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I'm a better packer than I used to be. Right now my travel is limited to one trip to Seattle in the summer for financial reasons (a dear relative pays the ticket to visit). These trips require additional items for hiking, kayaking, and swimming. For non-sporting activities I pack non-wrinkle, fast dry Liquid Knit outfits by Susan Graver--they take up so little room! Doesn't matter if packing flat or rolling. The problem is *shoes* --need sandals, walking shoes, water shoes, and heaviest hiking boots and, if I want my hair to look nice it means also bringing *2* sets of electric rollers along. Would love to be able to get all that into a carry on but it won't quite fit. If I ever get back to Europe, will try to pack the way Rick Steves does and forget how my hair looks.
I travel for work 1-3 times a month, some does not require flight, but simply a longer drive to my destination. I pack one bag for work related clothes/items, one bag for regular personal clothes/items and that is all. Two bags total, and fairly small in size.
When I fly, I hardly ever bring much more than a toothbrush wherever I go, I will put on everything I expect to wear all at once before leaving for the airport and tie my extra shoes to my belt.
I'm with irlinit, last minute packer here as well, we try to travel light and we usually figure out what we need and what we are going to wear/when/where impromptu, works for us (family of 4 and a dog), we usually don't forget anything or tend to overpack. . . . we travel a lot, hence after a while it's the same ol same ol.
I'm a better packer than I used to be. Right now my travel is limited to one trip to Seattle in the summer for financial reasons (a dear relative pays the ticket to visit). These trips require additional items for hiking, kayaking, and swimming. For non-sporting activities I pack non-wrinkle, fast dry Liquid Knit outfits by Susan Graver--they take up so little room! Doesn't matter if packing flat or rolling. The problem is *shoes* --need sandals, walking shoes, water shoes, and heaviest hiking boots and, if I want my hair to look nice it means also bringing *2* sets of electric rollers along. Would love to be able to get all that into a carry on but it won't quite fit. If I ever get back to Europe, will try to pack the way Rick Steves does and forget how my hair looks.
Id say you need a different hair dresser or style. Or maybe an electric curling iron!
Thanks for the info on the liquid knit from Susan Graver. I've been wondering how they are as I'm 'between sizes' at Chicos.
When I fly, I hardly ever bring much more than a toothbrush wherever I go, I will put on everything I expect to wear all at once before leaving for the airport and tie my extra shoes to my belt.
You're going to give people ideas. Some aren't bright enough to figure out that this is a good way to get the TSA to make sure you have shed every single item of clothing and possibly the contents of your bowels before getting on a plane.
Id say you need a different hair dresser or style. Or maybe an electric curling iron!
Thanks for the info on the liquid knit from Susan Graver. I've been wondering how they are as I'm 'between sizes' at Chicos.
Agree about the new hair dresser. I only need a blow dryer--which is always in my hotel room or cruise ship cabin for my use. I have friends I stay with often--two guys who didn't own one between them. I bought a cheap hair dryer and left it at their house so other guests could have use of it as well.
What I used when I went to Argentina for about two weeks are the vacuum bags that are made for traveling. I was able to pack everything in a standard travel bag* plus my hiking boots and a backpack for my computer. When I went to Oregon and out to Colorado (when I was still living in the Chicago area) I was able to pack everything for a week trip in my 50 liter backpack. General point is that I have a large enough bag for trips less than a week and a great idea for trips longer than a week.
I would define good packing as
1 Taking exacltly what I need
2 Having anything I need handy when I arrive
And 3
Not having anything on hand that I do not need.
The Ex had a terrible habit on car trips, which she learned from her family. Pack the car to the gills. Pack boxes full of towels, blanket, pillows, extra clothes, books, games, photos, everything in the med cabinet, creature comforts, anything and everything, If there was empty space in the trunk, fill it with something. Then do the same with inside of the car. Never know what you might need at a hotel, right?
Turned me off to traveling that way.
Being a frequent cruiser, I am still trying to perfect my packing style. I have learned a few things. One, when you have a pair of slacks that are starting to get frayed, those are the ones to take on a trip. And they are not taken home. Same with old Tshirts, as it is easier to even buy cheaper used clothes with the plan of ditching them. This leaves the suitcase almost empty for the return home, and if you want to collect a souvenir (which oddly enough, last trip was mostly Tshirts) then there is plenty of room for them in the suitcase.
On a cruise, I have to take nice clothes for dinner but I found that rather than two suits, one dress jacket with two slacks and two different ties is a better choice, and jeans are versatile enough for any dinner on casual night.
I have perfected the toiletries by purchasing small bottles, filling them with shampoo and soap, as well as travel size cologne and taking only what I plan to use.
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