I've just received my Lush shampoo that you recommended and have found some really good dry deodorant. I'm now experimenting with powder-base makeup. My big question is this: when you say 19" bag, does that include the rollers and handle? I ask because DH has a 19" that he was made to gate check in Europe because the outside dimensions were too big -- almost 23 inches. I just looked at new luggage and the 20" bags measured 22-23" outside.

Looking forward to the "rest of the story."
Kay

Kay, this particular bag has a pretty low profile, with the handle and wheels being largely recessed into the body of the bag. I bought the bag years ago at Target and have yet to find a replacement that improves upon it (in spite of looking). The bag is actually larger than I needed for this trip-I'm now in Mexico with my husband and am making an effort to wear everything I brought, but may not manage. I'll try and measure exactly how big it is, wheels included, when I get home.

I have bought more toothpaste (I use Sensodyne, so do have a brand preference; fortunately a 2 I'd size is sold in Mexico) and have finished off one of my perfumes (I brought two scents).

I've also used up (as planned) the hair dye I brought to touch up my roots (yes, yes, scoff away, I am the highest maintenance woman to walk the earth).

Therese, could you say again which suitcase from Target you have? It is probably somewhere in your threads, but oh my, I'd never find it.
DH has one from Target, Wenger, which I think is part of Swiss Gear, has the little red cross on it. It is holding up well, though he's only had it about 2 years. He does use it a lot, though.
I'm still trying to find the perfect suitcase, lightweight but sturdy.
Thanks.

My suitcase is from Target, Challiman, but unfortunately purchased six years ago right before my childrens' first trip to Europe. I bought three identical ones at the time, and had I known then how difficult it would be to replace them I'd have purchased at least one more (as then my family would have a matching set of four).

They are Eddie Bauer brand. Target still sells Eddie Bauer brand, and they appear to be very well made, but unfortunately most people who buy luggage are swayed by fancy descriptions of expandable compartments and extra straps for attaching this and that and other nonsense that just add weight and steal space. And since Target and Eddie Bauer are in the business of selling luggage to the general public, my opinion doesn't carry much weight.

In my experiene, the stated dimensions of a bag are rarely accurate (usually bag is larger than stated) and weight is often nor provided. Bags described as "ultra lightweight" tend to be pretty heavy. So when you shop always bring your own tape measure, and a small luggage scale can also come in handy---don't assume the scale is altogether accurate, just use it to compare bags (and most people can do that without a scale in any case).

Therese, Thanks. If you'll measure both the inside and outside of your bag I'd really appreciate it. "Most high maintenance woman"? -- Not. I think I fill those shoes. But I gotcha on one, though -- the hair dye. I don't pack it -- I prefer the high adventure of trying out foreign hair dyes and, while the color may vary a little, I've never had a disaster. Have fun the rest of your trip.
Kay

Back to our story, already in progress...

As you'll recall, in our last episode I arrive at my gate only moments before it's been cacelled, and all staff have (wisely) made themselves very scarse. I am now preparing to throw myself on the mercy of the Air France lounge staff.

Said lounge turns put to be staffed by a lovely young woman who gets right on the phone and figures out that the problem is snow at CDG. No worries, though, as there's another flight in a couple of hours, though I will have to go retrieve my checked luggage and re-check in for the next flight. Hand luggage only, I say, and since by now I've explained that I'm actually en route to Tokyo (and on to Mexico) she is impressed. A nice long discussion of luggage ensues, now with contributions from the lady who stocks the bar and tidies up. Eventually this second woman walks me to a shortcut back to ticketing and I get my new boarding pass. I've also been invited back to the lounge, where there are comfy chairs and free drinks and snacks and wifi, which is very nice given that I'm not strictly entitled to be there at all.

So now I'm checking in for the second flight and am chatting with agents about the weather in Paris. Having just been in Paris I've got a very good idea of just how problematic heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures can be, and we discuss the possibility that no flights will depart for CDG that day. And I've already checked the weather report for Milan: snow is expected to start during the night, so an early AM flight might also be cancelled. One of the agents asks if I'd like to consider flying directly from MXP to NRT that night (despite the fact that my connection is not protected) but since it's still early afternoon and I've prepaid my room at CDG and would arrive a day early for my rental in Tokyo I decline to pursue that option

Back to the Air France lounge, where other stranded travellers are starting to gather. I'm keeping a sharp eye one the departures monitor and am the first to notice that the next flight is delayed. As I expected, the plane is still in Paris. More ruh roh. And then it's cancelled and andcthe the next one is cancelled and things are getting decidely tense in the AF lounge. I help the sweet lounge lady explain things a few times (both my French and English are better than hers). At one point she has to tell an American woman with two children that she'll need to re-claim her checked luggage yet a third time that day.

Remember the option that I'd decided not to pursue earlier in the day, the one that put me in Tokyo a day early? Well, lounge lady and I start working on that one. This option requires that a seat be available (one minute it is, the next it isn't) and also requires special approval by a mystery man named Walter (pronounced Vall-tair, all the more mysterious). Lounge lady spends a lot of time on the phone with Walter and his minions and I am eventually sent back down to ticketing in hopes of getting a direct flight.

Wish me luck...

Thank you Therese. Very good suggestions on the scale. I have been taking a tape measure as half the time they don't even tell you the size, and if they do it isn't always accurate, as you say.
Your trip is a big adventure, that's my philosophy, it is what it is, and just go with it. And with just carry on luggage you can make those changes so much easier.
I'll take your advice and hope I can find something that works.
Can't wait to hear the rest of the trip.

Challiman and Therese, I'm thinking of purchasing the women's Scottevest for an upcoming trip. I'd like to hear a few more details as to rants & raves. (I've looked through the Packing 7 and this Packing 8 thread so I've seen what was said there, but if you have details to add, that would be helpful.)

I'm trying to decide whether I'd simply feel too chubby in the vest to actually wear it more than once or twice. I'm a size 12 and busty, so I'm pretty sure I wouldn't use the outside vertical zip pockets on the chest. Not to mention just the added bulk of the other pockets if/when filled.

On the other hand, I may not know till I try it. How have your curves handled the pockets when full? Do you have any other details to add which might help?

"But I gotcha on one, though -- the hair dye. I don't pack it -- I prefer the high adventure of trying out foreign hair dyes and, while the color may vary a little, I've never had a disaster."

I overlooked Kay's mention upthread, and wanted to elaborate. I, also, have thrown caution to the winds and purchased hair dye abroad to do touch ups (and these days L'Oreal is just about everywhere, so it's hardly a big risk). But in this instance I knew that the touch up would occur in Tokyo, and that dye suited to Asian hair might possibly result in disaster for me, as it might involve a pretty drastic lift to turn dark black hair into brown/auburn. So I thought ahead and brought it with me. The small touch up kits (that come with a brush for applying only to the roots) work nicely, as they are much smaller volume than a full kit.

The other option is to visit a hairdresser abroad, but again, if the prevailing hair type is not yours this can be a bit of a crap shoot.

I found that the Scottevest came in handiest on the plane, where I used it to keep all my in-flight stuff organized. I didn't wear it zipped during the flight, and if I had done so wouldn't have been able to have anything more substantial than paper in the pockets over my breasts. For the most part I only used the other pockets (the one is back, and the ones around my abdomen) in any case, and there are millions of them.

The biggest drawback to the vest, all told, is that it can be remarkably difficult to figure out where you've put something.

Gum, for instance. I knew I'd packed some gum (transferred from a bulky cardboard box to a snack-size ziploc baggie), but it took me more than a few minutes to find it.

And then there was my jewelry, also packed in a snack-size baggie. I did find it, but it took some hunting.

The one time on this trip when I did really pack the heck out of the vest was for my flight from CDG to MXP, when I knew that Air France was the most likely to weigh my carry-on. I had just about everything heavy in it: all my wet toiletries, dry toiletries, two flat irons (one for Europe, one for the rest of the trip), jewelry, books. etc. It was pretty darn heavy, and definitely not zippable, but still very comfortable, as the weight's so well-distributed over your shoulders. More comfortable than a backpack, in fact.

When I went through security at CDG of course I took it off and put it in a bin to go through. The young woman manning the conveyor belt happened to lift it in order to tidy the bin and turned to me in amazement. What the heck did I have in it? I explained that it was my liquids and anything else heavy that might possibly put my luggage overweight, and that I used specifically to keep from getting any hassle about the weight of my luggage. She thought it was pretty cool.

So, tld, I'd order up a size and see what you think. You can always return it.

Lounge lady spends a lot of time on the phone with Walter and his minions and I am eventually sent back down to ticketing in hopes of getting a direct flight.

Wish me luck...


and???!! inquiring carry-on packers want to know

tld, I got the Scottevest Women's Jacket with removable sleeves, rather than the vest. It suited my purposes a little better. It is not as fitted (Therese thought the vest looked more feminine, I didn't mind) as the vest and the pocket arrangement is a little different.
I'm not quite 5'2" and busty and I was a little worried about looking stuffed, but I don't zip it usually and on the trip I took at Christmas it worked really well. All my flight stuff was handy and I could use my carry-on bag for my DSLR camera, extra lens, a change of clothes, just in case, medications not needed during flight,laptop, etc. The things I put in the jacket for that trip included a book, glasses case, snack foods, wet and dry toilet articles, travel documents, flash light, cell phone, slippers for the plane (sometimes someone misess the toilet and the floor is wet and icky) and a plastic bag to put them in when we land. I can't remember anything else, but it wasn't as much as I'd take on a trip to Europe. March will be my first European trip with the jacket as part of my carry-on, so I'll have to wait til then to verify how much and how easy it is to use.
I did also have a little issue with where I'd put things. Still lots better than climbing over someone to get to the carry on or squeezing myself double to get under the seat, which never has any room, anyway.
I bought a large, though in general I wear a medium. The sleeves are a tiny bit long, but nothing I'm even going to bother with. It does zip with all the things I mentioned.
I wore the ugly fisherman's vest in Paris, of all places, and it worked pretty well, other than hanging below my jacket and that wasn't a pretty sight. It sure held tons of stuff, but the weight wasn't distributed as well as the Scottevest.
It washes and dries nicely, no ironing. And it is light enough to wear under a bigger coat if it is really cold, and roomy enough to layer a sweater or sweatshirt underneath if needed.
OK, good luck with making your decision.

tld, About the Scottevest, mine is perhaps the oldest of the three you are reading about, having bought mine when they (mine came from TravelSmith) offered only one women's style that I didn't care for. So, mine is a size medium men's sleeveless vest, which is, I think, the original model. It is long which I like -- below the hip -- and has all the pockets, zippers, and hidey-holes that you could possibly want. And, yes, when I first started wearing it I did "lose" things but now I have a system and know where everything is. I don't zip it so the fit over the bust isn't an issue. Even if I did zip it, it wouldn't be tight. (I'm not familiar with the women's vest and how it fits) FYI, I'm 5'5" and wear a size 10-12 women's. I use the vest only for flying in order to carry more weight than would otherwise be allowed for carryon. It was a godsend when we flew several European airlines which severely limit carryon weight.
Incidentally, DH liked mine so much that he ordered one in his size.

