Rick Steves' Europe: Tricks for Packing Light

Tricks for Packing Light: 2004

Share your creative tricks to fit your world into a small bag for a European trip.

Beware Of Heavy Organizers
A recent trip painfully reminded me that certain travel organizers add alot of weight to the light traveler's load. The best and lightest organizers are made of whisper-weight mesh with zip tops (some have clear vinyl linings). And, don't forget good old zip-lock bags from the grocery store. They may not last past one trip, but they're light and cheap.
Bekka
TX USA Mon 12/27/2004

Packing Light
Some of you still need quite a bit of work. I generally travel off season when it is obviously cooler. In November we spent 10 days in London. I wore one pair of cotton blend black pants and packed another black pair. I wore one cotton shirt, packed an artificial fabric shirt and camisole,and a sweater. My jacket was three seasons and I always travel with a boiled wool jacket as it adjusts to the temperature, is comfortable and looks more presentable than a casual sweater. Used panty liners and wore the underwear each for two days, and the socks for two days...and a hat and gloves. We shower every day so the clothes just don't get dirty. I wore the second pair of pants and the sweater for the first time on the flight home...I like to have fresh clothes on the flight. And one can always wash something out over night. My husband and I have one regulation carryon which we usually check anyway and one small carryon with a change of clothes. We are age 63 and 50 respectively, and looked respectable, offended no one, and had ease in transport. Our luggage is easily handled by one of us, either one, so the other is completely hands free.The lighter one goes the more freely one feels. Leave the structure and weight of your life behind.
Janet <email>
MA USA Sun 12/26/2004

Packing Light
I will be flying to France after Christmas and will be there 9 days. Below is what is going in my rolling carry-on bag.In the carry-on:1 pair black dress pants1 pair gray athletic knit pants2 turtlenecks2 sweaters (not bulky ones)1 zip athletic jacket (the newer lighter weight type)4 pairs underpants4 pairs socks3 pairs tights2 complete sets of thermal underwear2 bras1 skirt suitPajamasTall boots that zip (these are soft leather so the shaft flattens down) Small collapsible duffle in which to bring back souvenirs1 wool sweater I am taking to my nephew who is already in France with his fianceeI will wear my heaviest clothes on the plane. In my small backpack I will have the followination carryon which we usually check anyway and one small carryon with a change of clothes. We are age 63 and 50 respectively, and looked respectable, offended no one, and had ease in transport. Our luggage is easily handled by one of us, either one, so the other is completely hands free.The lighter one goes the more freely one feels. Leave the structure and weight of your life behind.
Janet <email>
MA USA Sun 12/26/2004

Packing Light
I will be flying to France after Christmas and will be there 9 days. Below is what is going in my rolling carry-on bag.In the carry-on:1 pair black dress pants1 pair gray athletic knit pants2 turtlenecks2 sweaters (not bulky ones)1 zip athletic jacket (the newer lighter weight type)4 pairs underpants4 pairs socks3 pairs tights2 complete sets of thermal underwear2 bras1 skirt suitPajamasTall boots that zip (these are soft leather so the shaft flattens down) Small collapsible duffle in which to bring back souvenirs1 wool sweater I am taking to my nephew who is already in France with his fianceeI will wear my heaviest clothes on the plane. In my small backpack I will have the following items:Gloves & muffler setWarm hatTravel pillow Travel alarm clockToiletries & meds (pared down to the absolute minimum)Why the travel pillow? I learned from an experienced traveler that if you have a pillow that smells like home, you sleep much better. Also, I have already test-packed everything to make sure it fits and isn't too heavy.
Nancy <email>
Taylor, TX USA Wed 12/22/2004

Jewelry and Backpacks
I read a great tip here a long time ago and use it whenever I travel - if you like to bring jewelry, but want to pack light, use a lipstick compact. The kind you can get with a little mirror inside and is sized for one tube of lipstick. This works for those who wear small earrings, hoops and studs. I'll use a double lipstick holder when I want to bring bigger earrings or maybe a bracelet or two. You can find these in drugstores in the makeup aisle or sometimes in stores like Pier One.

On the subject of backpacks, my husband and I bought a convertible Eagle Creek backpack when they first came out. We never use the backpack part of it, but wheel them around instead. We got the size that is legal to carry on the plane. Those two suiitcases have lasted us through numerous trips, including two three week trips through Europe. On our model, there are zip-off day packs that we put on our backs and they count as the "small personal item" the airlines allow with your one carry on.
Pam
Cleveland, OH USA Sat 12/18/2004

Wash and wear
My husband and I went to London, Paris, and Rome in October. I took a lot of polyester clothes from Walmart under the George label. They were fashionable and comfy. We stuck with mostly black clothing, and in Rome a shopkeeper did not know what language to speak to us.

I also got each of us 3 pairs of polyester underwear that would hand wash and dry overnite. Got my husbands at a camping site called Campmoor. I actually bought the soap in Paris, as I originally took Prell shampoo to use as double duty hair and hand wash, but it did not seem to work real well on the clothing. Next time I will fill a bottle with a regular liquid laundry detergent. In the beginning, I was really squeezing the clothing out, but as time went on, I just let them drip for a while on the travelling clothesline, and then I would squeeze out the bottoms. Never had a problem with anything not drying except some double layer socks from the Walking Company.
Sally H. <email>
Sewell, NJ USA Mon 12/13/2004

Guide-books
Before you leave home, take Rick's book (or other guidebook) apart, then have holes punched in the pages so you can put it in a small 3-ring binder (Kinko's, perhpas). Or, take book apart and hold it all with a big binder clip - you can also take just the parts you need with a binder clip. Better than taking the book with you, then ripping it apart and throwing away pages that you may need for another trip.

FL USA Sun 12/12/2004

I'm Learning!
Just returned from 15 days in Paris/London, where I really tried to pack light, and I think it finally worked! I wore tops/slacks at least 3 times each, with Febreeze helping out in between. Did a few hand washings of underthings/socks that worked out very well. The shock came when I packed to go home. Most of my souvenirs were heavy books, so all of those went into my suitcase (wheeled, carry-on size), and all of my clothes and toiletries fit into a large tote bag that I had brought with me -- I couldn't believe they all fit! I checked the heavy bag and carried-on the tote bag. Next time I'm going to look into a lighter suitcase, since it feels a little heavy even when it's empty. I also made note of things I wish I hadn't brought.
Sue
Philadelphia, PA USA Mon 12/06/2004

paris france - clothes
Hi all. just got back from the rick steves paris 7 day tour. Had the best time of our lives. Just wanted to drop a note here that like many of you, i've been reading up prior to my trip on what to bring/wear. I used this site quite a bit. Wanted to let you know that jeans are being worn by most of the people in paris. Local people as well as tourists both wear jeans. almost 90% of the people were in jeans.. except for the people actually working in an office job wearing slacks. This could also be that the weather is much cooler this time of the year.. it was around high 30s while we were there.
Just wanted to drop a note here on that as that was my main concern before going on the trip. Dark shoes are also something you should think about, as not many white tennis shoes were seen, but people do wear them, so wear what is comfortable. thanks. -scott Paris Nov 20-Dec1, 2004.
scott n.
san jose, ca USA Fri 12/03/2004

Traveling light
I went to Italy with the Santa Clara Chorale group for a 2 week trip singing several times in churches. Although I traveled a bit heavier than I would have liked, I believe if you don't mind hand washing every 4-5 days, you can get by with 4 tops, I of those being dressy (such as black) for evening. Also 3 skirts were plenty and a pair of pants (probably black-it doesn't show dirt-cotton if summer) in a neutral color. Those pants with zip off legs sound ideal. I was told that I packed light. (even at the end of the trip after buying souvenirs.)

Buy your souvenirs at the airport at the end if you can.

I did buy one top (needed a black one)Maybe one dressy dress for the last dinner or extra dressy top. Scarves dress everything up wonderfully and a few earrings and 1-2 necklaces. (don't bring too many books including tour books)don't need them all the time. Info is there. Happy Travels! C.M.
celeste McGettigan <email>
San Jose, CA USA Sat 11/27/2004

Packing light
Each trip we take we pack lighter and lighter. My favorite must have item is a bottle of Febreeze. I put it in a small spray bottle and use it to freshen up my clothes. Just spray on at night and in the am clothes are ready to go. This works exceptionally well for cigarette smoke.
lisa <email>
haddon heights, nj USA Sat 11/27/2004

Clothing/Packing tips for twenty-somethings! (And anyone else for that matter!)
Here are a few suggestions for versatile travelling that I've used...Hope they help!

1. For versatility, comfortability, warmth, and rain/wind repellent for the sporadic weather in Western Europe, (particularly in the spring) invest in a Windwall jacket from The North Face. It is warm, yet cool at the same time and is made with repellent fleece! Its my miracle jacket!

2. For living out of your backpack but still wanting to look nice at times, bring one knee-length black skirt (comfortable material) and one or two nice tops that are easy to get wrinkles out of.

3. Bring one pair of walking shoes and one paid of flip flop/shower shoes. (In black, preferably.) You can double the flip flops as shoes to wear with your black skirt inside of "casual-smarter" restaurants (obviously not high-class ones...) But you're able to at least not have to wear tennis shoes with your skirt! Plus you can pack lighter because of this.

4. Invest in an IPOD to pass time on the plane/train/car. An IPOD mini runs for about $250 and you can store up to 1,000 songs.
Megan <email>
Beaverton, OR USA Mon 11/22/2004

PackMates save more than just baggage space
I really like those PackMates from Rick Steves' ETBD shop. These are neat bags that allow you to put clothes in and push out all the air, which would otherwise take up a lot of space in a suitcase. I managed with the two medium bags and one large bag to put all my clothing in this, and have lots of space left over for gifts for people back home. The Pack Mates are an investment worth well more than the fee you would pay to send home by mail the things you didn't have room for because of the space the clothes took. I would buy even more of these for my next trip.
Josh Hanz <email>
Frisco, TX USA Sat 11/20/2004

layers
Layers, layers, layers is the key. No matter what the weather is you're ready. Too hot? Remove one layer. Too cold? Add one on. Also, it makes your wardrobe interchangeable. It doesn't matter if you wear the same thing twice... Who'll notice? That allowed me and my husband to travel for 7 days with only a small carry-on and a backpack each.
I followed Rick's advice to bring a little bottle of detergent for small laundry. I wouldn't recommend washing big items, but it's perfect for underwear, socks and t-shirts. I hung them in the bathroom and the next morning it was dry.
veronique <email>
Salisbury, MD USA Thu 11/18/2004

Women's Packing Light
Ladies, to pack light, all you need to know is: Chico's. I travel on business every single week, and can easily pack for a week (with workout shoes and clothes) in a carry-on. They're lightweight, dry in a flash, and never wrinkle. I'm going to Italy over Thanksgiving, and will simply bring long johns to layer under my Chico's travelers. I wore multi-colored blue slip on Nike's last trip to Italy -- people couldn't stop gawking at my shoes. They were a real conversation piece. This year, the only shoes I'm bringing are fire-engine red slip on Nikes.
Liz <email>
Trophy Club, TX USA Sun 11/14/2004

No excuses
There are times when you must take certain items or clothes and can't pack light. But I can't imagine why ANYONE would want to lug a bag big enough to pack a whole person - some of the bags my husband and I have seen at airports, bus & train stations are just beyond belief!

