Ann1

Always remember that wherever you go, the residents are the same physically as we are. Don't over pack over the counter meds you may only think you might need. The pharmacies have everything. Tylenol is Panadol, aspirin is aspirina, they have antacids, personal products, etc.

uhoh_busted

Wear blue jeans on the plane (if they are a staple in your wardrobe) and your mid-weight jacket or raincoat and the heaviest or bulkiest pair of shoes you are taking. (I take two or three pair, but our trips are usually long and it's not good for your feet to only have one pair of shoes.) The wardrobe you pack should be layerable and washable.

hazel1

I disagree with the others regarding jeans - I think it will not be too hot for them in October and I find them indispensable in terms of the multiple-wearing function. I've traveled in May and late September and was always glad to have a pair, and if you have a place to dry them outdoors (i.e. not in a hotel room), they will dry just fine.

Ann1

Yea, October can be really nice or very cold. One year in October we were warm in Ischia. Then the weather changed and Amalfi and Sicily were cold and rainy. In fact on the way from Amalfi to Naples we had snow. More north can be cool and rainy. Be prepared for both....yes you can do it with carry-on, we do.

elnap29

bookmarking

annw

Here's a great site for packing light and for lists/recommendations:

http://www.onebag.com/


I'm another non-jeans wearer (due to weight, dry times, comfort or lack thereof) but if that's your thing, I agree with wearing them on the plane.

I like black pants, a black shirt/jacket, and varied colored tops. Add a windbreaker or very light raincoat if you like -- if it rains and you are in a city people will suddenly appear to sell umbrellas for 5 euros (bargain them down to 4).

About scarves-- YES -- but I would buy them there--very reasonable and wonderful mementos of your travels.

packed

Out of the disaster of the airlines losing our luggage for five days when we were in Amalfi, we found out a couple of things that became an adventure. We only do carry-on now even for three weeks plus. You can pick up items on your trip if you need to. It's actually fun to shop at some of the small stores and we even found some stuff at an outdoor weekly market when we were desperate. The funniest pictures are of me trying on pants in the back of a market truck. There is a great local shop, Mecca, in Amalfi almost built into the wall or mountain which has everything from deodorant to pots and pans. We now go there everytime we are there to visit the friendly owner and just look around. I buy a years supply of deodorant because I found that I like theirs better.

I also hoard tiny bottles during the year, like eyedrop bottles, and use them for things like hair products or lotions.

Pashminas and scarves are a great idea to buy there and can double as warmth or style.

The Kindle is also a good idea. We bought one before we went to Italy last October and not only did I put my travel books, and reading material on there, but I could email my travel notes (on Word) to the Kindle and even do a search with a key word to find a topic in my notes. I bought the 3G and it has free Internet in many countries although not too easy to navigate. It worked in a pinch. I could even check my email on it.

I do have to admit that we usually have to buy a duffle bag and check int in for the way back though.

GreenDragon

Oh, and Tripit, an online service, can hold all your reservations, website information and contact details for your itinerary, if you have a smart phone and you know you'll have WiFi to access it.

november_moon

I was sold on the eReader concept the first time I took one on a trip - definitely recommend them. I have a Nook, which is comparable to a Kindle, only more open about where you can get the books from.

I agree that if you don't bring something and realize you need it - you can buy it there. We always end up at a pharmacy for something.

MileHighHC

bookmarking - great ideas!

GypsyGurl

LOVE these suggestions!! I am so excited to try them out that I will do a "test run" when I take a small trip with my brother and his family next month. Nowhere nearly as exciting as Italy but still it will be fun to test out these packing tips!
thanks!
GG

wayfinder45

Commend your goal to pack light, just suggest that you leave at least a third of your suitcase (whatever size) empty. Also pack a lightweight duffle or something you can use as overflow luggage on your return. There are too many tempting treasures where you are going, and you will end up buying a suitcase there to haul them home if don't leave space on the front end.

Cringe at the thought of cutting up guide books. Keep a notebook with info that you collect while planning, and then maybe select a few small guidebooks for the places you will be at the longest. There is quite a variety of guidebooks available and some are quite small and lightweight. If you have easy access to the internet while traveling, you can look things up as you go -- if you find yourself wanting to change plans or explore something unexpectedly. If not, a cut-up guidebook may not serve you as well.

LuvToRoam

I carry a hooded sweathshirt (naturally black) and my coat, along with my pashmina for the airplane ride, eases up some in the suitcase. So excited this year to take my Nook along. We have scanned loads of documents from the guidebooks as well as the various notes we have. My "purse" is a large bag that holds my "3 ouncers", our travel docs, our mini laptop, my camera and other miscellaneous. You can take that as well as a carryon suitcase. My hubby can really pack light so that makes it easy for me. We didn't carry on last year and I was sorry about that. It is simply discipline. What the heck, we are going to Rome, shouldn't need to pack much!! I will say I am not as concerned about huge varience in the weather this year as I was last year, that made packing light very difficult. 115 days and counting...........

GypsyGurl

LuvToRoam,
What is a "pashmina for the airplane ride?"
Wayfinder, I like your hint about a duffel bag. My husband suggested we just check in an empty suitcase, but then we would be lugging the thing all over Italy. I like the idea of just a smallish bag to store our treasures. I am not a big collector, of course I have not traveled, so who knows what I will bring home! I am hoping to bring things back marked Prada
GG

suze

The hardest part about carry-on only imo is the 1-quart limitation and 3 oz. sizes for liquids at the beginning. You'll need to plan on purchasing shampoo and stuff after arrival.

As far as clothes simply pick pieces that all go together and can be 'layered' according to the weather. And make sure you have a couple pair of VERY comfortable shoes.

The only trick to traveling without a lot of stuff is you have to be willing to wear the same clothes over & over.

"pashmina for the airplane ride" means a shawl that can also be used as a blanket (it's nothing I use myself but i've seen it suggested before)

suze

Checking an empty suitcase when your goal is carry-on only is a crazy idea imho.

I would plan to check your suitcase thru on the way home & as your carryon simply take a shopping bag with handles or other tote you purchase with your souveniers in it on board. Thinking being if your suitcase is delayed on the trip home it's no big deal.

simpsonc510

I always take jeans! I travel to Europe twice a year (in the early spring and then in the later fall). I do have several pairs of light-weight stretch jeans, purchased in Switzerland. They dry much more quickly than the heavier denim. I do agree that regular weight jeans will probably not be too warm for you. Layering is the way to go, and wearing things at least twice before laundering works best.

danon

it may depend on one's shape, but for comfort, I prefer tights to jeans. I have several in different fabrics ( even wool) - all black. With longer tops and comfortable boots they are my choice for cooler weather travel.

suze

I wear things (outer clothing) for an entire 3 week trip without laundering.

GypsyGurl

Thank you suze for clearing up what a pashmina is! All of the hints here are great!!