If this topic seems silly, please feel free to take it down!

I kind of don't get the "packing light" philosophy. With pilot type bags, luggage carts in terminals, helpful taxi drivers and all the other conveniences, and given that slow travellers stay in one rental for at least a week (sometimes two), what's the big advantage to packing light?

When in warm climates, I'm likely to wear two shirts a day (and won't mention unmentionables). Even the best sports jackets look grubby when worn all day and evening for a week. I need two at least for two weeks abroad. Same goes for slacks; two pair a week is minumum and given accidental spills, rubbing againsts, etc, I'll still be doing laundry, so I'd just as soon take four pair. Then there's accounting for different types of activities: from country walk/hikes to passeggiata. Loie always asks me if she's packing too much, and I say "pack more."

Perhaps I'm too vain? My mother always said "Pride knows no pain," but the relatively small amount of effort involved in moving an extra suitcase or two from airport to rental seems well worth it to me to stay clean, presentable and comfortable in a range of activities and weathers! Of course this assumes I won't incur the pain of lost baggage, which seems more and more likely. But if it arrives, I'm happier to have it than to have packed light to avoid taking it!

Pauline will love you! A person after her own heart.

Chris, is that you, posing as BuckyE???

Yeah - he likes to wear two shirts a day irregardless of heat.

Okay - for me it comes down to a few things.

1) I hate waiting for my checked bags and have had some nightmares in this department. So if I can pack light enough to do a carry on, I will. That said, if I'm checking at least one bag, then all bets are off, and I'll check them all and not worry about what I'm packing. Why should I lug them through security and around the airport if I don't have to?

2) Depends if we're renting a car and how big it is? I'd hate to get there and not have our luggage fit into the trunk.

3) If I have access to laundry facilities or not? When we go to Israel in November, and we're staying in hotels, you can bet, I'll probably pack heavy since we can't do laundry.

That's about all I can think of at the moment though.

If a person is going only to one destination and home again, packing everything you want to pack might make sense to you, Bucky.

If you are getting on and off trains and buses, heavy bags are the pits--especially if they have to be lifted into the overhead rack. And then there are all of those stairs going down into/up out of subways, under one track to another for trains, etc.

If you go to different locations and lodging, those heavy bags have to get there, somehow.

There are so many times during travel when a person has to handle their bags; it's unavoidable. We travel with one bag and one carryon and I still feel like I have a ball and chain.

As we get older, we don't have the same strength and ability to schlep bags around, either, and I sure don't want to have to pay someone else to do it.

Doing laundry isn't fun, but I'd rather do laundry than carry extra weight.

Charity

OK, I am the queen of packing heavy. I just returned from 2 weeks in Italy with a 69 lb and a 40 lb checked bag plus my carry-on. One week into the trip, I spent 261Euro to MAIL MYSELF home clothes and dirty laundry to make room for stuff I bought. It was also quite cold, so I sent home short sleeves and kept mostly jeans, sweaters and jackets. I traveled with 2 other women, so my usual schleppopotomus husband was not with me to carry anything. What did I learn?
Bring fewer shoes, no one cares (except me) if I accessorize well, always take a leather jacket, even in May! Don't travel to Italy without my husband!

Years ago, on our first trip to Paris, I packed a rather large suitcase to check and a stuffed-full carryon bag. Hubby complained the entire time going there about having to keep up with such a heavy carryon. After the two weeks we were in Paris, I realized that I hadn't worn half of what I packed, that I stayed mostly in my old favorites, and that the new scarves and accessories that I'd packed still had the price tags on them.

Now, I pack a 21" carryon and a bag with cosmetics and meds, etc. and am happy not to have all the extra stuff. I only bring clothes that I wouldn't mind leaving behind or losing. I always bring a fold-up duffle bag to handle the dirty clothes on the way home, and to stuff with goodies that I find on our travels. I'll never take a large suitcase again. I gave them both away years ago...

Jennifer

My husband's philosophy is simple:
Pack light - you may have to carry your own bags, and,If you don't have it you can buy it when you get there. I have to confess that I rarely remember his first suggestion, but always manage to "buy it when I get there"!