Challenge yourself to pack as light as possible and improvise the rest - it's a great exercise for your brain. I can get by with one expandable soft-side briefcase and a "purse" and still carry what's absolutely needed. Get real-Packing for a 3-day trip or a 3-month one shouldn't be all that different. What takes a little juggling mentally is calculating the weather, the type of accommodations, and the availability of stuff you might need. It helps to know the destination - get tips & advice from others who have been.

Be comfortable and take a great attitude of excitement and joy at being alive and able to travel and experience the world before we blow our beautiful planet up! Just go and make no excuses to anyone.and take the smallest/lightest amount of stuff possible.
planetgirl
Tallahassee, FL USA Tue 11/09/2004

Extras to bring on the trip
We just returned from 2 weeks in Germany and thought your readers might benefit from some ideas we used. First of all, any clothes we take are packed in clear plastic bags, so they don't fall all over my suitcase, and so any dishonest luggage handlers just can't grab something that doesn't belong to them. Also, I took along a mini-compass to tell what directions we were headed in, in our rental car; my portable CD player, and CD's,including language tapes (which we listened to in the car); votive candles & matches, and a flashlight, in case the lights went out; an extra 60 watt bulb, on the occasions that they only had a 25 watt bulb---the extra wattage made it easier to read Rick's books, and it provided more light for me to use to put on makeup, and contacts.

I also brought lots of resealable plastic bags of different sizes for wet suits, wet toothbrushes, munchies of all kinds, etc...; an empty capped water bottle to refill and take along; a lightweight foldable bag to take along and put your new purchases in; an UNO card game---(you can play it with anyone, no matter what their nationality); and packets of instant dry soup mixes, for those instances when you don't like what their serving in the hotel dining rooms---just use their HOT water, and mix in a cup (they usually had hot water for those of us who enjoy a nice cup of tea).
Lorrie Walters Marsiglio
St. Charles, Il USA Mon 11/08/2004

Travelling light for women / panty-liners
I agree it is not usually necessary to have 100% clean clothes each day, but that clean underwear is the really important thing. Emergency suggestion-- take a ziplock bag of lightweight panty-liners and, if you really have to, you can use one if you just can't find a way to wash that last pair of underwear for the next day. Even if you don't have to do this, it's a comfort to know they're there if you need to. I travelled alone in U.K. 5-1/2 weeks a few years ago with just Rick's backpack/bag, and thought up this trick before I went. Told a frequent-traveller girlfriend much later; she said she did this, too, but didn't know anyone else had ever thought of it....Gramma Zee
Gramma Zee <email>
Carlisle, PA USA Mon 11/08/2004

buy stuff there!
I brought a heavy coat and a few shirts and a few pairs of pants and 1 pair of shoes. Remember, when traveling you can always buy stuff, then you'll fit in more as well. When I was going through customs in Amsterdam the officials jaw dropped and he said "that's all you packed?!" No one will know if you waer the same clothes every day :)
Alissa <email>
Astoria, OR USA Sun 11/07/2004

Cool weather packing
Happy to see someone else knows the secret of silk thermal undies for cooler weather trips--what a weightless lifesaver. Those and zip-lock bags. I thrive on regenerating travel, and have lived well for a year out of 2 bags. I'm tall--so extra length could mean weight and bulk, but I'm determined not to be weighed down--or be a rumpled mess. I have to dress more 'city', so fabric details matter. For 10 days to 3 weeks in metropolitan cities or craft villages: 3 flat-packing merino wool sweaters in deep colors, plus 1 cashmere for dressier dinners. Slacks--2 wool gabardine, 1 dressier. 3 sets silk termals from WinterSilks (very happy customer); 3 pr knee high cotton socks from Lands End, 3 pr knee high silk socks--my feet are warm and happy, never fatigued and no heavy socks to dry. Good looking, supportive, rubber soled walking shoes, 1 pr dressy flats. 1 pr gold-colored small earrings for dinners, no other jewelry. I fill leakproof travel containers from Container Store with personal cosmetics, seal in zip bags -- not bulky cosmetic bags; delight in foreign drugstores anywhere. I take a thin cotton face cloth cut into two halves, another left whole for an emergency towel, and individually packaged face cleansing cloths from Ponds or Olay.

For shoulder length hair--velcro rollers, small butane curling iron, set with a light hair gel that helps me restore tired hair with just damp hands. 4 sets fast-drying underwear, 1 pr lined leather gloves, 2 oblong silk scarves, 1 cashmere shawl that saves or enhances many a day, black hi-twist wool gabardine knee length coat weighs nothing, packs flat if it has to, goes anywhere. Strong, windproof collapsible umbrella. Total: under 30 lbs.

I pack my bag in three layers, each divided by a thin plastic bag from the cleaners--I can lift out an entire layer at a time, nothing slides around. Even tired airport bag searchers smile at me. Go. See. Learn. Worry, lug or lag not.
Bev <email>
Chicago, IL USA Sat 11/06/2004

TRAVEL LITE
WE USE RICK'S BAGS FOR ALL OUT TRAVEL INCLUDING TWO MONTHES IN AUSTRALIA. ONE SUGGESTION, NEVER USE YOUR EXPANSION SPACE TO START OUT. WE ALWAYS BUY T-SHIRTS AND OTHER THINGS ALONG THE WAY AND THUS HAVE SPACE TO TOTE THEM AS WE GO. KEEP ON TRAVELING!
TIM RODGERS <email>
SEATTLE , WA USA Sat 11/06/2004

Worked for us
My brother & I made it 8 weeks with three outfits each. A pair of pants each, two plain t-shirts for me and three for him, a black dress, and a collared, button up semi-nice shirt for him, we brought 6 pairs of undies each & I brought pajamas. Also, we both wore tennis shoes. I brought a pair of flat dress shoes and he a pair of loafers. We each brought a small towel, 1 swimsuit for me and 2 for him (which doubled as shorts also).

For tolietries, we each had deoderant-- big bottles that would last the whole trip. One big bottle of shampoo and conditioner-- that we shared and obviously got lighter as we traveled on, toothbrushes and toothpaste, a bag of assorted medicine-- aleve, neosporin, pepto, sanitizing hand wipes, bandaids. All that stuff is probably easy to find- but it's light & doesn't take up much space if you pack it all in one baggie.

We didn't bring chapstick-- the kind that heals-- and had difficulty finding it there. I'll definitely remember that next time-- we had some miserable days & eventually got some medicated blitex at a pharmacy in Geneva-- But that was after spending 15 bucks on several other tries to get something. It would have been easier to find it. I'd rather have eaten more gelato & brought it from home!

We brought no electronic stuff at all. We did have a battery operated pocket translator that was also an alarm clock. I got a short hair cut & washed my hair at night-- no hair dryer needed. Might be bad advice if you go when it's cold. But in summer-- it was fine!

He bought underwear in London about 7 weeks into it because he'd lost so much weight with all the walking & the elastic was giving out.

Washers & dryers are usually easy to find-- only had trouble in Barcelona. Also had a little trouble getting detergent that worked well. Next time, I'll fill a little traveling shampoo bottle with some Tide for big stain emergencies and bring darker colored clothes. We also carried guide books & picked up a duffle bag for goodies before flying home.

Also, be sure to bring a journal-- we love ours. We'd take turns writing it it everyday-- or everytime we got onto trains. Last thing is the money belts and camera. That's really all you need. Of course, we did, twice, take our laundry to the cleaners in swimsuits!I am a camera bug & brought and used 40 rolls of film. We also bought over 100 postcards. Be sure to pack everything in plastic bags-- and bring extra plastic bags. That way if you have to haul yourself a mile and a half through the rain to your hotel-- all that has to dry out is your backpack.Anyway, that worked well for us. Hope that helps someone. Email me if you'd like. I loved my time in Europe & will help you anyway I can.
Heather <email>
Houston, TX USA Fri 11/05/2004

travelling light
My husband and I went to Italy for 4 weeks to celebrate our 70th birthdays. We loved the trip and appreciated Rick's travel-light message. We packed in two carryons and 2 daypacks with a little room to spare. I had bought 2 pair of black slacks and a black skirt, which I combined with 3 black T-shirts, 1 black turtleneck, a couple of Big Shirts and 3 scarves. Everything was wrinkle-resistant. Got sick of my clothes by the end of the month but it was worth it. The only thing I would amend in Rick's recommendations is to say that I wish I had brought my white Nikes. Half the European women I saw were wearing them! Katie, Huntingdon Valley, PA 11/05/04
Katie <email>
Huntin, P USA Fri 11/05/2004

Packing Light
Just returned from 2 weeks in Italy with girlfriends. Was my 3rd trip to Italy, and I learn to pack lighter & lighter each time. Here are a few of my best tips for packing light:
No curling iron or dryer -- I pack a few velcro rollers & purse-size hair spray to give my hair a little lift.
Washcloths -- try the new disposable facial cloths (we used Ponds) - they're dry, when you wet them, they lather up. After washing face, used them as washcloth (using travel size body wash) for the body.
Thin towel - we took these, in case we needed our own towel somewhere, but we used them instead to roll up anything that was still damp in the morning from hand-washing the night before.
Rolling backpack-only way to go! - found a rolling backpack made by Field & Stream that can be carried on to plane. We were able to travel through Tuscany on bicycles with these bags on our backs, yet rolled them along everywhere else.
We tossed underwear and socks instead of washing. I keep a basket in my closet to put worn out items for my next trip!
Kelly Bonazza <email>
Hibbing, MN USA Fri 11/05/2004

Packing light
We just returned from 17 days in Italy and packed light due to advice on this website. We rented a car, so had more room for things than those who travel by train. We took 2 Travelpro 22 inch suitcases and one duffel for shoes. We used the 1.5 gallon zipper bags and they came in handy for other than packing.

I took primarily Chico's travelers clothing and they were perfect. I found sports undershorts made of 100% polyester at TJ Maxx, which were great for my husband. We each took 1 pair of jeans. We had access to a washer but no dryer so without a fire in the fireplace, our jeans would never have dried, because the weather was cold and rainy. The Chico's traveler items just roll up in your suitcase and come out unwrinkled. They washed and dried easily too. The weather was cold and wet much of the time, and I was prepared for warm weather so I bought one microfiber long sleeved shirt at a street market for $5 and layerd it with the Chico's travelers items and put a rain jacket over all.

I left behind in Italy a pair of athletic shoes that hurt my feet as well as some $1 toiletries from Wal-Mart, so I could fit souvenirs in on the way home.

