What to wear/pack...Part 6
 

It's been a while since I've started one of these threads, but another poster recently topped a couple of the old ones, so I figured I'd do another so that we could all share some info.

This trip took place last week, and was a week in Budapest for work.

Before I get to the packing list, here's some background info. I flew Delta from Atlanta with a stopover in Prague. I've already posted here about how having packed carry-on only saved me a prolonged delay, as the original connecting flight to Budapest had been cancelled and having no checked luggage meant that I could be re-routed quickly to a flight that was leaving within the hour, rather than waiting until that evening. I very nearly took advantage of similar flexibility on the transatlantic leg when it turned out that that flight was badly oversold (due to an equipment change), and had my final destination been Prague I'd have been flying business class across the water (via London). But since I was going to Budapest chose to keep the original routing.

The flights themselves were uneventful: as usual I ate before boarding and refused the meal, instead taking an Ambien once we'd reached cruising altitude and sleeping for most of the flight.

The meeting I attended had a list of proposed hotels, but I ended up going off the list, and rented an apartment instead. More about that later.

I'd checked the weather in Budapest ahead of time. Note that weather.com is remarkably unreliable about overseas locations (in my experience) and so I typically use local weather. You don't have to know the precise URL: just use "meteo" and ".xx", the "xx" corresponding to the country to which you're traveling (so .hu in this instance). Even if it's not the original URL for the weather service there it will typically link to it.

So, sunny and warm predicted for at least the first half of my visit.

"What should I wear on the plane?" is a very common question here at Fodor's, and I think it's a really excellent one, as what you wear can have a big impact on your comfort and health during the flight.

My answer is "pajamas." Not really pajamas, of course, but something you'd feel comfortable sleeping in. For me that's no binding waistband, no shoes that won't accomodate feet that have swollen after a long flight, and nothing itchy. I'm claustrophobic, so often wear something sleeveless so that I can stay as cool as possible in the event of turbulence or lengthy time without sufficient ventilation. But this time I went with sleeves, and it was fine.

So, on the plane I wore:

black and white print geometric print dress (in a stretchy fabric, with an empire waist)
black slip (full-length, which meant no waistband, and in a claustrophic emergency would have provided enough coverage if I had to take off my dress, and yes, I've seriously considered doing this)
black bra
black tights (not control top, soft cotton)
panties
knee high, low heel black leather boots (comfy, and practical in case of emergency evacuation)
silk/wool red paisley scarf (an extra blanket, basically)

Thanks Therese.

Just back from Italy, I realized there is no way I'll ever blend in with the Italian women.

Most wore close fitting clothes, very stylish with very high heels. Amazingly high heels. I don't know how they do it. Grandmas were even fashionable and wore designer glasses.

Before I list the contents of my bags I'll describe them. I say "bags" rather than "bag" because I put as much thought into my "personal item" as I do into my official carry-on.

I've described my preferred carry-on bag previously, but hadn't actually gone to the trouble of measuring it's outside dimension until very recently, in the wake of reports that Delta was becoming more careful about the size of carry-ons. So I measured it, and was delighted to find that it measures 19" tall x 14" wide x 9" deep. So no problem meeting mainline carriers' requirements for carry-on. The bag is one that I've used for years, purchased at Target. In addition to the size, weight (it's very light), and shape (perfectly rectangular), I like the lack of internal pockets or dividers (including the remarkably useless "expandable" feature so common these days) as well as zippers that are not directly on the edges of the bag but instead offset to areas that are under less mechanical stress. It is a wheeled bag, so were I going for absolutely minimum weight I might choose a non-wheeled bag, but in this instance that wasn't an issue. The bag is red, which was an unusual color when I purchased it, but is now very common.

I often travel with only a purse for my personal item (or no personal item at all), but this time decided to take a backpack (into which my purse fits). This was a fairly basic Jansport, black.

Was the Italy trip with your English class again, schuler? Please send my regards.

I was in Rome in February with my mother and had an interesting conversation with an Italian woman while I was there in which she bemoaned the extent to which Italian woman are expected to be so elegantly turned out. We should feel lucky that we live in places where the definition of attractive is not so narrowly defined.

That's right. We were a group of 18 and everything went very smoothly. My sister-in-law took care of the train tickets, a former SBB employee found the right trains and wagons, Markus was our scout and Margrit spoke perfect Italian. We even met up with a local residence and a few Australian travellers to have a similar type of dinner as in Lisbon. It was another successful school field trip, thank goodness.