Therese -- There are a couple of items not allowed in carryon luggage that I can't imagine doing without -- scissors and nail clippers. I seem to need scissors often on a trip, for trimming wayward eyebrows and snipping wild tresses. And I can't travel a month and not clip toenails. What to do?

And as scotlib reminds us, it's time to get back to our story of the very, very long day at MXP.

The snow at CDG has kept any flights out of MXP (where the weather's been fine all day) from getting to Paris, and the same storm is reportedly disrupting travel at other northern European airports (I'd already looked at trying to get routed through AMS). So no huge surprise to find that the ticketing desk is surrounded by a lot of angry Europeans, and staffed by some very weary agents. I finally get to the front of the line, and at this point I'm pretty weary myself, and when the agent turns out to be Dutch, wearing a KLM uniform, I ask if we might switch to English. She says okay, though a bit hesitantly.

So I explain the situation, and drop Walter's name (I never do actually see Walter) and the lounge lady's name, and now there are no seats on that evening's flight to Japan (though I have a feeling that was a glitch of some sort, but never mind). So now we're looking at either getting me to CDG in the AM, in time for my original flight to NRT, or on a direct flight to NRT from MXP later the next day.

Remember that storm in Paris? Well, it's headed towards Milan, and now I have to weigh the risk of the AM flight to CDG not happening vs the risk that a day and night of snow at MXP will have things so badly botched by the time that a direct MXP-NRT flight is due to depart that I may as well try and grow wings myself.

I decide on the direct flight out of MXP, and the weary KLM agent spends a great deal of time tapping away at her screen. At a certain point I realize that she's speaking reasonable Italian with the other agents and ask if she'd like to switch languages, and she nearly sobs with relief. Finally a piece of paper spits out of a dot matrix (yes, really) printer and she gives it to me.

Now, this is not a boarding pass, just a ticket, and not a particularly convincing looking ticket at that. I ask if I can get my boarding pass, and the short answer is no, I'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Finally we're ready to wrap things up and she starts to tell me how to retrieve my checked luggage. And I tell her that I've only got hand luggage, and I swear, if she could have breached the plexiglass divider behind which these agents sit (clearly for their own protection---the crowd was growing more surly by the minute) and given me a big hug, she would have.

Now, to find a place to spend the night.

Actually, nail clippers are permitted, just not nail clippers that have a built-in metal nail file. So just find one that doesn't have a file. I took one on this trip, as well as a non-metal nail file and buffing board, and had no trouble. I also brought a weird little thing called a PedEgg which wasn't a problem anywhere but at MEX, on my way back to ATL, where the security looked at a long time and then let it through.

I'm just imagining how funny it would be to threaten somebody with a PedEgg.

The scissors are an issue (though, curiously, not on U.S. domestic flights), but I can typically get by with using the nail clippers to deal with wayward threads.

I take a small pair of scissors in my carry-on bag with no problems yet. They are about 3" long and are rounded. Some TSA agents have taken them out and looked but always have given them back.

TSA (which implies U.S.) won't have an issue with your scissors, but if you manage to get through CDG without having scisssors of any sort taken from you then you've got the angels on your side. The nice woman who took mine last year apologized, both for the inconvenience as well as for the discrepancy between U.S. and EU regulations.

I made it through CDG once, but the security officer called three others for a discussion. They finally said it would be okay. I had just gone through security at MUC with no problem the night before connecting in Paris.

It's long since dark at MXP, and I need a room. MXP has no on-site hotel (of course), and I'm not on a protected connection so the airlines won't be finding or paying for my room that night.

So I call my friends in Milan (whom I've kept posted during the day, so it's no huge surprise) and they get busy and book me a place that offers a free shuttle service and reasonable rates. Here's a link should you find yourself in need of convenient lodgings near MXP:

http://www.firsthotel.it/ln/english/index.asp

Two things about the hotel were a bit odd. The first was that my room featured a couple of fashion photos that I think may have been of the one of the owners (some years before). The second was that the hotel restaurant (which is conveniently open late) is decorated with pieces of airplanes. And though I'm sure that these bits of fuselage did not, in fact, represent wreckage scavenged from the surrounding fields, the thought did still cross my mind.

Apart from that, though, it fit the bill: clean, not too expensive, and very convenient.

I'll take your experience as a good sign that perhaps sanity is returning to the land of airport security, scatcat. How I do miss my teeny tiny scissors.

I dine at the hotel, and go to bed, still fairly anxious. I wake sometime after midnight and look out the window: yes, it's snowing. Lovely fat flakes coming down in large numbers, the sort of snow you'd be pretty excited to see if you were 14 years old and looking forward to a day off from school. Not so much if you're hoping to get out of town.

By the next AM the snow is thick on the ground, with those lovely white layers on top of every branch. When I wake, the shuttle driver/bellman is already plowing the parking lot.

I get up, shower, eat breakfast, and pack. I'd booked the shuttle back to the airport at noon, but I'm ready early, and the shuttle driver is delighted to stop plowing (he's on his second or third round by now) and take me over. It's hours until my flight is due to depart, but I know that I'll feel better once I've got my boarding pass in hand.

It's a leisurely drive to the airport. The shuttle driver points out that if it looks like I'll need to come back to the hotel I shouldn't wait to book, as they'll be busy that night.

The flight is operated by Alitalia, a code share with JAL. I check in with Alitalia, hoping that it's not too early to get a boarding pass, and indeed they issue it. The agent asks me about checked luggage, and I answer "Hand luggage only" and she does a double take and asks "Really?" and I shrug and say "Yes, really." And she doesn't even ask to see it.

Boarding pass in my sweaty little hand, I head back through security to the Air France lounge. It's a different lounge lady, but I explain that I wanted to thank the woman who'd been there the day before and send a letter to Air France, and so she provides me with some stationery. I write a letter and turn it in, and spend the next couple of hours emailing (using the free wifi) and checking weather reports. My friends in Milan have offered to have me join them for Epiphany celebrations, but the thought of being so far from the airport makes me uneasy.

Since the flight is Alitalia, and departs from another part of the terminal, I eventually switch to that side, and my passport is stamped as I exit Italy. I visit the Alitalia lounge, which turns out to be, um, not very nice (think linoleum and scuffed pink leather chairs, though the lounge attendant was admittedly fetching), and without free wifi. So I head back to the Air France lounge, and have to explain to the guys in Immigration just exactly why I'd want to do such a thing. They point behind me and say "Tokyo is that way." And I answer that the Alitalia lounge "fa schifo" and that I'll head back when it's time for my flight.

Finally it's time to think about boarding in earnest. Lots of Japanese people are starting to drift in the same general direction. We all gather in the gate area and cast hopeful glances outside, where it is still snowing.

Huge surprise, the flight is delayed. And then delayed again, and then some more. I head back to the Alitalia lounge for some snack-y sustenance, and finally return in time to hear the gate agents (a chubby man and a young woman who is a great deal more interested in chewing on bits of her own hair than on the situation at hand) discussing things, and realize that the flight's not even been fueled yet. Ruh roh.

But finally a guy in rain gear comes in and says the fueling's occurred, and some time later we get permission to board. We have to be de-iced, of course, and this requires that we wait in line for a very long time, and then get de-iced for a very long time, but eventually we do take off.

The plane is barely half full, and I've got an entire row of three seats to myself. I am pretty darn happy.

For once I've not brought my own food, and when the meal cart comes trundling down the aisle I hear the one Japanese flight attendant describe the Japanese meal to the older couple in front of me (in Japanese, so this depends on my recognizing certain key words). When the cart reaches me it's an Italian (male) flight attendant who pulls out a tray with a flourish and says "Here's your pasta." To which I answer, "Um, is there anything else?" And he is stumped. Whatever do I mean? Well, the other meal option. And he's still confused: "But you're Italian." Well, no, in fact, I'm American, but that's nothing to do with my taste in food. He is now beyond confused, and is apparently try to decide whether he should go to the effort of explaining to me that I couldn't possibly be American, but instead points out to me that the meal is Japanese. Yes, I say, I know. "But it's got fish in it." Yes, fish, that's fine.

He gives me the tray, clearly convinced that I will be asking to change my tray the minute I see the horrors that await me. Fish, indeed.

It was actually pretty good.

I listened to music for a while, took my Ambien, and woke up in Tokyo.

So, that was the sole travel hiccup on this trip, and it all turned out fine. Checked luggage wouldn't have ruined anything, but it wouldn't have helped, and the many re-checkings and retrievals would have increased the risk that my bags be lost at some point.

Now back to the actual packing.

Upthread somebody (tld, I think) asked me whether I'd brought anything that I didn't use. Not much, as it turns out. I didn't use all the meds I'd brought, but most of them did come in handy at some point (for my husband, if not for me).

As for clothing, I didn't wear one of the pairs of trousers (tiny black and white check) or two shirts (black and white horizontal stripped fitted T-shirt and purple/black/green/aqua frilly blouse. I didn't wear anything smelly, and other than laundry with a conventional machine in Tokyo only rinsed out stockings and panties. Towards the end of the trip I was going to some lengths to wear everything I'd brought, and still didn't quite manage, since Puebla's night life didn't merit getting very dressed up.