No one seems to pay attention to what you wear anyway, (except no bare shoulders, midrifts in cathedrals) so next time, I'll probably take only 3 outfits. My biggest advice is to work hard on buying the proper walking shoes and breaking them in prior to travel. I also took an extra pair in my husband's backpack daily and always used them because we were walking and on the cobblestones for 6 - 8 hours.
Juls <email>
KC, USA Wed 10/27/2004

Shoes, clothes, and throwing things out
A friend and I went to Italy for 16 days out of a backpack. We packed according to suggestions here and LOVED IT! I brought 5 outfits and really only wore the same three repeatedly. I'd bring a microfiber towel, even if it's officially a "hair turban" as they dry very fast and work well when wringing out hand-washed clothes. Plus you can use it as a pillow on trains and planes! Bring your roomiest shoes, as all that walking makes your feet swell.

The most surprising thing I'm glad I brought? Foot spray that cooled and refreshed my feet after a long day. I also brought that Downey wrinkle-free stuff, only I put it in a travel-size hairspray container, which took up less room. There's a lot more I would suggest, but it's all mentioned on this site...pick the items that are most important to you!

Final word of advice? I left several items behind when I left...body soap, clothing, odds and ends that wouldn't cost much to replace when I got back. I'm glad I made room for the souveniers!! Have fun!
Lisa <email>
Dallas, TX USA Tue 10/19/2004

First timers packing
Just back from three weeks, mostly in England with a couple of days in France. We packed lighter than we would have if we hadn't read this board (although not quite as lightly as we would next time!) For the two of us, we had two carryons and a small checked bag, all with wheels. I mailed one skirt and one pair of shoes home with some of the maps and stuff we were done with but wanted to keep.

Things we did right:
(1) I had my hair cut short before we left and needed no hairdryers or even conditioner.
(2) For the most part, if it needed ironing, we wore it wrinkled. If I had it to do over, I'd stick to things you can hand wash and hang to dry smooth. We couldn't get permanent press to work in some of the English laundry equipment. One washer/dryer had a lock--you couldn't get it open till 2 minutes after the cycle was over, which is way too late.
(3) The Travelsmith jacket-sweater thingummy I brought was all its cracked up to be. Surprisingly, so were the skirst I brought--they were "squash-and-wear" though not marketed as such.I haven't found the shoe solution-- whether home or abroad, I have to have pairs to change off, to hurt in different places. I wore Minnetonka moccasins and white sneakers (I know, but comfort above all) with now and then a change to black sneakers or even, daringly, to flat pumps.
(4) Yes, you can buy what you need. I forgot my jacket and brought no scarf, but I bought what I needed for the cold winds of September and October beachfronts.

Next time, I try to wean my husband from his cotton fetish, and go for lighter clothes.

Something to note: An awful lot of the Left Luggage places you hear of have closed up shop because of terrorism. But the small hotels we stayed at were glad to let us leave our bags after checkout on the last day, or before checkout on the first day. Just left them in the lobby or the hall; they were fine.
Bonita Kale <email>
Cleveland, OH USA Sat 10/16/2004

Tips from our 23-day journey
Thesed are based on our experiences during a 23-day trip to France & Italy. We each carried a ~17 pound backpack onto the plane when we left on our trip.

*We used a micro-fiber towel for doing laundry called the Absorber. It worked great to dry clothing. We could do laundry late at night before bed, wring out the clothes in the Absorber a couple times, and they would usually be dry by morning (especially if we could leave a window open a crack).

*Quick dry clothing is the way to go. The idea of hauling 23 days worth of underwear on my back is just plain silly. Socks and underwear are so easy to wash in the sink. Five pair of each was just the right number.

*Plan on doing laundry at a coin-op place once in the middle of your journey. It was really nice to have truly clean clothing again and a fun experience chatting with other people trying to figure out the machines.

*If you plan on enjoying the food (like we did), make sure your clothing is a little loose when you start your trip. We filled in our clothing quite nicely between the pastries, gellato, desserts, wine, etc.

*I brought along a pair of pants made by Columbia sportswear designed and marketed as travel clothing. I highly recommend them. They looked good, are light, wrinkle resistant, and dried within hours (with the help of the Absorber). They cost about $40, but I consider them to be a perfect travel pant and highly recommend them. I will pick up a second pair of these before our next trip.

*Perform a 'fashion show' before leaving on your trip to make sure everything goes with everything else. We made a couple last minute modifications to our wardrobe after seeing the different combinations actually worn together.

*Plan on buying a suitcase part way through your trip if you want to buy a bunch of things to bring home. Cheap ones were easy to find near major rail stations. I picked up one for $18 in Florence near SMN that was wheeled and plenty big enough to bring back everything we purchased. This is a much cheaper route than shipping things home and you don't have to wait for several weeks.

*Bring along some Shout (or other brand) stain remover. It comes in small packets and works great to help get stains out.

*Bring only those sections from the guide books you need and dump the sections as you go. If you get a city guide, leave it behind at the hotel for the next traveller. Guide books weigh a ton (they represented over 15% of our departure weight before I started slicing and dicing the books into pieces). Also consider buying books there, especially for longer trips. If I were to do this trip over again, I would copy vital information (arriving in a country/city, a basic map, directions to a hotel, etc) and pick up needed books or information as we went.

Hope some of that info helps. Travelling lite is the way to go. We watched countless people huffing and puffing their large, heavy suitcases around and just had to laugh. Even after we picked up a suitcase, it was still easier getting around with most of your stuff on your back.
Dale
Oregon City, OR USA Fri 10/15/2004

Packing for London and Trains
Just got back from taking train rides all over England and Scotland, and I can tell you what worked (and didn't) for my husband and me:

WORKED:
-backpacks instead of suitcases- streets and train aisles are crowded and narrow, and hauling cases on wheels wouldn't have worked well.
-packing even less than you think you'll need- the British dress just like we do! Jeans, t-shirts, shorts, white running shoes- I saw these all on plenty of Londoners and people in the country towns. They're VERY casual people, and with a decent sweater, you can go to most restaurants and feel fine. It's so easy to buy extra clothes if you need something you didn't pack; so, pack less and be happy!
-Bottles of Dr. Bronner's soap were handy for nearly everything!
-Ripping pages from travel guides worked well, along with buying an A-to-Z map in London.
-Bandaids and moleskins were life-savers for intense walking!
-Security belts: we wore the Rick Steves' belts, and they were FAB. You could hardly tell they were there, and we felt very relieved that our money and passports were right on us all the time.

DIDN'T WORK:-Bought new, expensive walking shoes and didn't test them out before I left- oh my god, the blisters! Please, wear your walking shoes a LOT before you go.
-Not weighing my bag before leaving: it looked small, but it was dense and heavy- I ended up mailing stuff back to the US (at great expense). Next time my mantra will be "I can buy it there if I need it!"
-Packing cotton underwear- they didn't dry fast enough in the room. Had to buy more- take the fast-drying ones.

We had a great time, and are SO happy we followed (most of) Rick's rules- next time, we'll be even lighter!
BonzoGal <email>
South San Francisco, CA USA Thu 09/30/2004

Disposable underwear
If there's one thing I hate to do while on a long trip, it's hand-washing my undies. Ugh. Call me squeamish, but that's how I feel about it! I just recently found a company that offers disposable underwear! They sell 100-percent cotton undies for men and women in different styles and sizes. Use and toss! I love the idea. Could have used them on my trip to France a few weeks ago. Here's the web site: http://www.Onederwear.com. Note: I am in no way affiliated with this company, and I cannot "review" their product because I haven't tried it yet. I just think it's a fantastic idea, and will definitely try it on my next European adventure.
Sharilyn Miller <email>
Aliso Viejo, CA USA Wed 09/29/2004

Five Weeks, One Rucksack...
I bought one of Rick's Rucksacks in 1999, as well as a Civita Day bag, and both made my trip very easy! I went to Europe for five weeks by myself and packed two pairs of jeans, one long skirt, one long slinky top (that could also be worn with the jeans), two long tunic sweaters, one in plum, the other green, and my red heavy nightgown for those cold British nights. Shoes were a pair of black walking shoes (broken in BEFORE leaving) and a pair of pumps. Hey, you never know. Plus about 10 pair of undies. I brought one of those space saver bags and put the nightgown and sweaters into it and they compressed nicely, and I did not have wrinkles to contend with. Add my toiletry bag, plus a hair dryer (bought in England), as not all bed and breakfasts supply them.

I wore a money belt and used the Civita bag during my day. I had a little wallet inside that had Very little cash. After a visit to an ATM, I'd go hide for a few moments while I put the bulk of the cash away in my money belt and the remainder in my wallet. Worked great, and any time I felt a bad vibe around me I'd put the bag across my chest so no one could get at it from behind.

I had zip lock bags, and I'd use one for things to wash to keep them separate. I had packets of Woolite and I'd wash undies in the sink every two to three days, and only had to launder my clothes TWICE, because everything could be worn with everything else!

Went to Paris, Britain, Scotland, N. Ireland and back to Paris again to close out my trip. That was not planned, but ah the joys of travelling light with no schedule! I ran into some people who were on tours (NOT Rick's), and when they told me they had to be packed and ready to leave the hotel by 8 a.m. I truly felt sorry for them!

Ricks' books helped me travel by myself with confidence. I'd land in a town with no place to stay, whip out the book and usually only took one or two phone calls to find a great B & B! I kept all my clothes and bought a medium size carryon in Edinburgh to carry everything I had purchased. Wearing the rucksack and pulling the carryon were no problem for me.

I've since returned to Europe three times, always with Rick's Rucksack and Civita bag. A coworker went to Europe recently and I TOLD her over and over to pack light, but she didn't (took FIVE pairs of shoes for a ten day stay!) and oh how she regretted it, even saying "I wish I had listend to you. Next time..." and I said, "Too bad you didn't pack light THIS TIME though, right?"Everyone, pack super light. It's worth it!!!
CB <email>
Palm Springs, CA USA Mon 09/27/2004

Packing Light Means Packing Wisely
I always field test the items that I intend to take with me on a trip. Whenever I buy something I think I'll take- it must be wrinkle resistant, be able to stand for more than one day of wearing, and be able to hide those inevitable spills, etc. I also wash and dry it by hand at least once to check how it looks after this process. If it passes these tests in my daily life, I know it will fit in with my hectic travel days.

One other criteria is that whatever I take HAS to go with everything else I take- mix and match style. Doing this helps you to pick the items that you are most likely going to wear- and that will stand up to your travels.
DN
KS USA Sun 09/26/2004

Packing That Gets Lighter!
I learned a trick from my Spanish professor in college. She always took her older undies, t-shirts, and pants. As she wore the clothes, she threw the old things away. Her luggage became lighter and she could buy new things to take back home. I always thought this was a good time saver too, since she had less laundry to do along the way!

