P_M

E_M, it's P_M--are you my long lost twin??

I'm planning a trip to Hawaii and I plan to pack as light as possible. We will be staying in a condo with a w/d, so I will need a lot fewer clothes. Also, Hawaii is a warm place so my clothes will be light anyway. I look forward to this challenge!!

hopingtotravel

I plan to try this next winter in Hawaii too. On my past trips there I found that I went through MORE clothes because it was so hot. I just spent a week in OR with one suitcase and managed to get food on one t-shirt and one pair of capris.

suze

It might seem backward but Hawaii is not one of my lightest "packs". I hate having to put on damp bathing suits, so always tote along at least 3 of them. Since they take a while to dry, depending on the weather, and I go swimming at least once a day.

E_M

And, with all the extra room in my suitcase, I bought:
Silk scarves at Ferragamo
Silk blouses from some unknown but gorgeous designer
Paper products and leather goods from Florence
Ceramics from Sorrento
Jewelry from Venice (but bought in Rome)
Handbags from the swanky street in Florence
More clothes from a local designer in St. Petersburg



The best reason to pack lightly.

noe847

janisj, I'm curious about how you structure your packing classes - is it lecture/demo? Or do people bring their sutitcases and learn how to edit?

We've managed winter trips to central Europe with just 22" cases (which we check) and a carry on bag. 2 weeks, no laundry. Sure helps when hopping on and off trains and in and out of cabs.

hopscotch

Way to go EM!!

Didn't you have a day bag for strolling about? I do a 21" plus a day bag over my shoulder and can't imagine what else I would need.

janisj

noe847: The packing talks come in Heinz 57 varieties - mostly depending on the audience/venue.

The BIG class is a 3-hour course at the community colleges. I bring in 6 or 7 pieces of luggage and explain the pros/cons of each, and 30 or 35 different gadgets/totes/travel goodies showing which make sense and which are a waste of space/money, TSA issues, how pick out what to take/leave home, etc - and then finally demonstrate the packing system using my own wardrobe and a 21 inch bag. I give them a 6 page handout including check lists, narrative and a color chart showing all the steps.

The "Ladies who Lunch" version - Mostly for garden/book/senior community club/Red Hatters. I go to the hostess' home and using her own clothing do a shorter version of the full course.

And for professional orgs luncheon/dinner meetings and at local libraries - it is a 45 to 90 minute combination of the above.

I can't really have them pack their own bags since there are between 25 and 100 people at each presentation - that would definitely be worse than hearding cats Plus most meeting rooms just aren't big enough/have enough tables for that sort of set up.

roadlesstraveled

janisj -your class sounds really fun. I have learned a lot on this board about packing light. Due to the advice I received on this board, I was able to spend 19 days in Italy in late March early April with my winter clothes in a 22” bag plus a small day bag. I only took one pair of shoes because I like to buy shoes when I travel. Also, I don’t have any electronic equipment other than my camera. I got by with hand washing and the dry cleaning service at my hotel (not as expensive as I had heard).

I do have some trouble cutting down on the books I bring. I have learned to photocopy my “good” travel books and tear up and throw away my cheap travel books. I also buy English language novels in airports and big cities. In addition to travel, my passion is art. I always bring an art book or two from home. I also enjoy buying art books in museums. I can get it all in my 22” bag but it gets very heavy by the end of the trip.

gertie3751

janisj: do you offer on-line classes? or even post a few bits of advice??

janisj

Gertie: Nope - nothing on line.

but on this thread over on the United States forum I posted a step-by-step explanation of the basic packing system -- it is down towards the end of the thread.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34819224

E_M

LoveItaly: The trick is to ROLL the clothes.

LoveItaly

Hi E_M, I have never tried the rolling of clothes..but you have convinced me. I do pack light compared to a lot of people and I don't bring electronical "stuff" with me and I do a lot of black like you do and at the max only have 3 pairs of shoes (one pair worn while flying of course) but I am determined to pack so that I can use a 22 inch bag, plus a carryon of course. And I really do love the list you provided regarding your wardrobe! Thanks for giving me the incentive to obtain my goal of no unnecessary items to lug around.

luxing

For me, rolling the clothes, and then putting them inside packing cubes (like Eagle Creek Pack-It, and those sold by other companies) really helps compress the items. (Not to mention keeping them better organized. I put pants/skirts in one cube, tops in another, underwear/socks in a third.)

noe847

Thanks, janisj, for the information about your classes. They sound like a lot of fun, and I like your ingenuity. I'd bet there's a market for private packing consultation out there somewhere...

I was very interested to read your "bundle" method of packing on the thread that you linked. I always roll my clothes, but I think I'm going to try bundling for our next trip. I'm leaving this week, so the suitcase is out and I'm gathering things on my list!

MaureenGP

I have found that packing my clothing inside large ziplog bags (2 gallon size)allows me extra space, as you can compress air out of the bag. Clothing is less wrinkled, plus you don't have to worry about any snags. Also, it keeps the suitcase smelling fresher as you go along, as each item of clothing is bagged.

Graceful585

Awesome Info!! I'm curious though...the linen I've worn wrinkles as soon as you put it on...how do you keep it from wrinkling in a suitcase??? Very curious.

E_M

100% linen is supposed to softly wrinkle.

In the summer, when it is 80 degrees plus and humid, the gentle wrinkles in linen pants is the best looking thing on you (oily skin, sticky shirt, frizzy hair, etc.)

suze

Linen is supposed to be worn wrinkled, seriously
;-)

noe847

janisj, do you stick with one color family when you pack?

LoveItaly

Graceful, I too love 100% linen for hot weather. And I love your description of what one looks like in hot weather E_M, that has certainly described me lately with our triple digit temps.