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10 days in Italy in a carry on?

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10 days in Italy in a carry on?

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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 12:02 PM
  #21  
 
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I am REALLY going to make the effort on my next trip--it will only be 7 nights and I am determined. I will check in for further counseling (Probably need group as well as private sessions) closer to the departure date (not until September).

Many thanks!!

ps. I always buy foods, so will attempt to do carry on from US to Italy.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 12:13 PM
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"Hello, my name is ekscrunchy and I'm an overpacker." ;-)

Don't worry, we're here for you. The food items are only an issue if there's liquid in them. Unfortunately things like jams count as liquid, so do immediately put you in the checked baggage category.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 12:17 PM
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I learned to live out of a carry on 2 years ago when our luggage was lost for 3 weeks. I found it nice to not have all that stuff. So last year that's all I took and will do so again this year.

I also take a small(about6x8") envelope(available in any luggage store) that opens into a duffle. On the way home we put our dirty clothes in there & check it and put our purchases in our carry-ons.

I also stick to black at night with some bright colored tops or scarves. Since we had an apartment in Paris that helped because there was a washer & dryer.

I take only 1 pair of shoes for night and 1 extra pair for daytime.

Try it, you'll never drag all that stuff along again.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 12:29 PM
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Get a Baggallini Shopping Tote for the return. They are great. I either put my shopping in it and carry on for the return, or pack all my dirty clothes in it to check and use my sturdier roll-aboard for fragile items purchased.

http://www.ebags.com/baggallini/zip_...?modelid=18648
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 12:35 PM
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Hello, my name is ekscrunchy and I am an overpacker!!!

There, Therese, I took the first step!
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 12:54 PM
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So now we've covered the two approaches to returning with a second bag (that may or may not have been brought along packed inside the first one). The first is two check the flimsier bag containing just dirty laundry, and bring the sturdier bag into the cabin with you so as to protect fragile items. The second is to check the sturdier bag and carry the flimsy one.

I'm in the second camp, as the most likely reason for me to be checking a bag for the return flight is that it now contains liquids, and as these are heavier and very often come in glass bottles I don't want them in a flimsy bag. But if that isn't an issue then it works the other way as well.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:02 PM
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O.K.,
Let us discuss the make-up issue. Being from the south and of a certain age, we have all sort of potions, make-up, eye business, moistures, line reducers, sunscreen, hairspray, gooey stuff, etc.

We do carry-ons as well, but I must say, the above is my problem. Clothes, got it, underwear, a snap, but the hair-face-body business, whoa! Now that is a problem.

We do tend to the big-hair, (not me,) down here, but all my northern friends, well, they just wash their faces and go and don't think anything about it. It isn't that I think anybody gives me a second glance, I certainly couldn't tell you anybody I have seen, much less their faces.

I would like to be able to leave the entire mess at home and just go and be done with it. I always think next time. My make-up hair stuff and a several books is the small suitcase that piggy-backs on top of the 21".


Does anyone know of a little make-up kit that has it all? I would love to find one. I do use off-brand tiny travel hair sprays and gooey stuff, deodorant and the like.
B.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:09 PM
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I'm from the south, bramsole, and manage just fine in spite of my many different products. If you click on my name and look for old posts you'll eventually come across on of my packing threads (in fact, somebody posted a link to one of them upthread here). I'm am the very definition of high maintenance (for both toiletries and clothing), and I travel for weeks with carry-on only.

If I can do it anybody can do it, believe me.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:31 PM
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Look for alternatives to your standard products perhaps. That has made a big difference in my ability to pack carry on only.

I replaced my liquid cleanser with Olay cleansing pads and my makeup remover with Neutrogena make up remover towlettes. I found a concentrated conditioner in a small tube that lasts my husband and I a week - sharing - so we each pack one for a two week trip.

We each pack a travel size toothpaste. I pack mousse and spray and as well as pomade, all in minis. I have a Shisheido creme eye shadow that comes in a very small pot and for travel, I use a tinted facial moisturizer in a small tube rather than my usual jar of foundation. Travel size mascara and two glosses and a travel size blush, a powder brow shaper, and eyeliner crayon also go with me. All of that plus deoderant, a small spray perfume and a starter bottle of shampoo fit in a single quart size ziploc baggie.

We also pack a small travel steamer and a totes travel umbrella each.