P.S. For the fashion conscious out there, she always layered nicer sweaters (in winter) or scarves, etc. over the inner layers to look quite presentable. I suppose you could go to a local K Mart, Walmart type store and buy a few cheap undergarments and/or t-shirts that you don't mind throwing or GIVING away.)
DN
KS USA Sun 09/26/2004

Packing Light
Rick, just returned from two weeks in Italy. I thought I packed light, but my backpack ended up weighing around 25 lbs. I really could have gone with less stuff. I recommend that ladies take one skirt and one jacket/sweater if you are going in September. I took black yoga pants from Old Navy, two pair of capris from Target and several tops that matched the above. I did not need to take two skirts and I could have conserved on the tops too.

Please, ladies, avoid the temptation to take too much shampoo and creme rinse. I found that all of the hotels we stayed in had shampoo. Just take creme rinse (samples). No need to take a hair dryer as most of the hotels had those too. I think they would rather supply you with the dryer than risk you burning up thier hotel!!!

I took Febreeze and it came in handy, but the top came unscrewed in my backpack and got me and a lot of my paper stuff wet.

Next time I go, I am doing some serious thinking about the amount of clothing I think I can't live without. Besides, shopping in Europe is pretty cool. If you don't take too much, you can buy some clothes there. I did. The empty bag I packed was full of souvenirs and was an easy carryon when I came home.I honestly think that most of the weight was because of the protein bars and powders I took ( I had weight loss surgery last year). So the bags got lighter as we went.
Suzie Sloan <email>
Columbus, OH USA Sun 09/26/2004

Rick's Travel bags
My wife, son (17 years old) and I each bought one of Rick's travel bags before our first trip to Europe last spring. It is the best suitcase I have for this purpose. We managed easily with 18 pounds each for about 2 weeks. We used a lot of our hiking and skiing clothes - everything quick dry - fleece, suplex and coolmax. We washed by hand every couple days. We hopped from train-to-train & town-to-town. We walked from every station to our hotel and never felt overloaded. No wheels to mash on cobblestone or be imbedded into steps. I will never travel another way again. We took my nearly 90-year old parents to Washington DC the same way this summer, using the Metro from airport ot hotel. It works, it allows so much freedom. Try it.
Brian <email>
MI USA Thu 09/16/2004

Downy Wrinkle Release
Lots of people like to bring along Frebreeze, but I think Downy Wrinkle Release is a better choice. I filled a small plastic spray bottle and took that with me on our last Europe trip. It helped get rid of packing wrinkles, and provided a nice, fresh scent. It really helped my clothes after smokey pub evenings. It's no substitute for washing, but helps in the meantime.
Pam
Cleveland, OH USA Tue 09/14/2004

Cleaning Clothes
A light packer's best friend is a bottle of Febreze! Take it and you can say "au revoir" to major washing! I sprayed my clothes nightly and hung them to get a breeze and they were fresh as a daisy. I only had to regualary wash underwear and socks! It is well worth the space it takes up!
Randy Lawhon <email>
Forney, TX USA Mon 09/13/2004

Pack light with kids
We have taken 2 European trips with our kids, and been able to pack light. Our first trip was France when our kids were 1 1/2, 3 and 5. My husband carried one backpack with our clothes and I carried the baby backpack with an extra change of clothes for each kid, large ziploc, and wipes. Our 2 older kids carried little packs with books, walkman, and fav. stuffed animal and small blanket.

This last time to Spain and England: ages 4,6,8 we got rid of the baby backpack! Yeah! And each carried a backpack w/ favorites, my husband the "big bag" with clothes (followed Rick's list and washed in hotels). And I a small backpack with a change of clothes, ziploc, book, wipes, water. We were mobile!
Maria Jackson <email>
Edmonds, Wa USA Sun 09/05/2004

take a cashmere sweater and a rayon sarong
ah, rick, you're a light weight when it comes to packing light. one for the back and one for the pack--that's my rule. no wait. that's not entirely true. i take two bottoms, three tops, and three sets of underwear, just in case there's a night i can't wash things out.

now here are my tips--take a cashmere sweater, more warmth for the weight and a rayon sarong-it functions as a quick drying towel, a shawl for extra warmth or protection from the sun, a sheet, a table cloth, a beach towel, an extra skirt , a bathing suit cover up.....well, you get the picture.
leslie harrison <email>
richmond, CA USA Wed 09/01/2004

Travel light-smart
I have taken the 8-1/2x11 information pages out of guide books and shrunk them to about 65% then insert them in a small photo album with plastic inserts. I arrange copies of my travel documents (tickets, itinerary, website phone numbers, airline phone numbers, etc), confirmation of houses rented, cost and other pertinent information chronlogical so I can flip through the book and have all the information ready to refer to. I have also used the plastic inserts of photo albums and used clasps (like keyrings)to keep the pages together then I'm able to sort by regions I'm visiting. Great idea I think! It's small, flexible and have you have only the information you need of the area you are visiting.
Bonnie Newman-twtravelers@cs.com <email>
Tigard, OR USA Fri 08/27/2004

Various items to bring along
I'd like to share a few packing ideas that have helped me in my travels over the years:

1. Plastic bottles
I buy these for pennies at TAP Plastics in San Francisco (check the phone book for similar companies in your area). One-, 2-, and 4-ounce bottles are perfect. Regular, squeeze, dropper, and spray caps are available. I usually pack lotion; Woolite laundry detergent; and baby shampoo, which doubles as soap. I also bring an empty bottle with a spray cap. In a train washroom, I can fill this with water and use it to wash my hair, face, or torso, without making a mess.

2. Small, lightweight backpack
I bought a Jansport "PC Port" several years ago. This fairly small, carry-on size pack was actually meant for a laptop computer. I have used it for trips of up to one month -- it's perfect if you don't mind doing a little hand-washing in the hotel sink. The straps are very comfortable and for once, the little compartments are actually useful! The first thing I did was to remove the isignia using a pocket knife: discretion is the rule when traveling. I avoid hard-sided (heavy), wheeled (wastes space), or convertible luggage (less effective than single-function models) like the plague.

3. Pencil cases / bank deposit bags
I get these, in discreet colors like black, from Staples or Office Max. They are perfect for separating and organizing papers. If I need to move about on a train and for some reason can't bring my backpack with me, I can at least carry one of these. In a dining car, I can sit on the thing or keep it next to me in my chair. Note: this not a safe substitute for a money belt. It's only useful for intermediate-security documents, such as credit card receipts, used ticket stubs, and photocopies of ID.

4. Inventory count
Ever since I left a day pack behind on a train to Hamburg (I was ten at the time, my parents were furious, and we joke about it to this day!), I have had a policy of counting my belongings at each stage of a voyage. As an exercise, count off all of the items you carry with you, each time you enter a train, get off a train, etc. This also works with money belts: check off each item on a mental list, every time you access the money belt.

5. Key chain safety-aids
Miniature whistles (available from outdoor stores) and LED (light-emitting diode) flashlights (available from electronics stores) are great safety aids.

6. Headlight
A small LED headlight is perfect for reading on the go. Petzl and various other companies make these. White LEDs are very bright and draw very little battery power.
Paul Marcelin-Sampson <email>
Santa Cruz, CA USA Tue 08/24/2004

Space saving face
Rather than pack all my weighty jars and bottles I packed a small ziplock bag with a collection of 'samples' and 'freebees', was amazed how far they went on my 3 week tour of France and Italy. Also zip locked a wash cloth (not provided in european hotels etc.) and travel sizes of everything I could.

Also, Rick Steves, thanks for the reversible skirt, it was amazing, black side for Paris and Florence + black T shirts, beige size for Chinque Terre with colored shirts, I never thought I'd pack myself into an overnight bag for three weeks!!!!
Jill Bell <email>
Invermere, BC Canada Tue 08/10/2004

Two Weeks in One Backpack
It is possible to pack for two-weeks in one backpack. We just returned from a trip to London, Paris, and Germany with nothing but a small backpack (i.e. standard, school-sized backpack) for each person in our family of four (two kids 8 and 11). The plan was to do laundry once, but that fell through when the laundromat in Rothenburg was not available. We ended up doing some laundry in the sink of our hotel for the next few nights, which worked out fine. Bring only one pair of shoes (the ones you're wearing when you leave the U.S.) and pack enough light clothing for 4-5 days. Do not bring hairdryers, curling irons, or electric shavers (they just take up room). Do bring a small travel iron with built-in converter (we found one for $5 in U.S. before we left). You'll need an electrical outlet adaptor (about $3 each - need 3 prong for UK and 2 prong for continent). Folks found it hard to believe that we had only 4 backpacks and no luggage (I mean everyone from the airline people to taxi drivers to hotel people and friends). We're already planning our next trip to Austria and will employ the 4 backpack method again. It's so easy to get on and off airplanes, trains, and taxis with nothing to carry. I will never do it any other way and would highly encourage every traveler to try it out.
Mike
Overland Park, KS USA Sun 08/08/2004

Two weeks with one 22 inch suitcase
Recently returned from a two week trip to Europe (London, Rome & Paris). My husband is a pilot and has taught me a lot about packing over the years. For our trip we each took only standard "carry on" size suitcase (which we checked) and shared a carry on bag. I coordinated my wardrobe around black, white and red and took only three pairs of shoes (one more than I needed.)

My suitcase contained: one black linen skirt, two white linen skirts, one pair of black linen pants, one pair of khaki capri pants, three black shirts, two white shirts, two red shirts, one black sweater, one white linen dress, one silk dress (never wore), bathing suit/sarong, three bras,

I only sent the pants out once for cleaning. No socks needed (summer time. I was shocked at the amount of luggage some were hauling around. If nothing else, remember, they have laundry's there too. I even had room to pack all my purhcases!
Elizabeth
NV USA Thu 08/05/2004

pack light
We packed the books but tore out the pages of the towns as we went through them, and eliminated the pages of towns we wouldn't go through..
Carrie <email>
St. Charles, MO USA Mon 08/02/2004

PACKING LIGHTLY
My husband and I on both of our 10 European trips each carried our own frame packs, which were big enough to fit into the overhead bins of the plane. By only having this as a carry one you dont have to worry about loosing your checked luggage or waiting for it at the airport when you get there-thus more time for sightseeing!( I also stick inside my big bag a smaller day pack for snacks/camera/souvineers/etc)

My husband has taught me a lot about good packing and packing light..We both work at the airport and it ridiculous the amount of bags people take on their trips..and how big and heavy the bags are. Why take something you'd break your back carrying? Why take your whole wardrobe when you'll only wear your favorite outfits anyway? Why take numerous pairs of shoes when your going to do tons of walking and they'll only hurt your feet?

