nytraveler

I think you need 3 shoes - since I would not go without 2 pair of comfy walking shoes you can wear in the rain. Once a pair is wet they usually will not be dry by the next AM. IMHO sandals are a luxury since they are not good in the rain and not great on cobblestones and uneven streets.

oscarandpenelope

I would not bring regular sandals as part of minimalist wardrobe either, but maybe one of those close-toe sports sandals (Keen), depending on how casual your style is.

flpab

I love my black on black converse, high tops and regular ones. I have been wearing them since I was 13. Wear them! Throw a scarf in that bag also.

jan47ete

We usually travel for a month and only carry one airline sized carryon each. Last month had 2 capris, 3 tops, 1 shorts (for 19day cruise), 1 sleeveless and 1 print jacket and all pants and tops colors were off the jacket.

Think of the ground underneath your feet--tough cobblestones, cracks in pavements, etc. I read an article about the best footwear to travel and ankles should be supported and sufficient depth to the bottom of the sandal.

WillTravel

I like to take an extra pair of shoes and one pair of walking sandals (besides the shoes I am wearing on the plane). My feet do best with variety. How about a jersey dress to add to this list (I love those for comfort and ease)? I'd also take leggings if taking a dress or skirt.

If you are moving around a lot, it can be a real problem, in my experience, to get the clothes dry before moving on. Especially if you have humidity and no air conditioning. I have visited laundromats various times while traveling.

Good walking shoe/sandal brand: Ecco.

sugarmaple

I wear my Naot sandals and find them way more comfortable than flats. They have great support.
They've taken me miles over cobblestones in Paris, Rome and London.. Not the most stylish perhaps, I wouldn't love them here at home, but the best for tramping around. I also bring two pairs of Ecco shoes.

kawh

i always bring a 'down sweater' which is a very thin down jacket. if you get 100% down, it weighs almost nothing and will keep you super warm if the need arises.

i have made a small pillow case and use it as my airplane-train-anytime pillow. if i squish it up and tie it up, it fits easily into my purse as well.

i would go with the skirt option. maybe sub out one 3/4 length tshirt.

i think your list is do-able!

flpab

kawh, You are so right. The lightweight packable down jackets are on sale right now. Love taking those as it can be used for a pillow.

JenniferCO

The pillow is a great idea! I will look into that.
I have been searching for all the shoe brands listed and trying to decide. So much to choose from!
Anybody wear Supergas?

kawh

travelshoes... so many choices. one thing i look for on a sandal (has nothing to do with comfort, but if you're choosing between 2 great shoes) is a footbed that is black and not tan. who wants to look at a disgusting black footprint after a week or two of travel?? geox has a footbed that is sort of 'anti-stink' which is a good thing. lastly, i prefer a sole that is at least an inch thick so that i am lifted up away from any gross puddle that i have to walk through. i'm sure you know that you can order as many pairs from zappos as you like and return them for free.... if you want to try them on in the privacy of home. happy shopping.

janisj

Don't take anyone's suggestions for shoes . . . What works for me may not fit your feet at all, and vice versa. For instance many recommend ecco's -- and I always cringe since ecco's lasts do not match my feet.

Go to a good shoe store or walking store if there is one in your town - and try on several brands - every single brand will fit differently. Be sure to take socks (I always use cashmere blends but any soft/absorbent socks will do).

What feels a dream to one person will be a blister magnet to someone else. It takes shopping/trying on.

JenniferCO

Janis I was just telling my mom that I spent 17 days walking around Italy in open-toed Josef Seibel sandals, and much of that trip I carried a toddler in a backpack too. I remember thinking what a waste of space it was that I had brought other shoes, which I never wore. But this trip will be chillier. Perhaps in my original question I should have said "I have a high arch and medium-narrow feet" so then people with like feet could have explained why they liked their shoes

Kawh good point about the footbed. Nothing ickier to look at than the foot grime stain!

raincitygirl

Jennifer I wear Supergas and love them. My orthotics fit into them if I want to use them which is good. They are comfortable but not super cushiony.

scigirl

Bravo for packing light! I would swap out one of the sleeveless shirts for one w/ mid sleeves, and add a sweater or warmer layer of some sort. I personally think the pant/capri/short or skirt ratio is fine. It is as likely to be hot as cold. I was in Netherlands for 2 weeks this August - like the coldest August ever - and I still wore capri's more than anything else.

I am a one pair of shoes only traveler - they take up a ton of room. But if you need sandals or flats (I personally can walk a lot longer in sandals - flats usually don't have enough support) then go for it. On past trips I had a pair of slip-on Sketchers that managed to somehow bridge the gap between sneakers/walking shoes/sandals/flats so I only needed one pair of shoes for 6 weeks in Europe.

I will also add - don't buy special travel clothing. Just take your regualar clothes that you like and are comfortable and machine washable. There is no need for a special wardrobe for trips. Just like at home, you can wear your jeans a few times between washes and such. No need for ugly overpriced travel pants that look dumpy. I cannot imagine why you would ever need a down 'sweater' in June in any of the places you plan to visit. Worst case senario is that you'd buy a sweater and sweatshirt during your travels if it really turned super cold for some reason.

Don't forget to pair down on costmetics and such if you really want to pack light.

DebitNM

As mentioned, depending on how long you are in each location, drying clothes can be an issue. Even IF an apartment rental says it has a dryer, it is not the kind we have in US, but most likely a combo washer/dryer which really doesn't dry clothes, they are still damp. Cotton items may not dry overnight, so watch the materials of the items you bring - tops, slacks, socks etc.

annhig

Even IF an apartment rental says it has a dryer, it is not the kind we have in US, but most likely a combo washer/dryer which really doesn't dry clothes, they are still damp. >>

i do wonder where some of this information comes from. Because someone [you, Debit? - or a friend of a friend?] once came across a european tumble dryer that didn't work, you think they all don't.

Believe it or not we have tumble dryers, and they work fine.

menachem

Pointing out, that IF you need something, and you need it cheap, there's H&M, where you can buy it.

MmePerdu

Annhig, in Debit's defense, in my (personal) experience, they aren't nearly as efficient. Smaller, take a long time, can't do another load of wash until the first one dries and stuff wrinkles more because they're small. There may be better ones than those I've used but I've wondered every time, what's with these dryers?

annhig

Mme Perdue - that may be true of the cheaper end of the market, but most of us have washers and dryers that work very efficiently.

plus you are on holiday, so the amount of washing to be done is probably less. [it ought to be!]

DebitNM

Annhig- I am sure the as a resident you do have washers and dryers that work very efficiently. It has been my experience, and others have also noted, that is often not the case in apartment rentals.

I am presently in my 5th European apartment rental this year, in as many countries. The machines in rentals tend to be combo units that as ,Mme. Perdue mentions take a very long time to do a load. And I doubt anyone would put in higher quality units in rentals.

The other thing that should be noted - Americans are used to machines(washers and dryers) that are much bigger and that do loads much faster, even lower end products.

The very first encounter I had was in Nice and it was quite a surprise that everything came out damp and needed to be hung up to dry for quite some time. I could barely get 2 pairs of jeans and a few t shirts into the machine and they were far from dry after a long time in that combo machine that was listed as washer and dryer.

I simply try to warn those used to American products, not to expect that the same as at home.