please help me pack light
 

This might be a really difficult-to-answer question.

We are anticipating our 3rd trip to Europe this summer -- three weeks in Italy.

We are TERRIBLE packers. We've always rented a car, and just brought way too much luggage. Lots of clothes, lots of shoes, lots of books.

I REALLY want to try to get everyone in the family to pack lighter this year.

Other than the obvious -- "pack less stuff!!" -- please let me know if you have any helpful tips for packing light.

Thanks so much!
Dina

You probably already know this, but choose a color scheme - black or brown. Taking clothes from both families requires packing too many shoes and extra clothes.

Choose clothes that mix and match well - separates in solid colors, for example - so that you can put together different outfits and reduce the number of clothes you bring. Also, choose thinner, less embellished clothes - they fold up smaller.

Carry fewer clothes and if necessary, have them laundered or wash them in the sink.

Reduce to 3 pairs of shoes: a sandal or flipflop, a walking shoe or loafer, and a dressier option.

As for books, consider an electronic book.

My PDA saves a ton of lugging.

Go to onebag.com and have a look at their suggestions. The site is all about travelling light - really light. As in only with a carry on.

We have returned recently from 3 weeks in SE Asia and each of us took only a carry on. We are experienced travellers and this changed our trip so much for the better. No long lineup at check in, no luggage carousels, no lost luggage. Try it ! !

My standby travel clothing revolves around 2 good pairs of micro fiber slacks (washable, dripdry in hotel sink), light weight, packable, and dripdryable tops for casual and dressy (3 or 4 of each), all mix and match, a cardigan sweater, rain jacket, 2 walking shoes, 1 comfortable but dressier shoes, one pair of more rugged slacks, either nylon travel/hiking pants or light weight jeans or Dockers. Gown, robe, swimsuit, underwear all lightweight. Plus whatever you wear on the plane. That's it for a month. I'm a converted heavy packer. First time to Europe I took FOUR bags! Now it's a 22" checked and a tote. Not even a purse since I have a vest with 29 pockets. Really.

send me an e-mail and I'll send you my packlist I hve used for 7 trips to Greece for 3-4 weeks at a time, so it MUST work. You might have to add a few 'dressier' options... Greece has great food but except for fawncy areas of athens,does not have many places for more 'formal' dining.

I have travelled with carry on luggage only for many years now. One trip was 2 weeks in Greece followed by 10 days along French and Italian rivieras. Another was a week in London followed by 2 weeks in Paris-Normandy-Loire. Another was 2 weeks in Spain. Last fall we spent three weeks in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, with just carry ons. Many other trips of 3-4-5 weeks at a time. Last month I was in Morocco and London for two weeks - again just a carry on. Sure, you get pretty sick of wearing the same clothes by the end of the trip, but the trade-off is well worth it: no lost luggage, no waiting at baggage carousels, and no hauling around loads of stuff, getting more and more tired of dealing with it all by the day. Before restrictions were lifted and we were allowed only one piece of hand baggage, with NO liquids or gels or pastes or lipsticks, I still managed three weeks in London, Naples and the south of Italy and an overnight ferry to the Aeolian Islands - by taking stick foundation make-up, tooth powder instead of toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner both in solid/cake form, cake mascara (yes, it's still available), lip pencil instead of lipstick (yes, they wouldn't even allow lipstick in carry ons), etc, etc.

It's especially easy in Italy in spring-summer-early autumn, because it's warm, so your clothing can be fairly light-weight. One pair of European-looking walking shoes and one pair of light but supportive flats. One pair of stretchy, jersey-type black pants to wear on the plane and for dressing up to wear out in the evenings. Yoga pants also work well, and Nike has some great black light-weight loose-fitting workout pants. One pair of light-weight walking trousers; Columbia Sportswear makes some good ones. Three or four light cotton-spandex t-shirts or tops, that you can wash out at night and they will dry by the next day. One light-weight long-sleeve shirt with tabs to fasten the sleeves above your elbows if you want to roll them up. You can wear this over your swimsuit also. One light and silky or crinkly skirt that works with the t-shirts and can also go over a swimsuit. And one light-weight jacket with a hood that rolls up into the collar, in case of rain. You can take this to the cleaners and have it waterproofed if it's not actually a rain jacket. Then add a very light sweater for cool mornings and evenings - I like to take a tissue-weight cashmere or merino wool cardigan. And a couple of those mesh-type dressy tops that wad up into nothing for going out in the evening.