so, I took one pair of zip-off lightweight pants. light enough that you can wash them in your room and dry them overnight. a few pairs of socks and undies..all washable and a few shirts. one short sleeve..one long..and an extra. i love to shop especially in other countries..so packing lightly in the first place allows for room for your purchases.
Amy <email>
USA Sat 07/31/2004

cheap, weightless & small bathingsuit shorts
I bought a bunch of men's bathingsuit shorts for my husband. We travelled in July and they were perfect. They are so small when you roll them, they don't take up much room or weight.(they're cheap if you wan tto throw them away as you go) If you wash them, they dry in hours. We did put a pair of pants in our daypack for St. Mark's & St. Peter's Basillica.
rheann <email>
Corsicana, TX USA Fri 07/23/2004

6 weeks on the road
My family just returned from 6 weeks' travel in Greece, France and Sweden, and made it happily with one medium sized bag per family member. My random advice:
- packing cubes are fantastic!
- If you don't wear skirts at home, you're probably not going to wear them abroad. I packed 2 skirts because I wanted to fit it to Paris and Stockholm, but never wore them.
- My favorite dressy clothes were all from Chico's: linen crop pants, and tanks and a cardigan from their Travellers line. The latter never wrinkled and took up minimal space.
- I found it was okay to dress casually, as Europeans don't dress so differently from Americans now. I wore my featherweight black capris from Target and my multi-pocketed travel shorts from REI a lot. The shorts were great because I didn't have to carry a purse or wear a money belt. Two pairs of capris were great because they looked slightly dressier than the shorts, but were cool and comfortable. A black fleece pullover was a versatile top layer.
- My 12 year old daughter took a fitted, khaki-colored Patagonia skort made of supplex or some sort of quick-dry fabric. It was the thing she wore most, as it could look dressy with any top, yet allowed her to join in the occassional school-yard soccer game on the spur of the moment. And it was easy to keep clean!
- I wish I had taken a small soft-sided cooler for picnic stuff.
- I bought bungee cord from a home store to use as a clothes line. It came in really handy when the handle on my wheeled duffle got jammed shut; I just used the bungee as a makeshift handle.
- I'm glad I took a child-sized feather pillow to supplement hotel pillows, which were inadequate or lumpy everywhere except Stockholm.
- I bought a bunch of thrift-store books before I left, so it was easy to leave them behind after we had finished. When we ran out of books, we found that it was very costly to replenish our supply at European prices.
- Pack light and life will be much easier!
Kathy F.
Seattle, WA USA Thu 07/22/2004

Luggage & Packing Experience
We used the Rick Steve's Back Door Bag with great satisfaction, although there we times when we wished we had the wheeled version. Be sure to order the optional shoulder strap. It comes in handy for short walks when it is too much trouble to put the Back Door Bag on your back. The shoulder strap and backpack straps need to be stowed when checking with an airline. Loose straps can be caught on the conveyor mechanisms.

The Back Door Bag was too large for the Swiss International luggage sizer in Boston and we were forced to check them. We had arrived at BOS taking the Back Door Bags as carryons on AA from SFO. Lesson: be prepared to check the Back Door Bag, and have inflight possessions prepacked within it so you can easily remove them before the bag gets checked.

The Rick Steve's Compact Toiletries Kit is a must have. Counter space in Italian hotels is nonexistent. The sinks are usually pedestal style.

The Rick Steve's Civita Day Bag worked well. In the US, I use a belt pack, which is not practical in a country teeming with pickpockets. I carried the Day Bag over one shoulder or carried it by the handle. The soft, pliable nylon cloth enables it to fold flat and take up minimal space in a suitcase. I kept some clothing in the bottom of the Day Bag to provide padding. This protected my camera when I set the Day Bag down.

We used one and two gallon ZipLock bags to hold the small stuff that gets lost in a suitcase. The see-through feature made it easy to find what we needed.

European hotels typically do not supply American style wash cloths. I brought my own and kept it in a large resealable plastic bag between hotels. The color was a bright orange that would be hard to miss as we swept the room to pack up. I bought it at Target and tossed it on our last morning.

I neglected to include it in the laundromat runs. Since it never got completely dry, it got putrid after two weeks (according to my wife; devotees of Dave Berry know that men have a genetic defect that prevents them from perceiving germs). Lesson: run you washcloth in the clothes dryer when doing the laundry.

My wife's vibrating type electric shaver did not function well through a 220/110 volt converter. It made the usual noise, but did not cut her leg hair. She had to resort to a safety razor.

Conventional drinking fountains do not exist in Italy. You will need to carry a water bottle to stay hydrated in the summer. I carried a 16 oz (0.45 liter) naglene water bottle from REI. The wide mouth made it easy to refill at sinks. My wife and daughter made do with the disposable plastic bottles that could be refilled for several days before wearing out.
Steve <email>
Cupertino, CA USA Sun 07/18/2004

Traveling With Prescription Drugs
Peel off the label from your bottle of prescription painkillers, (the new ones come off rather easily) and re-stick it onto a little zip-lok bag, which is just big enough for the label and the necessary amount of drugs needed. Put all of these little zip-loks into a sandwich-sized one, and you shouldn't have any trouble at your travel check points. (Also, get a doctor's letter, also, 'just in case').
RKG
Euless, TX USA Sat 07/17/2004

Taveling light in the winter months
Last November I spent two weeks traveling France, Switzerland,Austria & Italy. We had some very cold days, but managed well by laying. A trip to Old Navy for some cheep fleece gloves, hat and jacket was very useful (sale rack total $25). When we headed south into Italy we gave away the un-needed warm gear to another traveler. We planned out trip this way so we could shed some of the warmer cloths. This lightened out load, made room for souviniers and made another cold traveler very happy.

Other key, if your traveling in shoulder season with a carry on. Remember to wear all of you heavy clothing articles on the plane. That way your bag will make it through as carry-on. If you can plan your trip from the coldest zone to a warmer zone to shed excess cloths. Remember you don't have to pack everything. I purchased a cool jacket in Paris that I now have as another momento. Happy Travels
Jonathan
bend, or USA Fri 07/16/2004

Packing Light in Winter
Rachel- You can pack light for the winter if you'll layer. I went some pretty cold places a couple of winters ago, and kept quite warm out of a carryon. And I HATE to be cold. Here's what I did:

I wore tights and silk long underwear with corduroy or wool pants. I layered a turtleneck with another shirt over it, and finished with a sweater. I'm really, really cold natured, so I put up with the bulk and wore a long underwear shirt underneath it all.

Instead of a big winter coat, I bought a wool blazer a size larger than normal. I also took one very warm crew neck sweater that went down to my thighs.

I had gloves and mittens, one functional and one dressy scarf, and a very warm wool hat - sort of like a bowler, but quite French looking, apparently - in Paris people kept speaking to me in French. (I'll email you a picture of the hat if you like.)

I got a pair of waterproof shoes from LL Bean that looked dressy. With warm socks, I was set. I always carried an extra pair of socks in case my feet got damp. All my colors coordinated, and the outer layers were all dark so they wouldn't show dirt.
Karen <email>
NC USA Thu 07/15/2004

Good-bye money belt
Best pre-packing tip from our 19 day vacation in Spain and Portugal. My husband took his travel shorts, and long pants to the tailor before we left and had a pocket the size of a passport sewn into the waisteband of each. He did not have to wear a money belt the entire trip.
Joan Heikkila <email>
Richmond, CA USA Wed 07/14/2004

Packing Light
I traveled to London and Paris during a weeks time and brought The Rick Steve's small backpack for daytrips and one small carry-on sized suitcase. But folded down on the bottom of the carryon was Rick Steve's deep storage bag, for just in case. And boy did it come in handy, because I needed to bring home gifts galore. As I was packing to go home, I used the deep storage bag to keep all my dirty clothes and soft unbreakables in, I also added my coat and daypack to it. It was so much more convient than what the others in group had to carry. I had one bag on the shoulder and one on wheels. The other 2 in my party carried the largest suitcases they could find, along with a backpack or purse. It was kinda sad watching them manhandling their suitcases, up and down the exchanges on the tube trying to get to Heathrow. They had poop-pooped the advice to travel light, due to wanting to have twice as many clothes, in case they didn't like something. And of course they only ended up wearing a fraction of what they packed. I wore everything that I had brought, except for 1 blouse and a dress.

My packing list included:
a)1 pair of nice, black walking shoes and 1 pair of black high heels.
b) 2 black slacks, 1 brown pant, and 1 ultra comfortable stretch gray slacks for the plane (you do swell after so much travel) lol
c) 5 ultra light, but nice blouses and 1 light black dress
d)1 light, black sweater and 1 light London Fog raincoat.
e) 1 set of pj's and weeks worth of underthings. Which I tossed, to make more room.
f) my toiletries, were travel sized and I only needed a curling iron as the hotel had a built in blowdryer.
I brought home an amazing amount of stuff. But, I was able to get it all in 2 bags. YAH, my group was amazed! as was I!
I know that I will always travel light and avoid the troubles of oversized luggage.
D. Santos <email>
Antioch, CA USA Tue 07/13/2004

Clothesline
Just got back from Seven Days in Rome. The most important item we took with us was about six feet of clothes line that allowed us to wash out our non-logoed tshirts and pants every night after a day of tromping around 90+ degree Rome.
Doug <email>
Chicago, IL USA Mon 07/12/2004

Some packing tips
Packing cubes (such as those sold on this site) are great for keeping stuff organized. It's nice to open your pack and be able to find something instantly. Another good way to go is soft-sided, carry-on packs. Forget wheels, if you can't carry it you don't need it! Rick's carry-on bag looks good, but we stumbled on a clearance sale of Jansport Bhutan packs at a local store. This pack includes a zip-off day pack. We didn't bring jeans to save weight. Packed 1 pair of chinos, wore one, 1 LS shirt, 2 SS shirts, sox & undies for 3 days, and one swim suit (never used). Pack light, get out of the airport fast, and start having fun!
Colin Melville <email>
Broomfield, CO USA Fri 07/09/2004

Clothes Care
I just returned from 22 days in Europe. Here are some things that worked well for me.

Women's Dockers no-wrinkle dark-colored slacks from J. C. Penney's - wore one, packed two.

Small empty pump-spray bottle. At the end of the day, I hung up my clothes and spritzed the wrinkles with water. By morning, the wrinkles had fallen out.

Small lint pick up (roller - adhesive type) for removing towel lint, etc. from dark pants.

Four plastic tubular hangers with plastic clips on them for hanging wet clothes. There were more places to hang the hangers, such as over the shower rod, than there were for hanging a clothesline.

Three 18 x 36 microfiber towels. Two of them were meant for my husband and me and one for clothes, but I found that I often used all three to blot just-washed garments to speed drying and to prevent water from dripping on hotel floors.

More Advil than you think you will use. My knees, which had not bothered me before the trip, became sore during the trip.

Shout wipes - I took four, I could have used six.

Antibacterial wipes in individual envelopes. I took a multi-wipe packet; it leaked.

Small plastic bottles with plenty of thread on the tops for storing thin liquids, like make-up remover. To be safe, place small bottles in snack-size ZipLoc bags.

2-gallon ZipLoc bag for hand washing when there is no sink stopper. The ZipLoc is lighter to pack than a flat rubber sink stopper.

