Maria

My two daughters and I trained it through Italy 2 years ago and I learned then the importance of packing light. Two months ago, we went back accompanied this time by my husband who because of some macho thing (?) refused to use a bag with rollers and insisted on carrying a huge overstuffed suit bag. <BR>The girls teased him and called it the "zsa zsa" bag. Well, by the time we got to Venice our last stop, and he had to lug that thing onto the water taxi, down the streets of Venice to the hotel and then up two flights of stairs, he finally gave in and admitted that we were right!

Melinda

We spent 3 weeks with just small rolling carry-ons--I took very few clothes and was sick of them by the end, but so what? It beats lugging heavy bags. I took some silk scarves to vary the look of my outfits and that made it more bearable. One thing I learned-take things that dry fast--all- cotton things can take days to dry in a hotel bathroom but cool-max and other fast dry fabrics saved me. The only thing I didn't take that I would take next time is a dress-just because it would have been cooler in the heat some days. A long-sleeve black tunic top and pants with a silk scarf made a dressy enough evening outfit for almost anywhere. And do take good walking sandals for summer-my closed walking shoes with socks got too hot and I ended up wearing my sandals almost all the time.

lisa

I only travel with a 22-inch rolling carryon and one smaller bag that goes under the seat in front of me -- even for two-week trips. I'll be in Italy in August for ten days and can tell you what I'm bringing, because it's the same as I'd bring for 12 days: <BR>4 undies <BR>4 bras <BR>1 t-shirt & shorts for sleeping in <BR>2 sleeveless (tank-style) cotton t-shirts (Ann Taylor has my favorite ones on sale right now BTW, $14.95 @ anntaylor.com -- great for travel) <BR>1 pair shorts for beach or pool <BR>4 short sleeved cotton knit t-shirts/tops (wear 1, pack 3) <BR>1 long-sleeved knit top/lightweight sweater (usually wear on plane, tied around shoulders or waist) <BR>1 black skirt <BR>4 pairs capri pants (wear 1, pack 3) <BR>2 bathing suits <BR>2 pairs shoes/sandals (wear 1, pack 1 -- deciding which ones is always the hardest part of my packing) <BR> <BR>Everything mixes and matches. Bottoms are black and khaki; tops are black, white, and colors. <BR> <BR>

JOdy

nANCY--- Just because I pack light doesn't mean I try to stuff it into a rolling carryon! I have a hard sided HEAD suitcase, 24x15x8, with the best set of wheeels I have found on any bag I've tried. I just fill up the empty space with bubble wrap so I have it handy for my purchases, I buy a lot of majolica, silver and pictures and wouldn't trust them in a soft sided bag. In fact my hard case is lighter than MDH's soft side! You can usually find an elevator or escalotor to avoid stairs, and since we take a taxi or shuttle from and to airport there really is no lugging it all over. Only when we are using the train do I have to have help if theres a gap between platform and step, then we leave the bags at the end of the car in the bagge space. It even has a snap thing to attach my small carryon , which contains 1 extra set of clothes and toiletries. I have never lost a beg in 40 years of flying, KNOCK WOOD!!!Another trick we use is I pack 1/2 of my stuff in my husbands bag and half of his in mine and if one is lost we are not totally without.

Rosemarie Garman

I ALWAYS pack too much and I ALWAYS say "next time....". For the ladies (or guys if you wish) I like ro take one "broomstick" skirt. They are called that because they are of gausy/gauzy(?) fabric which looks as if it is in tiny pleats which were created by tying wet fabric around a broobstick and letting it dry.They start out wrinkled and are light weight. They can be slighlty dressy or casual.Once I took 2-one black and one patterened.I also wear a lot of black (makes you look more Italian) with various colored tank tops which work well under a jacket ot sweater. Scarves are great wardrobe extenders.

rosemarei garman

forgot to mention.Shampoo can be an emergency soap for laundry esp. lingerie

Skidoo

30 inch upright! Leaving in winter and taking capris and bathing suits AND sweaters. You have definitely forgotten your trolling gear--a really long line that will fit in the outside zipper compartment.

Janice

I've opted for quality over quantity - 2 skirts, 1 pair of pants, 1 jumper, and 5 cashmere turtlenecks! (I travel in cold weather) A little packet of jewelry, 3 or 4 silk scarves, 2 pair of shoes, 4 bras, 4 pairs of tights, I'm done, in a rolling backpack. Sure, by the time you get home you hate everything...