I did keep a daily record of what I wore each day, and will post that.

I also bought a few items of clothing along the way, though I didn't wear them all, and I'll list those as well (since they fit in my bag).

Thursday PM, Jan 1 (flight from ATL to CDG):

black knit shift dress

black cotton cardigan (beaded and embroidered

low heel knee high black leather boots

Friday AM, Jan 2 (arrive CDG, transfer to Renaissance La Defense:

same thing, obviously

Friday noon, Jan 2:

Lunch date with friends in Paris, so shower and change into..

soft purple sweater dress

mid/high heel knee high gore-tex boots

Friday PM, Jan 2:

Return from lunch to find that plans for the evening have been set (meeting a friend and her 12-year-old daughter and one of her friends)for the Lee Miller show at Jeu de Paume, followed by dinner and an updated version of The Magic Flute, finishing at Ice Baar on the Champs-Elysees after the show.

Add black cotton turtleneck and purple patterned silk scarf to my lunch attire.

Saturday, Jan 3 (shopping and museums, lunch at La Maison de la Lozere):

Black jeans

Black cotton turtleneck

Black embroidered cardigan

Low heeled boots

Sunday AM, Jan 4 (CDG to MXP):

black jeans

(no top specified in my notes, sorry)

low heel black boots

Sunday PM, Jan 4 (dinner in Milan, very chilly)

soft purple sweater dress

black embroidered cardigan

high heel black gore-tex boots

Monday, Jan 5 (supposedly MXP to CDG, but actually all day at MXP):

purple paisley knit dress

black nightgown (worn as a slip under the dress---it's quite chilly)

black embroidered cardigan

low heel black boots

Tuesday, Jan 6: MXP to NRT

gray knit dress

black embroidered cardigan

low heel black leather boots

Wednesday PM, Jan 7: arrive NRT

same as Tuesday

Thursday, Jan 8 (touring in Tokyo):

black jeans

purple and white floral print blouse

purple cable knit cardigan

low heel black leather boots

Thursday PM, Jan 8:

Do laundry (at apartment). Hang to dry overnight.

Friday AM, Jan 9 (touring in Tokyo):

gray knit dress

black turtleneck (worn over dress, so dress looks like a skirt)

high heel black gore-tex boots (it's raining that day)

Friday PM, Jan 9 (swing dancing in Tokyo, very very cold and rainy outside):

purple paisley dress + nightgown as slip underneath

low heel black leather boots (high heels impractical for swing dancing) with additional layer of socks inside boots over tights

(also wore extra layers of miscellaneous sweaters under my coat---really very unpleasant weather that evening)

Saturday, Jan 10 (cold but sunny and clear in Tokyo, touring):

black dress trousers

purple cotton knit shirt under new (purchased in Tokyo) purple fleece turtleneck

tights (under trousers, for warmth)

high heel black gore-tex boots

Sunday, Jan 10:

sick with stomach upset(presumably food poisoning) all day, so not much fashion going on

Monday, Jan 12 (train to Kyoto for the day):

black knit shift

purple fleece turtleneck (under dress, so dress is a jumper)

purple cable knit cardigan

low heel black leather boots (with extra pair of socks along with tights)

Tuesday, Jan 13 (sunny, a little bit warmer; train to Odawara to meet a friend and visit onsen in Hakone):

gray knit dress

black embroidered cardigan

low heel black leather boots

Therese-
Who makes your high heeled Gore-Tex boots and how high is the heel? Is it comfortable for walking all day?

The gore-tex boots are made by a German company called Ara. The heel isn't so high that I find it uncomfortable for walking for several hours, maybe 2 or 2.5". That probaby sounds pretty high for some of you, but it works for me, particularly as the boots otherwise fit me really well and are very warm (and waterproof).

The company also makes lower heel boots, so if the idea of stylish waterproof boots is appealing then you might want to check them out.

Back to the daily clothing diary...

Wednesday, Jan 14 (shopping, touring in Tokyo):

soft purple knit dress

high heel black gore-tex boots

Wednesday PM, Jan 14:

purple paisley dress

low heel black leather boots

Forgot to mention that I did laundry on Wednesday night (so all of my clothes are clean again), and Wednesday PM's clothing change was prompted by evening's plans with an old friend in Tokyo.

Thursday, Jan 15 (NRT to LAX and then onto MEX):

gray knit dress

black embroidered cardigan

low heel black leather boots

Friday, Jan 16 (touring in Mexico City, musical "Dulce Caridad") that night; cold and rainy later in the day):

black dress trousers

black and white patterned dressy blouse in crinkle-y fabris

high heel gore-tex boots

Saturday, Jan 17 (meet husband at MEX, take bus to Puebla):

black knit shift

black beaded cardigan

low heel black leather boots

Sunday, Jan 18 (touring in Puebla):

oops, didn't note what I wore that day

Monday, Jan 19 (spa day with my husband in Puebla; sunny warm weather the whole time we're in Puebla, though it get's chilly at night):

black jeans

purple and white floral print blouse

white tennis shoes

black bathing suit (for some of the spa treatments)

Monday, Jan 19, PM (nice dinner out in Puebla):

black knit shift

purple cable knit cardigan

low black leather boots

purple and aqua scarf (new, purchased the day before at a market in Puebla)

Tuesday, Jan 20 (husband stays home with upset tummy, I shop):

black jeans

white peasant-style cap sleeve cotton blouse

black embroidered cardigan

low heel black leather boots

Wednesday, Jan 21 (touring in Puebla):

black jeans

purple long-sleeved knit top (a bit low cut for very conservative Puebla, so I end up wearing a scarf around my neck with it)

low heel black leather boots

Thursday, Jan 22 (day trip to Cholula, visit pyramid and excavation):

black jeans

lilac cotton 3/4 sleeve blouse

low heel black leather boots

Thursday, Jan 22 PM (dinner out in Puebla):

soft purple knit dress

high heel gore-tex boots

Friday, Jan 23 (touring in Puebla):

black jeans

purple gauze long-sleeved peasant style blouse

low heel black leather boots

Friday, Jan 23 PM (dinner out in Puebla, hopes of dancing but none to be found):

purple paisley dress

low heel black leather boots

Saturday, Jan 24 (MEX to ATL):

black dress trousers

black and white crinkly blouse

high heel black gore-tex boots

We arrive home in time to attend my children's high school skit that evening, and I wear the same clothes to the show.

So, that's what I wore day by day: 24 days of travel out of a carry-on.

I'll measure my suitcase again and post that info as requested above, but will have to do that later, as I'm at work right now.

Some final thoughts about clothing...

In cold weather people mostly only see your coat and scarf and gloves. My coat is a black microfiber all weather coat with a zip out faux fur liner, a hood, and inner zip that starts at the waist and goes up to a knit inner collar and an outer zip that's full length. The coat fits closely (princess seams, and vertical zip pockets accessed through the seams) and falls to a few inches above my knees, so when sitting (say, on the metro) I can just unzip the outside zipper. I've had this coat for several years, and this trip wore a hole in one of the pocket linings, and the knit inside collar is starting to pill a bit. So I'm now on the lookout for a replacement.

I started out with purple fleece gloves and an apple green and gold scarf, expecting to find either a cool scarf in purple or nice gloves in green in Paris (or both). I found neither, and eventually bought a lilac cable knit scarf in Tokyo which I quite like. I also bought a purple lightweight fleece turtleneck there that came in handy.

In Paris and Milan it was mostly about staying warm in the face of very chilly weather, so I layered a lot.

In Tokyo I wore almost exclusively dresses. Japanese women tended to wear mostly dresses, so my wardrobe was a nice fit there. I did laundry there several times (I'd rented an apartment) so left Tokyo with all clean clothese.

In Mexico I wore a combination of casual looks (with my black jeans) and mostly dresses in the evenings. Again, generally an easy fit with prevailing dress.

I mentioned upthread that I didn't wear a couple of the items I'd brought, and as it turns out both of the shirts were left unworn because they were a bit too risque for the conservative town that we were visiting (Puebla). The unworn trousers (tiny black and white check) weren't needed---I wore them to work on the following Monday, but I'd lost weight so they were too large for me.

I bought a couple of dresses in Mexico. Actually I bought the same dress twice, one in a black and purple print and one in a brown and purple print. So purple looks like it will be featured for some time to come in my travel wardrobe.

And I'm not even sick of it: I'm wearing a lilac twin set today.

Finally did laundry today and realized that I must have worn the following on Sunday, Jan 18 (touring in Puebla):

black and white check cotton blouse with ruffle collar

black embroidered cardigan

black jeans

low heel black leather boots

Time go measure my suitcase now.

Therese,
Still enjoying your wardrobe and packing help, thank you very much.
You were moving around a lot, but I will not be. I'll be rooming with a friend in Rome in March, only 7 nights, so I'm not too worried about that trip, but if you were going to see the same people every day or very often, would your packing light change much? We don't dress up at all, but we're not sloppy, either. Except for our footwear, we look pretty good. I have a neuroma in one foot and DF has heel spurs, so we both have to wear less than lovely shoes, even to the point now where I can find ONE brand and style of running shoes that allow me to walk all day with no issues.(podiatrist insists on running shoes) And they're WHITE! For short periods I can wear Naots in several styles and colors, but that's about it. So, my packing list has to deal with that fashion issue. I'm not willing to risk surgery to look better, but sure would like to have some black athletic shoes that work.
During warmer weather I can wear the Naot sandals and those are good for long periods, but not consecutive days.
Big, long sigh..........
Anyway, hope you will post the actual dimensions of your suitcase soon. I've been checking them online and started carrying my tape measure when shopping.

Okay, here's the scoop on my suitcase. I've measured it before, and posted those measurements in a couple of these packing threads, but that can be hard to go back and find, plus I wanted to verify that the measurements included wheels and handles.

Drum roll, please...

14" x 9" x 11"

That's 14" high (including the wheels, which are set into the base such that they decrease the interior volume rather than add to the exterior dimensions) by 9" deep by 11" wide.