Twist ties or light locks: use to fasten zipper pulls on purses and backpacks to thwart thieves.

Hat with a brim for sun and rain protection. We wore our hats during light rain. We didn't use our umbrellas.
Bonnie Kohler <email>
West Palm Beach, FL USA Fri 07/02/2004

Jeans
Having just returned from a 2 week trip to the UK in May, I must say that I saw LOTS of different people wearing jeans and they weren't Americans. I agree that jeans are heavy, so I buy the lighter weight, stretchy jeans which I find more comfortable and better fitting anyway. In addition to my slacks, I like taking at least 1 pair of jeans for those days spent walking around or driving.
bkubiak <email>
Missouri City, TX USA Fri 07/02/2004

Packing Light Tips from Experienced Traveller
I travel to Europe for business an average of once per month (for a minimum of one week each trip). I always take one roll-on bag and my briefcase. Here are a few tips from a well-seasoned traveler, in no particular order, on packing light:

(1) coordinate all of your clothes so that tops and bottoms mix and match (not necessarily all black).

(2) a good quality pair to black yoga pants are quite versatile (and very comfortable on the plane).

(3) zip lock bags serve many, many functions (washing/rinsing clothes in the hotel room; holding your favorite bar of soap from one hotel move to another; keeping bread or cheese fresh for the train ride; holding a wet bathing suit until you get it somewhere to hang and dry; etc). I should own stock!

(4) Ladies undies: Take 1/2 the amount you will need. Use Panty Liners and the undies will stay fresher longer. Take old undies/bras and toss them when you undress each day (added bonus: get your husband to buy you new sexy stuff).

(5) Tank tops with the self-bras built in. The best travel-related invention since the roll-on bag!!! Cool in summer; warm as an undergarment in fall/winter; no sliding bra straps; no sweaty bras in summer; etc.

(6) xerox relevant pages from guide books; discard after you visit the site; lightens the load.

(7) anti-bacterial wipes - an absolute necessity for those public toilets; and they remove most stains from clothes (learned this from my friends with kids).

(8) Dove or Olay facial cleansing cloths; use and toss; very light weight.

(9) Laptop (must have mine for business); can watch DVDs on the train/plane; can download pix from digital camera. Download favorite music onto laptop before leaving - no CDs to drag around. If you need a mouse with your laptop (I hate the little finger pad), get a mini-mouse; found mine in the children's department of an electronic's store; plugs into the USB port; $19. Just bought the new Inspiron 300M laptop from Dell - weighs less than 3 lbs!

(10) small toiletry bag (got mine at Target) filled with travel-size bottles; refill all bottles as soon as I get home; toss in suitcase, so it's always ready for the next trip. What's in my kit? toothpaste/brush, q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, nail polish remover, minature-size nail polish, make-up, razor, panty liners, Dove facial pads, oil-free moisturizer w/ sunscreen, dental floss, tweezers, band-aids, small mirror, ear plugs, individual packets of Woolite. Bag measures 6x4x2; weighs less than 2 lbs when filled.

(11) wire-ties; serve multiple purposes.

(12) Zone bars (protein type bar); keeps me going between meals.

(13) I keep the jewelry simple; my wedding ring (simple gold bank), simple watch and one pair of earring that go with everything. I don't have to keep up with extra pieces. No threat for thieves [A few years ago, I was on the London subway wearing my engagement ring (5 carat tanzanite surrounded by 2-1 carat diamonds. These thugs kept staring at my ring and whispering. I could see these guys cutting my finger off to get the ring -- that's the last day I wore it overseas!]

(14) If you take books to read, take paperbacks. When you're done leave them at the hotel or pass along to someone else. I've stood up on the train and yelled out "Any one want a good book to read ... or better yet, trade?" I always get a taker; and it's a great way to meet new people.

(15) If you have sinus trouble, highly recommend a bottle of AFRIN Nasal Spray. I used to always develop a sinus infection (a real mood killer) after the long plane ride to Europe. My doctor told me to take a hit of AFRIN in each nasal before the plane takes off. Not a single sinus infection in 4 years running.

(16) TEVA sandals! Light weight; lots of styles to choose from for women (not so many for men); and comfortable. www.teva.com.

(17) And the most important packing tip: TAKE HALF THE CLOTHES and TWICE THE MONEY you think you'll need!! Happy Travels :)
Dolores <email>
Norfolk, VA USA Mon 06/28/2004

packing tips
my wife and I have travelled 2 times per year to Europe for the last 10 years, each trip in shoulder season, and we have slowly perfected it for our purposes. We have silk long underwear, available from WIntersilks, that we wear when the weather is cool. Layers from there and you will never be too cold in shoulder seasons. We keep stuff that is ready to go in the goodwill bag, not rags but a little past their prime clothes. These go in the Europe pile, we then discard it after it has been worn a couple times. Occasionally I find crewneck knit shirts at Walmart or someplace else, and these are ideal for layering, no wrinkles, packing etc for men. All underwear is old stuff that is then discarded.

We have a foldup duffel that gets packed to accomodate any extra room we may need for our return trip, but the last 2 times we have come back lighter than we left and didn't even use the duffel. I have a sport coat that I wear on the plane that can be used to dress up a bit or keep warm if weather is too cool. For us our favorite suitcase is a high sierra 26 inch with shoulder straps hidden, wheels, and a zip off day pack. We carry on one small case that has medicines, cosmetics and a change of clothes for each of us in case of luggage loss.

If there is one tip, it is start packing early so you can assess your stuff, hone it to just what you need. We normally are pretty well finished packing a week before departure.
Jim Todd <email>
Dalton, Ga USA Sat 06/26/2004

packing light
Packing Light: Pick two colors and coordinate all your outfits around these combos/colors. 3 shirts, 1 swimsuit, 1 skirt, 1 pants, 1 short, 3 underwear, & 2 scarves (1 was a pareo for swimsuit cover)gave me many options and lasted well for the variety of events and places for 3 weeks. My skirt was the stretchy knit I could roll up into my daypack and pull out as needed for churches & theater. All this fit in a 22" carryon.
mom of 4 <email>
sf, ca USA Tue 06/22/2004

Great convertible bag
We got an Outdoor Products Essential Carryon from Campmor.com (item #60793) for $29.97 and it's gone on at least 4 trips in the last 4 months, both as a carryon and as checked luggage. It's a nice-looking soft-side bag (a lot like Rick's bag) and a back-pack, plus it has a shoulder strap. It's inexpensive but gets the job done.
planetgirl
Tallahassee, FL USA Fri 06/11/2004

tricks for packing light? try the rick steves backpack.

i swear, am not on his staff, not getting paid--just one happy convert. if you have our issues (don't want to look like a "backpacker" esp when we're staying in nicer hotels but want the convenience of packing light and mobility of a backpack and have room for souvenirs): the steves backpack is it. you can hide away those straps so it looks like a regular suitcase. it's expandable to fit your souvenirs on the way home.

my husband and i went on a 10-day trip to france (him w/the steves' backpack; i w/the steves' rolling suitcase). we ended up buying blankets and tablecloths in provence, but didn't have time to mail them. so we packed the quilt into the rolling suitcase and managed to fit all our clothes, books and toiletries into the steves backpack. it was amazingly roomy and shape-shifting! we are so impressed. true converts . . .

USA Thu 06/10/2004

Cut The 'Meds Clutter'
Put your prescription meds in tiny zip-lok bags that are big enough for the pill bottle labels to fit onto. (These days, those labels peel off easily). Also, do the same for over-the-counter meds, identifying them with homemade labels. Also, only bring some strong multi-vitamins and leave all the other vitamins and unnecessary herbs at home. And, if you can take aspirin, don't forget to take a supply of baby or regular aspirin to help prevent blood clots during long flights.
RKG
D/FW, TX USA Wed 06/02/2004

Best of the Best I've found. Ziplocs - several sizes 2-3 Trash bags or shopping bags Liquid Bandaid - stops bleeding/pain and good for several days Paper copies of documents - plane tickets/passport/train pass, reservations etc. Small kit of fishing line, duct tape, super glue and wire ties to repair most anything. Ipaq or Palm or small notebook - all my must sees/do when sights are open/closed cost etc. You can never spend too much on a good pair of shoes - break in before you go. Spray your pack with waterproofing
USA
USA Sat 05/29/2004

Ladies Makeup
Just a quick tip for all the lady travelers out there who are struggling with paring down makeup to bring. MIx a little bit of your concealer with your sunscreen to make a custom tinted sunscreen that protects as well as minimizes any flaws. This is much faster, easier and efficient than carrying your foundation. It won't sweat off in the heat! I use Prescriptives camoflauge cream and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer dry-touch sunscreen. Use the back of your hand as a pallete to mix the two.
Christian
Franklin, TN USA Wed 05/26/2004

Designer jeans and dark sneakers: Pack once, use twice!
If you don't want to pack khakis but you feel you may end up going to a nice club/pub/restaurant, you could consider bringing at least one pair of stylish dark-blue designer jeans. At least in Italy, khakis are not associated with a formal or "nicer" dress code. Only suit and tie are. In fact, befitting the style-obsessed country we are, we think that stylish jeans are very beautiful and preferable to khakis, both for ladies and for gentlemen of all ages. Well-pressed and maybe lightly starched jeans with a nice top/sweater/quality t-shirt can be worn at any age and are particularly flattering, especially if associated with nice shoes. I just advice against wearing them with a tucked-in collar shirt and dark blazer: It is not very fashionable in Italy. You can wear your designer jeans at most restaurants, pubs and clubs. I would opt for a suit and tie (formal dress) only if I were going to a theatre to see an opera or to listen to classical music. I know that this is not the way you think of pants in the U.S., but it is the trend in Europe. And the good thing is that you can also wear those stylish jeans for a hike or while touring a city.

I also recommend investing in a pair of dark or anyway "non white" leather trainers, as we consider classical "white" sneakers to be something exclusively for the gym!They are very comfortable for long walks and sightseeing, but they are also ideal for going out in the evening. If you don't like brand names but you want to dress in a slightly formal way, try anyway to think in terms of DARK COLOURS, as dark pants and shoes are perceived as more elegant. Besides, they are very versatile and they "go with everything". Pack once, use twice! :-D
Giulia Guidi-Martin
Heidelberg, Germany Tue 05/25/2004

Trip to Scotland
My husband, mother and myself just completed a 9 day tour of Scotland. Here's what we found: My mother, who failed to listen to her wise daughter, brought a suitcase, an overnight bag and a huge purse. My husband and I each had a small carry on sized suitcase and a smaller bag. We brought too much stuff! 2 of the 4 B&Bs we stayed in offered to do our laundry for a very reasonable amount. So, what we found for the more extreme climates is, layering is key!