Thank you Therese :-)

My pleasure, MomDDTravel. And don't be shy about posting specific queries.

Please say hi to Markus (who bought us all drinks in Lisbon) and Margrit (who, as I recall, came by her Italian by way of falling in love with her native-speaker husband, right?) for me, schuler. Your class is very lucky to have you.

I mentioned upthread that I brought a backpack on this trip rather than just my carry-on and a purse. The main reason for doing this was that I wanted to bring an item that I've not brought on previous trips, a portable DVD player.

Because I live in Atlanta I fly Delta, and much of Atlanta's transatlantic fleet features personal audio and video on-demand consoles at every seat. Which is great, but means that I'm now quite thoroughly spoiled, and so I was sort of dreading my return 9 hour trip without enough to keep me occupied (as this equipment can't handle the added weight of the units). So I bought a DVD player (a new Sony, with a reportedly long-lasting batter) and signed up for NetFlix (my family already belongs, but my 14-year-old daughter keeps the queue full). Oh, and the NetFlix account will give me a SkyMiles bonus.

In order to maximize the life of the DVD battery you need to use headphones (and of course you have to do so on the plane in any case), and for Christmas my husband gave me a nice Bose noise-cancelling set. They come in a storage case that includes the charger, and the remote for the DVD and an inflatable neck pillow also fit in the case.

And then of course I had my Blackberry and my camera. And all of these items come with chargers and batteries, and in the end I decided to bring them all, largely because I had the space.

This last point illustrates one of the barriers to packing light that I think a lot of people encounter: you will inevitably pack to fill the space you've got. So if you start with a lot of space you'll pack to fill it. I know from past experience that my camera battery and Blackberry will both hold a charge for this period of time, and I've got a second Bose battery that I could have brought along. I didn't know how long the DVD battery would hold a charge, though, so I'll need to figure that out for future trips.

So, to summarize my AV gear...

camera (and battery charger)
DVD player (and battery charger)
Blackberry (and battery charger)
headphones (and battery charger)

I did have a couple of non-AV "gear" items as well:

toothbrush (AA battery-operated)
flat iron (operates on European current, so no converter or adapter needed)

And I did bring an adapter for my battery chargers, though the apartment had several (and hotels often have them available).

Books...

I don't always bring a travel guide along with me on work trips, but this time I brought two. The first was a DK guide for Budapest that I'd purchase a couple of years ago when I was considering a trip there with a friend. We decided on Italy instead, so I still had the book.

The second was a set of walking tours that the owner of the apartment (who lives in the U.S.) had sent to me, asking me if I'd be willing to leave it at the apartment when I left. Which I was.

And finally I bought a not great but readable book called "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" at the airport bookshop.

So, three paperback books in all.

Good point about filling up the space you have allowed yourself.

I don't bring anything electronic, which makes packing lot a whole lot easier to accomplish.

Absolutely, suze. And I've got a trip coming up in September that involves a leg on RyanAir, so I'll be paring things way, way down for that trip (which is two weeks in all, three cities). Every ounce will count.

I am flying on Ryan Air for a portion of my trip. Should be interesting. Plus we are moving around so much it really does make a difference. And no strong dh to give a hand this time around.

This would make a great blog!

I have found your older threads fascinating, Therese, (thank you, Mom, for topping them :) ). Your packing style is very interesting. Looking forward to your suggestions on this new one.

And please do one on your next trip, if possible, because I am really trying to do better on our next trip which will be three weeks, three countries and a local airline.

Too bad I don't live close enough to janisj so I could take one of her packing-light classes . . .

Therese-
Thanks for all the details. I pack just like you do for the most part. I haven't traveled with anything larger than my 22" roll-aboard for years now.

The problem I have is with the weight restrictions some international carriers are now placing on carry-on bags. I went to Thailand last year and Thai airways limits carry-on to a total of 7 kilos. My bag weighs at least half that. I can fit what I need inside no problem, but I can't make the limited weight.

This brings me to another problem. I now have a digital SLR camera with an extra telephoto lens. This takes up a lot more space than my old point and shoot and requires another, special, padded bag (which I carry as my "day" bag). The bag won't fit in my "personal bag" carry on without taking up most of the space. So, on my last trip (to Rome), I had to check the 22" bag, carried the camera bag as my purse, and had a smaller carry-on for toiletries, small laptop (only 2 lbs), book, etc. This wasn't so bad since my travel companions were checking their 24" packed-to-the gills bags anyway.

