Packing Light? Any Great Tips?
 

I am looking for any great tips on packing light. I know there are lots of people who are very good at it.

I'm sure you will find lots of threads on this subject if you do a search.

I packed all I needed for the 3 wk trip to Italy, in a small wheeled carryon, and tote that slips over the handle of the carryon. The purse I packed inside of the bag.

It was summer, and so clothing was lightweight. I was able to pack 3 skirts, 3 slacks, 1 capri, 2 pr. sandals, undies, 4 t-shirts, several blouses, a sweater, scarves, toiletries w/no problem. Probably some other things I'm not remembering.

I packed the folded clothing into 2 gal. zipper bags (the slide lock kind from Hefty). Then sat on them with the bag still open a bit to flatten them out, it really acted as a compressor bag.

Take things lightweight or knit, that don't take up volume, and you can wash them out in the room. Wear your heavier things on the plane.

Take a travel clothesline to use in the room.

Buy microfiber underwear that will dry overnight. You only need 3 pair. My DH had briefs of microfiber as well.

Read messages on packing light on the Rick Steves website as well as this one.

You are amazing!!!

Cupspinner gives great advice. I can't believe how many people think they need to take a different outfit for every day.
Many say, "I'm not doing any laundry while I'm on vacation!" Well, washing a few things out every couple of days sure beats killing yourself dragging a lot of luggage around.
We too use the travel clothesline and it works like a charm. We also take a small bottle of Woolite to wash things out in the sink or tub.
Shoes take up a LOT of room, and like cupspinner, we take a pair of sandals, wear another pair of shoes, and sometimes take a 3rd pair.

Time of year has so much to do with it. However, blue jeans and khakis are heavy, take up space, dry slowly, and hard to get a quick turnaround at local laundry. Dare I say polyester? Doesn't wrinkle, is washable and dries in a sec. One pair of shoes: walkable but presentable. The microfibre underwear is pricey but terrific. Some synthetic shirts will not wrinkle badly, give you a day or two [with cologne]. IMO, cotton is the biggest enemy you have in packing light.

I take one silk T-shirt type night gown that I got on sale at Winter Silks. It is a hideous print, but rolls up to nothing, weighs nothing and dries in NO time at all.

We also take long sleeved lightweight silk undershirts in the winter. This allows for thinner tops and sweaters, and everything about the ugly silk nightshirt applies to these, plus they are very warm.

This is part of an article I wrote that went into my company's employee newsletter, written before the terrorist threat in London:

Climate and planned activities play a key role in just how light you can pack. If you’re a golfer and must take your own clubs, it’s obvious that you’ll be checking them at the airport. Are you headed to a cool or warm climate? Are you planning to dress up in the evening? Do you need special clothing for sporting activities? Just how simple can you keep it and still have the items you really require? Two weeks in Europe with carry-on luggage? No problem! It didn’t take me long to learn that I would be responsible for my own luggage, whether carrying it up five flights of stairs or on and off trains. After more than a dozen trips overseas, my friends and I have learned how to travel light – okay, so they went kicking and screaming at first. My advice: never take more than you can carry.

When selecting your wardrobe think about items that will mix and match. On one trip just about everything I took was black, white, or off-white, primarily solid colors with a couple of patterned shirts. Each item could be layered depending on whim and temperature. For a two-week trip I might take three pairs of pants with four or five light tops, and two or three blouses or light jackets. If I need a warm coat or jacket, I wear it on the plane. A colorful scarf can dress up an otherwise boring outfit and won’t take up room in your luggage. Gentlemen, you might want to pack a jacket, and ladies, you might want to pack a long skirt appropriate for a nice restaurant. Try to select fabrics that will withstand wrinkles; in other words, leave the linen at home. Pack thin, lightweight nightclothes. Leave the bulky PJs and bathrobe home. Yes, even my travel underwear is thin – no joke.

