Tips for Packing Light
 

My husband and I will be touring Portugal for 15 days this May/June. I'm starting to think about what we should bring and what we should leave at home. For all those travel experts out there, can you please share with me your packing tips? Keep in mind that we will be moving around every few days (mostly by car) and, although I will try not to go crazy, I tend to buy a good bit of souvenirs (I'm sure some Portuguese pottery in this case). So, bottom line, we need to be able to easily haul around suitcases and have the capability to bring souvenirs back - perhaps in a spare duffle bag that I bring along?

What are your thoughts?

Thanks

Take less clothes, bring more money. Seriously, in our early travels my spouse and I found we overpacked and ended up not wearing everything we brought along. In the beginning it's hard to pack because you think "I'm going to need this or that" but in reality you can get by with a lot lees than you initially think. A few days before your trip, put out all your clothes - admire them for a day or so then put half of them back in the cloest or drwaer - you won't need them. Keep in mind, there's nothing wrong with wearing the same thing to dinner several nights - no one but you will notice what you are wearing - the waiter in the restaurant you eat at tonight won't know you are wearing the same outfit you had on last night. You don't need 15 shirts and 15 pairs of underware - plan on doing laundry once or twice during your trip. Most hotels have same day or next day service - yes, you pay a bit of a premium compared to back home for this service but it will save you plenty of space. Take small travel size toiletries and unless you are planning to go to the Palace Ball you won't need lots of make-up. You can buy a product that resembles large resealable sandwhich bags (sorry the brand name escapes me) where you put your clothing then squeeze out the air. The clothes are compressed allowing extra room. My spouse and I routinely travel for 7 to 15 days at a time and rarely bring anything thing more than one suitcase each - more often than not we do it with carry-on only. You have to get in the proper mindset. Good luck!

I believe Therese is the reigning queen of light packing. Here is the thread where she lays down the law of how to pack light. http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34689133

I know a lot of people don't like Rick Steves -- for whatever reason, but there is an entire file on the graffiti board dedicated to packing light. I got a lot of interesting tips from there.

On a recent US trip, we bought WAY too much, and ended up at a Walmart late on a rainy night looking for extra pieces of luggage. We actually found something quite useful: A full sized duffle bag in which the ends zip together so that when not in use, it takes up a bit less room than a Frisbee. (I think it was $9.95). We put our precious breakables into our harder-sided carryons, and filled the new duffle bags up with dirty clothes and checked them. You may want to bring along a couple of these types of bags for this purpose.

Consolidate purchases at a post office. Purchase parcel containers. Mail home! It is not easy to 'haul' excess baggage. Try an exercise at home; preload your trip gear, clothing, etc.; move it up and down the stairs, load the automobile, haul it through a supermarket...How about a weekend trip with the same luggage? Don't neglect security, you need to load everything into the car trunk. You shouldn't leave anything in the passenger compartment.

Thanks for the responses!

Keep them coming!

Check out www.onebag.com

We no longer check our bags, but use small, rolling backpacks, even for two week trips. I find that I don't ever wear the "dress up" clothes, so I bring only a nice sweater, both for layering and for those few occasions when I need to look nice. I wear my only pair of shoes - some people need two pair, but no more than that. I take one or two paperback books, and then when I am finished reading them, I just leave them in the hotel room or B & B for the next English-speaking tourist. We also have a fold-up duffel for hauling home our dirty clothes at the end of the trip - and use the suitcase for sourvenirs.
I buy clothes soap in big tablets (can't remember the brand) and stick the soap in odd corners. We usually find a laundromat at some point on the trip, but I don't know if you will easily find a laundromat in Portugal.

I have the same problem as Bailey. We will spend 9 days in Brittany, Normandy and the Loire Valley in B and B's. I don't know what to expect as far as drycleaning or laundering. I don't want to take 14 of everything (total 14 day trip). Advice for this area please?

Remember that clothes can be reworn, with either sink washing or just with some airing out (particularly pants; there's no reason not to wear a pair of pants several times while travelling).

One place you can really save space is with cosmetics and toiletries. Collect minature or sample sizes, or put your own into small plastic bottles, just enough to last the length of your trip. Don't bring full size anything. Get creative for anything your husband & you might be able to share.

bailey
We will be doing about the same trip at the same time. I hope to have a coin laundry in the hotel in Lisbon (but I never trust the descriptions) but many tour books tell where laundries are in some towns. That is always one of my searches in guide books. We have had some great laundramat experiences on our travels!

