You probably do "travel light"..most people who loiter in hotel lobbies where they aren't actually staying do so!

precious pretensious prat!


Oh my, I thought this was the "three word answer storyline"...

JonJon, I was thinking the same thing you were. M_Kingdom has always seemed to have a male tone to his posts, but won't confirm if he/she is male or female.

i'm next... where are the rocks?

whether or not you like what s/he writes, m_k has spiced things up around here. and things have gotten pretty bland.

Is packing light a Fodorite tradition or something? As a newbie here I'm not aware of the history. For those who are taking public transport and staying in hotels without elevators, sure, travel light. Otherwise, I see no reason to.

CarolA -- good suggestion about checking with your airline. I just checked with the one I'm booked with for my July trip and they allow PER PERSON: 2 checked bags, each bag no more than 50 pounds plus 1 carry-on plus 1 personal item such as purse or personal computer. So, this airline, at least is still pretty liberal, since that means for 2 people we can have about 300 pounds of luggage -- which is more than even I take.

For a trip of 10 days or more, my wife and I usually travel with a couple of 26-27" suitcases and a carry-on bag. I don't find it especially difficult to handle a couple of suitcases of this size--especially since they have wheels. I guess when I get much older and more feeble it might be a problem, but it hasn't been an issue for the 30+ years we've been traveling together.

I bring pretty much what the other light packers bring with them. Also, I include a bathing suit and instead of long underwear, I pack leggings. Both of these items do double duty:
If I want to do yoga or make use of a gym I can wear the bathing suit and leggings. For hiking the bathing suit is useful under my clothes. Leggings are great to wear under clothes if the weather is cold. Of course I'm always ready for a swim if a pool is available.
I take only clothes that dry overnight and I test them first. I love the idea of the Ziplock Washer!
I found a great little duffle bag that folds down to a size that accomodates my husbands shaving gear and at the end of our trip expands to carry home the goodies.
This year I got a great little Timex analog watch that is waterproof and has an alarm. I can leave my travel alarm clock at home. (I just don't trust wake up calls.) The alarm flashes and beeps so it really woke me up.

I missed the ziplock washer...where is that post..??
M-kingdom..what is the ziploc washer?

Robbiegirl, do a search for "critical packing accessories."

Robbiegirl,
I should have made an effort to be clearer. What I called a "Ziplock Washer", is using a zip lock bag to do the hand laundry. It's a simple and very clever. I'll never do my hand laundry without a ziplock bag at home or on the road.

Somehow, not much has changed here in the last couple of years. Everybody thinks THEIR way is the BEST way.

I like to travel light. I have done it both ways, thinking I had to have everything in my closet plus shoes to match each outfit. As I have aged, I delight in finding ways to "de-clutter" my life including the way I travel. I pack fabrics that are easily handwashed, can dry overnight and resist wrinkling.

For parts of our upcoming trip, we will be driving so the amount of luggage we carry is really only limited by the space in our trunk. However, the last leg of our trip will be spent in London and in order to be able to splurge a little on our hotel, we will be taking the tube into Victoria Station and the Gatwick Express back to Gatwick for our trip home. Packing light will enable us to do this more comfortably as noted by others above.

If you are physically able to lift those heavy suitcases when necessary, go for it. We each have our own travel style and it's doubtful anybody can convince you to change unless you want to.

For my 8 day solo rail trip to Great Britain this past Late January this is what I took and why. I knew that I would have to haul my bag as I was constantly getting on and off trains and doing a bit of walking with my bag. Also being 64 years of age I didn't want to tote a large, heavy load. So, first I only take travel sized toiletries that fit in a ziplock sandwich bag. For the rest, two pants, 8 pair of socks, 8 shorts, three tee shirts, two polo shirts, roll up slippers. I wore my only sweater and shoes and jacket on the plane. All of this in a gym bag weighing 13 pounds total. I did hand wash two tee shirts along the way.

my daughter and I will be traveling to Italy in April and plan on carry on luggage only. I am taking black/brown pant and jeans, two twinsets (green/cream) a long and short sleeve tee, undies. I will wear jeans/jumper and jacket on plane. 2 pairs of shoes both rockport (one brown one black). If I get sick of anything then it can go in the local St Vinnie's and buy new Italian fashion ahead of when it arrives here. Most times you don't use half the stuff you take. The only appliance will be my mobile phone and charger both tiny.

Woodsie - tell me more about the mobile phone you are taking with you to Italy. Is it one of those international cell phones? Have you used it in Europe before? I have been wondering about the feasability of one as I will be in France for two months this summer. Would like to hear some first hand accounts. Thanks.

Thanks for keeping it alive.
I am reading and had already put boxes out (as was suggested) which I am trying to fill with stuff which I need right after I placed it in box and closed it

I am looking for the converter to charge my cell phone but found HUGE one for $30.00. I saw one for $10.00 - now I am confused, stuff knows nothing about it usually (Circut City, Sally Beauty)

I have 25 days to live ... until departure though, will I make it ?

M_K

"cleanly cleaned"

What does this mean? As you berate others for bad English, I think you should at least make sure your posts make sense.

cleanly cleaned? Is this like when I "dethaw" meat for dinner?

Comment and Question.
I'm with the light packer contingent because I don't like to lug heavy stuff. However, I'll be checking our 22 inch bags so that I can carry nail scissors and other "lethal weapons" that won't make it through security for hand luggage.
Question: Have you used the bags that you roll and squeeze out the air? Look like they'd save a lot of space but you'd wind up with VERY wrinkled clothing.

Vera

Te vacuum bags do work but the problem is most folks use them to carm a lot of extra stuf into their small suitcase and it ends up weighing just as much as a larger bag.

The way I use the bags is only for 1) any fluffy or thick sweaters or down vest/jacket I might take. This really saves space and doesn't add much if any weight; and 2) I sometimes take one empty and use it for dirty clothing on the way home.

Maybe it's generational thing. When I was a teen (back in the Dark Ages) I would take one whole bag just for shoes... Now I just don't have the patience for all that schlepping and packing and unpacking, so try to travel lighter every time. I'm getting better at it.

My one really bad experience with too much luggage was when my daughter went to England for her junior year. She went in early summer to work before Uni started, so only took summer stuff. I planned to go over to York for a long weekend, and take her winter stuff and books with me. Packed them into two HEAVY suitcases on clunky wheels (pre-Wheely bag days). When I collected the bags from the carousel at Heathrow, I discovered the wheels on one suitcase were broken in transit (the book bag, natch -- LOL!) I took the Airbus to Euston, planning to get a taxi to Kings Cross to catch the train. It's rush hour and raining when I get there, so not a taxi to be found. Anywhere. I start to walk, carrying the bags... Egads, what a nightmare! At last, a kind gent took pity on me and offered his help (I was about ready to sit on the curb and cry). He was a Russian visiting prof walking to the station, but I think I would have given him that bag even if he looked like he might, um, keep it! I still think of and appreciate his kindness.

(And I think m_kingdom is a guy.)