If Pauline is the Queen of Packing Heavy, then I'm the Princess Next in Line to the Throne! I love your thinking, Bucky!

Last year, I took a 24" pullman, packed to the gills and a good-sized carry-on, and althought there were some things that I didn't wear, I was happy to have some variety for everyday wear. I rented an apartment and had laundry facilities, so I washed what I needed to when I needed to wash it.

There were only 2 times that having this amount of luggage was a pain in the petootie...once in Florence, while trying to make a mad dash for a train when the announcement was made that our Pisa train was now leaving from line 5 and not line 1, as previously posted. However, there were several good guys who helped me, so it wasn't hideous, just an inconvenience.

The second time was in Paris, late at night, after the taxi driver had let me off at my apartment. I had a huge struggle getting the right keys to unlock the door, and then i was also struggling with the luggage, getting it and me up the stairs to my apartment. It was late and I was trying to be quiet! One of the neighbours was coming in with me and offered to help. He carried the bags to my door, then wished me good night and said that he lived one floor up in the same apartment location, and if I needed any assistance I was to ask him and he'd be happy to help!

This year, I'm truly going to try and trim it back a little, because I'm changing location 3 times in a month...my definition of fast travel!
I would rather not schlepp that amount of luggage to the train station in Rome, off the train to stay with friends in Santarcangelo, then on the train again, then off in Venice and then AGAIN at the airport, when I'm going home.
That smacks of overload for me!

What'll I actually do? I have no idea, I'll let you know after I get home this fall! Just know that I agree with you totally...I like to wear fresh, crisp, clean clothing, and wearing the same pair of jeans for a couple of weeks isn't my idea of personal comfort! No a thing wrong with that, if you can do it...I don't want to, so the result is that I end up with a lot of stuff!

"Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her." ~ Wilhela Cushman
Brenda

hear hear!

Currently lugging a 65 litre backpack around with me! I reckon it weighs about 20kg. I have enough clothes to last me at least 10 days and they're nice things... not typical backpacker camping store things. The things that weigh the most and take up the most room are... HAIR PRODUCTS and TOILETRIES! I reckon I'm carrying around about 1kg of hair products, a dryer and a straightener.

It's a bit ridiculous, but I haven't felt like a dag once yet on this trip.

I've just sent some stuff I haven't worn for the past month back to Perugia.

I don't get how people travel so light either.

Ah, well, I see a few points that are, I'll say, not relevant for Loie and me.

1. We're traveling as a two person team. I am a 55 year old still fairly fit efficiency minded schleppopotomus. Loie is the paper manager: keeps the tickets, itinerary, all paperwork; deals with clerks etc. while I stand guard and haul.

2. We spend money when "necessary." Large enough cabs and cars to fit all our bags; cabs from airport to rental, etc. (Compared to the overall cost of the trip, we consider these "extras" minimal.)

3. We are Americans: we use cars and cabs, planning our travels to avoid public transportation for transfers. (I hope this doesn't make us Ugly Americans. I did kind of insist using the ferry to cross from Wiltshire, England to Brittany, and poor Loie was seasick. That also involved some train use, and the luggage handling wasn't efficient in one place: had to haul up and down stairs to cross tracks. Bad design!)

4. Little is carried. Everything wheels (and does it well; we've had several changes of luggage over the 20 years we've been traveling together) or is strapped to something that wheels. We both wear an "urban explorer" across-chest shoulder bag.

5. As a vain schleppopotomus, I don't mind the extra work.

Mind you, our system has been developing for a long time. We did NOT have it worked out when we went on honeymoon. That trip, though, was a boon, as it taught us to pick a place and stick with it for a week or more. ("I'm sorry, I don't care if we don't make it to Canyon de Chelly, I can NOT haul these bags in and out one more time..." collapse) Perhaps we're specializing in a limited range of travel type. The overly civilized? All I know is, I need my detangler conditioner. And sports jackets. And shoes. And socks, and... ;^)

quote:

I kind of don't get the "packing light" philosophy. With pilot type bags, luggage carts in terminals, helpful taxi drivers and all the other conveniences, and given that slow travellers stay in one rental for at least a week (sometimes two), what's the big advantage to packing light?