I'm now going to Paris in October and I'm trying to figure out how I can make it work, carry on only. I <i>might</i> be able to fit the camera bag (it's a padded sling bag)in the rolling bag, but it's bulky.

Also, I noticed you don't have a laptop (and it's accessories) on your list even though you were traveling for work?

Okay, I'll make a point of posting for the three week/RyanAir trip. And thanks very much for the encouragement with this thread.

And in response to the specific query, no, I don't travel with a laptop. In fact, I don't even own a laptop (and that's why I bothered with a DVD player, as otherwise I'd just have used it to play movies). My trips are typically work, but these days I can carry just about anything I need (including presentations and enormous data files) on jump/thumb/flash drives and use a computer at my destination. And this apartment that I rented not only had its own computer, but said computer was a Mac with a wall-mounted screen and wireless keyboard and mouse. In the end I find that most of my work while on the road is carried out via email, so no need to have my own laptop.

The telephoto lens and its bulky (and possibly heavy) case are problematic, Kristina. Is there any way to avoid using the case? If your trip to Paris in October is on a U.S. carrier you shouldn't have a problem, as you can fit it in a backpack together with your purse.

Very low weight restrictions on carry-on call for extreme measures, including using very lightweight luggage (and by lightweight here I mean something that I wouldn't consider checking, something like a nylon gym bag) and wearing a topcoat with pockets, into which you can slip particularly small, high density items like books and toiletries.

Just about everybody who packs light knows that the key to your wardrobe is to pick a color palette and stick to it. This typically involves one or more neutrals (black, brown, tan, navy, gray, and white, olive green) but could be something bright, particularly if you were on holiday someplace tropical. For instance, I've used a basic palette of aqua and green for summer holiday trips.

Since this trip was work I chose (huge surprise, here) black. Black might strike some of you as not sufficiently spring-ish for a trip in May, but cities in non-tropical locations typically embrace a dark palette and Budapest is no exception.

I don't like to wear jeans on the plane, but I do often take them with me. They're a bit bulky and a bit heavy, but they can be worn repeatedly and so may be &quot;good value&quot; when it comes to packing light. I don't wear them for work, but I had built in a day extra for sightseeing in Budapest, and didn't yet know what I'd be doing in the evenings.

So I brought:

Black jeans

To wear with them I brought:

White cotton cap sleeve &quot;peasant&quot; shirt
White cotton 3/4 sleeve wrap-style shirt
Black and gray print 3/4 sleeve &quot;peasant&quot; shirt

I just wore the same boots that I'd worn on the plane. Had I planned on doing lots of touring I'd have brought a second pair of boots.

I like to be as flexible in my wardrobe as I am in my travel plans, and to that end find that it's much easier to go through life dressed a little bit better than the people around me (as opposed to a little bit worse). One very easy way to do this (if you're female) is to wear a dress.

So I packed a lot of dresses for this trip:

Sleeveless knit black sheath
Sleeveless black cotton shirtdress
Sleeveless black &amp; white cotton print, mandarin collar
Sleeveless short crocheted black cotton sheath
Sleeveless fitted black cotton, low neck (fairly dressy)

And of course I had the dress that I'd worn on the plane. Technically I could have washed it by hand, but the apartment had a washing machine. And although I didn't actually need to do laundry this trip I did it anyway.

All those sleeveless dresses call for some sort of wrap, both for warmth and decorum (if you're going in a church, for instance).

So I brought the following:

Silk/wool red paisley shawl (the same one I use as a blanket on the plane---I bought it in Florence)
Orange cotton scarf/shawl with multicolor floral print (I bought it in the south of France)
Black silk scarf/shawl with multicolor floral print (ditto south of France)

Each of these is big enough to use as a wrap (and small enough to slip into my purse folded, or tie onto my purse strap when not in use).

I also brought:

Black cotton cardigan with embroidered bodice

What I didn't bring on this trip was a raincoat, instead opting for a small umbrella (that fits into my purse) in case it rained. Which it did, along with getting very chilly one day, so I was very glad of my cozy silk/wool shawl.

Next stop, lingerie.

Yep, those dainty unmentionables can take up a lot of room. For this trip I brought three bras (two black, one beige), four slips (all black, different lengths), two cotton bikinis, two microfiber high waist briefs, four microfiber thong bikinis (wow, this really is way more than anybody should know, isn't it?), and four bike short style (Assets, from Target). I also brought something like eight pairs of black stocking (I didn't count them, I'm afraid).