So you can bring fewer clothes and by the time you go home your carry on can be all souvenirs because you do not have the worry about checked luggage getting lost with your dirty clothes!

I also take some bubble wrap so my suitcase is fuller and then I have it for packing stuff I may carry home.

Maybe see you in Portugal! Or at least on the Things to Do thread.
Barbara

I bring things that I can mix and match and wear with only black shoes. My DH only brings stuff that goes with his brown shoes. We usually only bring one extra pair of shoes and enough clothes for half the trip plus an extra shirt, underwear, and socks. We bring this bag with us:

http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/ca...Id=8&id=38

to ensure we have space for all our souvenirs. It packs up small when not in use and makes a great laundry bag. I only carry toiletries that are necessities (leave the hair products at home except for travel size shampoo and conditioner). Not only is it less of a hassle to pack lighter, but the more you leave at home, the less time you have to spend deciding what to wear and getting ready to go out (not as many toiletries to use).

All: Thanks so much for the wonderful tips!

Barb: I'll see you around the Things to do thread. Perhaps we can organize a dinner get-together. The recent restaurant reviews have peaked my interest!

Thans again!

Somehow I missed the Therese mentioned by youngandrestless. Thank you for bringing it up.

There are also many websites with packing lists. Do a google.com search for "packing list for europe" and you'll have a handful of good information.

Also, try to stick to one color palette, and bring neutral pants/skirts. For example, on my recent Italy trip I brought a non-wrinkling black skirt, one pair of semi-casual black pants, and a pair of jeans. I then just mixed-and-matched a few different shirts and was covered for two weeks.

ttt

One idea I have not tried but seen posted here is if you have a set of suitcases, pack the smaller one, and put it into the next size up for your trip over. Then you have an entire large empty suitcase for your purchases. Whether now having 2 suitcases to deal with in your rental car is a good idea, or not, I'm not sure, but it's a thought.

Also you can mail things home part way through you trip. I do not know Portugal but other places have gone to the post office, purchased a box from them, and packed it with dirty clothes, guidebooks I don't need, a few purchases and mailed it to myself, clearing way in my suitcase.

The folded duffle is also a fine idea. It ends up with your dirty clothes and the suitcase can be used for new purchases.

For something breakable and heavy, like the pottery you mention, I would see if the shop(s) you buy from offers shipping services, and pay for them send it directly home for you.

Thank you so much for all of the wonderful ideas!

bookmarking

Wow. Put a packed suitcase inside a slightly larger suitcase. Viola! An empty suitcase to fill with souvenirs. That would be more than all the souvenirs I've brought home in my life. (Would you see the sights or just shop?)

Seriously, I think there would be a price to pay to the airlines on the return trip. They have all gotten very stingy with luggage weight allowances. Check with your airline to understand what it could cost to show up with another piece of luggage filled with pottery and/or other heavy items.

I've done the smaller suitcase within a larger and it works fine. I don't spend all my time shopping either -- One stop at a pottery shop to buy two or three pieces. Wrapped in bubble wrap in a 19- or 20-inch suitcase they weigh far less than the 13 pounds allowed in a carryon.
One year it was less than 9 pounds including the weight of the suitcase, my camera and a few other items, and the pottery arrived home unbroken. The one time I had two pottery pieces shipped by a store both were broken.

There are other recent posts on this.

I mentioned this on another thread recently, I look for small and/or lightweight souveniers. That easily slip into my normal suitcase. Things like local calendars, hankies, scarves, lace, frig magnets, ashtrays, pens, coin purse, etc.

I pack little woolite packets and in a pinch hand wash lingerie or lightweight items. Wring, roll in a towel to take anymore excess moisture, hang on the shower rack and voila! Next morning clean undies.

Some people are too persnickety (sp?) but, I also carry a small travel size bottle of Febreze. Again in a pinch, a few sprays the night before and outerwear is freshened for one more day.

I also carry the little zip-into-a-bundle duffle bag that someone else mentioned. I've bought far too many extra backpacks and duffle bags on trips before, so now I carry my own extra.

I am in the throes of packing light as we speak! I'm leaving for my 2 1/2 week vacation tomorrow morning! My packing-light aspirations are being sorely tested! At least I have Kristina's tip of putting every thing in ziplock gallon bags. Getting all the extra air out really helps to condense (and organize). I'm just afraid all the rezipping of bags will slow me down during all the repacking episodes. We shall see. This will be a learning experience. 19 days of travel out of a 22 inch carryon (and a large laptop backpack) will be a feat to crow about.