You can always arrange to have your clothes laundered. Better yet, sample the local laundromat and see if you can figure out how to get the machine started. There is more to travel than looking at monuments and statues. Learn what life is like “over there.” Be a traveler, not a tourist.

Shoes can take up a lot of room in a suitcase, so I always wear the bulkiest pair and take a spare pair. Just make sure both pairs are comfortable. Think about where you’re going – Europe has many charming cities, but many of the streets are paved with cobblestones. Think twice before loading up your luggage with dainty sandals – chances are you won’t wear them more than once or twice.

Bulky clothing can be compacted by placing items in plastic baggies. To get all the air out, place the bag with the clothing inside it under a mattress to get the air out, and seal while the bag is still under the mattress. This works great with sweaters.

Check with your airline to determine the correct carry-on size suitcase and permitted weight. These days they charge you if they think you’re packing too much. You can also bring onboard a personal item, and mine is always a rather large purse that holds a lot. Airline personal have weighed my suitcase, but never my purse. I always feel better knowing that my belongings travel with me and don’t meet up with me three days into the trip. If you must check your bag, always, and I mean always, carry your valuables with you: passport, jewelry, medications – don’t assume the airlines won’t misplace your bags, because history says otherwise. Also be sure to carry one change of clothing with you in case your checked bag goes astray. A suitcase with wheels is essential, and one that expands is even better. If you shop along the way, you can open the expansion and check your bag for the return trip. Think about a foldable tote, a small item in your suitcase going, that expands to a third carrying bag in case you need to check your suitcase going home. This way two of your three bags will travel with you on the plane with your most important items.

One time when traveling with a friend we were scheduled for a three-hour lay-over in Atlanta enroute to Paris. As we existed the plane in Atlanta we noticed a flight at the gate across the way departing for Paris in 30 minutes. We had just enough time to change our tickets and get on board, cutting two-and-a-half hours off our travel time. You can’t do that with checked luggage.

On a trip to Hong Kong I checked a large duffle bag filled with nothing but bubble wrap. I shopped to my heart’s content and was prepared to package my goodies for the trip home.

Think about the toiletry items you really need. Even the smallest B&B will have a hairdryer available. They will also have shampoo – try going without your special brand for a little while. Ladies, do you really need five shades of lipstick? Four shades of eye shadow? Be picky and take a limited amount. A compartmentalized make-up bag with clear plastic sections is a good idea so you can easily find what you need. Pack items that can leak or drip in sealable baggies. I admit I take a small pharmacy with me, but only a couple of each item. If I need more of something, I can always buy it there. Carry copies of your medical prescriptions with you along with a copy of your eyeglass prescription. My luxury item: I take mesh sponge balls for the shower, one for each hotel. Leaving them behind creates a little room in my suitcase for purchases.

Important documents: It’s a good idea to carry a copy of your passport somewhere other than with your official passport. Safeguard your credit cards and ATM cards with a neck or waist pouch, especially in major cities such as Rome or Paris. Call your credit card companies and the financial institutions that provide your ATM cards and let them know when you’ll be away and in which countries you’ll be traveling. Otherwise, they may notice unusual transactions and cut off your access to money. Have their international phone numbers packed in a safe place in case you need to contact them from overseas. Along the same lines, it’s okay to use a hotel’s safe deposit box, but do not use the safe in your room for your valuables – but that’s another story.

Earplugs – it’s those roosters that get to me every time.

Consider taking a journal. Write down where you went, when you went there, what you did, and what things cost as you travel. Write your impressions and your feelings, what you learned, and what you thought of the people you met along the way. It’s unlikely you’ll remember the details when you get home.

Maps, a tour book or two, and perhaps a few restaurant recommendations. Be sure to bring your hotel and travel confirmations.

Bring your camera and lots of film or memory cards. Tip: take photos of signs so you will remember later where you were. Digital memory makes this a reasonable way to keep track of the sequence. After days on the road, it all gets kind of blurry.

International drivers license.