Hmmm... The heavier the airplane is the more fuel it takes to move the plane. So I suppose that one advantage could be that the lighter you pack the more you could feel that you are doing your part to help conserve natural resources ... (I'm not an environment nut, just trying to come up with an answer to your question).

I just got back from six weeks in Europe and I flew between London and Paris and between Paris and Munich on European airlines. The weight restrictions for baggage are stricter within Europe on European airlines than they are on American flights. I was limited to a 13 pound carry-on and 50 pounds checked. I'm thinking that this is to help the airlines to stay competitive with their prices.

Welcome back Palma!!! I wondered if you would weigh in ( ) on the subject. What did you buy??

Ginger

We are a family of 5 travelling with Ryanair so no extra luggage allowance there! but I have a plan.....every other family member travels light and my stuff goes in their bags!!!!!!!
on a lighter note a friend spent a long time persuading her daughter that luggage sharing meant that you could not combine two weights into one bag and not that if she and the boyfriend used one bag she would be humiliated at check in by male clothes being removed from her bag!!!

When you are renting a city apartment in Europe, odds are there will not be an elevator. Given the choice between a divorce and packing light, I choose light.

quote:

Originally posted by Palma:
schleppopotomus

Favorite word of the day!

Bucky, my husband is a pack mule like you, and we have historically carted way too much stuff with us on our European trips. Our big vice is not clothes so much as BOOKS.

I think it really depends on where you are going and how you are traveling... and what restrictions your airline may have! (The airlines are dropping their weight limits in an effort to conserve fuel.) Fine if you are doing the slow travel thing and don't mind paying porters or taxis to minimize the hassle. But as others have said, if you are traveling on any kind of public transportation with your luggage (train, bus, vaporetto), staying on upper floors in buildings without elevators, staying on a cobblestone pedestrian street where the taxi has to let you out a few blocks away... having too much luggage is AWFUL.

Some of the most stressful moments of our trips have resulted from having too much luggage: long awful walks on rough streets, having to ride in cabs with bags on our laps, enduring the glares of other passengers on trains as we struggled to find a place to stow our luggage in the crowded compartment, sweating as we had to climb almost 200 steps to get to our rental in Ravello, hauling the bags up over at least ten bridges to get to the vaporetto stop in Venice .... I could go on.

We have become converts to the idea of packing light, and will be going to Europe soon for seven weeks with a backpack and moderate-sized rolling bag for each of us. We are happy to mix and match a small number of clothing items and do laundry every week.

But each to his own, and if you are truly a "schleppopotomus" (love it!) and can design and afford a trip where too many heavy bags aren't a problem, more the power to you!

Kathy

[corrected at Kathy's request]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Colleen,

Boy! how I wish I knew how to pack light. It has only become worse now that we travel with a baby. Our last trip to Tuscany, we had a huge problem fitting the bags into the boot of our rental car. We begged Europcar to please give us a bigger model, luckily a Mercedes station wagon was available, but we were still unable to comfortably fit the bags and stroller. It took us more than an hour of juggling to find an optimal arrangement. Then came the problem of carrying the super heavy bags down numerous steps to the villa and back up. We allowed ourselves an additional hour just for this exercise. Also, when calling cabs for airport transfers we had to specifically ask for cabs with adequate bootspace. A lot of hassle it was! Next time, I will pack light. That is my big lesson learned.

Susan Allen Toth, I think in England for all Seasons, advocates heavy packing. So it definitely has its proponents in experienced travelers.

I think it's a matter of doing it thoughtfully, being realistic and knowing what you're getting into. And learning from your mistakes. I would say you definitely have to be prepared to carry it all at some point though, even if it's just up the stairs to the bedrooms.

Throwing ridiculous "just in case I get trapped in a cave/get invited on a yacht" outfits is one thing. A small flashlight, your laptop if you feel you need it, or a blazer that will redeem any outfit is another.

I think it also matters how you pack it. A low number of bags that stay upright by themselves (this is key, for you and the shins of everyone around you) is vastly preferable to one giant immovable suitcase, or a dozen small, bulging single-purpose bags that take off everyone's head as you move down the aisle (this is lunch this is Kimmy's toys, this is Nate's books, this is our change of clothes, this is my camera bag, etc).