I don't always bother to pack a nightgown, but did this time so as to have something to wear around the apartment other than actual clothes. The apartment had large windows and great views of a park, and I didn't want to scare any of the locals (assuming that if I could see them they could see me).

I also brought a bathing suit, and flip flops. Anybody know why?

I know! I know! You were going to the thermal baths? :-)

Yep, that was the plan. Except that I ended up not going for lack of time. Darn that work!

Guess I'll just have to go back. ;-)

We didn't make it there either but we did peek inside. Next time...though honestly I'm not in a rush to go back to Budapest. If I do, I'll make sure to go in summer. It was really dreary there in March 07.

I always pack a bathing suit. If there is *any* possible chance there will be an opportunity to use it... a hotel or public pool, lakeside beach, thermal baths, whatever.

Therese, I have to say though, I'm having a really hard time picturing everything on your incredible packing list fitting into one 19&quot; suitcase. That's what you're describing here, right?

For the outbound trip, all of the AV gear and non-AV gear (including chargers), books, my toiletries (which I've not yet listed), jewelry case, silk/wool shawl, and my purse all fit into the backpack (with plenty of room to spare).

All of the clothes and shoes (and some other stuff that I'll mention later on) fit into the suitcase, and although it seemed pretty snug at the time you'll see later that there actually was room to spare there as well.

So, what about those shoes? A woman can't get by on just boots and flip-flops, can she? Especially since I won't wear flip-flops anywhere other than a shower or a pool, ever.

Shoes, the key to a woman's heart. Well, mine anyway.

Shoes are key to comfort no matter who you are, though, and if you're going to be doing a lot of walking you're going to want to have sturdy, comfortable shoes. Budapest has great public transit, with three different metro stations within a three block radius of my apartment. Trams in Budapest were a bit harder to use, in part because one of the main bridges is under renovation right now, but I did use them as much as I could because I really like them.

Never, ever get on a tram without a valid ticket or pass. Random &quot;controls&quot; by plainclothes transit personnel are carried out frequently. Check out the movie &quot;Kontroll&quot; for a really hilarious look at the process.

Anyway, shoes are important. So, in addition to the knee-high low heel boots I wore on the plain, I also brought:

High-heel mary janes (with an ankle strap)
Mid-heel dress mules

Neither of these are intended for touring, but are sufficiently comfortable for four to five block walks and standing around at meetings. I wore the mary-janes to the opera (&quot;Tosca&quot;), along with the low cut black dress, the black silk scarf and some sparkly blue topaz earrings.

Therese, I love your posts! Most informative and great writing style. Thank you!

Toiletries. In these post-9/11, post do-it-yourself bomb days, the prospect of fitting all of one's toiletries in a single one quart (or one liter) ziploc bag seems especially daunting. But actually it's not even a little bit difficult, and I was already packing most of my toiletries within these constraints before the rules changed (and they actually changed while I was away in holiday in New York with my husband and two children, so we did check our bags that trip).

I do take advantage of a lot of solid products: powder eye shadow and blush instead of cream, powder instead of foundation, solid deodorant instead of aerosol, but I don't go overboard and only use those items because I prefer them to the liquid version. I haven't yet switched to tooth powder or cake mascara, for instance. I also take only as much of bulk liquid items as I think I'll need for the trip, often disposing of the container on my way back home.

So, the liquids:

eye make-up remover
toner
salicylic acid scrub
micro scrub
face moisturizer/sun screen
under eye moisturizer
under eye concealer
toothpaste
conditioner
perfume (Burberry Brit, Tendre Poison, and Chance)
ointments (three types, I won't burden you with the details)
eye drops
mascara

Solids:

Dove soap (I take a partially used bar and throw away the little left at the end)
Lush Shine solid shampoo
Deodorant
Lipsticks, eyeliner, etc.

Miscellaneous grooming stuff:

hairbrush
dental floss
toothbrush (already mentioned upthread)
cotton swabs
nail file (non-metal) and buffer
shower cap
barrettes (why do I bring these? I never wear them)
earplugs
jewelry (a small box that contains about 30 pairs of earrings and a few bracelets)
disposable razor
pills (OTC and prescription, all in one bottle)

Note that I could have packaged the eye drops and ointments separately. I transferred two of the scents into small atomizers that I'd purchased at Sephora, and the third was in a relatively non-bulky bottle, and almost gone (so I used it up and threw the bottle away in Budapest).

Thanks, lucy_d. I really enjoy writing, especially when it means that I get to re-live the trip.