Dottie

Wonderful suggestions for women. What do your husbands do? The cotton undershorts and t shirts (in winter for warmth) will not dry overnight.

Joanne

For get cotton, it really isn't the most effective extra layer for warmth. Invest in one or two pieces of high-tech synthetic stuff. It's warmer, and dries quickly so you can rinse it out and wear again.

bettyk

Have recently discovered cotton/poly underwear for men at Penney's (their Towncraft brand). Very soft and dries quickly. Also, coolmax undershirts dry within a couple of hours.

Dottie

Thanks Joanne and Betty!

Kay

I take baby shampoo to wash clothes, take those wonderful plastic bags (I bought mine in a travel magazine, but will try zip lock this time.) I put all my dirty clothes in them and roll them up to nothing. <BR><BR>I travel for 3-4 weeks with 2, 22" carryons and 1 17" under the seat. I had a little trouble with this 17" because it kept falling off of the 22" (not meant to stack,) but this trip I have bought a luggage strap to solve that problem (I hope.) I had room to spare and bring back purchases and only carted the 2 small cases (with 17" on back of one.) I like the 22" because it fits easily on the train racks and I can handle them myself. Mine are also expandable, so I make sure that are not expanded when I leave so I can put plenty more in on the way home! I thought I packed light, but I take 6-8 pair of pants/probably 15 shirts, one or two dressy things and about 4 pair of shoes/sandles, 2 pair of shorts, 2 bathing suits, a sweater or jacket and lots of undies. I don't like to wash much when I am on vacation and usually have laundry service twice during a trip.

mimi taylor

I travel with one carry on size case and a backpack. In the backpack is a pair of shorts and T and other esentials so when we arrive in hotland I can change on the road or airport.<BR>My main piece of lugguge is rolled up skirts, tops, usually cttonknits and silk dresses, good silk doesn't wrinkle much and linens that dry fast and only Americans have the hangup about wrinkes. The secret to drying them is to fold them neatly on seams, also in packing. Rolling your garments also saves you on space. tuck underwear, jewelry(why bring it?) belts, soxs into<BR>shoes. I hope these tips help.

Annie

A lot of great suggestions already posted here, but here's an interesting one. When you pack your undies, bring the older stuff. Wear it, and then THROW IT AWAY! (but please use common sense and be discreet, nobody really wants to see them!) One of my travel buddies went to the dollar store before we went to Paris, she bought 6 pairs of undies, washed them, packed them, wore them once and threw them away. You're traveling - who wants to wash out stuff in the hotel sink at midnight after a jammed-packed day of sight seeing etc.? And what if the stuff doesn't dry in time - like Men's stuff that can take for ever? He can toss his stuff too. And let's face it, NOBODY want to carry dirty undies back home. Funny idea, but it works great.

miranda

Next month's trip for 15 days<BR>Italy/Paris:<BR><BR>1 20" roll-on<BR><BR>3 bras, 6 pairs undies, 1 black dress, 1 pair black plants, 1 skirt, 2 tops, 1 sweater, 1 scarf, 1 pair of shoes. Oh, sleep naked.<BR><BR>I figure I'm going to buy an article of clothing or shoes there anyway.

Kay

Annie, I loved the "throw away" advice. I don't care to wash clothes much on vacation and your suggestion is great! I am going to try it in May.

Dottie

The throw away advice is the best ever!!! I love it and I will be doing it!

jean

This is just a thought - but I really like to wash my face with a washcloth - so on my last trip to Paris - I purchased a dozen really thin washcloths at the dollar store - washed them - used them and then what I didn't use as packing breakables on the way home I just left in the bathroom. Worked for me. jean

Susan

I have to boast that last summer I packed for our family of four for three weeks and got everything into a 30" rolling bag. It took a great deal of planning but it was soooo worth it! I rolled everything and stuffed as much as I could into large ziplocks, kneeled on them to get all the air out and it worked great to reduce space and keep outfits, etc. organized. Of course, I was washing clothes in the bidet a few times and we were all incredibly sick of those clothes by the end of the trip. <BR><BR>I made a rule and stuck to it firmly that each person could only bring the shoes on their feet. I did end up buying my daughter sandals in Scotland but otherwise we got by. <BR><BR>Also, bring a pashimina-type wrap. It serves many functions, blanket on the airplane, bathing suit coverup, extra layer on cool evenings, and to cover shoulders for churches on days too warm to wear sleeves.