And despite twice having my luggage lost for 4 days (grazie, Alitalia; merci, Air France) I remain committed to packing my toiletries and a single change of clothes, my world cell phone and a few essentials (addresses, keys medicine etc.) in my carry on and checking everything else.

So I think there's a happy medium. Which I bet is what everyone thinks they've achieved, so we're all winners!

I'm on the pack light side, being a budget traveler.

In response to one post above, it's a good idea for family members to mix up their luggage amongst the various bags. That way, if one person's bag goes missing, the person is not completely sunk. Of course you should have a carry-on with basic necessities as well.

We now pack light(er)than in the past after one three month trip we took through Europe with my husband carrying a body bag, which is what one of thes stewards on the ferry from Dover to Calais called it. But I don't know how anyone can have just a 21" carry on for a two week trip, ok if its summer maybe but how about winter? You have much heavier gear, sweaters, boots, coats, jeans...

You'd probably wear a sweater, coat, and boots onto the plane. But of course it would be more challenging, and it might not be worth it.

I've gone from doing 25 days with one carry-on sized backpack to this:

quote:

I've gone from doing 25 days with one carry-on sized backpack to this:

ROFL...

Jennifer

T-Mac - had to laugh when I saw your picture!

We're a family of four leaving tomorrow and I've been agonizing trying to figure out what clothes to leave out so I can pack really light! I've weeded out clothes twice! Now I feel much better. We'll be in Italy for 11 nights, only use a train once. Even though we'll have a chance to do laundry in the first half of our trip, I still want a bunch of nice outfits! Long after I'm done schlepping luggage there will be the nice pictures to look at!

Having said all that, we each have one carryon (2 of which are packed!) and then only one bag total for the whole family that we're checking - a very tightly packed 21" wheeled suitcase! Not bad, huh? And one of the carry-ons is all presents for family! That's about as light as I'm willing to get.

A converted packrat's story:

I used to be a heavy packer. Now I'm a light packer. Why? Because when you're traveling abroad, you NEVER KNOW what might happen. Heck, you never know what might happen when you're traveling in the states! But seriously, if I could count the number of times there have been no immediate baggage carts, the taxi driver's trunk was full of junk so I had to ride sitting on my suitcase, or for some reason had to walk completely across the airport terminal, or across a parking lot and down a cobbled street to get to the next transport link...

And if I could count the times I've seen locals oogling Americans as they attempt to move baggage that is clearly larger and heavier than they are...

Well, suffice to say that I pack light. I think in America we have some serious "stuff attachment" problems! I used to be a heavy packer, but experience has taught me well. And I think along the way I've also learned to have a "pack light" philosophy about life, too. Acquiring too much stuff just bogs you down, so occasionally I go through my house and get rid of everything I haven't used in a couple of years and everything just feels so much fresher and cleaner. Just like someone was talking about weeding stuff out of her overpacked suitcase... I try to do that with life!

Okay you guys, think of packing in the early 19th century. Have you ever seen the steamer trunks, hat boxes, or stand alone wardrobes. We are packing light compared to that period of travel. Of course then you had porters and bellboys and sepoys and every other manner of hired help.

I have tried to compromise when I pack. I pack an outfit for every two days. Hence if I am going for 10 days, I have 5 outfits. All pieces coordinate. I take a few pair of shoes though (to try and minimize blisters), underwear, jammies, a jacket or sweater, a rain coat and toiletries. I also try to take one Sunday best piece. My husband packs way more than I do. My goal for our trip to France is to keep it to two carry-on's and one 24".

Ginger

quote:

Originally posted by Sophia1:
T-Mac - had to laugh when I saw your picture!

OK, I have to confess - the stuff in that photo does belong to 4 people, and it was after wine shopping in Tuscany. I actually landed in Venice a week earlier with one carry-on sized wheelie bag. But I crack up every time I look at that picture. I never thought our husbands would get the stuff in the car. What you don't see is the inside was piled high too and all of us but the driver had things in our laps.

