Please share your packing tips.

[jaylea]

We have a 10 day trip in 8 days. 4 of us, two countries - Italy and Greece. Temps look to be mid 50s to 70s, so we will need to layer.

We are a family of chronic overpackers, which is usually fine if we are driving somewhere. But with all of our flights, it would be great to bring what we need but not anything extra.

We have free checked bags - I’m not looking to do only carryon. But would love to keep it to 1 or 2 small.

Any advice, good packing lists you’ve seen, etc?

[wanderingback]

Since you’re a chronic overpacker I would just recommend to know it is ok to rewear things. You do not need 8 different tops and 4 pairs of shoes. I often plan to wear something twice for tops and more for pants. I usually bring clothes to workout when I travel and again just rewear, if needed can wash in a sink if gets really smelly. Have a great trip!

[dutchgirl678]

I would bring no more than 2 pairs of shoes per person. One pair is usually sneakers, comfortable to wear everywhere and work with all the walking. And I would rewear clothes as well, especially pants and cardigans. I always roll up my clothes so they are nice and compact but I also have some packing cubes that help manage the space.

[wesleycrusher]

We had a similar situation last year. We used compression packing cubes to help with the outerwear and sweatshirts, which we re-wore. We brought 2 pairs of sneakers each (we weren't doing anything where we needed to dress us). Only 2 sets of PJs each. We ended up with 2 checked bags and then we each had a backpack carryon. We tried to keep the carry on pretty empty on the way there (because honestly I usually just end up on my phone or kindle anyway) to put in souvenirs on the way back.

[gardengal]

You could google capsule travel wardrobe which might give you an idea on how you can mix and match AND rewear to get new outfits.

Really, it's about rewearing, not bringing too many shoes, and considering toiletry sizes/what you'll actually need. And for 10 days, I'd wear 1 set of PJs. Maybe I'm gross. I typically do leggings vs my PJ pants b/c they are smaller but more comfy.

It's 50* here & I'm OK with a tee & hoodie or fleece. So, for 10 days, I'd bring just 1 item of that weight & maybe a lighter layer (cardigan?), 3 pair of pants (wear bulkiest on plane), & 7 shirts (assuming rewear a few). Maybe 1 nice outfit if you'll be doing fancy dinners that I'd mostly rewear (add a cardigan one night, change up accessories). If you have wool socks, I'd just bring 5 pairs (they don't smell like cotton/synthetic)

[jaylea]

Apr 5, 2024 10:48:24 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Since you’re a chronic overpacker I would just recommend to know it is ok to rewear things. You do not need 8 different tops and 4 pairs of shoes. I often plan to wear something twice for tops and more for pants. I usually bring clothes to workout when I travel and again just rewear, if needed can wash in a sink if gets really smelly. Have a great trip!

What’s sad is I know that and rewear stuff all the time, lol. But when I go on a trip, I get into the “what if I spill? What if that outfit doesn’t look good that day? What if I poop my pants - better bring 25 pairs of underwear!” 😂

[jinkies]

I always travel in a carry on (not because it's some virtue, but because I have a lot of anxiety about my bag getting lost and like to keep it with me).

My tips:
1. I don't really care what I look like as a tourist, but when I travel for work, I coordinate all my clothes around a color scheme, like black/burgundy/tan/denim. This helps to consolidate the shoes, jewelry, jackets I'll need. And also helps me be able to create different outfits from the same small number of pieces.

2. Once I've set the itinerary for a trip, I go through and plan my entire outfit for each day. This keeps me from the temptation of "Well, I'll just pack a bunch of shirts just in case". As others have said, it's OK to plan to rewear stuff. For an 8 day trip, 1-2 nicer, "going out to dinner" outfits is plenty.

3. Plan to wear your biggest pair of shoes on the plane.

4. Our last several vacations, we've had a washer/dryer available for at least part of the trip, which helps a lot. If you are staying in hotels, you can check if they offer laundry service. Not because you will necessarily use it. But it might give you peace of mind to know that if you DO spill, or poop your pants LOL, that you don't need to pack a bunch of "just in case clothes" because you could just send out some laundry and have everything back the next day.

5. Compression packing cubes to keep everything organized and take up less room.

Good luck and have the best time!

[jaylea]

Apr 5, 2024 14:29:45 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I always travel in a carry on (not because it's some virtue, but because I have a lot of anxiety about my bag getting lost and like to keep it with me).

