Stale body odors cling to clothes and reappear when a hot body is reinserted into them the next day or the day after, etc.

This is why I change my clothes daily on a trip (even at home).

This is just my humble opinion of course.

But what about the TRAIN and the 26" SUITCASE?????

;-)

OH, that. Well, he shouldn't take it on the train. Next question.

Having just recently returned from 17 days in Europe, my (trophy) wife and I traveled each with a backpack which we were able to carry on the plane. Had laundry done twice at hotels (not cheap) and washed some stuff out in the evenings if the hotel room had a radiator to dry things on.

We also had packed a folding duffel bag which we used on the way home for all the crap that we picked up along the way. We checked our packs on the way home.

The best advice that I have ever had for packing is to get everything together and then leave half the clothes and bring twice the money.

Having read all the interesting posts on "packing light" most of you use 22" rollies for your 2/3 week trips, we are going for 7 weeks! My hubby can get away with miminal - but I think I will have to stick to my 26".

Maudie, I always pack for one week only (doesn't matter if teh trip is 1, 2, 3 weeks or more). The only time I have had to take a larger bag is when I travel in winter, or go places with different climates on a single trip.

Also it matters (to me) whether I am moving around a lot or staying in one place, whether I am traveling by car or by train, and whether I am going with a companion or solo. All of these influence logistics therefore my packing strategies.

Wow! Thanks for all the responses. I wish I received a quarter of them for my other questions. If we opt for train travel (to multiple locations) we'll purchase 21 or 22" bags. If we go by car, we'll stick to our "packing heavy" regime with a 26" bag.

<i>&quot;but if you want to pack light, then you'll either have to do laundry at some point on your trip or wear soiled clothes the whole time.&quot;</i>

Exactly why I have no interest in minimalist packing. I don't like to wear soiled, smelly clothes and I have no desire whatsoever to spend my evenings rinsing out dirty socks and panties. No thanks.

On a 2 week vacation, if I know I will be staying somewhere with laundry facilities, I'll pack lighter and do a load or two of laundry, but dealing with laundry every day of my vacation? You've got to be kidding. :)

Madison -

You seem to have missed the point. I don;t wash clothes - nor do I iron them. Life is short - and these are things that are not worth my time. This is why hotels have laundry and cleaning services. The only problem is that you need to take enough different things to wear to work around the fact that in europe it may not be same day service or be available over the weekend.

So it looks like for me the 24&quot; is the absolute minimum - based on several things I really won;t compromise on.

Seems we've separated the wheat from the chaff on this post. I'd go with Suze any day. Those of you who stink up your clothes, well then bring a 26&quot; ton of them or go to the laundry.

Maudie: &quot;we are going for 7 weeks! &quot;

Shouldn't really make any difference, 1 week or 4 months. You don't wear different clothes every day for 7 straight weeks when at home and you wouldn't on a trip.

I usually pack for about five full days. then add one or two other tops, lots of accessories (scarves/shawls etc). Then over a 7 week trip I would wear the EXACT same outfit maybe 3 or 4 times.

Don't even think of it as 7 weeks - That just seems too overwhelming. Think of a coordinated wardrobe based on one or two compatible colors. Then you can mix and match everything.

Even in the winter I still manage in the one small bag - layers, wool sweater instead of light cotton, maybe a set of silk long underwear, and several pairs of warm socks instead of sandals.

Any possibility that the perception about whether re-wearing a shirt is a good idea or not might tie into what time of year one travels?

I would guess that April or October travel (our usual choices) would not have the same effect on the fragrance of clothing that traveling in July (not even on a bet) might have.

Hi, thanks Suze and Janis, I will take up your suggestions and try really hard to cut down. We usually holiday in Asia and its just beach gear, easy and light as this will be our first Europe trip I am soaking up all this great advice. I think I may buy a pashmina to change the look of my wardrobe! We will be using car, train, bus and the Norway Coastal Voyage so point taken. Thanks again.

hopscotch, please enlighten us on how not to &quot;stink up our clothes&quot; when traveling in the summer months - especially after repeated wearings.

I think hand washing can get smaller, lighter clothing clean, if one rinses VERY carefully. Larger items like pants that have double-bound seams are really difficult to wash by hand and get all the soap out.

