kswl

This is an interesting packing strategy, nancyz, but not for me. I did try the "old underwear" trick in November, but found that I was just too embarrassed to throw away dirty underclothes in a hotel wastebasket. So, I sent them out with the laundry in Rome with everything else. They came back looking better than they did the day they were packed, so I kept them. I usually don't travel in old clothing, anyway.

The closet as museum, Mkingdom? I guess if Jackie Kennedy and Imelda Marcos can do it . . .

Tulips

My strategy is to bring hardly anything at all, and buy everything new on holiday. This way, you can travel with a small bag on your way there. It only works when you go somewhere with decent shops though.

Pat99

i have done this to a limited degree - mostly with underware and socks - not a big space saver but sometimes on a trip you realize that your favorite whatever really isn't worth dragging around anymore

missamericalondon

Since I've lived in Europe for nearly 7 years, here, I wear my most gorgeous European bought clothes and accessories, and try to, each time I get on a plane from London to whereever, to look as though I'm going home. A bit of a game, but it is nice to be spoken to in Italian, Greek, Dutch, French, etc....
But when I travel in really out of the way places -- Sailing in the BVIs, doing volunteer work in the Dominician Republic, touring SE Asia (Burma esp) I always personally offer clothes and shoes -- especially things they can't find locally -- at the end of the trip to the cleaning staff at hotels, guesthouses, etc. I apologize that things aren't clean, but a bit worn, and tell them I won't be insulted if they choose not to keep them. The front desk, or closest local to a concierge-like person gets my guidebooks -- eyeopening and fun for someone with enough English knowledge to read. It is very freeing to be generous. I rarely travel for long enough to need help, but am a big fan of hiring porters when necessary too... it is a nice way to share all that American wealth!

Madison

Part of the fun of a trip is going out and buying some new items of clothing for a trip. As far as throwing out old underwear, I would be embarrassed for the cleaning staff to see it.

It takes but a second to rinse out underwear. Wash, rinse, roll in a towel to get out most of the moisture and the next morning clean, dry underwear.

Linda431

A good friend of my does this all the time, even with shoes and sport coats. After returning home from one trip to Paris and and having the concierege thoughtfully mail him his old discarded sport coat, he now takes the time to leave a note for the maid asking her to "donate" it to a worthy cause.

suze

SusanP- to each their own, so pack 18 pair of undies if you like. but believe me i'm not missing seeing the Eiffle Tower or anything because i'm in my room rinsing out (it just takes a minute using hotel shampoo in the sink before bed every few days).

Patrick- actually i was going to say just the opposite, if you're traveling solo why do you need nightgowns at all? but figure that was simply too outrageous a suggestion for some folks here.

suze

If you drop dirty clothes at a full serve laundry it doesn't take hardly any time at all. Pick them up the next day washed, dried, folded. These are fairly common many places in Europe.

traveldawg

We travel quite a lot. I used to do the throw away trick with underwear only. My wife would stack up my old stuff with one wear left for our trips. I would wear the final time and throw away.

We then discovered TRAVEL UNDERWEAR. it is not cheap, but a great space saver. I did a two week trip to India with 4 pair of this underwear. It washes great in the sink with hotel shampoo and dries overnight. This way you do not have to carry a lot with you. They also make TRAVEL SOCKS in all colors..same easy to wash and dry. Not for everyone...but works for us!

obxgirl

The pack and shed strategy is not my way of doing things but different things work for different people. I have to say, however, I would NEVER leave my discarded goods with a note to housecleaning to please donate them to a worthy cause. They are paid to clean rooms not do a guest's personal bidding. That is insulting.

Izzybits

Author: missamericalondon "The front desk, or closest local to a concierge-like person gets my guidebooks -- eyeopening and fun for someone with enough English knowledge to read. It is very freeing to be generous."

This is brilliant... I won't lug home a suitcase heavily laden with guidebooks ever again!

obxgirl

I have my doubts about the veracity of missamericalondon, but what do you suppose would happen if every hotel guest left their crap behind for others to dispose of?