Note that the 11" wide does not include two side pockets which, if filled, could easily add an additional inch on either side. As this would still not exceed the 14" width that most airlines list as maximum width I don't worry about it in the least.

The 9" depth includes a couple of flat pockets on the front of the suitcase. These would be difficult to overfill, so there's not much risk that I'd be dinged using these, and in any case I don't really use them.

Note that the wheel handle also recesses down into the suitcase itself (into a little compartment that zips shut, so it's the interior space that's compromised, not the outer dimensions. There's a handle on the top of the suitcase that's attached with webbing---at that point the suitcase is taller that 19", though I could actually cut it off if necessary (and would not hesitate to do so in the presence of an unyielding gate agent if necessary, though I'd have to find some very sharp instrument to do so---a box cutter would be perfect).

In practice I've never had any problem with this bag---it's so obviously within the requirements that no agent has ever challenged me about it.

Challiman, believe me when I say that I very much empathize with your foot problems and difficulty finding shoes. It's gotten to the point that I've considered having shoes custom made, and when I do find shoes or boots that work will buy them in more colors, and take good care of them (which reminds me that I need to send my low heel black leather boots from this trip to the cobbler this weekend).

As for my packing strategy when I'm going to be around the same people every day (especially for work meetings, where I need to look pretty groomed, especially if I'm standing in front of a few hundred people from around the world and lecturing), no, it's not all that different. Dresses work very well for me, and are certainly formal enough for most settings. I end up doing a lot of "day to night" things, so might choose a dress that's a bit on the slinky side (maybe a patterned wrap knit dress) and wear a jacket or cardigan over it during the day to make it more day-appropriate, and then remove the jacket and change my earrings for dinner out.

I do consider whether the people at the meeting I'm attending will have already seen certain garments that might be memorable. I've got a meeting in Boston coming up, for instance, for which I'm going to use brown as my anchor color rather than black, as many of participants will have seen me recently in black.

Therese-
Is it 19" tall or 14" tall?

Whoops---19" tall.

Not only did I make that typo, I carried it all the way through the description. I am a doodlehead.

Therese, did you mention the model of your bag? I wanted to look it up. I'm trying to find a budget option of the perfect carry-on. Not ready to spend $250 quite yet.

There are plenty of carry-on bags available for $100 and under. The specific make that I've got is no longer available (it was from Target, an Eddie Bauer version), but you can find similar bags at Target, and also online at ebags.com. The Heys hardside bags are looking very good at the moment.

Resist the urge to assume that $250 bags are better than cheaper bags. Often they're not, and some instances are actually worse. Gotta go do some work right now, but when I return I'll rant about suitcases for a bit.

Nevermind! Found it.

I've just spent a lovely time reading this instead of working!

I'm interested in your boots - I travel light and 99% of the time with a carry-on; footwear is always the hardest part for me. I will skimp on clothing choices to have comfortable yet somewhat stylish shoes.

I checked out the Ara website and the Zappos site; I am not familiar with this brand. There are several boots that seem to fit your description. Do you know the names of the two boots you ended up traveling with?

Thanks for all the fun details!

Happy to have contributed to your fun at work today, annabelle2.

The knee high (technically nearly knee high, with a shaft that's 12.5" high) ara boots that I took on this trip (the gore-tex ones) are called Florenz, and Zappos does have some on line at the moment. I gather that this style is probably not this year's, as I didn't see it anywhere when I was in New York right before Christmas (and lots of shops there had ara) and this model is on sale just about everywhere.

I got the same model, but in an ankle boot, in brown, and another pair of short boots in black in the Trieste model. I'd ordered the Toulouse in black as they were true knee high (shaft 15.5"), but I didn't like the way the boot looked or fit (but of course you might love them), so sent them back (free return shipping to Zappos, of course).

ara has an odd convention for naming their boots in that they use the same name for boots that have the same "foot" but different shaft heights, so many of their models come in both boot and bootie variations.

The black leather boots are made by Lumiami and are several years old. I love these boots deeply, and they've been to the cobbler more than once.

Therese and others,

I have a question on the travel vest. Do you only wear it on the plane?

And is it warm?

I am tempted for my upcoming Spain/Portugal, but not sure it will work in warm weather!

Therese, thanks for the suitcase dimensions. I nearly fainted when I saw the 14 inch, couldn't imagine how on earth one could get that many clothes in there! And also for the continuing packing tips. Utterly amazing. I'm getting my colors planned and, ugh, the shoes, and the camera equipment, so hopefully I'll be ultra organized by mid-March.
I really think some travel book or website could take your posts, and our questions, and make it available for a much wider audience. And maybe make YOU some $$$.
Thanks again.

Thanks, Challiman. My husband's pointed out that I could probably make money packing other people's suitcases for them. Not a lot of money, but money. Of course, he's also speculated that I somehow manage to tuck a black hole into the suitcase somewhere and that's how it all works.

My experience with the Scottevest (the women's version of the vest, that is) has so far been limited to this one (albeit very long) trip, CarolA, so I haven't yet fully explored its potential.

I used it on the plane to keep things plane-related organized and nearby, and it worked really nicely in that respect. I was also able to use it as essentially another carry-on for keeping my luggage weight to a minimum on the one leg of this trip where I'd anticipated that being a problem (the Air France flight from CDG to MXP, though in fact nobody gave my bag so much as a second glance).

As for whether it would be too warm to wear while out touring in Spain/Portugal, I don't think so. It is an additional layer, and so there will be some issue there, but it's not made to be inherently warm: the fabrics themselves are lightweight, and if you get the pale tan color it will refect the sun rather than absorb it the way the black one would. I don't like being too hot on planes (part of my claustrophobia) and it wasn't an issue, and I still wrapped a blanket around my legs and used a scarf while sleeping (and I did sleep in the vest).

In cold weather you could use it as an additional layer, but it wouldn't keep you a whole lot warmer all by itself.

I will point out that there are some velco tabs along the inside of the zipper (for holder earphone wires in place) and I found there bothersome if they happened to touch my skin directly. I didn't notice them if I was wearing fabric under it, though, so I'd probably just wear something more substantial than, say, a camisole under it. You'll want coverage from the sun in any case, of course. A very thin, "tissue-weight" close-fitting long or 3/4 sleeve white T-shirt is probably what I'd pick to wear with the vest in a warm, sunny climate (with sunscreen under the shirt as well).

Thanks for the boot info!

Therese,

Thanks for the info! Not sure what I will do, but I may order one to see what I think!

Therese, Thank you for the suitcase measurements. I, too, gasped at the 14" dimension, thinking I might as well give up. So glad to know it's really 19"! I'm looking forward to learning about your brown wardrobe as I've been thinking about brown for our May trip to Europe.

Challiman, I truly understand your shoe problems. The only shoes I've found, other than athletic shoes, that are comfortable on my fallen arches, neuroma and stress fractured heel are SAS lace-ups. I like the black suede because they seem less noticeable than the shiny leather. The shoes have a very wide toe box (even in the narrow widths) and accommodate an orthotic. I even convinced my daughter, who is much more fashion-conscious than I, to try a pair for travel and she loves them. Ecco slip-on low wedges work for me for shorter walks.

CarolA, I wear my vest on the plane and it keeps me just-right-warm on overnight flights, maybe using the airline blanket on my legs only. I have used the vest only for flights so I really can't address the issue of how warm it might be while touring around. DH has worn his while touring but only in cool-ish weather. We use the vest mainly as an extra carry-on rather than as an item of clothing.

A little info on the Scottevest: I don't think the vest would provide much warmth, though the jacket I have with the zip off sleeves does help a good bit. Recently our weather has been really cold, single digit highs and sub-zero lows, slowly improving, though. One day when I was going to the mall I decided to wear my Cuddl Dud long sleeve top, a long sleeve tee shirt, and the Scottevest jacket. I hate lugging a coat around in the mall, where it is usually way too warm. I was really comfortable getting from the car to the mall, and not uncomfortable in the mall, even with the jacket on, though unzipped. I specifically bought it for use on flights and after arrival to carry some extra camera equipment that I often need in a hurry, as well as guide books and maps. I usually travel in March and October on bigger trips and think I could layer the whole thing under my regular coat, and for sure I could do that if I zip off the sleeves. In 50 degree plus weather I think it would work well, if other layers are added underneath.

I will check out the SAS shoes, anything to look a little less touristy, though the big camera pretty much speaks for itself. I have my New Balance shoes getting broken in now, and found some Land's End Trekker's that feel pretty good for the flight. Good old velcro! I don't know if they would work for all day walking, though.

Hi Therese!

I may have missed it upthread, but did you mention if you brought a handbag on this trip? I know you mentioned a daypack that you used as your personal item on the plane - perhaps that took the place of a purse while you were touring in destination?

If you do not bring a purse, what do you use in the evenings for dinner, dancing etc. - do you pack a small clutch, or just go without?

I'm curious as this is another area I struggle with - I like to use a traditional handbag (such as I would use at home, on the larger side) when I travel rather than a daypack/backpack, plus a smaller purse/clutch for evenings. But I do like to have a daypack as my personal item on the plane (and sometimes have no choice if I am on a business trip and am bringing my laptop), so this means I end up having to pack or carry 3 separate bags apart from my actual suitcase!

Please help me solve the case of the multiple bags!

bookmarking

The case of the multiple bags....

Until recently I pretty much just took my regular bag on trips with me (with an evening bag if I knew I'd need it). For everyday use at home I tend to favor medium-size bags with lots of compartments built-in, as otherwise everything just falls to the bottom of the bag and it's pretty frustrating. I don't like really large, oversized totes, and can't quite fathom how it is that they've gotten so popular, but that's just me. I can generally fit a small (very small) umbrella in this size bag, as well a guidebook (the DK series fit just fine), along with my usual stuff.

On my last trip (Part 7 of the series if you want to look for it), however, I was traveling for two weeks for work but wanted to do it using a Ryanair-compliant carry-on. So no day pack, and no regular size purse---if I did take a purse it was going to have to be very lightweight one, and be able to fit either in the pocket of my coat or inside my single 10 kg or less carry-on.

So I decided to switch back to a purse style that I'd used when I was younger, a small clutch that is essentially just a large wallet. These typically come with a long strap so that you can wear it across your body, as well as with a wrist strap.