But, I do like to send out laundry in other countries. It comes back looking even better than new--clean, meticulously ironed, beautifully folded with tissue paper. It's expensive, but worth the price to be able to put on wonderfully clean and European-detergent-smelling clothes.

okay... based on this thread alone, i will seek out the 12-step program. &quot;my name is lindan. i'm an OVER-PACKER!&quot;

however, i have ALWAYS dealt with my own luggage until last summer when i had to take on the italian train stations and the experience of trying to shove my briggs&amp;reilly extra large duffle up the weird two sets of steps. and, as a side note, it was two women elderly women from london who came to my assistance, and said, &quot;don't worry, luv, we've all been here at one point or the other.&quot;

soooooooo... i have sworn that this trip to switzerland and then on to prague will be done correctly.

SHOES are an issue... almost a week and a half i'll be at a seminar in einsiedeln where evidently people walk/hike. any recommendations for shoes that can stand 5-10 mile treks (and i'm not a hiker so i'll be on the wimp trails or sneak out of the group and just buy the postcards for the experience)?

secondly, what about BACKPACKS?? if i can contain myself to the 22&quot; wheelie suitcase... aren't there backpacks that one could conceivably stuff that would be easier to deal with because you don't have to carry them?

i'm going into training this trip... those polite ladies could have had heartattacks because of me and my luggage... but isn't there a creative compromise?

lindan

I've managed a round-the-world, multi-stop 2 1/2 week business/scuba/city leisure, 2 season (muggy Asia, cold rainy spring) trip with a 20&quot; expandable wheelie and a large daypack a couple of times. The tricks I've found include: (1) finding the perfect lightweight, multi-purpose clothes (like a plain black Nike rainshell that works for sports but doesn't look too sporty in the city; super-cushioned Joseph Siebel walking shoes that work for cities and everything except scrambling up the side of the mountain; silk/cotton twinsets that you can split up and combine with other clothes; pashminas); (2) limiting colour combinations (e.g. the black/blue/red trip or the brown/beige/khaki trip) and packing only colours that mix and match with most other items in the suitcase; (3) wearing the same clothes frequently (but getting them cleaned); (4)severely limiting shoes (one on my feet, one other style and sandals for hot climates); (5) photocopying bits of guidebooks so that I can leave them at home and throw out the bits along the way; and (6) severely restricting or downsizing the personal care items I pack (e.g. I don't bother with hair appliances, shampoo or soap because I use the hotel's).

WOW!! You really find out a lot about people when you bring up the subject of packing. I am one of the those people who can bring just a 22&quot; carry on and my small leather backpack for two weeks. And no, I don't run around all stinky after the first couple of days. I am usually always cold for one thing, and I do shower twice daily. I have the type of friends that would definitely let me know if I were getting fragrant. So I don't worry there. And yes I agree that it is more lack of personal hygeine that is the problem there. It is also making the best of the suitcase that you have. Getting everything in there neatly and organized and full, but not over full. It's like a big three D puzzle. I loved Edward2005's comment.
Would that I could pattent one of those bags. One thing that I always do is pack my personals and anything that can get wrinkled in big zip lock bags and take the air out of them. It makes so much more space than if you fold them or put them in anyother way. Bras can be a tad bulky depending on what you wear. I also argee that packing light means that you should be able to handle your own things that you take with you. I Learned that as I was trying to
lug my suitecase up and down stairs in England and Scotland. And I packed what i thought was light. I will be even better this time. You live you learn. Like anything else the more you do it the better you get.

Hi Kayb95,

Two suggestions:

1. Wear a cotton T-shirt under a loose outer shirt or blouse.

2. Don't haul a ton of stuff around with you.

..traveling light means 1. never having to say I am sorry I packed this 2. having something that is appropriate for all occasssions (NOT potential occassions..forget it! you are not going to get a last minute invite to the Queen's garden party) 3. using pretty much everything you packed 4. finding that you biceps and triceps have not hypertrophied during the trip 5. not generating a tour guide to the laundromats of Europe.

And I'm going along with Hopscotch!

Hey there's an idea, maybe you can pick a successful traveling companion by their answers on this one issue alone?

For Kayb95: I travel light, wear the same outer clothing many times per trip(alternating outfits, hanging them to air out in between, and rinsing undies in the sink, if you must know). I take a shower daily and use deodorant (I mention only because you specifically asked).

Yes, I wear the same outfits more than once (who cares). No, I do not stink (I'm not sure what's wrong with some of you but I simply am not that sweaty or smelly).

It depends on how you are travelling.

Back in the good old days (when you were allowed two carry ons), our family of 4 went for 2 weeks with just two carry ons apiece.

The next year I took a 2 week trip with a friend and I got by with one carry on - he had a huge rolling duffelbag that must have held everything except the kitchen sink!

But since we were going by car, it made littl difference.

A couple of years ago, I did my Europe backpacking trip with some friends. Two of us had backpacks, the other a tiny wheeled suitcase. We were taking the train from Madrid to san Sebastian. At first, our train compartment was empty except for an old Spanish couple.