And why stop at clothes and your dogearred outdated travel guides? Got an old clunker car you can't unload? Leave it in the parking lot. Got a closet full of gifts so awful you can't regift them? Share em with the hotel staff. Tired of hauling your garbage can to and from the curb? Check the hefty bags into the hotel with you. The maids are going to take the trash out, they might as well take your's out too.

Linda431

"I would NEVER leave my discarded goods with a note to housecleaning to please donate them to a worthy cause. They are paid to clean rooms not do a guest's personal bidding. That is insulting."

obxgirl: Obviously, the tongue in cheek part didn't cybertranslate. Housekeeping staff know that this means they are welcome to either keep the item or discard it. In some cultures it would be insulting to just give it to them as if acknowledging that your cast-off might be their Sunday best.

platzman

Check out the travel underwear and socks from Tilleys or Patagonia. Amazing that you can quickly wash them in the hotel sink...hang them up and they will be dry within a few hours.
I've travelled for weeks with just two extra.

obxgirl

>Housekeeping staff know that this means they are welcome to either keep the item or discard it. In some cultures it would be insulting to just give it to them as if acknowledging that your cast-off might be their Sunday best.<

Linda, I understood the double meaning of the message to the housekeeping staff....keep the item if you like, otherwise discard. That's still insulting coming and going.

It's arrogant to think anyone would want your worn dirty clothing. (And if you think it's so desirable, at least go to the trouble of having it cleaned and pressed) If housekeeping doesn't want your castoff's they are still burdened with the job of getting rid of the stuff.

An alternative if you're concerned about the staff's standard of living: leave a substantial cash tip.

granny

We were on a cruise in January that had 3 dress-up nights. The first one I wore this new black and silver dressy top over a long black skirt. Well, everywhere I went I sprinkled silver bits, over the floor, over my husband. You get the idea.

I couldn't stand it. So I put this top in a sealed plastic bad and put it in the waste paper basket for the maid to pass along or toss. That evening, it was back on the dresser. Next morning, I put it in the bottom of the basket and it was finally gone!

nancyz

Just returned home from a day of shopping and bringing in the bags of new and 'future travel' clothes!
I had a feeling before I started this thread it may be slightly controversial... After reading all the new posts I have realized that the lack of inflection in cyberspace can certainly cause some confusion. Call me sensitive, but being told:
I'm an American(how do you know?)walking around in stained tight-fitting clothes with my stretched out underwear hanging down;
Taking my crummy clothes... to look like crap on vacation;
Why would "the help" want your dirty old suit??? That act was highly insulting. They probably thought you were a jerk;
Dressing like a bag lady;
What do you suppose would happen if every hotel guest left their crap behind for others to dispose of?

And obxgirl takes the prize for:
And why stop at clothes and your dogearred outdated travel guides? Got an old clunker car ....you remember the rest, it doesn't bear repeating!

I can't help but call that a little hostile. But then look at the source. The more I read on this forum the more
I think some posters are really hired by Fodors to keep things lively!

Anyway, I want all of you to rest assured I don't look like a baglady on vacation...in fact most of the items I leave behind are spoken for by my friends when I'm traveling with them (but they have to carry them home!)

Well this thread has been very entertaining, but now I need to get back to some serious trip research.

obxgirl

Nancyz, The only thing I said about your method of packing is that it wasn't mine. All further comments were directed to those who thought that leaving their used goods behind for the hotel staff to pick over was some sort of gift to the needy.

Quite frankly, based on your backpacking comments, I assumed you were the type who picked up after yourself.

Happy travels.

DeborahAnn

I think nancyz is doing just what Fodors is all about, offering advice in a desire to be helpful. I am always looking for suggestions as to how I can pack lighter. On our last trip to England I planned to use the toss the underwear method. Of course it was my husband's underwear and not mine as his takes up much more space!!! We were staying at B&B's that were small and upscale so when it camed to actually throwing the underwear out I balked at leaving dirty underwear in our trash containers. I then looked for a trash can on a street to jettison the underwear and felt absolutely ridiculous carrying around a plastic bag with dirty underwear. I decided then and there that I had to find a different packing light method then tossing unwanted clothes. Deborah

kswl

Perhaps you are right, Thingorjus, and if you decide to return, perhaps you can spell "gorgeous" correctly. One of the markers for white trash is lack of education, but then you probably already knew that.