Snowflake25

DH and I are departing for parts of Italy and Ireland this week and I am looking for some last minute tips on what and how to pack for multiple flights (some with discount airlines) and temperatures ranging from 36C in Rome to 20+C in Ireland and probable rain. We are also hopping around a bit....6 days in Rome (convention), 9 days in Ireland with a rental car and then a flight back to Pisa and trains to Cinque Terre, Florence and back to Rome for our flight home. I am sure the veteran travellers are already shaking their heads and are ready to jump on here and say "change your flights, rearrange your trip, Are you crazy??" Unfortunately, sometimes you do what you have to do and consequently our travel plans are what they are!!

We are going with carry on luggage only which generally means a roll aboard and a backpack as a personal item. We have run into one small glitch and just rechecked the Ryanair and found out that we are restricted to one carryon each (no personal item allowed). Some items that are "must haves" for us are: iPad, 2 cameras (one point and shoot and DSLR), and noise cancelling headphones. When it comes to clothing we both prefer to dress casual and don't have to carry dress clothes for the convention. The dilemma is what to take for the temperature differences and if there are any clothing or footwear items we should not forget.

I'm looking forward to hearing from all those well-travelled people who might have some suggestions!!!

Tony2phones

10kg of carry on each is not a lot for 9 days..I suggest you have a Hold bag as well for €40 return or whatever St Michael of O'Leary is charging these days. For Ireland a lightweight rain mack /Kagool comfortable shower proof footwear.. we are in a heatwave for Ireland at the moment with little significant rain forecast for the near future. Layers is the general advice but I guess its what you are used to? I have been wandering round in Jeans and a T shirt for the past couple of weeks.

jan47ete

We had a month to travel with one carryone each. Florida in the 80s, transatlantic cruise from Tampa, Bermuda, Bahamas, Azores in high 70s, Valencia, Malaga and Barcelona in low 70s, Paris for a week in the 60s as well as Dublin in the low 60s. Fortunately for our month, we had no rain whatsoever although had ponchos for a dollar each and a $3 umbrella. Clothes, 2 light pantsuits although only one was a set, 2 shorts, tops that went with shorts and pantsuits. I HATE heat so did not bring anything heavy. We were gone all of April 2013. Flew Easyjet and was concerned about weight bag and overstuffing it, so wore a short set under my pants outfit. Flew Aer Lingus and they had yet another set ofarryon requirements. Wore sneakers, had 1 nice pair of sandals & one $1 flip flops. Pics are a hoot as the clothes are almost always the same. We even got questioned at Customs when we exited the area as we were the first ones out and the officers wondered where the rest of our luggage was.

Mrs_Wilde

Tony's advice about rain gear is valid. It rained nearly every day we were in the Midwestern part of Ireland and not much once we were in Dublin. I think we brought the warm weather from the mid-Atlantic when we arrived last month!

We flew on Ryanair out of Dublin into London Gatwick. I chose not to use a new bag I received at Christmas because of the size restrictions. On arrival to the visa/passport check-in desk we were asked if we had any bags to check and I said no. They never weighed or measured our bags in any of the "bag checkers" at any point. I saw many people with more than one bag and/or duty-free bags who were not forced to put everything into one bag. That said, I have heard so many horror stories that I would not attempt to get past their regulations.

Are you staying where you have access to a washer/dryer or a laundry service? That helps to keep your packing light. We were able to stay well within the 10kg weight limit even with a Kindle and a netbook. My husband carries his point and shoot camera in a case on his belt. We also made a point of wearing our heavier clothing and shoes on the plane.

I can't speak for Italy having never been there but our recent experience in Ireland is to dress in layers with a light fold-up raincoat or a small umbrella. You will be driving so you can stash your outer garments in the trunk if it gets warm.

We loved Ireland, especially the nice people we met everywhere we went. Have a lovely trip!

Snowflake25

Thanks for all the suggestions! It looks like we will have to check one roll aboard when we fly with Ryanair. It is expandable so we can stuff it and then our other bags will be within weight restrictions. It frustrates me that not all airlines have the same size and weight restrictions but there is not much we can do about it and I will continue to go with carry on only even if I am charged for my bags. The convenience and ease in moving through airports subways etc is well worth it!
Would capris and jeans be suitable for Ireland? I've packed the rain gear and umbrella, just have to make up my mind if I need a pair of Mephisto maryjane shoes to wear in Ireland or will comfortable sandals be sufficient?

greg

The temperature range you mentioned is not large if you have collected clothes good for a wide temperature range. You are talking about warm (20C) to very hot (36C). You don't have to deal with any heavy jackets.

I have just gone to a trip where the temperature varied from 4C to 24C with just a 20" luggage each for my wife and I for 15 days.

The temperature range is a problem if you try to deal with each temperature with different sets of outfits. If you have to deal with three temperature ranges, a heavy packer would do this with three different sets of clothes. An efficient packer would either find clothes that can operate over all three range (high tech materials) or combine them.

If you are taking a rain gear, does it also serve as a light jacket?