Therese

For those of you out there that are true packing light junkies, here's the original "What to wear/pack" thread from an a couple of years ago. A trip to Venice with my kids when the layering principle came in very handy, as fair weather had been predicted and very cold wet weather happened.

Therese

Oh, forgot the link:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34415078

alaskakid

I am a teenager, but I've done my fair share of travelling (US, Europe and South America). Some things I've picked up on recent trips include:

-Take the guidebook along, especially if you don't pre-plan your entire trip. But on the way home, give it to some tourist at the airport (they're fairly easy to recognize).

-I do tend to have a seperate wardrobe for travel, but only because I live in Alaska (the climate is rather obnoxious). I do save the things I get for one trip and wear them again the next, and have amassed several "mix-and-match" outfits. A skirt, Blazer, pants and two tops can turn into 6 or 7 outfits if cleaned appropriately.

- Check not only the weather but the local fashions. Especially in South America, you can get better deals on things if you look at least a little bit like a local. (Also knowing the language helps)

-Buy a handbag there. I check my luggage, but that is generally fairly light (my family tends to move around a lot when we get wherever we're going, so light, transportable luggage is a must). I bring a medium sized tote on the plane with me- and that is it. I always buy a small bag wherever I go, so a) I dont have to bring it there on the plane, b) I have a fashionable bag while I'm there and c) I have a unique, fashionable handbag when I get home. There's nothing like being asked where you got your purse and being able to answer "Paris".

-Give away whatever you can. I read a lot, so I'll bring two or three books for train and car rides, but when I finish them I leave them on a bench somewhere. Throw away toiletries, socks, anything that is even mildly disposable. If you're not going to miss it, leave it behind.

- If you're going from a cold environment to somewhere warmer (as I have on countless occasions), leave a warm jacket in your car, or if you dont have a car at the airport, see if they have lockers or something available for long-term rent. A few dollars will be worth it to not bring your down coat to the coast of Italy, but to have it immediately when you get back.

-I cannot praise the virtues of "performance underwear" enough. As an athelete, I was introduced to spandex underwear for racing, but I soon discovered that they are perfect for traveling. The wash easily in the hotel sink (hotel soap or shampoo works) and they dry in 5 minutes in the sun. They're light, pack tiny, and are usually seamless so they're not noticible under tight fitting pants. Make sure you get a size big enough that they fit comfortably. They're available at most sport stores, REI, and recently JC Penny's (they're cheaper at Penny's).

- Go shopping! I usually reserve the first or second day we're somewhere to go shopping. By this time I generally know what I've forgotten and what local trends I didn't hear about. Especially in places with great exchange rates (my recent trip to South America was good for this), it's cheaper to get what you need there than bring things with you. And if you're willing to check your roll-on, a larger shopping bag makes a perfectly acceptable cary-on bag for the trip home.

DeborahAnn

alaskakid, great advice, no matter your age. I just wish I could get my daughter to pack lighter but unfortunately she is her mother's daughter

I like the suggestion to purchase a bag while you are traveling as both a travel aid and a momento. Deborah

Maire

Great advice, Alaskakid. I am heading into unchartered territory: packing light. All hints are great to have.

flygirl

here is my list, I am working on it still (specifically which tops, it's generic so far and I might take things with more oomph although the Lands End T shirts are cute enough and quite serviceable). this is for 11 days.

this also assumes I will be shopping heavily in Italy. i.e. even if I take the simpler tops, I'll be supplementing things over there. so I may end up keeping it simple after all.

I am hoping this fits in a 22 inch roll-on.

hope this helps anyone with their own lists...

Digicam and battery charger

converter

Sprint cell phone and charger

Ipod and charger

Visa
checking debit card
ATM card
PASSPORT

All tickets/hotel info

Contact lens – 4 extra
Solution
All meds, incl cold/stuffy meds
Eye glasses and sunglasses
comb

Toothbrush/paste
Sunscreen
Face cream

Shampoo
Makeup remover
Qtips
Face cloths - disposable
Cotton balls
All makeup

waterproof coat
Merrill Barrado slip on black shoes
red Born sandals

8 prs underwear
3 bras
3 pr black socks

2 jeans
2 pairs black pants
1 pr shorts (just in case)
5-6 Lands End T shirts
2 cammie tops
2 light sweaters/shrugs.
a couple pretty scarves
belt (s)

jammies

eye mask

swimsuit

BOOKS

Journal

Postcard address list

flygirl

ps. the more "delicate" items will go into carry on purse. so I have a little more room than a 22 inch bag. the purse is large enough to fit my "daily purse" which is a Coach Rambler legacy bag. perfect size - a small guidebook fits into the back pocket of it, and there's enough room inside for a wallet, camera, and cell phone - with room left over.

esm

Flygirl, my list is similar to yours with a couple of changes.