Then this whole group of American high school studnets came on to our compartment - their suitcases were HUGE! (probably 29&quot; suitacases) It looked like they were all moving to spain! One girl came on with her massive suitcase and was trying to move the suitcase horizontally but it was stuck and she started having an attitude and screaming at the top of her lungs. When the old Spanish man indicated that she should turn her suitcase to pull through she screamed back at him.

Finally she got the hint. the entire group had the same size luggage and there was luggage in the aisle way -nobody could walk through.

I was so emabarressed being an American and so angry that these idiots didn't know how to pack lightly.

Point is - always better to take smaller luggage. Like others said, 26&quot; may be too big. go for 24&quot; or better yet 22&quot;. Take only what is necessary.

A good idea is to pack a small duffle bag at the bottom of your suitcase. In case you buy stuff on your trip, you can pull it out when needed.

Those American highschool students on the train in Spain may have been exchange students. Some stay in another country for the entire school year, so it is impossible for them to just pack a real small suitcase.

To xxxx:

JosephA. brand, made of Viscose &amp; Nylon tends to be the brand of tops I pack. They lay very nicely, wash &amp; dry well.

I learned how to pack light in high school because I played the tuba. When we travelled, we had to carry our own stuff. When you're already carrying a tuba, about all you pack for yourself is a toothbrush, toothpaste and clean underwear.

Once, the tuba got stuck coming down the baggage carousel and blocked the top of the ramp. Thankfully, I didn't have to climb up and retrieve it.

<i>&quot;For Kayb95: I travel light, wear the same outer clothing many times per trip(alternating outfits, hanging them to air out in between, and rinsing undies in the sink, if you must know). I take a shower daily and use deodorant (I mention only because you specifically asked). Yes, I wear the same outfits more than once (who cares). No, I do not stink (I'm not sure what's wrong with some of you but I simply am not that sweaty or smelly).&quot;</i>

Gee, I do all that, too - except for rinsing out the panties. I wear the clothes I pack more than once, but I pack enough socks and panties for the entire trip. So maybe I'm what would be called a semi-light packer? :)

Kayb95,

The glass is half full and half empty, depending on your point of view. I would say that you are semi-heavy packer.

I do not relish scrubbing the duds so I pack 3 sets of U-wear plus the ones I'm wearing. I wash in the bidet about twice a week. I let them soak while I am out eating, then rinse and wring and hang. Unless I drip spaghetti sauce on my shirt it is not dirty.

If someone else is paying for my trip, say a long business trip, I'll take a week supply and let the hotel do the wash, and let the company pick up the outrageous tab. Yeah, ironed T-shirts and boxers! ;-)

When is MK2 going to wade in here!!!!? I was missing him/her but saw a couple of posts yesterday.

Funny thing I have only ever spilled wine on my clothing, never spaghetti sauce!

You use the bidet to wash your underclothes? I would hope the maid cleaned it after the many people before you washed other things (if you know what I mean) in it.

I would use the sink. Maybe I am just overly picky in that dept.

T.M.I.

I was really proud of myself over Xmas. We went on a week-long trip split between Rome and Florence. I packed everything in a school-size backpack (sorry I'm not very technical with size) and a purse. I carried both on, which resulted in me getting to Italy with all my bags! (I typically have bad luck with that sort of thing.) Having to rewear the same two basic outfits all week was a small price to pay for the convenience of not having suitcases to haul around on and off trains!

Hi SeaUrchin, you posted what I wanted to but did not have the nerve to.

I had the same exact thought, LOL.

People, do you know what the bidet is used for?

Yes my travel companion wanted to attempt to cool our room temp bottled beer this way in Venice one afternoon. I HAD to stop him... ewwwww!

Oh suze, yuuuuck! LOL.

After reading the posts recommending a 22&quot; suitcase, I visited a Samsonite outlet. The salesperson recommended a duffle on wheels which had the advantage of being narrower, but holding more (could be 26-36&quot; without being wider than a 22&quot; suitcase)-also much lighter.

I haven't tested it, but I'd be cautious about how well one of those 26-36&quot; duffles would fit in train luggage racks and other tight spaces. I can't believe it would be as easy to handle as a 22&quot; rolling suitcase. When packed, such a suitcase is typically in the 10 kg (22.5 pound) range, at least for me, and that's an easy to handle weight. I've had it weighed at the airport several times.

Hi stillhouse, I agree with WillTravel. It is not just the measurement, it is the weight.

If you are traveling by train please keep all of this into consideration.