Here are two examples (that I happen to own):

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=339943&CategoryID=27730

http://www.ebags.com/buxton/check_clutch_mini_bag_on_a_string/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=1187

Each has their advantages. One is sturdier but weighs more; the other one is lighter but offers less in the way of zippered compartments, etc.

In both instances I've stopped using the shoulder straps entirely (and removed them), finding that it's easier and more atractive (no strap cutting uncomfortably into my shoulder or disrupting the line of my blouse or dress) to carry them with the wrist strap looped around my wrist.

So, no room for an umbrella, and no room for a guide book. I do still have room for my camera as well as my iPhone. My iPhone's come in quite handy insofar as replacing some aspects of a guidebook, and I sometimes just tear the pertinent pages out of a large book and tuck them into the purse.

Now that I've gotten used to having a very lightweight purse when traveling I've gotten a bit spoiled, finding my regular purse heavy and uncomfortable. I often walk to work, and when I do I put my purse (and lunch) in a day pack, as it's much more comfortable on my back and shoulders.

This sort of bag is particularly great for receptions and meetings where you end up standing around a lot, possibly holding a drink, as I can just let the bag dangle from my wrist. If I'm going dancing I don't usually bother with a bag, as I'm usually with my husband and can give him what little I need (credit card, drivers license, lipstick) to put in his pocket.

I've got two trips coming up in March, and won't take a day pack on for either of them. I'll have a carry-on and a tiny purse and that's it.

Therese - I want to thank you for all great packing light / carry-on only suggestions. I used many of them on a trip to Italy in November '08. It was my first extended trip with carry-on only baggage and I'll never go back to checked baggage again!

We are leaving tomorrow for a trip to Florida and will once again be traveling with carry-on baggage only. My family - who we will be visiting in FL - just can't understand how we can do this! My sisters pack more stuff for a three-day weekend than we do for 2 weeks! I can't wait to share all the tips and tricks with them.

BTW - we will each have a 19" Heys X-Case rollaboard and either a small shoulder bag or messenger bag.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and the encouragment!

Glad to hear it went well, SCFoodie. I saw your teaser post (and thank you to Fodors) about your trip, and am looking forward to your report.

I've been casting a covetous eye at the Heys bags. Is yours shiny or matte finish? It's not just the size of these bags but their low weight that I find appealing.

I'm also considering getting an even smaller bag (14"-18" in maximum dimensions), but a lot of them seem to weigh just as much as their 22" cousins.

Maybe I'll just use my day pack for some of these upcoming trips....

And here's a shout out to atlatty, who so far hasn't posted to the forum apart from some bookmarks. I'm going to go way out on a limb here and guess that he/she (almost certainly a she if bothering to bookmark this thread) is (a) an attorney and (b) from Atlanta. So hello from a fellow Hotlantan.

Back to shoes...

My mother wears SAS almost exclusively now (she's in her 70s) and really likes them. She wore black ones in Rome and did fine on the cobbles. I've actually tried them (the lace up ones with smooth toes would work just fine with trousers) but they rub right at this funny little protuberant bone on the medial aspect of my left (and on the the left) ankle.

I did find a cute pair of knee hig brown boots at Piperlime that I've ordered:

http://www.piperlime.com/browse/product.do?cid=19797&pid=615613&scid=615613012

My most comfortable dress boots ever (purchased an embarassingly long time ago, and the subject of many trips towere made by Ralph Lauren, and these are described as having a wide enough calf, so I've got high hopes.

And of course I'm doing my part to keep the economy rolling. I also made a point of shopping via Delta's SkyMiles shopping site, so will earn a total of 600 miles: 200 from AmEx and 400 from SkyMiles. Just that much closer to Paris....

OK,ANOTHER luggage question. I checked online for Heys Luggage and found some information. I have never used hard-sided luggage and wonder if it is as forgiving as soft sided. I know you can just stuff and stuff a suitcase, which pretty much negates it being easy to handle, but worry about a hard-sided one being more limited in what I could carry, especially in cold weather with bulkier items.
I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but if you or anyone else reading this has experience with hard-sided luggage, please advise. The ones I looked at weigh 5 lbs. something, which would be great. So, any thoughts or experiences would be welcome.

Bulky cold weather items are bulky in large part because they're designed to trap air. A hard-sided bag, once closed, will squish the air out and make the item smaller.

It's the same idea behind packing cubes or large ziploc bags: you compress the contents by excluding the air that's normally trapped by the fibers.

Remember my normal size latex foam rubber pillow? It squishes right down to nothing.

The Heys bags zip, so zipper failure is going to be the biggest issue. Any experience?

For carry on only, I would think the Heys zipper would be fine as long as you are trying to overstuff the bag.

With softsided, the strain of overstuffing is balanced between the zipper and the fabric. With hardsided, there's only the zipper. But, if you don't overdo it, I think it'd hold up fine.

I did do a dogpile search on "zipper failure heys luggage" and the only thing I found was a list of complaints on a $500+ garment bag from Briggs & Riley.

Therese,

I have enjoyed reading all of your posts about travel and packing! Thanks for all of the hints. I live in a southern state and am curious about your choice of boots for travel footware. I have difficult feet and it is so hard to find comfortable shoes for travel. Like your mother, my current travel shoes are SAS, and they are supposed to be made for travel. I wanted a lighter looking shoe so that I would have a 2nd travel pair, but the SAS loafers have a narrow toe area. Anyway, I am wondering if your boots have an advantage that I was not aware of. I seem to do a lot of walking when I travel. Thanks!
Marsh

SCFoodie -- or anyone else -- will the Heys X-case survive checking? I've given up on carry-on only because I just can't manage the liquid situation, so I will have to check. I do like the very light weight of the Heys but am concerned about checking it. Any experience? Thanks.
Kay

Well, I just answered my own question. The Heys website says it's recommended for carry-on only.

So far as I can tell the "carry-on only" issue with Heys is the finish on it: it scuffs easily (particularly the shiny version). So it's just not as pretty if it's been checked, but holds up fine.

Marsh, boots offer certain advantages to me that may not necessarily be advantages for you. My mother, for instance, uses SAS shoes because they lace (at least the ones she uses) and so give stability right at the foot.

There are several thing I like about boots (boots that fit, of course). The first is that they enclose the foot entirely (so in that respect they're like lace up shoes, whether SAS-type or athletic shoes), so the work that you typically have to do to even keep a shoe on your foot when you walk if you're wearing, say, pumps or ballerina flats, isn't needed. This is the same reason that I frequently choose non-boot shoes with a strap at either the ankle or over the instep (and dancing shoes are a great place to look for this type).

The second is related to the first, because that aspect of the design means the shoe (well, the shoe part of the boot) doesn't have to fit all that snugly. It can't be so loose that your heel slips too much(although you can tolerate a great deal more heel slippage in a boot that in other sorts of shoes), and it can't be so long that you trip over it, but I've got a lot more leeway when it comes to picking my size, and that's important when you've got weird feet: narrow heel, wide ball, very high arch.

The very high arch brings us to the third thing I like about boots: I can always use an orthotic. Because my arch is so high, my orthotic will pretty much lift much of my foot almost out of many shoes, and I end up with a heel that doesn't fit properly at all and is guaranteed to slip.

Finally, and importantly for me, they look professional. They don't have to look professional, of course, and I wear them for casual events as well, but if you've picked a classic style and wear them with tailored pieces you will look very pulled together.

So, in the end, comfortable and attractive.

Hi Therese -
You are a great one for finding all the good sites to buy boots online! Piperlime is a new one for me - thanks. I'm in the market as my favorite black boots (made by Blondo - tall riding boots) are just getting too worn down to look respectable. The heel has been resoled twice and the main sole is now worn but what's worse, the tops and sides are completely scratched. Hundreds of happy miles on this pair.

For me boots are the best footwear for travel if I'm going to walk a lot. The ones I buy are riding boots with a steel shank, thick latex soles and I slip in good orthotics. I can walk 10 miles a day with no problems. They look good w/ skirts or pants.

And, this may or may not be an advantage, but men seem to like boots a LOT. I have no idea why but that's what they tell me.

Indeed, men seem to like boots (on women, that is) quite a bit. And they don't even have to be particularly high heeled boots to warrant attention.

Tragic news about the Blondos, though. Sounds like you're sure they can't be brought 'round again. Piperlime offers free shipping and returns, but it's nothing like the lightening fast service of Zappos, where the items arrive almost before you've finished placing the order.

Still, better than dragging myself to the mall.

Therese,

Thanks for the information about boots! Are you able to wear them in warm/hot weather. I have a narrow heel and have the problem of shoes slipping on the heel. I am going to look for some new boots!

Well I went out with friends last night, a poll was taken, and it was decided that I needed new boots. So I just spent the last hour shopping online and found my Blondo boots for $154 on sale at endless.com. This is Amazon's shoe site and a lot of their boots are 20% off right now.

I think these are the 2008 version of my 2006 Blondo boots, there's just a slight change in the top of the shaft so they should be perfect. I also ordered a pair of similar Santana boots and Camper boots (the latter were also on sale) to compare since they have free returns.

I almost ordered a pair of lovely, and on sale, Franco Sarto boots at piperlime.com but they looked familiar. I emailed my daughter to find out what boots she had and a match disaster was avoided! Imagine traveling together with identical boots. Oh my.

I'll report back on which boots I keep. They should be here on Tuesday. I think Amazon has decided to take on Zappos in fast shoe shipping/free returns.

i am on the quest for good walking boots as well.
both, for me and dd.
as rosetravels comments, endless has definitely taken on zappos.
i ordered several from both sites on feb 3.
i received endless on the 4th and have yet to receive the ones from zappos. the tracking shows that i will not receive them until the 10th.
i ordered a bunch of le canadiennes as recommended on this forum and they are so amazingly comfortable.
i hope our feet feel the same way after hours and days of walking in paris.

Heh heh---once again, one of these packing threads has turned into a "buying boots" thread. And I'm pretty happy about it, as I've now discovered yet another great place to shop that doesn't involve a trip to the mall. endless.com looks great, especially since they appear to have good stock in models that have disappeared from other sites.