Don't take anything heavy or bulky, no jeans or cotton sweaters. You'll do much better with light-weight clothing that you can layer if needed for warmth. I have a set of wool-and-silk long undies that I usually take with me if we're going somewhere where the weather's iffy. They are black, very light-weight, crumple up into a small ball that I can tuck into the corner of my bag, but I can wear them in bed if it's chilly at night, and layer them under my other clothing during the day. And the top makes a nice-looking long-sleeve tee with black pants or a skirt. Add a few scarves, a few pairs of socks and undies, a tube of laundry detergent, and you're ready to go.

I know this sounds crazy, especially because most of us are accustomed to taking 'outfits' for every occasion. But give it a try and you will never go back to hauling around big suitcases again. It gives you a real freedom to travel as a European does, hopping on and off trains and buses and ferries.

Books - I download an audio book or two to my iPod, pick up a New Yorker at the airport, and I'm on my way.

Have you thought of 'rolling' your clothing when packing your bags instead of laying everything flat? This is a fabulous way to reduce bulk and you will need not much more than half the space you would when clothes are flat packed. Another bonus is that your clothing is less likely to crease. Rolling your clothes really does work!

Read, Fodor's POLAND! Pages 347 and 348.

look at www.onebag.com The site will give you excellent tips

ok, i wasn't even sure i would get a response. i am so happy. i will read through everything and check out that website.

i'll be back if i have questions afterwards!!


thanks!!

Hey Julia 1 - good on you for travelling with only a carry on. We are hooked on the concept and will never take big luggage again.

Here are some classic Fodors threads about packing light - enjoy!

What to wear/pack...
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34415078

What to wear/pack....Part 2
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34689133

What to wear/pack...Part 3
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34795253

I Didn't Think I Could Do Carry-On for a Week in Paris, But I Can!
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34548975

"A Tale of Two Cities" or Otherwise known as..."What Do I Pack?"
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34819224
(includes a description by packing expert janisj of the "bundling method")

other sites:
http://www.onebag.com/
http://www.travelite.org/
http://www.packinglite.com/

I got a packing cube set from LL Bean (Rick Steves has them for sale too) and I think they help to keep your stuff organized and compact.

I like to use the giant zip loc bags. I can put folded t-shirts in one, underwear, socks in another, etc. I can locate items quicker, unpack and pack in a flash!

I found rick steves to work best for me,(check out his pack light tips below) and bought my (college) children his light rollerbags/packing cubes for Xmas...they were inexpensive and now we never use anything else. It made a huge difference. One 20" per person and that's the rule. As for other tips, I buy a straw hat and leave it there and shed books as I go.

ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlight.htm

Give everyone in the family a bag to carry and a bag to check. Whatever doesn't it into those <i>doesn't go</i>. ((*))

Easy! Fodor's offers, Packing 101. I have it in, 1st Ed., POLAND, page 348. Use similar guides. Practical suggestion: Allow each traveller a maximum size carry-on bag! Wear extra clothing. Load the pockets. Use the airlines information about cabin baggage limits. If one traveller has unused capacity let others use it. Combine common items, that is, let one person carry the toothpaste, etc.

My &quot;packing light&quot; trick was to get a digital book reader so I don't lug tons of books with me. Sony has one and Amazon has one, there are others but those are the most common ones. Instead of packing 10 books and having no space for anything else, I pack 100+ in less space than 1 paperback.

wow, i thought my post had died, and now i have even more great advice!!!

Thanks!

dina