Learn a few words in the local language. Hello, goodbye, please, and thank you are the most important, oh, and "where is the toilet?"

Above all, pack your sense of humor and your sense of adventure.

Here is a list of items I took on my last trip:
Sponge bath balls
Facial cleanser
Moisterizer
Cosmetics
Deodorant
Toothpaste/toothbrush
Dental floss
Q-Tips
Hand cream
Eye makeup remover
Hairbrush
Tissue packs
Theraflu strips (non-liquid)
Immodium tablets
Sudafed
Tranquilizers (for the flights)
Blister pads
Advil
Medications
Vitamins
Antiseptic
Earphones
Currency calculator
Passport
Copy of passport
International drivers license
Postcard addresses
Email addresses
2 pairs of walking shoes (wearing one pair on the flight)
6 pairs of socks
7 pairs of undies
Extra bras
PJs
6 shirts
3 tee shirts
Blue jacket
2 pairs of jeans (wearing one pair on flight)
Black pants
Beige pants
Bubble wrap
Collapsible tote
TSA approved locks
Books and maps for our destination
Journal and 2 pens
Day purse
Reading glasses
Extra pair of driving glasses
Ear plugs
Hotel and airline confirmations
iPod
Camera
Battery charger
Electric adapters
Camera memory cards
Blank CD for burning photos
Shutter remote control
Camera instruction booklet

and, yes, I did this with only carry-on.

Diane

AMAZING!!! These tips have been very helpful.

Great tips and tactics.

I like the quick dry, microfiber as well - worth it to me; I get them at Travelsmith.

Woolite comes in small, one-use packets which worked out great -- easy to pack, no leaks, can take one for each anticipated wash night.

Ditto packing a thin microfiber bag inside the rollerbag carry-on -- if I shop I check the carry on on the way back and carry on the thin bag and my personal item/tote bag.

I skip the Woolite and wash the clothes with shampoo. It's soap, isn't it?

This thread used to reside on the Europe forum but the editors moved it to the Lounge

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34923844

It has a lot of good ideas.

I spent two weeks in Europe in October, and can't add too much to what others have said, but here are a couple of items:
Others have mentioned the ziplock bags; I found some really big (2.5 gallon) ones at Target. You could easily get a couple of sweaters and shirts in each one. Great for toting dirty clothes home in as well.
I also agree with the tip to coordinate your wardrobe so everything matches everything else. However, my wardrobe choices on this last trip were black, grey and white; and I wished I had at least brought a few colorful scarves as they really brighten up one's daily "outfit", plus they add something to your photographs!

At long last after many trips to Europe & other parts of the world I have learnt that a person needs no more than the bare necessities!
I am down to one tiny carry-on-board roller suitcase which has a nice little vanitycase which slips over the handle.
In this I manage to pack for a 3 week (at least)trip putting inside:
4 wash & wear blouses
3 wash & wear stretch long pants
Underwear
l sleep shirt which is washable & dries in a day
l very crushable gillet(type of body-warmer/waistcoat)
1 zip-up rainproof jacket
1 pr comfortable sandles, 1 pr very lightweight sports trainers, 1 pr black evening/day shoes.
All the clothes are either black, beige or red, and mix 'n match.

If I get bored wearing them I may buy another blouse or something else to wear whilst I'm away.

mark

1) Don't pack anything that needs ironing
2) Don't pack giant size comestics & other pills & potions
3) Learn how to wash in a hand basin
4) Cut down on the shoes
5) No cotton jeans

Learn the airline luggage size and weight rules. Get the scales out. Assemble the packing. Weigh each piece. Pack the bag or bags, carry them about...George's theory, tourists drag twice as much baggage as they EVER use. Consider my last seat mate; he has an extra laptop, just in case his first one broke.

save up old clothes and throw them away as you go

Remember that Europe has asperin, Tylenol (Panadol), shampoo, conditioner, cremes, deoderants, antibiotic cremes, bandaids, etc, etc, etc. and just pack small amounts of each.