It really can be done, with some creativity and perhaps a new approach to the products you normally pack.

And I, too, love clothes so I compromise on quantity but not style And my husband is more of a clothes horse than I am!
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:49 PM
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This website has lots of mini travel items.
http://www.minimus.biz/default.aspx
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:50 PM
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ekscrunchy:

I, too, bring back mostly foods, and sometimes quite a lot. I pack a medium-size duffel bag in the carryon, and put everything I buy into it. It's great in case you have to go through the Ag line, which I sometimes do, because everything they want to see is in that bag.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:53 PM
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kfusto, would you be willing to share the brand of your concentrated conditioner?
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:54 PM
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for the obsessive and answers to allll your questions, a great website
http://www.onebag.com/
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 01:58 PM
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I am packing today for a trip to Paris, and we do carryon only. One tip that works really well for me is to put cosmetic items in contact lens cases. I put one type of lotion in the L side and another on the R. This is enough for me for 7-10 days. And these things don't leak I use 1 oz bottles for my shampoo and hair stuff, which is plenty for that amount of time as well. Sample size mascaras and such from those gift with purchase items when I buy my usual stuff. Sometimes it is a pretty close match to what I use, so I keep those in my travel bag.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 02:52 PM
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Wow what great ideas!

I really like the contact lens case. My husband is an Optometrist and we have a gazillon of those at the office. I SHOULD have picked up on that! Head bang! Head bang!
I will check out these links! Thanks everybody!
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 03:23 PM
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I'm with Therese--carryon going over, checked luggage going back, with breakables in a shopping bag as my return carryon. Plus, I don't think anyone has mentioned this: going, my 22-inch suitcase still has room; coming home my suitcase is packed full PLUS the expandable section has been unzipped--another reason it must be checked.

Sorry, I'm a simple girl and don't use a lick of makeup nor do I have contact lenses. However every toiletry I do use has been decanted into teeny plastic bottles and travel jars that hold more than enough to last the length of the trip. I refill a few sample perfume ampules with my favorite scents and have enough to dab on for the length of the trip. I confess: I use Dove soap and when the bar I use daily gets small, I save the slivers to pack in my travel toiletries case. I also usually have a leftover sliver of my regular bath soap, just in case there's some situation where no soap is provided.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 03:45 PM
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I'm addicted to Dove soap also and the liquid kind just isn't the same nor are the Dove washcloths. I slice a regular bar into a few slices and put in snack size ziplock bags. I take as many bags as I have hotel changes so I don't have to take wet soap to the next location.

For concentrated conditioner that is in small tubes, I use the ones that come with hair dye. DS saves hers for us as DD likes them also to keep in her swim bag when she goes to water aerobics.

I usually try to take Prell shampoo as it's much more concentrated than other shampoos so you can take a smaller amount.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 03:50 PM
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I'm also a convert to carry-on regardless; I take a 21" rollie
and a Baggalini newsboy bag for my notebook, camera, chargers,
meds and contact lenses (Dailies).

I take a foldable nylon duffel for the return trip.

I find it takes more planning to pack for carry-on; you are
forced to be selective and critical in order to end up with
the right combination of clothing - stylish yet totally
practical. And yes, when you go makes all the difference.
A combo of travel-related OCD and age-related ditziness
means I start packing and re-packing at least a month before
I go. An innocent obsession!

As far as toiletries and make-up is concerned I take the
minimum in small quantities and look forward to exploring
the pharmacies and hypermarches in different countries. One
thing is certain, European women love make-up and pampering
products so you'll never be without a good source for whatever
you need.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 04:14 PM
  #39  
 
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bramsole--Sometimes the most obvious solutions are the hardest to see

I just finished packing. Wow, this is the lightest I have ever packed! I have a 21" rolling bag and it is just barely over half full, and the only thing left to add is my ziploc of cosmetics. I have 2 pairs of shoes in there, 8 undies, several bras, 2 pants, 1 skirt, 1 cardigan, 6 knit shells (sleeveless tops), 1 cami, 1 longish knit top,2 sheer blouses, and 1 regular blouse. Oh and a scarf and pj's. I just weighed it with my travel scale and it comes in at 7.95kg which is 17.5 pounds. Not too shabby! And I tossed in my cosmetics bag for the weight.
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Old Jun 14th, 2009, 04:14 PM
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Oops, I had 4 pair of pants, not 2.
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