My old Lumiamis are gone forever, I fear.

Marsh, I do frequently wear boots to work in warm weather. Because I live in Atlanta, once it gets warm it gets very warm, so everything's air-conditioned (so it may be even chillier inside than it is in the winter, and in any case we've got a dress code) and it's too hot to walk to work unless I'm actually dressed to work out (and I'd need a shower once I got there). So the actual temperatures that I deal with are pretty similar year 'round.

In general, I prefer cool weather to hot weather, and choose to travel in cool or even cold weather. If we do end up someplace beach-ish I'm more interested in sitting around sipping tropical drinks than in seeing the sights. A mountain trip would call for hiking boots.

My vision of hell involves visiting a very busy place at a very hot time. Rome, say, in the summer. Bleah.

sorry therese, did not mean to hijack the packing thread.
i get a lot of packing points from your posts and was just thrilled to share a new site to buy boots.

No worries, abranz---the thread goes where it goes, there's no question of hijacking, and the more contributions the better. I'd say that packing light and footwear run neck and neck here at Fodor's when it comes to general queries about travel.

You got me....I just bought a pair of boots from endless.com after reading your posts. They were on sale plus the additional 20% off. I've ordered Etienne Aigner Whitney Boot for something like $73. Thanks for the heads up! My clogs were just not going to be of any help on vacation as I seem to twist my ankle occasionally on uneven surfaces.

And I've just bought another pair as well, from endless.com. And at Delta SkyMiles Shopping endless.com is offering 5 miles/$, and these boots (Van Eli Pelipa) weren't cheap at nearly $200, so I'll end up with a 200 miles for the purchase on AmEx, and 1,000 miles for the purchase at SkyMiles Shopping.

These boots are very similar to a pair that I bought in Paris almost exactly six years ago and pretty much wore right into the ground. Woo hoo!

Therese - an Imelda at heart.

Imelda-like in my penchant for shoes, but I'm guessing that Imelda wasn't exactly a carry-on only sort of gal.

Yes, I guess packing threads do all come down to shoes in the end!

Fed-ex just stopped by, in a light snowfall, to kindly bring me several pairs of black boots from Endless.com.

The Blondo Valente boots are a huge disappointment. The leather is thin, not like my old pair, but I think in a matter of weeks it would look worse. After trying on once the leather was baggy. Baggy! Babar is not the look I'm going for. Back they go.

Camper Knee High 1911 are adorable. They're more casual than my other boots, a nice thick almost pebbled leather, but the sole is simply too flexible for me. On more than one occasion my former shoe salesperson told me I just can't wear this brand for that reason. As usual, Abigail was right. Plus one of the calves was much too tight. Darn.

Santana Nicki. Now this is a boot! Thick supportive sole, my smart feet orthotic fits, lovely shiny tall upper with thick well crafted leather. It's a little tight in the calf and I see the Santana Natasha is lovely too and 15 inches at the top, rather than the 14 that the Nicki has. I have an old pair of Santanas (I can't throw my old boots away) and the new ones are a full 3 inches taller than the old. Cool!

I'll send the Blondo and Camper boots back and order the Santana Natasha. I'll end up keeping one of the Santana boots and these will be fantastic for walking and travel. I'll take my old Blondos to the cobbler for repair and wear those in the snow, slush and rain around town.

FedEx and/or UPS (or possibly the US mail) dropped by my house today as well, but no snow: temps in the high 60s/low 70s this week.

So, the brown Ralph by Ralph Lauren "May" boots that I ordered from Piperlime don't work: they run large, but even if they didn't the foot isn't shaped enough (though it looks like it would work from the photo) and the shaft is too wide (even for my chunky calves) and they basically look like galoshes.

On the other end of the spectrum are the boots from endless, "Pelipa" in black from Vaneli: very shaped foot with a pointy (on the very limits of too pointy, but still okay for me), and the shaft is a sock-style pull-on, so very fitted around the ankle. Not all the way knee-high on me, but fine for this boot. Very similar to the boots they're replacing (that I bought in Paris 6 years ago), but possibly a bit nicer leather.

So, the brown boots go back and I've just ordered another pair of brown ones from endless. These are embossed croco brown, so they could be great, or they could be icky.

I'll know for sure tomorrow.

Back to the boots: I returned the first pair and ordered another, this time Sudini Prestige. I'm thinking these are keepers, low heel, very pretty leather. Sharp, nicely stylin', not fancy but very pretty once noticed. Notice also, they already have dog poop on them.
Now I need socks. I often have cold feet when not in the middle of a hot flash. I can already feel the socks I have on creeping into a bunch and it's only been 10 minutes. Does anyone have a perfect sock recommendation?
Also, looking online I saw the footless tights, capri style. Do these work with boots? Do they creep up and hang out around the knee? Should I fork out for Spanx?

pdx - I haven't worn my Spanx with boots, but I'm sure you could. Mine don't ride up on my leg. They stay were I put them.

I'm here to report that I decided against the Santana Nicky so I'm waiting for another couple of pairs to try. I almost ordered the Sudini! I'm glad they worked out for you pdx.

I've worn footless tights with boots in winter so I can wear my wool socks and the ones I bought (I think they were DKNY) stayed put a little too well. The band at the bottom cut into my leg too much - not good for circulation. And my legs are pretty thin. I do like Spanx tights and think they'd be worth a try in the footless. The Spanx knee high socks work for me but I like to wear wool socks with my boots, the Smartwool ones are my favorite.

Well, I am still trying to figure out the NEW set up here and so far I'm struggling a bit. LOTS of scrolling up and down.

Anyway, just checking in as it is now 4 weeks til my trip and I'm trying to incorporate some of these suggestions. So far I'm still stuck with my white athletic shoes as my main walking shoes in Rome. I've tried on dozens of shoes and those are still the best for me. Oh well, Rome will survive.

I've never worn footless tights with boots. Instead I just wear regular tights and wear socks over them if I need more warmth.

No recommendation for the perfect socks, but I do wear knee high hosiery-type socks with trousers and always buy them in the queensize version---they stay up, and are just a little bit less tight around the top of my calf.

Challiman, I wouldn't give a moment's thought to the white athletic shoes---wear them and enjoy your happy feet.

Oh, and since we're talking about lingerie/hosiery sorts of issues, here are two (sort of) recent discoveries to share, both related to my penchant for wearing dresses.

The first is a type of tights made by Spanx (and increasingly by other companies, though I've only tried the Spanx product) that don't stop at the waist but instead go all the way up your rib cage, stopping right at the bra line. Yes, they do stay up, and they're actually quite comfortable, as there's not waistband to dig into your tummy. And, for the incurably vain among us, they create a nice smooth line for dresses that are a bit clingy through the waist.

Of course, now that you've got this nice smooth line you don't want to ruin it with a half slip that will be obvious at your waist, so instead you choose a full slip. But I've had trouble finding full slips lately, and even when I do it ends up having some stupid itchy lace on it somewhere, or being too long or something. So I've started using silky nightgowns that are cut like slips instead, and they're perfect. Target sells lots of them in this style.

I wore my boots to work today and my feet feel fine. Yahoo! Socks are still an issue. Today's socks are to tight around the calf and halfway through the day I became aware of them. I'll look into those smartwool's, rosetravels. And the spanx. Never thought of looking for spanx socks.
It's funny all the shopping I do at Goodwill yet I end up spending a fortune on the underclothes.

Well I'm starting to feel like I'm the Princess and the Pea, only it's shoes. There's a growing stack of boxes in my bedroom and only one that might work:
http://www.endless.com/dp/B00125BJ1G/ref=ef_em/

I have one more pair coming tomorrow, patent leather boots from La Canadienne. Then I'll have to decide. I have a trip to NYC coming up soon and I need boots.

pdx - can you tell me more about the Sudini's? I'm looking for an attractive boot but with a sturdy, not very flexible sole with good support. I think the ones I might end up with due to fit are on the casual side but I'm curious about the Sudini's. Love the look. And underclothes...I think the right underclothes makes such a difference.

Therese - Spanx has a wonderful full slip. I stumbled on a couple of websites this winter with great undergarments: www.herroom.com and then www.barenecessities.com. The slip is spendy, especially compared to Target (great idea!) but really great in giving a smooth, smooth line.

Challiman - there is nothing more important than good, comfortable support when you're traveling. It sounds like you've given it a good try, the athletic shoes will be fine. I have a pair of black oxford shoes by Finn Comfort I keep packing along. They're made in Germany so you can imagine how sensible they look! My daughter describes them as nun shoes. Oh well - I can walk miles in them.

Looks like the Spanx slip is called Hide & Seek, right? A nice option for a close-fitting dress that needs a very smooth line (on the Spanx site the fabric edges are described as "surged"---my home ec teacher would have a heart attack).

A lot of my dresses have empire waists, so what I'm really looking for there is a something that helps the skirt of the dress float away from the body, and that's when the nightgown style is perfect. I also have a lot of dresses with v-necks that would be too deep for the rounded neckline of the Spanx slip.

I also have two pairs of rejected boots (and their associated packing materials and boxes) in a corner of my bedroom. One pair may work for my 15-year-old daughter, as her feet are a bit larger than mine and she's more likely to tuck skinny jeans into them, so we'll try that before the weekend comes. She'll be a very, very well-dressed 15-year-old.

Dang, those are cute, rosetravels. I was looking for a thicker sole like this sesto boot because my feet get sore under the balls of my feet so easily. We all know about tired, sore feet from walking all day, but to compound it with fashionable but otherwise useless shoes is crippling. Been there, done that.
The Sudini prestige isn't thick on the sole but it isn't throwing my weight onto the balls of my feet, either. I didn't notice them at all. My feet aren't sore this morning from wearing the boots all day yesterday.
These are a little loose in the back of the calf but I don't have much in the way of calves. Thighs, yes, calves, no.
I'm using my orthotic inserts, too. I think Therese mentioned wearing orthotics. I almost don't need them in these boots, but I'm too chicken to go without. I have very close to flat feet and need the artificial arch to keep me walking instead of giving up and being pushed around in a wheelchair. Old lady feet at 50.