7 underwear
1 pair of sneakers or hiking shoes
1 pair of sandals
1 pair of jeans or steardy khaki pants
4 pair of socks
1 raincoat or windbreaker
4 shirts or polo t-shirts
Small bottle of clothing detergent
Small travel size bag of toilettries

take care with your use of ziplocks. first time i did this i ended up with a small but *really* heavy suitcase!

When you get home from a trip, take everything out of your suitcase that you didn't wear and say to yourself, why did I carry all of this stuff around on my trip when I didn't need to. Packing takes practice. Never pack something that you have never warn.

Good points Suze and Wally. Just because I CAN fit it into my little carryon, doesn't mean I should. I'll keep that in mind. :D

When I travel, I usually just go with a carry-on suitcase and an empty duffle bag for my shopping :) . My suitcase has a zipper to allow for 3" more, which I use on my return flight. I'd rather have my suitcase when I fly over and not have to worry about it being lost. When I fly home, I use the duffle bag for my shopping items (usually ceramics) and let the airline put the suitcase in the belly of the plane.

As for clothing, I bring:
3 pairs of pants (usually lightweight, never jeans); 4-5 tops to mix/match with the pants. I usually go with neutral colors (beige/tan/olive greens/black), rather than bright clothing; 2 pairs of walking shoes that are nice enough for when I'm dining out in the evenings. I don't go to restaurants where a formal outfit is required; 3 pairs of socks (washing each pair at the end of the day in the bathroom); 3 bras (ditto); 3 panties (ditto); Shampoo in the travel size bottles; minimal makeup and other toiletries, no hairdryer on my upcoming trip, as all hotels have hair dryers; a light jacket for the cool mornings or evenings, sometimes a cardigan if that's all I'll need.

Of course, I have my digital camera, accessories; travel information; large zip lock bags, bubble wrap for my ceramics or other breakables; journal (although on this next trip I'm taking my PDA); travel alarm clock; mini umbrella (but I might take my jacket that has the removable hood).

Monica ((F))

PS: Of course when it comes to a cruise, it's a different story! ;)

I'm not saying this will happen to you in Portugal, but I will post this for folks traveling to other parts of the world who may pull up this thread:

If you are traveling to a very humid part of the world (e.g., a rain forest) do NOT think that you can pack light and then just wash out a few things...they will not dry. In Costa Rica, our swim suits were still wet 2 days after wearing them, even though they had been towel blotted and hung.

youngandrestless-

if you are planning to carry your carry-on on the plane, there may well be a weight limit as well as size limit.

weigh your packed bag by standing on the bathroom scale, then lifting it up held close to your body.

my 22" was denied by British Air and had to be checked the first (and only) time I used the ziplock bag method for clothing.

Go over with hand luggage, containing the necessities and a few of your A+ clothes.
That way you get a quick and easy start to your vacation.
Within the first couple of days go to a flea market or whatever and buy the rest of the stuff that you will need like shirts, shorts, socks etc.
Also buy a cheap suitcase.
On the way back, wrap the souvenirs in the flea market stuff.
Stuff it into the cheap suitcase and get on the plane.
No problemo.
It drives my wife nuts, but that's what we always do, and it works very well.

g

I'll have to look up the weight limits, because i'm traveling on AA from the US and then on Vueling and Myair within Europe. This is all so complicated! I may have to fall back on guaranteed's advice. But, I am packing a duffel bag (very small now, but big when taken out of it's carrying case) for the way home.

During our trip to France and Italy in Sept., 2005 I found that a Grande Zip Lock bag (1-2 gallon) makes an excellent "washing machine". Just put your clothes in, add water, use some Woolite (small individual packs) - zip up and squish away. Used same bag for dirty clothes on the way home.

There has been no mention of OTC medications to be packed. Buy smallest size available at least for stomach and headaches and maybe something to ward off a cold. My travel partner scoffed at me for packing such and then changed her mind when a drugstore in Paris wanted 12Euro for a small box of cough drops - she ended up using mine, which I gladly shared.

where can i buy those woolite packs? I think that would help a lot. Otherwise i'm going to have to bring my tiny victoria's secret delicates liquid detergent. but i would rather have the individual packets.

I've seen them in luggage shops, or drug stores that have travel accessories section. Also have seen tiny Woolite bottles.

Myself, I just use the little hotel shampoos.