I also use shampoo to wash clothes. Every hotel we have ever stayed in supplies shampoo everyday.

just bookmarking....

Bring one change and buy everything else.

Really some great ideas...here is another one I found on the web. Don't fill you bag with lots of clothing - the weather can change instantly and you are sitting with clothes you can't wear. When you get to your destination (any large city in Europe) hit the thrift shops and buy what you need, plus you will look like a local instead of a tourist. If you don't want to take it home, throw it away. But, I bring mine back and put them on eBay.

Another tip, which someone may have mentioned and I overlooked, roll your clothing up. It is amazing how much more you can get into a suitcase if everything is rolled up. I do this mostly for my return home so I don't have to buy another travel bag for my goodies...it really works, and surprisinly, things don't get as wrinkled as when you fold them????

When we went to Italy, I took a couple of pair of tropical wool slacks, a couple of pair of capris and some thin tops. I will tell you that my entire stack of clothes took up less room than one pair of my husband's thick cargo pants from Old Navy. Tropical wool slacks fold up very flat.

After doing a search and getting a lot of this information, I did a dry run. I was amazed that I was able to get my stuff for a 3 week trip in a 22in rolling suitcase. However, where will I put the wine I want to buy along the trip and bring home?

missypie,

Where does one find tropical weight wool pants?

Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft.

Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft. I wear them all summer in Texas and don't feel hot.

Sorry for the double post. I was trying out the "edit" feature where you keep going back...I must have done it wrong.

My biggest packing worry is coats and jackets. I'll be in London the first week of April and that could be cold or hot. I'll check the weather the day before I leave, but how accurate is that in a changeable climate? It seems easy to buy what you need when you get there, but with the poor state the dollar is in, I would rather not buy things I can pack. Suggestion on the coat/jacket thing??

April will not be that cold. Bring a light coat (like a trench) and something warm for underneath if necessary.

And April won't be hot either. Mild is possible - or cool.

Just take a a rain coat w/ a zip out liner. That will work for any eventuality from mild to freezing cold (though freezing cold isn't too likely)

I agree with buying some clothing along the way - I am a total non-shopper, but even I found myself buying clothes when we went to Germany, and having fun doing it - LOL. Next trip, I am planning on doing some shopping too. I don't imagine I would go so far as to bring only 1 or 2 changes of clothes, but I will definitely pack lighter.

When I travel in winter, instead of taking sweaters (which can be bulky), I take extra turtlenecks. I then double layer the turtlenecks - so the next day, I can put the one that was on top on bottom! The layers are great for cold weather and wind and they aren't bulky, easy to wash. Its also easy to 'dress up' a t-neck with a pretty necklace!

I should also mention that Febreeze really works for freshening clothes.

Packed in one main bag for one month in Italy & Spain, mid-May to mid-June. Like cupspinner & others, packed it all in a wheeled carry-on (hideous red one) with an expandable zipper (bag was full on the way home and I checked it) and a small daypack/purse thing that I borrowed from a friend and didn't really like (moral=take the tried & true!).

If memory serves (2005 trip) this is what I took:

On the plane I wore black LLBean yoga-type bootcut black comfy pants, tank top, print long sleeved T-shirt, nice black hoodie and my heaviest shoes.

In the suitcase (I also use the large zip-lock bag system, more or less):

-one pair of well-fitting jeans (I always take 'em, wear 'em, love 'em)
-two pairs lightweight capris
-one pair of shorts for hiking & beach
-one knit skirt that rolled into practically nothing
-another tank top
-another long sleeved tee shirt
-a couple short sleeved tops
-a long-sleeved buttoned shirt for hiking
-2 pairs cute & comfortable sandals
-jean jacket (wore w/capris & skirt)
-very lightweight rainjacket (the one thing I only wore once, but had rain in Italy previously at this time of year, so thought I would need it)
-a big cotton scarf that served as a sarong at the beach, a shawl out at night and many other uses
-bathing suit
-nightgown
-baseball cap for hiking days
-a week's worth of undies & some socks
-toiletries in small containers (coordinated w/ traveling companions on the 'first aid' stuff)
-laundry soap in packets, a few little plastic clothes pins, and an ancient inflatable hanger -- all totally useful & used on the trip
-photo copies of the pages I needed from guidebooks; took a couple of the smaller ones & coordinated w/traveling companions

Didn't take a hair dryer; everywhere had one & in Spain, where the hotel didn't, I borrowed one from my local friend.

