I also "spritz" things to reduce wrinkles.I first used Fabreze as someone else has mentioned but I find that taking a small plastic spritz bottle( can be found at most any drug store) and using water works just as well.And since it is local water no spilling & less weight.Even in cooler times clothes on hangers and spritzed lightly usually dry overnight.<BR>The idea of 1/2 and 1/2 packing someone suggested is clever just in worse case scenario one bag gets lost.May try it.Thanks

This question is 15 months OLD........and it wasn'tthtat interesting to start.....go count your toes.....or pick your nose

to the top to help a fellow Aberdonian!!

TVM<BR><BR>Do we know each other?

to Sheila<BR> no, just a fellow contributor!!!

Would value your suggestions about packing for "50 something" husband given the following scenario: two week trip in May, no shorts, no sandals, no T-shirts - likes khakis, rockports,deck shoes, polo shirts. If possible, would like to use one large pullman and small carry-on.<BR><BR>Will stay in "agriturismo" for one week and one or two small city locations for remainder.<BR><BR>Many thanks

Follow-up to message above<BR><BR>Should have added that I'm going, too! I can pack light for me - what about him?<BR><BR>Thanks, again.

Roberta, whether you're packing for a preppie 50-something or a teenage girl, the advice is the same: <BR><BR>3 tops and pants that all go together, preferably a dark, dirt-hiding color, and that are made out of something that dries quickly. <BR><BR>Two pairs of very comfortable walking shoes, and enough sox and undies for 3 days. Plenty of socks.<BR><BR>One of whatever you sleep in. <BR><BR>One or two warmer or waterproof layers, depending on what you'll encounter. Two thin layers, like a sweater and light jacket, are more useful and versatile than one thick one. No cotton sweaters allowed.<BR><BR>Special stuff like bathing suit as needed -- but just one of each.<BR><BR>Rinsing out a few things takes only minutes and can save lots of hassles with luggage. You can just throw the clothes on the floor of the shower and then rinse them out at the end of your shower. After you dry yourself, roll up the heavier stuff in your towel and hang everything up to dry (I pack a piece of strong string just in case). Heavier stuff like sox goes by the window, AC or radiator.<BR><BR>You do not need lots of variety in your clothes, you will be getting variety in new surroundings!

regarding the advice to throw away underwear: My travelling buddy tried that in Paris - tossed a pair of ratty boxers into the wastebasket, and returned at the end of a long sightseeing day to find them laundered, pressed, and laying on the bed! (and we were charged for the laundry) Perhaps they thought that we mistood the trash can for a hamper, or else they don't want Europe to become the American underwear landfill... From there on, we stuffed disposable items in our coat pockets and ditched them in the first street trash can we saw.

Bring lots of underwear. I'd bring at least 12-15 pair. Who wants to feel gross all day wearing dirty underwear and who in the world wants to spend a vacation washing her underwear in the sink. They don't take up much room (and if yours do, perhaps your husband would appreciate a switch to a "smaller" style). I'd also bring a few (3) t-shirts/camisoles/silk long underwear for the winter so you can wear them under other tops and feel cleaner than wearing the same sweater against your skin day after day. Also, I'd consider what you wear on the plane there a lost cause other than to wear home since clothes always smell really stale after sitting on a plane for hours.

I'm with you Sally - how much room can undies take? I also bring panty liners and when I can't change, such as on a long flight, I start out with one on, trash it when needed, and then have clean undies. Works for me. <BR><BR>

I pack a lot of knits--they can be rolled up in the suitcase and do not wrinkle. Accessories are important--especially scarves (silk). Wear neutral colors and change belts/scarves around. Do not carry much underwear, just wash each night. I carry one blazer and one sweater. Also a knit black dress, 2 skirts, one bermudas, one bathing suit, casual knit tops, 1 pair of long pants (& 1 on the plane), 2 blouses, 3 pairs of underwear, 1 add'l bra and several accessories. Bring one leather walking shoe (wear the other pair), floppies and one pair black flats for evening. Don't forget a folding umbrella!! If you'll be in warmer climate of course you will need add'l bathing suits etc. Amalfi is beautiful, have a great time--don't miss Pompeii.

Sharon, perhaps you can clarify something for me. Why are accessories important, especially scarves? For whom, exactly, are you wearing different belts and scarves all the time? Why do you need more than one scarf or belt? Or skirt, for that matter?!

the idea is to pack items that have dual purpose: toothpaste makes a great silver polisher, hairdryers make that extra bathing suit unnecessary, socks ready to wash make slippers. As a woman I have no trouble finding quick drying clothing, but my husband had to buy lightweight underwear (travel companies) to make both light weight and less bulky packing. And if you go in summer, buy silk camis, slips, nighties; they don't make you hot and take up so much less room.

Forget the hairdryer -- American ones won't work in most places abroad, even with a converter and most hotels and B&B's have them anyway.

My sister subscribes to the "spare bedroom bed" method of packing. A week or two before a major trip, she lays out everything she's going to take on the guestroom bed. Once a day, she goes in and looks at it--adds something, takes something away. She finds that she ends up reducing her stuff by one half as departure looms--and the stuff she takes really does go together!<BR><BR>On a three-week trip to the south of France, she took one 22" roll-on and a large clutch. She wore her huge sun hat onto the plane. Her husband took three suitcases, including six pairs of shoes. His luggage didn't fit in the rental car trunk and blocked doorways in one-half of their teeny-tiny B&B rooms. Whenever he points out that he didn't need to do laundry, she points out(quite accurately) that her laundry time was 1/2 the time he spent lugging all that stuff around. In addition, in every photo, she looks "together" and he looks dishevelled--probably because he had to go through all three suitcases to collect his daily wardrobe.<BR><BR>