Instead of 2 jeans, I take a black skirt (knit) and I use Neutrogena pre-moistened towlets for removing make up or just freshening up.

Also, I take a few zip-lock bags of assorted sizes.

flygirl

esm, do those work for makeup? I've tried, they seem to take forever - which is why I take separate remover and cotton balls. the face cloths are those dove kind - you just wet them and they get all sudsy.

I do put things in ziploc bags - especially things that may leak.

thought I should clarify - my carry on purse is a massive leather bag I bought in Italy 5 yrs ago. it fits books, my leather day purse, camera, etc etc etc. even though it is large, it counts as a "purse" by the airlines so I shove everything in it, purse included!

I can even fit my wind/rain jacket into it along with the other stuff. I bought a goretex one from LL Bean a few years ago, it's perfect. It is periwinkle colored, has a hood so I don't need to take an umbrella (not that I expect rain in Italy in May). It has one inside zippered pocket so it's a great place to put the credit and ATM cards when I wear it.

esm

Flygirl, I don't wear a lot of make up, just pressed powder, eye shadow and sometimes mascara (not waterproof). The Neutrogena make up remover works on these for me.

Like you, I've pared down the clothes I take for travel. I stick to my favorite basic colors, black and white, with one or two colorful t-shirts a scarf or two.

I also have a very large tote bag with zipper pockets which does double duty. Mine is microfiber so it works great when caught in rain. LOL, we pack alike! I hate umbrellas so I take my rain jacket (similar to what you describe packed in my tote.

annabelle2

flygirl, if you make one of your scarves a big one, it can double as a sarong over your bathing suit, a light blanket for train or hotel naps, etc.

I took a pretty multi-colored Indian print one last year (gift from a friend from a WA DC museum gift shop, of all places)to Italy and Spain and besides the usual scarf/shawl purposes, it came in handy for all the above.

I also stuck it in my little daypack when we spent a day traveling by bus and walking around the island of Ischia -- so much easier to carry than a towel for our stops to swim and soak in hot springs.

flygirl

my eyeliner and mascara don't seem to come off - and I use the Maybelline non-waterproof pink-tube stuff (Great Lash?) and you'd think that would be really easy! my eyeliner is Clinique or Estee Lauder something or other. it's still a pain in the butt to remove with regular cloths.

you'd think the above would be packing light! somehow it seems heavy though... (maybe it's the 6 guidebooks and a novel I take as well, ar ar ar)

Therese

The best mascara remover I've ever found (and I've tried lots) is Lancome's Bi-Facil. Small bottles of it are typically included in their "gift with purchase" sets (along with my favorite mascara of all time, Definicils) and I use those when I travel. I don't use cotton balls at all, just tissue (whatever's provided by the hotel) or TP soaked in Bi-Facil.

I agree with the "buy it after you get there" approach, both some shirts with "oomph" for flygirl and handbags for alaskakid. I can't buy a new handbag every time I travel, though, because I'd have way too many. I actually just use one routinely: just barely big enough to fit a DK guidebook and digital camera, but small enough to fit into a larger bag if I'm calling it my "personal item."

Shopping bags do work just fine for carry on if you check your bag for the return flight. Once I purchased a really nice straw shopping bag in southern France and used that as my carry on for the trip home. I still use the straw bag for marketing, and it reminds of the trip.

lydialikestotravel

I just went back to the thread from 2003 and read about some of you transferring shampoos, etc. to small bottles. I do the same thing and label them by using a sharpie and then when dry, I use clear nail polish over the writing. I have been using the same little bottles (actually the J&J baby shampoo bottles) for over 5 years and the writing is still as good as when first done.

Maire

Great tip about the nail polish, Lydia. Thanks!

Therese

I may well use the tip re labelling small bottles with a Sharpie and clear nail polish for my next trip. I leave Monday for Berlin, another work/leisure trip, and I'm going to start a new thread "What to wear/pack...Part 3" to discuss it.

I'm trying to decide now whether to bother with the tiara or not. I suppose I could just pick one up after I get there...

katek013

Flygirl ... on your cell phone, make sure that your phone will work in Italy before you take it. I also use Sprint and mine will not work there.

Also with the make-up remover, I always buy it when I get there. There is a great towelette made by Comodynes. They remove anything (even waterproof mascara), smell good, and don't leave your face feeling all dried out.

Kate

katek013

I also bring little bottles of stuff that I label, mostly shampoo, conditioner, and washing detergent (good for rinsing out your undies in the sink). Big money saver, since the travel sizes can get quite costly and there never seems to be enough in the bottle.

katek013

Flygirl, one more bit of advice ... instead of taking a postcard address list, make up pre-printed address labels. That way you can just peel and stick.

flygirl

if you call Sprint, they will activate overseas service!

it may be better if they do NOT because when I went to New Zealand they turned it on for me and my bill that month ended up being 350 bucks. so maybe I would have been better off not having it!