<i>I am always astounded by the number of women who can't exist with an electronic hair flatiron, for example, who post on Fodors. I don't know that many people who even use one, but certainly not every day.</i>

Hi, Christina. Nice to meet you. :) Some of us have thin, fine hair which must be cut too short to put up and is just wavy enough to need a hair dryer/straightener - but not wavy enough to look good curly. Not that I speak from experience...

(But lots of us in that situation have learned to just pick up something small and cheap when we get there, rather than trying to take our precious Chi to Europe!)

There are women who do not need a flat iron or curling iron every day, but 3 weeks without one? I am not willing to. But I have seen some women who certainly have not styled their hair and it shows. And my curling iron is from Europe as well as my phone charger.

I would never wash pants in the sink either. I don't even understand how that would be possible, and I wouldn't want to try.

I'm a light packer, and I've never had to wash anything in a sink. On a 2-week trip, I generally drop clothes off at a laundry after 1 week, so I don't wash my underwear in the sink either. I don't really find it to be all that challenging or difficult. (Toiletries, a little at first, but not anymore. And I don't even know what a flatiron looks like, so obviously it's not something I need.)

LOL at the "pants" confusion. In the USA we don't have "smalls" or "knickers" (unless we're golfers, and they're definitely not sexy), and we wear our pants in public.

<but 3 weeks without one?>

Yes, actually I've gone a LIFETIME without one. If you are offended by my naturally curly hair "style"... well i guess so be it ;-)

I am not offended by your naturally curly hair "style" and I am not OFFENDED about the women to whom I was referring. I don't care if they don't style their hair. But I do care about styling my own. To each his own.

Sorry I thought you actually were asking a question, about how someone could go 3 weeks without a flat iron.

I can't go 3 weeks without one.

suze--you are lucky to be happy in your own skin or should I say your own hair. My niece has naturally curly hair and will not go out of the house until she straightens it. I have naturally fine straight hair and I have often wished for curly hair. We always want what we don't have.

Honestly I've never really considered doing anything different (or at least not since I got out of high school where I did in fact manage to have "straight" hair and believe me it was not easy).

Put all your shoes, undies and toiletries in a suitcase. When you get to your destination, head for the local equivalent of Salvation Army, Goodwill or Oxfam. Buy all the clothing you will need for your trip second-hand for a fraction of its original cost. When you are ready to come home, donate the clothing back to the store. Take a tax chit, if applicable. Lots of room in your suitcase for souvenirs and other goodies you acquired on the trip.

When we travel in Europe on trains and have to travel super-light, I wash clothes in the sink every two nights or so. I don't understand why some people are so adamant that they will not do this. It is so nice to always have things clean to wear and to pack. My husband has a pair of casual pants that he only wears in Europe that I can wash and they will be dry in the morning. They are black and I usually wash them after 2-3 days of wear and they look great. I love to pack light.

suze: I'm jealous of your naturally curly hair! I love it when I see women with beautiful, full, curly hair.

"Like - why do you need 8 tops for 5 days in NY?!?"

I was extrapolating to a 7-day trip to Paris.

Actually, I took one silk shirt, one long-sleeved cotton and 4 t-shirts to NYC. And used them all, since the weather varied greatly and I got soaked one day from driving rain, and soaked two other days from heat and humidity.

Cropped pants, jeans for the plane, and lightweight nicer pants for the theatre--never got around to wearing my skirt. And I didn't take strappy sandals either, just utilitarian ones, so that's probably why I didn't wear the skirt!

<<spcfa on May 26, 10 at 3:38pm
I think what those of you who need a 25" suitcase (for any length of time) don't understand about those of us who can travel for a month with 21" case is that we ENJOY THE CHALLENGE in addition to having an almost religious zealousness about the freedom of light packing.>>

I'm all for packing light but part of the reason I take a 25" suitcase is so that I can bring back whatever I find and not have to wonder for a second if it'll fit in my bag or not.

If it wasn't for the dang liquid restriction then I'd be more likely to take a fold up duffle bag to expand into if I found anything larger that I wanted. With the liquid restriction and ridiculously long hair, carry on only simply doesn't work well for me for anything over a week.

I don't stay in Hotels if I can avoid it because of the kids.
I'm renting apt most of the 2 months trip and I made sure that most of them have a washer machine. I will be doing laundry each 7 days at least. I'm bringing a medium size backpack, not sure how many cc.

What I can't compromise too much is on shoes as I need my running shoes and hiking boots, I may bring 2 pair of dressy sandals, flats and heels also.

BTW does Europe have thrift stores where you can get second hand clothes?

I think I am a everything-but-the-kitchen sink packer because of the 'incident.' Many years ago I had packed too lightly and I had to borrow a dress from my size 16 sister and wear it on my size 10 body. Not pretty. Now, although I am getting better, I still tend to bring too much. I just put 4 pairs of shoes on the bed for out upcoming Paris trip. (But my black knit dress looks soo cute with those silver sandals!!!!!! I've gotta bring 'em, otherwise the ensemble just doesn't look right! hahaha)

<<I think what those of you who need a 25" suitcase (for any length of time) don't understand about those of us who can travel for a month with 21" case is that we ENJOY THE CHALLENGE in addition to having an almost religious zealousness about the freedom of light packing.>.

I do pack light in my 25" suitcase, which I check. I can fit all my clothes and cosmetics in a 21" but I can fit a trekking pole and a poster tube in the 25". I have plenty of room for purchases --I've brought back rugs from Morocco and Turkey, among other items and still been under the weight limit.

I don't wonder or care what size suitcase anyone else uses, everyone has their own needs and style.

Yes "Europe" has thrift stores.

I bought back gifts: three large wool / silk scarves, two hand painted ceramic bowls, two raki glasses, Turkish delight, three lots of jewellery and two sets of hand made soaps...all in my carry on. (They took the place of the boxed three sets of ceramics I took out as gifts for our various CS hosts). My friend travelled with only her son's school back pack (day pack) and bought back four throws / scarves, jewellery, four ceramic coasters and two pot stands...and a rug! We also bought duty free - but that can go as a separate hand bag.

It is possible to souvenir shop with only carry on...though I may have struggled with the nargile (water pipe) another friend bought back!!

<<It is possible to souvenir shop with only carry on...>>

Sure it is, but I don't want to.

I never have direct flights. I have to make at least two, and sometimes more, connections to get home and have to change terminals (CDG, for one) and/or rush to a gate in a different concourse (ATL) and don't want to be running through a terminal pulling a fully packed carryon.

My idea of "freedom" is checking my suitcase in at my regional airport and picking it up at my final destination.

I have little clothes (at 4'10") so I managed to get alot into a small roll on bag for Hawaii -- 2 dresses, one skirt/top, white jeans, 2 tops, peach capris/top/shrug, pjs, 2 swimsuits, 2 cover ups, hoodie, 2 pair shoes, flipflops, white embroidered mu mu.