Therese - just got back from FL. Again the Heys X-Case worked wonderfully. Mine is a matte finish - teal. Bought it online at Costco. It is the lightest-weight rollaboard I could find, and very inexpensive. I think the price was around $65.

Mom and sisters were impressed with what I could fit in it but still weren't convinced they could make "carry on only" work for themselves. I did my best to assure them that they could do it - just have to plan and be comfortable not bring your entire wardrobe along!

I still took too much with me on this trip. Next time I will probably leave out a few pieces of clothing and maybe add a lightweight pair of sneakers.

And I'm still working on getting that Italy trip report written!

Thanks for the update on the Heys X-Case, SCFoodie. Have you noticed any issues with scuffing of the matte finish? Apparently the glossy finish doesn't even need the tender attention of baggage handlers to get scuffed.

Not that I care too very deeply if my bag's got a scuff or two, but that is apparently the rationale behind the manufacturer only recommending it for carry-on.

For all you boot-loving gals -- endless.com is having a one-day sale today (Friday).
Kay

Therese - no scuffing on the Heys X-Case. I really love this little rollaboard. I just looked on Costco.com and they don't have this one (19") available right now. Just the 20".

Excellent news re the lack of scuffs so far on the Heys. I found the 19" at Target.com, but eBags is only showing the 20" bag (which is also 10" deep, a problem if an airline is being strict about 9" max depth). eBags also features one they call the mini that's only 17.5" tall, but the fact that the wheels feature strobe-effect lights make it pretty obvious that they product was originally made for children.

"but the fact that the wheels feature strobe-effect lights make it pretty obvious that they product was originally made for children. "

But think how cool you will look rolling through Hartsfield with flashing lights on your wheels!

Another sort of bling entirely.

I'm imagining what the security people in Frankfurt (a humorless bunch if there ever was one) would make make of the wheels.

Just an FYI>

I was at a TJMaxx today (in California) They had the Heys bags there for very reasonable prices. ($69.99) I THINK they had the 19" I know it was smaller then my 21" and to my untrained eye it looked to be the 19" I could not find the size on the tags.

This TJMaxx only had the small in Orange, but there were other Heys bags there in other colors so there may be some inventory out ther.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but are hard sided bags "expandable?" A friend says she saw one at Stein Mart, but I haven't been there yet. How would that work? Anyone have any experience with such an item?
Thanks.

The bag I saw today was expandable. The "expansion" part was soft sided. Basically it "unzipped" just like a soft side does and there was a "fabric" expansion. (Kind of hard to explain but...)

Wow, that was fast. Thanks! I'll check it out.

Well, here it is two days before I leave to meet my friend and off we go the next day to Rome. Finally!
I decided on a 22 inch Delsey Hyperlite bag, and I now have even more admiration for Therese than ever. On this trip I am not doing carry-on only, because I have a lot of camera stuff I have to carry on. But I still wanted a very light, much smaller suitcase than I've traveled with before.
We'll have 7 nights and I have the following:
3 pairs of pants, 7 shirts, one off-white v-neck sweater, underwear, socks, one pair pajamas, robe, three scarves, toilet articles, make up, pair of shoes, guide books, one lightweight raincoat with hood, two small hats (basal cells require me to wear them), small bag of almonds and M&M's, Equal, and decaf tea bags, travel clock and batteries for a small camera.
In the backpack I have the DSLR camera, extra lens, charger, 3 batteries, 2 memory card holders, a small camera, an extra blouse, Cuddl Dud set to sleep in if we get stuck, or if needed in Rome, carry-on liquids, carry-on make-up stuff, a long black shawl, small bags of almonds and M&M almonds, travel documents and passport, flash light.
I also have a "purse," which will hold my extra camera lens in Rome, but now will hold wallet, travel toothbrush and paste, etc.
And a pillow attached to the back pack.
I know I've left things out, but honestly, this is bare bones and I still have no idea how Therese gets all that stuff in her bag. I'm just about as perplexed as I was before I started.
Anyway, this is still a work in progress, a learning curve, and we'll see how it goes.
I will use my Scottevest pockets for all sorts of stuff I need ON the plane, eye glass case, book, breath strips, lipstick, tissues, etc.
I"M STILL TAKING TOO MUCH! I never intended to take the "purse" that is really a small bag that can be a backpack or cross body bag for use on the plane, but that seems to be the best thing to do now.
Oh well.............

Challiman - for 7 nights (8 days - 2 on plane), I'd wear one pair of pants and pack 2 pairs (that's 2-3 times per pair), and no more than 4 tops (that's 2 times per top). I always take pajamas, but I only take a pair that has good coverage so I don't need a robe over them - then I skip the robe completely.

I don't take guide books with me (not since my first trip). Instead, I make notes of sights (hours, cost, location, etc.), directions, activities, restaurants, etc. I use a "coupon holder" to hold it all along with tickets, car rental paperwork, etc. It's no bigger than one paperback and works great to reduce the bulk of guidebooks (as well as keeping receipts organized during the trip).

toedtoes, thank you for those thoughts. I may do a revision, as now the forecast is calling for at least several days of much cooler weather, rain and even SNOW in Rome! Three of the tops are Travel Smith very light that I wear an undershirt with, but I will see if I can eliminate something there. We're staying in one place this trip, so I can wash things out by hand as needed.
Despite taking only very small sizes in toiletries, that seems to take up a lot. And after twice getting sick, nothing serious, I always take some cold and stomach meds with me. When I travel in the US I am perfectly capable of packing very light, but somehow when I'm not I think I need to be prepared for most situations. I was sick in Venice over a weekend, the first two days there, and it was very difficult to find a pharmacy open, or even a store that sold meds, so I do like to be prepared.
I do have some notes copied, but also the Eyewitness Top 10 and the Fodor's guide. Maybe I'll make some copies in that today and leave the whole book home. The coupon book idea is a very good one.
Well, have to get my hair cut today, so off to do that and then home to revise, once again. Thanks!

Would anyone do a 10 day trip with a carry-on if there aren't any laundry facilities?
TY

Even carry-on luggage has negatives (beyond having to drag it around the terminal and aircraft and lift it into and out of overheads).
1. Any weight an aircraft must carry adds to the cost of flying the aircraft, thus the cost for passengers.
2. The more people boarding with luggage, the longer it takes to get ready to take off and the longer it takes to depart the aircraft.
3. Luggage can fall and hurt someone.
4. If the plane is full, they might not let you board with it.

And, let's face it, even with carryons, spoiled tourists are still carrying more than they need. I have gone over the decades from checking bags, to carryon only, and, now, to almost a totally pure and free traveler.

I urge everyone to up their travel games and do as I do--travel with only what you can carry in your pockets! And no cheating by adding extra layers of jackets and coats to get more pockets.

Yes, my right rear trouser pocket with the one pair boxer shorts that I carry partially hanging out does garner some comment and a few stares, but isn't it worth to be a "real" travler as opposed to the dreaded, overloaded, overconsuming, western "tourist"?

You'll be surprised at how much you can stuff into your pockets if you are determined and cut back your "needs" to only your REAL "requirements." So my pockets have that one pair of boxers (also used as jammies and swim trunks and washcloth and handkerchief), ATM card, credit card, corkscrew, gluestick, passport, a tangerine, and lots of AA batteries (since batteries are so expensive everywhere except Walmart).

You can imagine the freedom of going to the airport, getting on and off the aircraft, and breezing through customs with no luggage whatsoever.

Oh, I do also have my head shaved before I go so I don't have to bother with combs, brushes, shampoo, etc.

I, too, am a carryon traveler and use the Heyes lightweight case. My tip for managing this is to use a Lush shampoo bar for washing hair and a Naptha soap bar for doing laundry. They are small and compact and eliminate to need for bulky bottles of liquids.

You've got that tangerine in one of your front pockets, right, Rufus? I'd hate to see your passport get all wet and sticky.

Yes, julieah, I've done 10 day (and longer) trips without laundry facilities. I do generally end up rinsing out panties and tights/socks on those trips, but that's not really because I was being conservative about packing but because I don't happen to own that many pairs of panties, etc.

Bucerias, which Lush shampoo bar do you use? I'd been using the gray one (lemon and fennel?), but think I may be going back to the white one for my next trip.

Therese: Actually my pockets are so full of AA batteries that I balance the tangerine on my head.

So shaving your head means that the coefficient of friction is such that the tangerine won't slip around so much. Very clever.

So we: me, husband and 16 yr old daughter are leaving 3/26 for 10 days in Greece. Have decided to switch to Heys 20" instead of Samsonite 22" which we check, and carry-on.
Our main reason was because after we booked (in Sept) a fairly direct flight- Mpls-JFK-Athens, Delta changed it half a dozen times then finally cancelled it.
We rebooked in January and the best we could do was US Airways Mpls-Phil-Munich-Athens. Same on way home but Rome instead of Munich.
We don't want to show up in Athens with no luggage. Packing light has never been a problem for us but I hope we don't show up at one of our stops and have to check our bags, on the way home we might anyway.
WTnow: video of daughter very cute. What will you do when she graduates to a full-size violin? My daughter has been playing since she was 5. By the time she turned 12, she was using a full-size.
Maybe she could switch to flute!
PS she also plays bass in a band, check them out at facebook/forthandback

Oops, got facebook on the brain, my daughter's band is on myspace.com/forthandback

Mpls is Minneapolis? MSP is the usual airport code, and I'm surprised that you gave up on DL given the NW (now DL) presence in that market. I was always assume that any flight that I've reserved that far out is likely to be changed, and almost always manage to get better or at least equivalent routing by dealing with the original airline.

You're ticketed with US, I gather? Sounds like some of that itinerary will be on codeshare equipment, in which case I'd get familiar with those airlines' carry-on policies. Even though you're on an international itinerary and should be permitted whatever US says, you could run into some conflict with the operating airlines' staff. Better safe than sorry.

In any case, I agree that a carry-on only approach is a particularly important one in this instance.

