Ekscrunchy: looking forward to your update...another thought, if you use a department store line of cosmetics, go to your hyper-friendly staffer and throw yourself on his/her mercy. I got some wonderful tiny size tester and samples of the Clarins line last time I was packing light...it helps if they either know you or have one of those computer registries so they know you are legit and not just scrounging.

My one experience with traveling and checking luggage was two years ago when we went to Norway for 10 days. We checked luggage b/c it was winter and we had a lot of ski wear and sweaters. Needless to say, we reveived our luggage on day 9 of our trip after it had been lost in Paris, or wherever, and somehow we managed with a 5 year old the whole time.

Ok, I am not from the South so I don't wear a lot of make-up, BUT, I do need the basics that can take up a lot of room. We travel a lot and almost always find shampoo, creams, soaps and basic make up wherever we travel ( Asia, Central America, Europe). It can be as part of the experience as going to the market and trying new foods or wines! Don't pack it, just buy it there and leave it there when you go! You'll be fine for a few weeks.

As for clothes, I was worried about packing for our trip to Italy in August b/c I heard every one in Italy dresses impeccably. But the information from this web-site has taught me that bringing the basics will be sufficient. As long as I feel I look OK who cares if I wear the same thing over and again a few times ( as long as it is cleaned in the meantime).

Bringing home things is another story. I do enjoy having a simple bag to fill with all of our dirty clothes and carrying on what treasures we have found whilst traveling and exploring. :-). Good luck and have fun!

Maybe we could start a club: the Dove Soap Sisterhood. I also use Dove soap (and won't use any other sort) and I also collect the little not-quite-used-up ends and keep them for future travel, storing them in little snack size ziplock baggies. One per location.

I've got a trip in January that's going to present a great packing challenge: three weeks, winter (in Japan) to tropical (Singapore and Bangkok) temperatures, and one flight with a 7 kg carry-on allowance. I may check my bag for that flight.

Or then again I might not. ;-)

I always have thought I was a pretty ingenious person-ya'll have beaten the bugs off of me! Great ideas, or good common sense. It really doesn't matter does it?

I am also a Dove girl. Hey, maybe we should all be in the Dover commercial. I know I would be happy to have that extra money!

I always wag my dove in a ziplock bag that quickly becomes mushy after a few stops.

Please keep these hints coming. I just might end up carrying on one large gallon zip-lock bag and one quart size for liquids. That would be a trick.

I have found all the tips here very useful, but we can never travel with carry-on luggage alone (there are 4 of us, including a 15 year old teenage girl). My problem is with all the cameras and charging equipment that I pack. I don't know what other people do, but we take two digital cameras and a video camcorder that all need charging, a transformer that weighs practically a ton and a universal plug adapter. I plan to bring my laptop to Switzerland with us in August, so that means lots more cords and a mini surge protector.

Two years ago we went to Italy, flying from Dulles to Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic and then on Alitalia to Rome. I was afraid that at least one of our checked bags would not make it to Rome with us, so I packed as much as I could in the 4 Jansport backpacks that we used as carry-ons. I used Eagle Creek's packing folders and cubes to pack about 3-4 days of clothes for everyone (2 adults, 2 children). Thankfully (and miraculously) our luggage made it to Rome with us, but I still pack like that every time we travel by plane. I love those Eagle Creek travel accessories, and I continue to buy them when they go on sale at the Container Store.

I bought all my teeny containers for creams at one of the big hobby supply stores. They came in a pack of twelve, I think, and I still have tons left over. I also wash out the tiny cream jars that come in the gift with purchase sets, and use those for my preferred cream.

I travel with an 18 or 19" roll aboard, and I almost always have something in my suitcase that I haven't used!

Another great travel item I have is a silk nightgown that is knit and kind of like a sleep T shirt. I got it on sale at WinterSilks.com, and the pattern is ugly, but I only sleep in it, so... It weighs nothing, folds up to nothing, and dries after rinsing in nothing flat.

One of my packing light tips is to use small zip lock baggies that I got in the office supply store. They are about 2.5" wide, and maybe 4.5" tall. I use them for my blister pads, toe tubes, mole skin, all my poor feet stuff, and a few other things, too. I use one for my emery boards and polish remover pads. One for my disposable razors.

I am really paring down my make up. I need moisturizer, a travel size powder, a travel size blush, a travel size mascara, brow stuff, and my usual lip liner and gloss. In the past, I've taken more, and really never used it after the first day or so.

I really don't want to take any guidebooks, so I am collecting older ones for cut and throw. Also now have a phone with a place for a mini flash card, on which I plan to put all my paper work; I usually have tons of lists of restaurants, opening times, etc. Books and paper are always heavy, and I bought the phone to eliminate paper. It's also a good travel alarm.

I try to find a really fat novel that will last the trip, but that doesn't always work, so I usually have a back up book. Somehow, I don't relish holding a Kindle or other electronic reading device.

I have also chosen my luggage to be super lightweight. Both my 18 and 19" rolling bags are under 5 pounds. I'm now shopping for the perfect lightweight messenger bag, but haven't found it yet. I'm returning one to Penney's this week.

for bramsole and the toiletries/cosmetics issue. i probably take at least 20 "products", not that I'm real high fashion or anything but I am very picky about what I use on my face & hair.