Bring a couple pairs of pants; undershirts and overshirts. For the cold days, capilene works great under khaki's! Look for Merino Wool is a dream and Smartwool socks are fabulous! We brought a bottle of Fabreeze which came in handy for the Pub nights (b/c it seems EVERYONE smokes in Europe). That held us until we got to a B&B that did laundry. We brought Coleman storage bags for our dirty clothes, that created space in the suitcases for suveneirs. Had a blast!

I also packed my own itinerary. I compiled info from Rick Steve's Great Britain (not enough on Scotland, Rick!) and a few other sources to decide what to see. I made up a flexible binder with 3 tabs: Itinerary; Confirmations; Directions. It saved so much time. Do the research before you leave home! We were also able to make notes in the itinerary for future memorabilia! Last but not least is the GPS. Its not a replacement for a good map, but if you plan your route ahead of time, it makes navigation much easier!
Hil & Jeff
Charleston, SC USA Mon 05/24/2004

packing light
PACK LIGHT--pack a plain white t-shirt which can be used as an undershirt, sleepshirt, pillowcase, beach towel,picnic cloth,padding for breakables...Easily launderable and invaluable--also unisex!
sem
edina, mn USA Thu 05/20/2004

Got maps?
If you're as compulsive as I am about maps [there is no single perfect map for where you are or where you're headed] & other tourist info, you've probably discovered that paper is HEAVY! While it's lovely to capture all your pre-trip travel research onto index cards, etc., I generally manage to pick up much more info while I'm travelling. (You can always find a niftier map....) But I also do this: I mail home my maps & guides as I finish with them - I lighten my paper load AND get postal evidence of my trip, to boot.
Richard Brooks
Berkeley, CA USA Wed 05/19/2004

Here's what I did
To save some space I did a lot of research online before I took my trip. Anything I found that may be useful I copied and pasted it into Word, printed it, cut it out, and pasted the info into a little journal of about 4"x2.5" I had bought at Walmart for 87cents. It had my flight info, hotel reservations, email addresses, souvenir lists, directions to get places (with maps I had also copied and pasted), attractions in each of my destination with directions, admission prices, and opening times. I also carried a little pencil and could also use my little book as a journal. It was about 1/2 the size of my wallet and easily fit into the back of my pocket. It was the best guide book ever because it was small, pertained to what I was interested in, and was always accessible since it was always in my back pocket. I was able to navigate around Amsterdam and Berlin and go to all the things I wanted to see without having another map or guide book with me. Although it takes some time to do all the research ( it was fun) and put the little book together it was very effective and well worth it in my eyes.
Simonsez
USA Sun 05/16/2004

Simplistic Packing For Two
My new packing method is so simple! For our upcoming trip, each day's clothing for both my husband and myself will be neatly folded together in ONE clear plastic sweater bag. For the "wash-them-out-at-night" plan, there will be just a few of the bags, and alot less hassle.
RKG
D/FW, TX USA Fri 05/14/2004

packing to look like a local
we buy toothpaste, shampoo and hand lotion there also sun lotion. Its a nice souvenier plus fun to shop for those necessities. A must for me is those band aid blister packets work like a dream. Also yoga pants are great, a company called om girl makes them in a velvet like material, wore them with my josef seibels sandals some very thin black lace ankets, and a cute little black tank with a buddha on it and rhinestones and this was toMarket a ritz restaurant in Paris. while in the toilet a french girl asked me where i got that cute t shirt...

I used a SAk BAG and had a cute black plain silk jacket. Could go any where with that outfit...tank costs about 48 dollars and pants about 79 but my grandmother always said its how much you wear it that determines the cost... a nice pair of earrings and necklace completes the parisian look. I also always take an old hermes scarf I found at a flea market and that also instantly turns me into a parisianne instead of american. also dont be afraid of sneakers... we found the young fashionistas now were wearing flip flops addidas and carrying backpacks. was hard to tell who were tourists and who were the locals.
Sammie
san anselmo, Ca USA Mon 05/10/2004

THE SEVEN RULE
I HAVE TRAVELED TO EUROPE AT LEAST 20 TIMES AND EACH TIME I GO I REMEMBER TO MANY THINGS CAN BE A HUGE HASSLE.ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT EUROPE IS THE EASE IN TRAVEL. IT IS SO EASY TO JUST HOP ON A TRAIN OR CHEAP FLIGHT SOMEWHERE TOTALLY NEW.SO THE THING IVE FOUND THAT WORKS IS THE SEVEN RULE. SEVEN THINGS YOU LIKE AND PACK WELL. I GENERALLY TAKE TWO PANTS AND FIVE SHIRTS AND GO TO THE LAUNDRY MAT ONCE A WEEK. LAUNDRY MATS ARE CHEAP AND EVERYWHERE IN EUROPE.
JOEL HALPERN
memphis, tn USA Mon 05/10/2004

packing light - Italy
Just got back from 2 wk in Italy - went with a wheeled 22" and small carry bag. One easy way I found is TWO GALLON ZIP-LOCK BAGS! Just fold shirts, pants, etc neatly and put them in - you can get 4-5 shirts,etc in one bag. Zip and squish out the air! Easy to pack, nothing gets messed up, if you have to have luggage searched it is quick and easy and you can unpack and throw it in a drawer in about 1 min.! I would never go off again without them! Take extra for dirty clothes - although I found it is best to wash things each night and not have to bother with laundry! Prell concentrate shampoo is good for laundry and washes out easily. I will never take more than 2 bras and panties again because they dry out in a few hours! I was sure glad I packed light when I had such an easy time on trains and some people could not get through the aisles with these monster bags! Think silk, nylon, black, no wrinkles, everything matches when you start to pack - Talbots and Chicos has lots of options for travel clothes - and Target! Also, I am no "spring chicken" - 56 and love to dress nicely - it can be done!
Sara Vogel
Roswell, Ga USA Sun 05/02/2004

Ladies Underwear / Smartwool socks
My husband and I just recently returned from a 16 day tour of the UK. We both carried on our baggage that weighed under the 13 lb maximum for British Airways (although they never weighed our bags!). I previously posted information about my favorite travel bag...the extra large Healthy Back Bag (by Ameribag) but I have to share my experience with two great items of investment. I purchased Ex Officio ladies high-cut underwear. They are a bit pricey at $16 pair (I purchased mine at REI- www.rei.com) but were well worth the investment. The packaging advertises "17 countries and only one pair of underwear"...I believe it! I actually took two pairs but only needed one. You can wash them out in the hotel sink, wring them out in a towel and they are dry in two hours...even in damp cool weather. The other item I could not have lived without are my SmartWool socks. I purchased the black liner sock and the casual cable sock (smartwool.com). Both pairs were incredibly comfortable and washed/dried very well. Both styles dried within a few of hours after washing.
Elizabeth <email>
Atlanta, GA USA Sun 05/02/2004

Makeup and packing light
I've used this on many domestic trips - because of my sensitive skin, I have to use more expensive makeup. My particular brand often has "free gift with purchase" deals. If I am "almost" out of one of my basics - makeup remover, moisturizer, etc. - I wait until one of these deals pop up. Often the makeup you get in the free gift comes in smaller sizes, especially the mascara. It also tends to be makeup that can be warn with anything - neutrals. I know Rick suggests foregoing makeup, but I want to be happy about seeing pictures of myself in Europe. Besides, without a little makeup, I am so pale my features might not appear :)
Erica
DuPont, WA USA Mon 04/26/2004

Doo-Dad Bags for Travel
Some of the handiest and most lightweight zippered accessory bags I have found are made of a fine-gauge nylon mesh, and come in an assortment of small to medium sizes. Some have a lining of clear, heavyweight vinyl. Mine came from Big Lots - a set of 3 in graduated sizes cost $2.99. What a deal!
RKG
D/FW, TX USA 04/19/04

packing light
I suspect your laundry approach would depend on the length of your trip and how much luggage you are prepared to manage. I pack for a 2 to 3 ½ week vacation in a 20-inch to 22-inch rolling bag (I have to be able to lift it onto an overhead rack) plus a tote, and I can't see filling it with 23 pairs of old underwear to throw out. It takes only 5 minutes and a little dab of shampoo or soap to wash out undies and socks each night or so. Shirts and tees take a few more minutes. About halfway through my trip, when I happen to be in a town, I leave other clothes at a professional laundry and go off sightseeing. I mostly buy compressible, unbreakable souvenirs (bar towels and antique handkerchiefs are great) and mail books and stuff home.
Linda
Huntsville, AL USA 04/16/04

packing light with old clothes
Here's a tip I learned from a friend and frequent traveller. Throughout the year, save old or slightly soiled clothes that you no longer wear at home. This includes underwear that may have outlived their useful life. Then, when travelling, throw them out after you've worn them. Your bag will get lighter as your trip goes on. Or, consider it a way to open up space in your bag for the souvenirs that you may purchase.
Kristin
Buffalo, NY USA 04/15/04

packing light
The big secret is to wash your cloths every night. Don't let your laundry build up until it takes 2hrs. and special clothsline etc. The few pieces can be hung on hangers usually found in the room. If they don't dry overnight, pack them up and they will dry the next night. Once you realise you will be washing, you can get by with 3or4 changes of underwear, socks, everyday shirts, etc. Pants, coats, sweaters, can be laundered less frequently, if necessary.
Ricardo
Panajachel,, Guatemala 04/13/04

carry on
If you need any hints about how to pack for a 2 week trip to Italy in March for a carry on, you can email me.
carol anthony <email>
vancouver, canada 03/30/04

Silk
It seems a little weird, since I always thought of silk as such a delicate, luxury fabric, but it's great for travel. It's light, quick-drying, warm for layering, and amazingly tough stuff. Silk knits or textured weaves shake off wrinkles, and I've never had a problem tossing them in the washer, but on the road you're generally hand-washing anyway. These days you can find silk even at Wal-Mart, but my favorite source is consignment stores, so I can leave it behind without guilt.
Tricia
Tallahassee, FL USA 03/28/04

packing light
First, pack things you can wear in layers: tank tops with button down shirts or a light sweater. This makes for variety and helps when weather changes on you. And if your layers all match, then that's even bette! Also, roll your clothes: saves room.
Sarah
Erie, PA USA 03/28/04

Women traveling in Italy in Summer
I LOVE Italy! I have spent a month each of the last 2 summers in Italy. My advice is, DON'T pack any heavy clothes. YOu won't wear them! The only place I wore a light jacket was on top of Mt Etna. Dont bother with a rainjacket. I have a mini folding umbrella that packs very small. However, light rain feels refreshing when it is so hot, so you might not use it. Breathable fabrics like lightweight 100% cotton or linen are best. That is what the Italians wear. Capri pants, shorts, sleeveless dresses, skirts, tank tops and short sleeved cotton blouses work well. Use the short sleeve shirts as "jackets" at night or to dress it up a little. You wont see many Italian women in shorts unless at the beach. Bring a cotton bandana to use to blot your sweaty face on as you go. They are also good for sitting on in a pinch, or as a napkin when you get a quick bite to eat. A scarf or large bandana will suffice to cover your shoulders in certain churches.