Therese, yes Mpls is Minneapolis and even before Delta took over NW, it was hard to get anywhere, now it's impossible.
Usually, minor time changes are typical but Delta changed the route and times so much that finally they wanted us to spend a night in Atlanta so we wouldn't get to Athens till Saturday March 28th instead of Friday March 27th. We cancelled, they refunded our money.
Our flights are now US Airways MSP-Phil(operated by Express-Republic Airlines) Phil-Munich (US Air)-Munich (operated by Lufthansa)- Athens.
On the way home we are flying Aegean to Rome the US Airways to Phil then the same Republic Express to MSP.
So I'll check out the carry-on rules. It's the Phil-Munich-Athens portion that's the most important because I'm sure the Republic Express is just one of those flying Greyhound bus sized planes and you have to check your bag.

But presumably you won't have to really check your bag on the flying bus, but instead just stow it underneath when you board and retrieve it when you de-plane.

So, yes, check Lufthansa and Aegean. Either or both may have weight restrictions that are much less forgiven than mainline U.S. carriers. I don't find them to be problematic in the end, but it's good to be aware.

And I did just check the DL website and was truly horrified to see that you're correct, no itinerary that didn't involve an overnight in transit. Bleah.

Rufus - too funny! I do have to mention that my husband carries only a small daypack these days. He's way beyond travel light.

Challiman - have a great trip! I agree you can probably get away with fewer clothes but it sounds like you've really pared everything else down quite a bit. We just spent 5 days in New York where I did carry-on but still brought too much.

Challiman, the short answer to how I manage to fit as much as I do in my bag is "just squish it all in there together."

The long answer is "just squish it all in there together with a sense of absolute conviction that it will, indeed, all fit."

Since this thread is awake again, I'll post another list. This was for a U.S. trip last week, but would easiy have served for a European trip as well.

Color scheme was brown and blue, more precisely shades of teal blue.

On the trip up I wore (or used):

brown gore-tex boots (short, dressy, pointy toe, mid-heel)
blue jeans
white V-neck T-shirt with 3/4 length sleeves
brown (and a tiny bit of white and teal) tweed-ish jacket with round collar and 3/4 length sleeves
brown fleece swing-style coat
brown fleece gloves
pale teal scarf with multi-color crewel embroidery
teal leather purse (mid-size, my everyday purse at the moment)
teal blue mini-umbrella

In my suitcase were the following items:

brown leather boots, knee high, high heel

brown and white pattern wrap dress, long sleeve
brown knit sweater dress, 3/4 length sleeve
brown empire waist knit dress, 3/4 length sleeve
brown and purple print empire waist knit dress, long sleeve

brown dress trousers

brown jeans

teal and brown paisley knit wrap-front top, long sleeve
teal knit top, solid, long sleeve
teal knit top, patterned, long sleeve
white knit top, 3/4 length sleeve
purple knit top

purple, teal, lime green, and brown patterned jacket with mandarin collar and leg o' mutton sleeves

two nightgowns/slips

two bras

various socks and tights (didn't do any laundry at all)

panties

flat iron (for hair)

toiletries (the usual stuff)

jewelry (mostly earrings)

a novel and some paperwork to do on the plane (which all fit in my purse)

pillow (yes, yes, I always take my pillow)

Temps at my destination ranged from mid-70s to below freezing with heavy snow, all in the space of not quite 5 days. So obviously I waaaay overpacked. I could have changed my clothes three times a day and still not exhausted the possibilities.

Whoops, forgot to mention that I went shopping while on this trip (an expected two hours of downtime, and a shopping mall right next door).

So I bought three dresses:

pale teal empire waist knit dress with 3/4 length sleeves
white and black print, style identical to above
black sleeveless sheath style dress with a narrow black belt (that I probably won't wear, and I need to remember to work on my upper arms before summer arrives)

I wore the pale teal dress out to dinner one night.

I looked at the Aegean and Lufthansa web sites, and both have 8 kg limits on their cabin luggage, 55 x 40 x 20 cm (so the usual carry-on size, but it really should be within the limits). Lufthansa permits a small personal item, and Aegean doesn't mention it one way or the other.

You can definitely do this if you're careful, and using a backpack rather than a wheeled bag will make it quite easy given that you're used to packing light, julieah.

Therese-I have been using the red Lush shampoo bar that smells like cloves. I think it supposed to stimulate the scalp. I tried the one with the shampoo and conditioner combination but I didn't like it as well. It certainly is a convenient product for travel.
Connie

Therese-I forgot to comment that I just flew Lufthansa to Budapest and they weighed my carryon in Seattle! The agent made a comment that up to 10 kg is probably OK but that the gate agent could have the bag checked if "it looks heavy". Fortunately, my Heyes X-bag looks light.

Challiman - the great thing about "overshirts" and "undershirts" is that you can mix and match them for more use. For example:

Day 1: Tank A with Shirt 1
Day 2: Tank B with Shirt 2
Day 3: Tank C with Shirt 3
Day 4: Tank A with Shirt 2
Day 5: Tank B with Shirt 3
Day 6: Tank C with Shirt 1
Day 7: Tank A with Shirt 3
Day 8: Tank B with Shirt 1
Day 9: Tank C with Shirt 2

You've only worn each piece 3 times, but you have 9 different looks. I've found that if I vary the colors more, I feel less like I'm wearing a "uniform". So, instead of a red and 2 cream tanks and 3 black shirts, I'll do 1 each sage, rose, yellow tank and 1 each sage, rose, yellow shirt. They all mix and match with neutral (olive, khaki, navy, etc.) bottoms and the change of colors adds variety.

For toiletries, I've reduced in a couple ways. First, I only take what I actually use daily at home - no exceptions. Second, no fancy toiletry bag with the separate compartments - I use a simple men's toiletry case with one main compartment and a couple zipper pockets. Each liquid item is put in its own plastic baggy for extra protection and then squished into the case together. The zipper compartments hold the razor, cuticle scissors, nail file, etc. so that I don't reach in and poke myself.

I am particular with my shampoo and conditioner (I have really curly hair and it doesn't do well with most products), so I don't skimp on the quantity of those. I use my shower gel for shaving needs also. My face moisturizer doubles as sunscreen.

The time is nigh and I'm never going to get to sleep tonight! I have redone a couple of things, removed some, exchanged a few, and now feel rather confident that all well be well in the morning.
I do notice no mention of snacks and I MUST take some with me on the plane as I need to eat fairly often and can't rely on anything from the airlines anymore. So, I have my almonds, almomd M&M's, and two small Weight Watcher mini-bars.
I did get some of the soap sheets, but also need to bring my own shampoo and conditioner, very small containers, and moisturizer which is also sunscreen. Nothing extra in the make-up department, either. No fancy toilet bag, either, good old ziplock bags do the job.
Anyway, thank you all for the help for this trip, will be happy not to lug that usual big bag, even though this time we're in just one place. If it wasn't for the good bit of camera equipment I really could do this totally carry-on.
I'll report back when I return.
And she's off............

Therese: are you saying we should not bring 20" Heys 4WD but backpacks instead?
No can do. If they make us check them, then I guesss that's what will happen.

I mean that it's much easier to meet a very low weight allowance if the bag itself doesn't weigh very much. The Heys bags are very low weight for rolling bags (this model is 6 lbs as per eBags) but not as low you'd be able to find for a non-rolling soft side bag (backpack-style or not).

8 kg is 17.6 lb, of which you're using 6 lb for the bag. 11.6 lb worth of clothing isn't too much of a stretch, but you will want to be very careful about things like toiletries, books, and gear (cameras, computers, etc.). I recently did a two week trip with a single 10 kg bag (in order to make Ryanair's carry-on requirements, so not even a small purse permitted). I did laundry, but could certainly have gotten by without doing it. Note that my travel is typically for work, so I need to look pretty pulled together---if a trip is leisure you can get by with a lot less.

I recently purchased this backpack-style bag. The straps are too long for me, but my teenage son uses it and loves it.

http://www.ebags.com/victorinox_swiss_army/standard_traveler_3_0_standard_overnighter/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=76160

Hi Therese - Hoping you can help me find something. Last year I purchased lightweight, inexpensive, disposable overshoes to put on over my walking shoes in the event of rain/wet conditions. They came flat in a plastic bag. They were "rubbery" and just rolled on over my shoes. And they worked GREAT!

I thought I had purchased them at packinglight.net, but now don't see them on that website. There is one item listed there that might work http://www.packinglight.net/plight/product.asp?s_id=0&prod_name=Tingley+Lady%27s+Weather+Sandals&pf_id=PAAAIAOAINKOLHCP&dept_id=3027

But these seem to be heavier and more shoe-like than what I remember.

Any chance you know where I could find this product?

BTW - you inspired me to be a carry on only traveler and so far it's worked out wonderfully for me! Leaving on my next trip in 6 weeks - carry on only. And I am introducing one of my sisters to that concept - she's struggling, but getting there!

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me on this.

Packinglight.net also shows a Totes product that weighs a bit less (10 oz vs 1 lb 2 oz) and looks a bit more attractive. I googled "disposable galoshes" and only came up with plastic bag sorts of contraptions.

Glad to hear that the carry-on approach is working for you. It still works for me, and was great on a recent trip to France and Switzerland when I was recovering from foot surgery a few months prior. No hassle with trains and public transportation, in spite of a not-entirely-cooperative right foot.

My next trip abroad is will be to Asia, 23 days in Japan, Singapore, and Bangkok (so even more extreme climate differences than the trip for which this thread was started). Lots of short stops and trains this time, so definitely a carry-on sort of venture.

Therese you are now kind of a packing guru here..
thanks for helping so many of us.

Thanks Therese. I'll be ordering one of those options. Hope your foot is healed!

Thanks, amsdon. I've picked up all sorts of cool tips re packing light here at Fodors, and I'm happy to share the wealth. I'll probably post a packing thread re my big upcoming Asia trip on the Asia forum, and will post a link to it here once I start it.

As for my foot, surgery (for both conventional and tailor's bunions) was June 15. Non-weight bearing for nearly seven weeks, walking cast for three weeks, and then finally shoes. Still far from 100%, but I get along quite well and walk as much as possible. I'm very happy with the results and will be doing the same surgery on the other foot when I return from Asia next year. Woohoo.

Bunions?