Can you guys help us out with clever packing suggestions for our trip in Nov? Departing ATL Nov. 8th...staying in Rome 2 nights, Sorrento 3 nights.Husband/wife-50-something.

We want to pack as wisely and conservatively as possible-maybe just enough to squeeze by with a carry-on and tote each.Does that sound do-able? Please list any ideas on clothing/accessories that've worked for you.

Definitely do-able. Make sure to bring mix and match clothing, as well as fabrics that dry easily. You can then wash things in the sink and dry them overnight, if need be.

Definitley doable. We recently did 10 days in Italy with just a carry on each and small tote.

We did as Statia suggested...mix and match clothes and quick drying. We also took old underwear and dropped it as we travelled.( before anyone asks ..yes in the trash)

Pack a little from each person in a different carryon. That way if you check your luggage and one piece is delayed or lost you each have clothing.

Pack a collapsable duffle or suitcase to use for your purchases.

excellent advice above
wear one pair of dark slacks with a sweater or blazer
pack two other slacks/skirts with tops,
turtlenecks or such for layering,
one other sweater
umbrellas
wear outer raincoat or jacket
comfortable walking shoes, preferably waterproof, plus one alternative pair of shoes
extra dry socks

as for travel accessories and such
do a search here on Pack or Packing
and you'll find lots of suggestions, but don't necessarily pack them all!

For five nights for your wife: two pairs black pants (one casual with elastic waist, one more tailored), one black skirt, two or three coordinating knit tops, one sweater (cardigan or pullover), two pair of shoes (one walking, one a rubber-soled slipon type that will go with both pants and skirt). Two extras to consider: a coordinating blazer and a long-sleeved white shirt that can be dressed up with a scarf or worn over a knit top. Color scheme ideas: black/purple/hot pink; black/beige/red; black/red/hot pink; black/white/red.

EXACTLY WHAT WE"RE LOOKING FOR!

Keep them coming please! Thanks a bunch.

bryarsmom:

I'm going to Europe in late Sept./early Oct. for three WEEKS and I'm only taking a carry-on (22&quot and what basically amounts to a large purse. I definitely think you can do it for 5 days!

I'm accomplishing this by taking several neutral pieces that can be mixed/matched which I plan to wash once or twice while I'm gone. My clothes consist of 1 pr. of black slacks, 1 pr. of khaki slacks, 1 pr. of grey slacks, 1 long-ish black skirt, about 5 different neutral-colored shirts of varying styles (i.e. one turtleneck, one tailored white shirt, one shortsleeved shirt, etc.), a black cardigan sweater and a light jacket. With neutral tones, the outfit combinations are practically endless. Also, the skirt and one of the pairs of pants are more tailored and "dressy-ish," so I'm covered if we decide to go out and eat somewhere nice or otherwise feel the need to dress up somewhat. The other pairs of pants are more casual so they're good for days when a lot of walking and just touristing, in general is on the agenda. All of these things are machine (or hand) washable and will dry overnight (I've tested them all out to make sure!).To sleep in I have two tee-shirts and two pair of sleep pants. Several pair of quick-drying undies (I swear, the ones I have air dry in about a hour or so. They're made out of some kind of synthetic micro-fiber and were, like, $4 or $5 at Wal-Mart. Don't plunk down $20 a pair or whatever to one of those specialty travel clothing places!), a few bras, and several pairs of socks round out the clothing I'm taking (I've found that these things really don't take up much room in a suitcase. You can always squeeze another pair of undies or socks in there somewhere! Ha-ha!).

In addition to my clothes, I'm taking very basic toiletries (Can always buy some more shampoo in Italy, you know!), two pair of comfortable, broken-in, shoes, a teeny-tiny little travel iron that is SO cute I just had to buy it, a travel-pillow, a couple of good guidebooks, a book to read on the plane and printouts of Fodor's info.

Finally, I'll also have all of my pertinent documents, a money belt, ATM cards, cash, digital camera, etc.

ALL of this fits into my 22" carry-on and large purse/tote with even a little room for a few souvenirs! If I find I've run out of room to put souvenirs, I plan to buy a large tote bag somewhere and just check it on the way home.

I have no doubt that you can fit a very nice 5-day wardrobe into your luggage for your trip. I think it's wonderful that you've decided to travel light. Even though this will be my first trip to Europe, I have been traveling with as little *stuff* as possible for years. I have traveled extensively in the US--usually for several weeks at a time--and have found it's the only way to go!

Good luck and happy travels!
Jennie

Everyone is giving such gooood advice. Here's my two cents. Anything that can only be worn once (socks and underwear) must be washable in a sink and dryable overnight at the longest. Everything should aim for double duty: ie, for women a skirt that is casual and comfortable enough for daytime sightseeing, but can be dressed up for dinner with a small accessory. Same for men--slacks that can be dressed up simply by changing the shirt. And no colors that won't work with any other colors.

