I to bring a few sheets of bubble wrap and lots of rubber bands to go around any purchases that I wrap. a small pair of scissors to cut the bubble wrap or for other uses. I'm not a fan of duck tape so this works the best for me.

Two wire coat hangers and 4 small plastic clothes pins to hang laundry up to dry, works like a charm and takes up so little room in the suitcase.

I have a friend who does similar to Kelly. She shops Value Village before her Elderhostel trips (typicall lasting 2-4 weeks) and always looks dressed just right for the climate and activities in her photos. She spends around the same amount $30 or so per trip.

I think it important to know what really makes you comfortable, and what you can live without, and where you can compromise.

Unlike some previous posts, I insist on having a nightgown and wrap of some kind. Usefully, my nightgowns pack to nothing (spaghetti straps and backless, in silk or poly.) A robe in a similar fabric, or I use a pashmina shawl that I can use for evening, are a comfortable robe (and I god bless hotels that provide robes -- I email ahead to inquire.) While it might not be as streetworthy as the shorts-and-tee outfits, I'll still look pretty good, and remember to grab my bag.

I like to get out of the "day" clothes with a few things I reserve for evening, even if these are just tops that feel fresh. Low-heeled shoes or dressier flats are comfortable enough for evening strolls to restaurants or elsewhere, as well as a small envelope or evening bag that doesn't feel like the day-pack travel bag with all the maps, etc. (I love some of the small vintage ones from ebay.) These few items add to my pleasure when traveling, makes the experience feel more special, and don't take up much room.

I've gotten good with chopsticks, but still pack a small fork. There are also plastic knives, fork, and spoon packed in the suitcase for the odd item I want in the room, that needs one of these implements.

And yes -- ziploc bags are the answer to many, many travel needs.

PACK LIGHT!

One must pack item: a black lightweight sarong.

It's been:

- a beach cover up from the Caribbean to Minori to Cyprus
- an evening wrap when going to see Phantom
- a skirt with a cute beaded top found in a vintage clothing store in the West End
- a quick little black dress when tied around my neck on Santorini
- a table cloth in Retiro Park
- a seat cover on dirty stadium bleachers in Glasgow
-a blanket to keep me warm(er) in the summer on a train on the way from Montreaux to Zermatt
-a window covering to keep the city lights out in the wee hours in Manhattan
- a wrap for Talavera pottery and tiles on the return trip from Chichen Itza
- a picnic blanket in Central Park
- a sun shade by hanging it from a palm tree on the beach on Playa Carrillo
- a beach blanket in Santander
- a cover in the back of the rental car when I HAD to leave the snorkel gear in there during a spelunking trip at Camuy
- an impromptu umbrella for five of us in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- a drape at the Hemingway resort in the family room that did not have a bathroom door
- fabric to stuff under the door to keep the creepy crawlies out in Bocas del Toro

I'm sure the list goes on, but you get my point!

Okay Mom23, that sounds like too much fun, I AM coming with you! :)

I bring my old clothes that I was planning to get rid of, and at the end of my trip will leave it in the hotel room. That clears room in my luggage for my purchases.

I'm really surprised no one mentioned strong tape (cloth tape/duct tape/packing tape). Wrap it around a black magic marker, and pack the whole thing in a little ziploc, and you'll have covered a lot of the shipping materials you may need.

I also like to take a cooler bag that folds up small. It's really great for picking up supermarket lunches, and then heading out for a picnic. It could also be used to cushion fragile items on the way home. (BTW, so many hotels come with fridges these days, it's easy to semi-freeze a couple of bottles of water overnight to keep the cooler bag cold.)

I pack the most compact plug-in night light I can find. I have one from Rite-Aid for the U.S., and one somewhat larger for 220 Europe. that serves to light my way to the bathroom, and for my husband's aim in the bathroom at night, without the bright light waking us.

Love those Ziploc bags, too--I keep extras tucked in my suitcase just in case something liquid opens or leaks in an occupied bag. A Ziploc bag slimed with conditioner or lotion is not easily rinsed out!

Great thread!

I also just take a large store bag and slip my folded slacks into them. That way they lift right out of the suitcase and they seem to get less wrinkled. It also saves "digging"into the suitcase for things. Do the same with blouses. Undies in ziplock.

My daughter is allergic to mosquitos so I carry a plug in mosquito zapper or mosquito coils.

I know no one has heard this one. I find the beds in Europe to be very hard and uncomfortable. So as part of my luggage check in I take a queen size hospital eggcrate pad. People laughed when I told them. My wife laughed and made fun of me but now she makes sure that is the one item I do not forget.

How do you fit the egg crate in your luggage, and what does it weigh?

Packing cubes.

They really work. Just don't be timid - don't stuff them, overstuff them. You will gain significant space in your bag, and they help keep you organized.

The eggcrate weighs next to nothing. I fold it in half length ways and then roll it up tight and put a couple of bungee cords around. It will then fit in the duffle bag a bit tightly. But once it is in the bag I undue the cords and also stuff some pillows in there too. I am able to carry it with no problem or discomfort from the drop off point to the airline counter. I then check it as one of my bags. I do drive when in Europe so I just throw it in the car and bring it up to the room. Oh, if you consider it you may want to bring your own top sheet because if english is not understood where you are they don't know what you mean when asking for a top sheet.

I like to travel with a pkg of peanut butter crackers in case of emergency but they often end up crushed in my bag--recently discovered that a hard cover eye glass case is perfect for keeping them in tact!

Anna Marie--thanks for this superb idea. I will put it to use right away!
I have a sensitive stomach and always need to carry some crackers when flying and then am miserable because they get crushed.
Last time I took mini saltine crackers in an Altoids tin and that was also perfect as I could fit just enough in there. Thanks again

Oooooh, great idea, ileen--hadn't thought about using an Altoid tin--thank you! :-)

don't eat before long-haul.
just accept steamend veggis.
get a couple of good red wine
and take a (harmless) sleeping pill.

carry a bottle of evian spray for moisturizing the skin.

aks for a NO DISTURB sign and dram!

div

instead od the spray take a silk scraf which wraps your face!

happy landings!

div

I agree with the rest of you: Ziplock bags are SO useful. The first time I packed my underwear in them, and sat on them to squeeze out the air, I was amazed at how much space that saved. I've tried the gallon bags with other clothes but had lots of wrinkles; it might work well with sweaters, tho. They're also great for keeping dirty undies away from clean clothes throughout the trip, to keep small souvenirs or papers from floating around in the suitcase, and to put bottles with liquids/lotions in when you're checking that suitcase. And in a village in Russia, both my hostess and I really appreciated my ziplock bags catching the vomit when I got sick in the night and the outhouse was a long ways away ... sorry, that's probably TMI but you just never know what use you may have for those self-sealing bags!