We're flying RyanAir this fall and have another intra-Europe flight we don't want to check bags on, so we'll be back to the packing light philosophy for that trip!

quote:

When you are renting a city apartment in Europe, odds are there will not be an elevator.

Good point! Even if there is an elevator, however, it might be too small to hold a large piece of luggage. You don't believe me? The elevator to our 5th floor flat in Rome was so slim that one of us would ride it up with one 19" suitcase, and then come back down for the other. I've seen other elevators only large enough for one person at a time!

Bill and I each need two pair of laceup walking shoes to give our feet a rest. We also each carry a pair of sandals. When Bill puts a pair of size 12 shoes and a pair of sandals in his bag, he doesn't have much room left for anything else!

Charity

After reading this thread, I'm thinking the heck with it! Our carry-ons are way too heavy and bulky; so I'm repacking and will have 2 checked bags. If I'm checking one already and my in-laws are checking, what difference will it be to check one more? I'll just make sure we carryon all the gifts and we each have 2 outfits in case something gets lost. Plus, I'll pack a little of everyone's clothes in each of the checked bags, just in case!

Oh---and about the weight on airplanes. On our return trip from Italy in May, we flew a small prop plane from LA to Santa Barbara. While waiting for the flight to take off, there came an announcement that the flight would be delayed. The flight was full and the plane was over its weight restrictions.

I glanced around and saw several passengers who were also over average body weight by the health charts. I thought the airline was going to either leave someone's luggage behind or ask some of the passengers to wait for a later flight!

I don't know how they solved it, but we finally took off several minutes late.

On the plane, I looked at the overweight passengers and wondered how they justified putting my life at risk on this airplane because of their extra body pounds and, probably, extra large suitcases to carry their extra large clothes!

Charity

You can add my vote to the light-packers. On our recent 2-week France trip, my husband and I each brought a carry-on and a day-pack. We had a washer/dryer in our apartment for week 1 in Paris, and were supposed to have them in our Provence apartment for week 2, but the washer/dryer pulled a no-show. Even so, it was not a problem; we did a little tub-washing mid-week and were fine.

We avoided all lines checking in at the airport, skipped baggage claim, never dealt with lost luggage; that in and of itself was worth it to us. We took the TGV from Paris to Provence, and it was effortless navigating in the train to our seats and stowing our carry-ons.

Someone on this site (I'm thinking kaydee) recommended this site, which cheerleads packing light.

I guess to each our own.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by suncoast:
Okay you guys, think of packing in the early 19th century. Have you ever seen the steamer trunks, hat boxes, or stand alone wardrobes. We are packing light compared to that period of travel. Of course then you had porters and bellboys and sepoys and every other manner of hired help.

Yep, that's MY ideal for Slow Travel. A week on the steamer just to cross the ocean. The upstairs-downstairs "class" issues bug me, though. How to get the best of both worlds? ;^)

...and I'm in the final stages of packing for a few days in Vancouver, at our west coast GTG, and there will be cheering in Pack-light-town tonight! I'm taking a 21" rolling as my carry-on and my usual small duffle bag as my checked luggage, and that's all!

Amazing...this might just be contagious yet!
I'll let you know what I have to buy when I arrive and find out what I'm missing...

“Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel.” ~ Yogi Berra
Brenda

I came to Sydney from Honolulu on the SS Iberia in 1971. It took two weeks and a place in the 6 berth cabin was cheaper than air fare. I came with just a back-pack. After hitching across the US and eating at burger kings etc three good meals a day with morning and afternoon tea, deck quoits, swimming, evening entertainment, and port visits every few days, it wasa good way to travel.

I know several Americans who travel light, and go to Europe on trips specifically because it is possible and pleasant to travel via train. Not talking about university students; people my age. Of course some are journalists, and used to "roaming" with limited luggage.

I always travel fairly light since it is always by train, but by the time I return home my bag (precisely, a journalist's bag from the CBC, designed to hold documents as well as clothing) is very heavy indeed, weighted down with books I have bought or been given.

I certainly can't handle travelling with only carry-on luggage as there are so many restrictions now on what we can carry on board and I couldn't imagine travelling without scissors, a knife and tweezers.