Just when I mastered packing for one-week trips, we started going to 2-3 weeks. Still, you don't need THAT much more if you plan to have your laundry done once or twice during the trip. We even found it was worth our while to have it DONE for us rather than waste our time doing it in the hotel (and hoping for it to dry..) One thing Rick Steves' travel guides are good for is providing names of places to leave your laundry in the AM and pick it up after 5PM washed, dry and folded. Also, check with your hotel -- Hotel Casci in Florence had a nice service where you leave a plastic bag of dirty clothes at the hotel desk by 9AM and when you get back to your room you'll find it on your bed, fresh clean and folded. I found it money well spent!

For a 5 night trip, there is no need to think about doing laundry! That is more a 'packing-lite' tip for longer vacations...

Take one 22-24" rolling suitcase each. But plan to check it thru, as airlines go by weight not just size for carry-on baggage on overseas flights these days. Plus one medium tote each to take on the plane, with one change of clothes and anything that would be hard to replace (i.e., prescription meds or glasses), book to read, bottle of water, etc.

It's only 5 days~ simply wear the same clothes over and over, yes even your socks and underwear, within reason. Ask any European, you'll fit right in!!!

Suze is exactly, exactly right - why do you have to think about laundry for only 5 days of travel?

As one person has suggested, take old underwear - for six days - and just get rid of each day's used underwear - in the trash, of course - or bring them home! The amount of space you save by dumping your underwear is truly insignificant.

Take two pairs of pants - surely you can wear one pair twice? The same for blouses and shirts. Take one pair of nice shoes for going out, if you are planning on "doing the town"; and wear your heavier, walking shoes onto the plane. If you need a formal jacket, take one - it's going to be HOT.

Think MINIMALIST! Leave the kitchen sink at home this trip.

One good suggestion is to lay everything out on your bed and then reduce it by half.

For five days, you can fit BOTH people's clothes into one 21-inch suitcase and save the other suitcase for all your souvenirs!

More important would be other things - check the thread "What are your MUST HAVE travel accessories?" The accessories sometimes take up as much as 1/3 to 1/2 of your total luggage space!

And of all the accessories, the money belt is the most important. Everything that is indispensable goes into the money belt. Everything that is dispensable goes into the suitcase. Keep only one day's funds in your pants pocket when you are in Italy.

On such a short trip,I would not check any bags through, but would carry them onto the plane with me. Less chance of bags getting lost.

Lots of opinions on how I would travel - hope you can find something useful for your journey! Happy travels!

One thing I am picky about is taking all my normal brands of cosmetics and toiletries, but I save or buy tiny containers and downsize everything (in your case simply 5 days worth). I pack into 'snack' size ziplocks to avoid spills and to organize. All goes into a cosmetic bag or oversize ziplock.

Definitely pack lite and each carry on one of those nifty little squish-in-a-small (very small) bag WIND PROOF and water proof below the knee nylon or vinyl rain coats hopefully with a hood. Rain or not, it can be worn over a coat or long jacket and keep you warm. Use hotel shampoo and or bath foam to wash out whatever, but allow at least 2 days to dry in damp weather. TO DRY FAST: roll wet laundry in a bath towel and stomp on it, then blast it with a hair dryer the next day. For emergencies only since for 5 days you will not need to do this!

Last year my husband and I traveled for 4 weeks in France and Italy with one carry-on bag each. So to me 5 nights is nothing! I took mostly black separates, with various accessories to change the look. The main thing is to take very good-fitting and comfortable shoes. I can't imagine why you would have to be doing laundry for a 5-night stay. Take the collapsible tote for extras you want to bring home.

What you pack is doing to depend on what you want to do. We just did an 8-night trip through Italy. We ate only at pizzerias and other similarly casual restaurants, so we packed only khaki slacks, short-sleeved tops, no accessories (scarves/jewelry) other than very small earrings, and no shoes beyond the comfortable pair we wore. We went in July; if I were going in November I'd follow the same idea, just pack black slacks and long-sleeved knit tops. Remember that, unless there's a heat wave, you can wear stuff more than once, expecially slacks/skirts.

If you expect to eat at upscale restaurants, you'll need a nicer outfit, one pair of nicer shoes, and perhaps some coordinating accessories. We're also in our 50s, and on vacations we really prefer to go strictly casual rather than pack a lot of extras. But I understand that special nights out are important for some people.

So many wonderful and practical suggestions! But I don't know where the idea was born we were going to try and do laundry over there-I don't think so...this is, after all, vacation!!!

My husband laughed like crazy about the idea of tossing out your underwear each day-but, hey, whatever works for you. I'm going to write down all these tips and begin organizing the clothing. I can go for wearing an outfit more than once-an iron should freshen things up-but I draw the line with the panties!

Thanks to my fellow fodorites for the fabulous tips!

I don't want to dwell on the underwear too much but it's a good tip that I picked up years ago, probably here.
I save up underwear that is on its last legs so to speak.
I wear it on the trip and toss it as each day goes by. I don't have to wash it, I don't have to keep it with me, and I don't have to bring it home.

while we're still on the subject... It's only 5 days, I'd take my best underwear!! That is NOT going to make or break your packing techniques~ haha. I've heard this tip before, but it just seems too weird to me to leave your raggedy old undies behind in your hotel room trash can.