My better half - guest poster

The following won’t break any new ground for experienced light travelers but it does represent good packing sense that could be helpful for any novice traveler. In fact, novices are the audience - it’s composed by my wife and appears on a blog we do for those who go on our group trips. We certainly don’t try to convert them all to carry-on travelers, but advice like this might cut down on the number of 60-pound (really) suitcases:

Here are some general packing tips for the trip to Europe:

Lay out everything on the bed. Put half of it back. Seriously! You should start thinking now about what you can do without. First, you will have to carry your luggage up and down hotel stairs and to and from the bus, which most likely won’t be parked at the front door. Second, you need to save space for any souvenirs you may choose to buy. Third, who wants to worry about luggage when there is so much to see and do? Simplify!

Think seriously about the size of everything you carry. Do you really need a whole bottle of shampoo and a whole bottle of conditioner for 11 days? Of course not. Buy the 99¢ sample bottles. Do you really need a hair dryer, a curling iron, and a straightener? Do you really need a razor? Remember that you are in Europe, and no one there knows you anyway, so why worry about the hair style? Pull it into a ponytail or pack it under a hat, and go! Grow a beard (men only)! Remember that we will be ending the day late and starting the day early, so you don’t really want to have to get up 2 hours early to fix your hair! Start working now on a low-maintenance style that you can wear throughout the trip. Cut down the appliances, which can be major headaches to pack and carry. Another option is to work with your roommates, if you don’t mind sharing – one person brings the hair dryer, another brings the curling iron, another brings the straightener.

Blue jeans are so American, but blue jeans are HEAVY! Could you get by with khakis or some other style of pants or shorts that weigh less? Every pound counts! Check out some of the travel gear made of lightweight fabric. In addition to being less weighty, they also tend to be fast drying, so you might get by with less simply because you can wash and hang-dry a pair of pants or a shirt o’nite. If you can cut out two or three items of clothing, your suitcase has loads of extra room, your shoulders ache less, and you are a happier traveler!

One of the best ways to avoid having to pack coats for cool weather is to layer. Pack a couple of loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts for cool days, and layer them over more seasonal clothing. Forget the jackets. If you look at the average temperatures noted on the blog, you will see that we aren’t expecting any cold weather. Still, a long-sleeved shirt and rain gear are advised. My preference is a lightweight raincoat that folds into itself rather than an umbrella, which can be cumbersome to pack and carry.

Comments

[Paula S]

Excellent advice!
Written by a tried and true lightweight traveller!

I had my hair cut in a shorter style in order to make it fuss free for travel, it grows back, not a problem. I don't need appliances for it.
I have to disagree about the jeans but that's my personal view, I know they're heavy but I'm more comfy travelling on planes and touring countries wearing hardy denim, I can sit on the ground or steps if I want to without worrying about dirtying my nice trousers etc.

My mantra when packing (and I lay out everything on my bed) "do I THINK I need that, or I KNOW I need that." If doubtful, it stays at home. Also "will I wear this item three or more times?" If yes, in the bag it goes. The most important, "can I handwash and drip-dry it overnight?"
Colours are fairly neutral and coordinate with everything else, I dress up clothes with a bright scarf or perhaps belt or jewellery.
I layer. Even if I return to the UK (where I'm from)in the summer, I know from painful experience that I could stand on a beach in Kent in June and get hypothermia from not wearing enough clothing or layers. The further north you travel, the more likely you'll need that shirt over the tee under that jacket or sweater.
Standing on Edinburgh Castle's ramparts on a seemingly warm day can turn your skin blue. Up there you need wind proof as well as rain proof. And don't get me started on the Baltic. A flannel shirt to layer would not go amiss.
I like tank tops as a base layer, great under shirts or sweaters but perfect for stripping down to if the heat is unbearable.