Charity, I think your comment on overweight people was rather ... uncharitable, and discriminatory. It is up to the airlines to calculate average passenger weight for safety based on what that average weight is, not what it should be. Bashing any group of people is not good nettiquette - I'm trying to think how I'd get a (justified) dressing down if I bashed people who travel with noisy and ill-behaved children, for example, or a racial or religious group.

End of gripe (and no, I'm not over airline safety weight, I just hate that type of discriminatory statements).

quote:

Our carry-ons are way too heavy and bulky; so I'm repacking and will have 2 checked bags. If I'm checking one already and my in-laws are checking, what difference will it be to check one more?

I couldn't do it!!! The thought of another piece of luggage was stifling! I don't know what I did exactly, but I fit everything for 4 people in 4 carry-ons that are now lighter than before and 1 21" checked bag! One of the carryons is still all gifts! Can I pat myself on the back?! When I looked at my son's backpack, he had snuck in 4 little stuffed animals. I played the tough mom and stood firm and said "no way, only one!" I guess I'm firmly in the "pack light" category!

My problem is I want to have enough space to carry something back, like wine or ceramics or a painting or an handbag or that very special antique I found at a little hole-in-the-wall shop, or all of the above. I know some people ship but it's expensive and other people pack a duffle or tote but I don't think that would give me enough room.

When Craig & I went to Italy we had two carry-on's and two 27" suitcases and we definately used all that space coming back with our treasures. Several bottles of Brunello, a couple of paintings, prints, handbags, etc., etc.

When I went to France with Sonnet we had two carry-on's and one 27". It seemed adequate but we ended up buying another small cheepie suitcase to put our loot in.

So I don't know what the perfect solution is.

Ginger

We do nothing but carryons for 2-4 weeks in Italy (or anywhere else) - one 21" roller bag and one backpack or briefcase each. We just don't need more than that. If you take 3 tops and 3 bottoms that all coordinate, you have 9 outfits. For me, that's more than enough.

It makes life so much easier.

Callie

I am embarrased to admit that I pack differently when I travel with my husband(heavier) than I do when I travel solo. I have learned after lugging heavy bags and carryons filled with ceramics and wine up and down stairs at train stations that I have to go with smaller bags. You can't always rely on the kindess of strangers! Being very petite, I can't even reach the overhead bins which is a bit of a problem when I have to ask someone taller than me to lift a heavy bag. .

When I travel with my husband, I don't feel as guilty about having him do the lifting. It also depends on how many connecting flights or train travel I will be doing. The more stops, the less luggage.

On my next trip we will have a car the whole time so I feel I can bring my bigger rolling duffles (the better to bring back purchases). I have yet to manage to bring just a carry-on but I'm moving closer all the time and it is a goal I aspire to!

I am hopeless. I can't even read this thread anymore. I've been typing nonstop, and I'm on page 18 of my trip report, but you guys are killing me! I guess I didn't share that after the first week of my trip, I went to the Italian Post Office and mailed home 51 lbs of what was in my luggage when I left. It was so damn cold, I sent home all the cute springy clothes, sandals, matching purses and accessories. The second week I lived in my jeans, two tops, two sweaters, a jeans jacket with a pashmina or two wrapped around me! (I started with 110lbs. in a 30" bag, and a 22" bag PLUS my carry-on). When I returned 7 days later, my luggage was back to 110lbs, my carry-on and purse weighed a TON, and I'm still waiting for my dirty laundry to arrive in three 8 kilo boxes! I need a support group!

Okay - but all you light packers, what about the shoes? I'm a size nine clodhopper; one pair takes up a chunk of change in my 21" roller. If I bring my sneakers to work out, I'm dead in the water.

After one incident of a delayed checked suitcase years ago, I've tried to always go with carry-on only. Coming back I'm more inclined to check something, but even then I hate waiting for baggage.

Oh, and one time flying back from Hawaii, the flight was fully booked and they were concerned about the weight limit and before you could get on the plane you had to be weighed - with all your carry-on belongings. Who likes to be weighed after a vacation in the first place, but then with all your baggage it really creates a scary number!