Anyway, that pretty much covers what I brought with me. Oh, except for a couple of items that I've not yet mentioned that I always bring with me. Those of you who've read previous threads of mine should be able to figure it out. It's inclusion of these items that prompts most readers to assume that I'm completely and entirely unhinged.

So, what are they? And how on earth do they ever fit?

Wow, thank you, Therese for all the details! They make for long lists, but for a beginner traveler, this is exactly what's needed: the stuff that can help you have a great first trip, rather than learning what to take/not take over the course of several trips. I hope many readers find this thread and its useful lists!

Now, have you listed a link to the great apartment on a thread??

Cheers!

Here's a link to the three apartments in this group. I stayed at the largest of the three, Max.

http://budapestvacationrentals.com/

Apartment Max was exactly as pictured and described.

While you're trying to figure out what crucial (to me) items I've left off my list, I'll also mention that I did a little shopping while I was in Budapest. Which means I had to somehow get it home, right?

Just remembered another toiletry item that comes in quite handy: dry shampoo. Not solid shampoo that you wet and it makes a lather (like the Lush product that I list above) but a powder that you sprinkle in your hair and then brush out. The amount that brushes out depends to some extent on the how oily you hair is. Mine is fairly oily, so quite a bit of it stays behind, which is just fine with me as I end up with great volume.

I use dry shampoo at home as well, only washing my hair every three days or so. It saves me money on hair products, keeps my hair color looking fresh longer, lets me sleep in longer (seriously, how much time do you spend doodling with your hair in the morning?), and saves water. This last point may sound a bit silly if you don't live in a drought area, but those of us who do know the lengths we'll go to in the interest of conserving water.

This product is especially handy for traveling. Imagine that you've just flown 10 hours, penned up in a cabin with a lot of strangers, trying to sleep, and haven't showered in well over 24 hours. Your hair is now well beyond flat and limp, it's downright unpleasant. Now imagine fluffy, bouncy hair that smells fresh.

It's a great product, and because it contains no water is very lightweight.

Therese, can you give us a brand name for the dry shampoo? I used one years ago but have not seen it in years.

Thanks!

Okay, so I think we're finished with packing for the trip over the ocean, and now it's time to deal with the return trip.

I not infrequently check luggage on my return trip, as I've often made purchases of liquids that preclude my doing carry-on only, and it's not really any big deal if my bags are delayed as I'm already home (and live in Atlanta, so late bags are typically only delayed a couple of hours, and arrive at my front door via cab) and have a spare toothbrush and plenty of clothes and so forth.

But there is a disincentive to checking even for me: I have to wait at baggage claim to retrieve my bag before proceeding through customs at ATL, and then have to re-check my bag (yes, even though I live in Atlanta) and re-claim it at the main baggage claim. This last step can take more time than you'd think it could, and the two waits together probably add about 30 minutes to my trip time.

In this instance there was problem of a connection in Prague: not only does this increase the chances of my bag going missing, but it limits my flexibility. Had there been a last minute issue with the flight from BUD to PRG, for instance, checked bags might have kept me from taking advantage of a quick re-routing through AMS or CDG. So I decided to stick to the carry-on only plan.

I've been using the Oscar Blandi dry shampoo lately. It's a nice texture and has a nice, somewhat lemon-y (lemon verbena, actually, so more like lemon Pledge) scent. I've used others (including Klorane and several that are tinted brown) and it's my overall favorite.

A regular size container last months for me (and I use it on average five times a week).

You can get it in a small travel size, too.

The trip home is not the same as the trip over. I'll be awake, so need to be entertained and fed, and I've generally done some shopping.

So, I've already mentioned the entertainment, via DVD (so it and three DVDs went in the backpack, along with my headphones). I left both the guidebooks and the novel I'd brought (and finished while in Budapest) in the apartment for future tenants.

In-flight food has become increasingly problematic for me. I can barely stomach even the smell of the food (seriously, I actually cover my nose and mouth with a scented tissue) and the last two times I ate it actually threw up. The problem is not Delta-specific, either. So I pack my own food for the flight, and I'm much happier as a result.

I usually make sandwiches, and this time was no exception. One with sheep's milk cheese and ham, the other with goose liver (a Hungarian specialty). I also brought cookies (okay, these I lifted from the Czech Airlines lounge at PRG, which is a very, very nice lounge), chocolate, nectarines, and cucumbers. So that all went in my backpack as well.

Now all I have to worry about is the shopping...

bookmarking - thank you so much for doing all the thinking for me!