I take everything I normall use at home but only exactly the amount I need for the length of the trip. For example the shampoo & the conditioner I use is very concentrated so a 1 oz. refillable plastic container of each lasts me 2-3 weeks. I save face lotion sample sizes from the department store. Mine stuff can all pack in (1) 1-gal. ziplock of "dry" stuff & (1) 1-qt. ziplock of gel/liquids.

Theresem my conditioner is actually the stuff that comes with my hair color - Perfect 10 or Feria depending on my mood - as I color my own hair. They include small tubes of highly concentrated conditioner that is super for travel. If you don't color your own hair, maybe one of your friends does and will give you a tube or two.

As for contact lens case, I also use one to hold my pomade. I can fit enough for 2 weeks in a single case. I don't wear contacts but the case has been great!

Hey Tuscanlifeedit, Do you mind sharing the kind of roll-ons that you are using? I am going to Birmingham today and will have time to do a little shopping?

And I know I am totally out of touch with the phone business, but what is a flash card and what type of phone is that? Iphone?, Blackberry? How does one put anything on the flash card? Very interesting!
Great ideas, I live on the lake in a small town. I really need to get out more.

I think I would love the eagle creek packers, I'm understanding from ya'll they are really worth the price. I didn't know they were sold at the Container Store. I love this website!

I LOVE my packing cubes! Not only do they keep me organized but when I unpack at the hotel I just take out the whole cube and stick it in the drawer or on shelf and unzip as needed. Makes repacking a breeze as well.

all good suggestions above. I would just add that I won't pack a nightgown since you can only wear it in your room. Use either a super light comfy dress that can do double duty during the day or a tshirt and underwear or light pants.

I only travel with an 18" roller and my clothes take up only half the space. I fill the rest with all my magazines I want to go through and throw them out by recycling and leaving them at different places where other travelers might enjoy them. The half of the space the magazines took up is then used for my purchases during the travels to bring home. I never check in on return travel this way.

Even with this light approach, half the time there is something I didn't wear which annoys me....imperfect packing!

that being said, I think it helps that I am a female. My clothes are very light and each piece is almost nothing but they do add up. There is a difference between workout/yoga type light pants and trousers that men wear.

Wow - you guys have given me some great ideas. I admit my problem isn't the land trips, it's the 14 day cruises where I feel I have to be a little dressier in the evenings (even though not formal). So I usually end up with a 26" bag I do check. I'll have to check out those packing cubes!

We were on a tour that specified 'carry-on only' but some for
some folks that was a 'suggestion'. One fella's luggage was
delayed for 9 days and he was forced to share clothes with his
wife. She was the taller of the two so her capris were ankle
length on him. Really.....and really odd! Didn't get much
sympathy esp. from his wife.

I forgot about those packing cubes! I have used them and they are terrific if you plan to shop!!

St. Cirq: Thank you--I am going to attempt that strategy on my next trip--that of packing the duffle in my carry on and checking it, full of foodstuffs including liquids, on the return.


Let's hope we do not have a repeat of the "ekscrunchy-broken-glass-jar-of-oil-packed-tuna-results-in-oily-aromatic-trail-though-Madrid-airport" caper.

I just returned from two weeks in England and Italy using a 19" rollaboard and an over the handle tote and as always it worked very well. We were only allowed two items, so I travelled with my cross body swingpack in the tote. The only thing I would change would be to take enough underwear for the whole trip next time and avoid having to hand wash in the hotel sink!

We always dress up a bit for dinner in the evenings when we travel. I find that one pair of dressier slacks with 2-3 pretty tops works well. In winter, a black silk ribbed turtleneck with black slacks and boots is easily dressed with a pretty scarf, fancy belts, a pashmina or blingy costume jewelry.

For summer trips, matte jersey is perfect!

Now that I know I am in fine company (fellow Dove Lovers traveling the world with our mushed up leftover bits), I will share my dirty secret. Take a pack of balloons with you. Thats right: ordinary kid's party balloons, as many shapes as you can find.

These are invaluable as laundry drying aids. You simply blow up your balloon, tie it up to a shower rod, curtain rod or hangar and dress your balloon in your panties and hang them up to dry. Dress one big round one and two long skinny balloons in your blouse. Your pants might take four skinny balloons, two per leg, tied together.

The air in the balloon keeps the sides of the garments from sticking, keeps air circulating and even in humid atmosphere will turn your hotel room into a dryer. Guaranteed twice-as-fast drying which is a real bonus when you are traveling light.

Plus there is the added benefit of having the chambermaid thinking you are totally eccentric, even kinky. This seems to make them very particular about keeping your room tidy; they don't want to risk pushing your over the edge.

Yes, I know you are thinking this is nuts, but I challenge you to give it a try.

Count me in as a Dove girl who never thought about slicing up the bar. Thanks for the tip!

LJ, the balloon tip is invaluable and works great. But, you didn't mention the importance of remembering they are in the bathroom if you try and make an incognito visit at night. I'm sure I woke up the whole hotel when my husband's pants brushed against me one night at 3 a.m.

As for the carry-on issue; after happily surviving 5 weeks with one 21" each, a laptop bag, and a small daypack, we are finally sworn off that bleary-eyed wait in the baggage check area. Our only problem is trying to figure out laundry issues, but that's just fodder for good stories later.

Oh, and another tip would be to use the eyeglass cases that snap shut. They are great spacesavers for many small things like jewelry or medicine.

--Annie

LJ, I think I'm so resourceful when it comes to packing/traveling, but you just beat me That is the coolest idea -- I am definitely going to pack balloons on my next trip. A big problem solved!
Grazie mille. :)