Washed things out, including the lightweight pants, in the sink --esp after nights out in Madrid at the smokey bars!

I stuff shoes w/socks, roll things and fill the edges of the suitcase, etc. I knew I would need another bag for the way home -- I like to check my dirty clothes, which I am sick of anyway, & hand carry any treasures I am bringing home. I would have bought a cheap little duffle but ended up getting one from my friend. I sometimes just pack an empty one in the suitcase to begin with.

I do have some micro fiber undies, but I basically hate the material, and really look for fabrics I like and will not overly wrinkle. In the spring & summer I do take a lot of cotton, but most of it shakes out fine, & if it is thin enough, it will dry quickly.

I washed the jeans a few times when we were staying in one place a long time and had a washing machine. I just love my jeans & don't feel like me w/out a pair...

It is sooo worth it to take one bag only!

Meant to add that I, like others here, end up washing my clothes out in the hotel shampoo, but for some reason I always stick in the packet of laundry soap...

And, I always take my little roll-up down travel pillow, eye shades & ear plugs (crucial when sharing rooms!).

Microfiber undies - bras, too?

One item we always take to help with hotel room laudering---round (heavy duty) balloons. Blow one up, stick inside a shirt or blouse that's been washed, and it separates the layers and makes for much quicker drying. You can always leave the inflated balloon for the quizzical hotel maid! (or pop).

3 pair of underwear... always in a rotation of washing and drying. Ditto socks.

3 pairs of pants that can stand up to a few wearings before washing.

Scarves and jewelry aplenty.

2 pairs of "I could walk to China (if you live in Minnesota) shoes."

And as many shirts and overshirts and jackets that you can wear or fit in a 22" bag. Last visit I had so much room that I kept adding tops, linen tops. THANK GOODNESS, it was so warm in Amsterdam that those linen shirts were much welcomed.

Brockbank-

I HATE being cold, so I think a lot about your question when I pack, even if I am going somewhere warm. What about cold air conditioning or a windy day? Here are my tips:

For the coat query, I would second the idea of a raincoat with a zip-out lining. You can take it on the plane hanging over your arm, so it doesn't take up precious packing space in the suitcase AND you can use it as a blanket on the flight AND you can zip out the lining and use it if you encounter warm rain.

Another option if you want a sportier look is to take a polar fleece jacket/pullover stuffed inside a small travel pillow case onto the plane with you, where it acts as an excellent, puffy personal pillow and again, saves room in your suitcase. You can use it in hotels with flat pillows, too.

Also, I would never go anywhere without at least one cashmere sweater- a turtleneck in cold climates and a cardigan in warm climates. They are light, cozy when it gets chilly, and airy to throw over a sundress or t-shirt in strong air conditioning or on a breezy summer night. They pack small (rolled with tissue in a ziploc to prevent wrinkles) or serve as a great layer on cold flights. And a little Febreeze really helps them stay fresh for many wearings.

If you wore a cashmere sweater on the plane, took your lined raincoat hanging over your arm, and took a fleece in a pillow case, you would be all set for even a really cold snap, and you would be so snug on the plane, without adding anything to your suitcase!

Have a FAB trip!

>We too use the travel clothesline and it works like a charm. We also take a small bottle of Woolite to wash things out in the sink or tub.>

I always buy my Woolite at Monoprix and leave it for the maid, so that I don't have to carry a bottle in my suitcase.
Sandy