I agree with others that you will want quick-drying underwear. I have bought the high tech ones at REI for $16, but the microfabric ones work just as well. I buy them at COSTCO in 3 packs, very reasonable. Bring 3-4 bras and at LEAST 4 pairs of underwear with you to Italy, because you will want to change out of your undies midday. You will want to change out of ALL of your clothes midday and shower, probably. I bring a little plastic ring shaped gismo with little clothespins on it for hanging up my undies and peds/socks after washing in the sink. All of the hotels & pensiones had hangers so I never needed to bring any to hang my washed shirts and pants.

Comfy sandals, or walking shoes with lightweight cotton peds work well. I bought some amazingly light Clarks "Springers" this year for my trip - sort of like a clog style with a back strap. Feels like an athletic shoe but looks better. I like changing shoes so I bring 3 pairs. "Campsuds" (REI) works well for washing laundry and any dishes you have. I have used shampoo in a pinch and that works too. The hotels usually give you tiny bottles of shampoo, but you might like yours better, so put it in little travel bottles-also conditioner, gel, sunblock, etc. Forget foundation makeup - it will melt off. Just a little eyeliner and lipstick is all you will need.
Margaret Bernarding
Lagunitas, CA USA 03/22/04

Ultra light for two weeks!
In Novermber I spent two weeks in France, Switzerland and Italy. I had a great time traveling light. There are several things I would recommend for anyone traveling. Don't bother washing things like undergarments while traveling. Take well worn undergarments and toss them when the are soiled. Go to the department story and buy a new set while in Paris? This rule also works great for sox.

Fashion in Europe can be cheep. Don't pack stuff, when you can buy it cheep and have the latest Italian fassions. You will fit in and reduce your load. I found that fitting in made it a lot easier to avoid lots of nasty things Americans often experience abroud. Most of all crime. If you look like a local they will not pick on you or your pocket.

Whatever you do take make it clothing/items you can part with. I found that Europeans love to trade for american stuff. Also note that if your not using something give it away and lighten your load. At the end of my trip I gave away all of my cloths and travel stuff and filled my bag with cool European memories. Have fun!
Jonathan
Bend, OR USA 03/19/04

Packing light
We've always heeded Rick's advice to avoid taking electrical appliances to Europe. With that in mind, years ago my wife bought a small, 6" long, tube-shaped, hair dryer in Spain. It has no switches and only one heat setting. Plug it in and it's on, period. It was cheap (so no big deal if lost) but she's used it every trip to Europe since and won't leave home without it. Can also be used to dry underwear and socks in colder weather. Next trip I'm buying an electric shaver there (I use one here) and ditching the blade razor I usually take.
Richard <email>
Stockton, CA USA 03/09/04

Pack appropriate, not light.
The carry-on policies for most European carriers are so restrictive that 13 pounds of stuff may not be enough for you to have everything you want to enjoy Europe. Once you're checking your bag, you may as well pack it. Rick likes to say "Nobody ever says 'I wish I had more to carry around'. But people do say "I wish I had brought (item) with me." Unless you're planning on hopping around with a rail pass, there's no point in depriving yourself. Smelly clothes and dirty underwear can be unpleasant towards the end of a trip. And you're not going to Europe to do laundry.
Frank
Philadelphia, PA USA 02/25/04

Tricks for Packing Light
We had difficulty staying under British Airways 13 pound limit for carry-on baggage until we discovered that our local post office had a digital postal scale in their lobby that could accommodate our luggage. Before flights to Italy in October and London in February, we went with our packed luggage (I take Rick's wheely bag and my husband takes his backpack) and weighted them, laughingly watching for Candid Camera. We discovered that the "overages" we could put in our additional "personal item" and transfer it to the luggage once we arrived. Usually I take a tote as my personal item and pack my purse, toiletries, travel docs, trip books and info and anything else heavy. I my put gloves and scarf/muffler in my coat pockets. We generally wear our heaviest clothes and shoes on the plane. If we are traveling to the UK, we always plan on doing a service wash at the laundromat. Just drop off your laundry and pick it up later, washed, dried and folded. It certainly beats spending 2-3 hours doing laundry. I also take a small squeeze bottle of Woolite, a stretchable travel clothes line and lots of large safety pins (takes up less space than clothes pins) for in-room washing of our unmentionables.
Jan Robbins <email>
Seattle, WA USA 02/23/04

Simplify
When my husband and I went to Europe for a month we brought carry-on bags only, and we didn't even wear all the clothes we brought! We used ziplock bags to put together a first-aid kit and a laundry kit, complete with Zero cold-water soap in a small bottle, inflatable hangers, sink stopper, and clothesline. My husband brought three pairs of Tilley underwear and I brought Jockey silky underwear. They were great and dried overnight no matter where we were. We stuck to mostly black and blue clothing so everything coordinated. I brought my dark blue jean jacket, which went well with everything from my black jeans to my black sleeveless t-shirt dress (which I made for under $5 Can.) I bought a small flag pin in each country and wore them on the pocket of my jean jacket, along with my Canadian flag, of course. The hardest part was finding a great pair of walking shoes that went with everything and weren't too soft for cobblestone streets. I finally found a wonderful pair of red Camper shoes in Rome, but it's best to have broken-in shoes you like before you leave. We also brought very lightweight rain jackets (mine was from Mountain Equipment Co-op)that packed very small and were invaluable in England. Micro-fleece pullovers were great for cool nights, never wrinkled, and dried very quickly. Can't wait to go back and travel even lighter!
Joanne <email>
Ottawa, ON Can 02/18/04

Carry-ons and laundromats are our friends!
With the strict airline rules of only taking 1 carry-on and 1 large "personal item" bag, we have easily run up and down train station stairs, over cobblestoned streets etc. throughout Europe. The airlines have done us a favor! For a 10 day trip we pack for 4 days (except for underwear which can be squeezed into a gallon size ziplock bag; it hardly takes any space). We wear our dressy clothes on the plane - always prepared for First Class - just in case we get lucky! I pack/roll 2 pair of slacks and 2 dresses or skirts, (I prefer wearing interchangable skirts & tops or a basic dress with dressy jacket. I have a hard time using a toilet in a tiny restroom while trying to keep my slacks off the floor with my purse is hanging around my neck!) We interchange turtlenecks and wrinkle free tops.

We also actually enjoy going to local laundromats! We went to one across from London University and had a wonderful discussion with a little old lady. Listening to her accent, talking about her family, politics and getting the inside scoop on places from a "local" was a highlight of the trip. She seemed delighted as well. We have met some very interesting people and they have told us about some real neighborhood places we would have missed. And we would be so tired by the end of the day it was nice to be forced to sit and talk or write in our journals while our wardrobe was being rejuvenated!. It wasn't time wasted.
Sunny <email>
Safety Harbor, FL USA 02/12/04

packing light
I do believe in packing light. All I need for 3 weeks fits in a carry on. I take 2 pair of pants (plus the pair I am wearing) and an assortment of shirts/sweaters depending on the weather, about a total of 7. Then socks and underwear. Most hygiene items I buy there

Manteca, CA USA 02/10/04

Travel Tips
All our clothing is placed in ziploc bags: easier for inspection and keeps clothes dry if luggage is left out in the rain at the airport.

We stenciled cat pawprints all around our black luggage; we can spot it from a distance! We also placed copies of our itinerary inside our luggage so it could follow us if lost.

We carry 2-3 flat pack nylon duffle bags at bottom of our luggage. In Alaska we shipped two bags home filled with dirty clothes, tour books, maps, and lots of presents - went to Mailboxes and they packed for us!

We always carry two spring type clothes pins - drapes in hotels, on cruise ships, etc. don't always close properly, also - for hanging wet clothes, keeping a map or book page in place, etc. etc.

Wisk makes a solid laundry detergent (looks like two large pills). We carry two packages of them and two softener sheets in one ziploc bag. Very handy and we don't need local coins to purchase the soap from machines.

Carrying the meds I need/like do add weight but I have been places where the pharmacia (Lake Como) did not have what I needed. "Be Prepared" makes life easier for me....

PCR <email>
Tappan, NY USA 02/08/04

Basic Black & Jeans
When I'm trying to pack light, there are just a few essentials I bring that fit in a very small bag and have never left me wishing I brought more. For winter, a black turtleneck, black pants, a pair of nice jeans and a wool jacket (and scarf) are versatile enough to fit almost any situation, plus you will blend in (especially in Italy). You may want to add your warmest sweater (that can layer over the turtleneck) if you're going someplace really cold. In summer, or if I'm planning on going somewhere dressy, I add a black sleeveless shirt and a long skirt. Of course in summer I also replace the turtleneck and wool jacket with a lighter shirt and a lighter jacket. I know it might sound funny to have so much black, but it's more common in Europe than in the US, it's hard to get dirty, and like they say, "black goes with everything."

Regarding jeans, my experience has been that jeans are almost as common in Europe as in the US, but they are usually more "dressy" jeans--not at all baggy or worn out, usually no extra thingymabobs (like carpenter pants), very tailored and stylish looking. I went to a conversation exchange/tea in Paris and I was laughing because the first 25 people there (I am not exaggerating) were wearing the exact same thing (including me): a black turtleneck and jeans. If you are maybe 40 or younger, you will fit right in wearing nice jeans in many places, just not at the opera or a fancy restaurant.
Camille <email>
Avignon, France 02/04/04

Share Your Shirts

We made our wardrobe go twice as far when my husband and I shared shirts. We bought a variety of unadorned, jewel-toned unisex t-shirts and traded them off every few days. It gave us each far more variety in clothing, and they could be dressed up or down very easily depending on the rest of the outfit.

CA USA 01/27/04

Clothes and Shoes
I went to the UK in early September where the weather can be warm or cool rainy or not. I found it essential to take one pair of really comfortable shoes with flat soles that gave good support. I also found it helpful to bring a thin leather jacket or light sweater for chilly evenings to throw on over shorter sleeves. I don't think all black is at all necessary, just make sure you clothes are wrinkle free and everything color coordinates. Do avoid really light clothes as they get dirty easily and don't worry about dressing "American." People in different nations dress differently and if everyone dressed the same, it would be boring. Neither Euro or American dressing is better or worse,just a difference in culture. We don't expect European tourists to dress "American" when they come here and I wouldn't want them to.
Karen
TX USA 01/25/04

dark clothing & scarves
Our recent trips to Europe have been in March and I always take basic black clothes and shoes. It all coordinates--scarves are great accessories. My charcoal gray T-shirt dress is always great on the long flight. It is a nice weight and looks good with scarf and fleece jacket. We plan to go to Italy in May so I will look for lighter things. I have always worn a little jewelry on past trips with no problems whatsoever, but will rethink this for our next trip. My favorite jacket is a rain repellent Patagonia with many pockets. It's lightweight, perfect for layering warm things under, and folds up very small.
Susan Perry <email>
Roswell, Ga USA 01/23/04