-Krista

Kim, yes, shoes are the worst offenders. I limit myself to a total of 3 pairs and wear the heaviest or bulkiest on the plane. And I really look for the super light shoes that you can sometimes find now.

-Krista

I'm a size 9 clodhopper too and my hiking boots take up even more room than sneakers.

I have worn my hiking boots on the plane on my last couple of trips. Not stylish at all! Once I get on the plane, I just wear my comfy thick socks.

Kathy

You'd be amazed at the stuff you can pack in those shoes - cosmetics in plastic bags, camera battery charger, small flashlight, small containers of shampoo, etc.

Callie

I do put my socks in there and maybe some undewear. Kathy, if we ever get to do a hiking trip, you can bet I'll be wearing my boots on the plane too! Big dilema, for next week, sandals and shoes? I just hope I'm comfortable enough for walking.

Kim -

Like Kathy and Krista, I wear my heaviest shoes onto the plane, and try to pack lighter ones (3 max). Shoes like the embroidered cotton black maryjanes I find to be perfect for packing - light, comfortable, and versatile - they look good with capris and skirts.

Terry

I am a recovering heacy packer. My first trip to Italy I took 3 suitcases (my two allowable and had a firend take another). Before I came home I actually purchased an additional 4 pc set of luggage to tote home all of my treasures.

Following year I took 3 suitcases (2 allowable and one empty tucked inside another). Brought home all three filled to the weight limit.

Next trip I managed with my two checked bags and a carry-on. I shipped home via UPS the ceramic treasures this time. Everything was waiting for me when I got home and nothing was damaged.

I have managed to get myself down to one checked bag and a carry-on with slippers to wear on the plane and some simple toiletries to freshen up with during a layover.

Last fall I "fell of the wagon" and departed with 2 very heavy bags, a carry-on, full purse and my dog. I justified this slip up as I took gifts to a few friends and then offered to brings goodies for anyone who asked. I actually managed to put everything (including all my empty bags and purse) except my dog into my one checked bag on the way home.

So am I a light packer now? Or, once a heavy packer always a heavy packer? Perhaps I am just in remission.

Our trip to Italy for two weeks isn't until NEXT year but I'm already developing my must-take list. We normally travel very light and occasionally buy something on the road and I constantly regret then DON'T regret my own packing. These posts have been hysterically funny to read. Usually we head for the USVI's where you're overdressed if your tshirt matches your shorts so we easily do with a couple of carryons there and love to watch people schlepping huge bags in the heat. Its all pretty philosophical isn't it- we are what we pack? My daughter and I went to Ireland for a week last year and carryons were enough as it turns out because no matter how we dressed, we fit it with the ultra relaxed (sloppy) dress of most people we saw (and loved). But Italy- hmmmm, we'll see. Hairdryer-yes, makeup-yes, 5 shirts-hmmm, so many days, so many decisions!

WEll, I've arrived safely in Vancouver, towing my little, tiny, minute, microscopic 21' rolling carry-on and my rather-a-bit-larger duffle bag stacked on top of my roller. So far, so good....mind you, I've only been here for 3 hours, haven't checked into my hotel room yet, because it's not made up, AND I've had a great glass of chardonnay and an English Bay omelette...swiss cheese, asparagus, onion...as well as a side of grilled veggies and roasted potatoes. So far, I've not found anything I wish I'd brought with me! Having not unpacked yet, I am still wondering what there might be that I wish I'd packed.

Now, last night, after checking into my airport hotel, I discovered that I'd not packed any toothpaste, lotion and a few other indispensibles! Arrrgh! In the state of worry about taking too much, I've left stuff behind. Not just any stuff, mind you...but, toothpaste! Teeth just don't feel de-furred with only water as a cleaner, trust me on this!

I thought I did quite well, packing so little. I' ll let you know, after the next several days here in beautiful Vancouver, overlooking English Bay.

Just a question...does it count? Packing light for a 5 day trip, I mean? And, does a 21' roller and a rather large-ish duffle bag count as packing light for 5 days???

"If I'm going away for longer than a week I take a suitcase and check it in but I'm good at packing light and quick - years of modelling, travelling and living out of a suitcase has trained me well." Lisa Snowdon
Brenda