My tips:
1. I don't really care what I look like as a tourist, but when I travel for work, I coordinate all my clothes around a color scheme, like black/burgundy/tan/denim. This helps to consolidate the shoes, jewelry, jackets I'll need. And also helps me be able to create different outfits from the same small number of pieces.

2. Once I've set the itinerary for a trip, I go through and plan my entire outfit for each day. This keeps me from the temptation of "Well, I'll just pack a bunch of shirts just in case". As others have said, it's OK to plan to rewear stuff. For an 8 day trip, 1-2 nicer, "going out to dinner" outfits is plenty.

3. Plan to wear your biggest pair of shoes on the plane.

4. Our last several vacations, we've had a washer/dryer available for at least part of the trip, which helps a lot. If you are staying in hotels, you can check if they offer laundry service. Not because you will necessarily use it. But it might give you peace of mind to know that if you DO spill, or poop your pants LOL, that you don't need to pack a bunch of "just in case clothes" because you could just send out some laundry and have everything back the next day.

5. Compression packing cubes to keep everything organized and take up less room.

Good luck and have the best time!

The planning outfits and remembering there are laundry services if I poop myself are very helpful. And I’m def wearing my giant Hokas to fly!

[mrsukyankee]

Please also note that mid-70s in those places will be VERY comfortably warm. For 10 days, here is what I would pack:

1 pair shorts
1-2 pairs jeans
1 pair of nicer trousers
1 dress for day
1 dress for night
2 cardigans which go with the dresses, trousers and jeans
4 ss t-shirts (which go with everything - could wash)
2 ls t-shirts or blouses (which go with everything - could wash)
1 fleece or sweater
1 light rain jacket
1 heavier jacket
2 pajamas (or hang out clothing)
1 pair shoes/sneakers
1 pair walking sandals
12 pairs of underwear (you can handwash easily)
2-3 bras (you can handwash easily)
3-4 pairs of socks (you can handwash easily)

[dreamcrisp1]

I’m the same and rarely rewear outfits on a trip. But packing cubes. Compresses everything! I focus more on dresses and skirts since it takes up less space. One pair of jeans. I always bring way more underwear than I need bc just in case. 🤣

[dcrunnergirl52]

The big thing for a trip like this for us is taking just 1-2 sweatshirts (including 1 that you wear on the plane or put in your backpack) and 1 very packable coat that you wear. We re-wear sweatshirts/sweaters a lot on trips, with t-shirts or tanks underneath.

For most family trips, everyone just gets one pair of shoes--their sneakers/walking shoes--unless we also need flip flops for beach/pool. We never go out anywhere so nice on trips that we can't wear sneakers.

I like the idea of compression cubes, but I find that when I open them up, everything explodes out and it's a PITA to get it all to fit again, especially if we're living out of suitcases and not completely unpacking at our destination. I will use them for a few things though, like in December when we were in France, I put our puffers into compression cubes to carry in our backpacks when we were out sightseeing, and it was freezing in the morning but up around 50 during the day and/or hot inside the attractions.

[wise_rita]

Look at your daily itinerary and lay out outfits (on this hiking day I'll wear these pants with this t-shirt, then on museum day I'll rewear the same pants with a different shirt), with an eye for as much mix-and-matching as possible.

Also if you've got any clothes at the end of their life that you want to dump those are good things to bring, wear and dump.

Then add sweaters/zip-ups to layer on top.

Pack a set of clothes in your carry-on, which will save space in your checked luggage and save you if your luggage is delayed.

[mrsukyankee]

Apr 7, 2024 12:41:22 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Also if you've got any clothes at the end of their life that you want to dump those are good things to bring, wear and dump.

Definitely this! I left behind a light sweater that was on its way out in my trip to Lisbon. Lightened the load and donated it in a new country. I'll get rid of all my old underwear when I go to the US as I tend to buy new there. I like to leave something behind, especially if I think I'll buy something to take its place.

[cheekywife]

Apr 7, 2024 16:22:53 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Apr 7, 2024 12:41:22 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Also if you've got any clothes at the end of their life that you want to dump those are good things to bring, wear and dump.

Definitely this! I left behind a light sweater that was on its way out in my trip to Lisbon. Lightened the load and donated it in a new country. I'll get rid of all my old underwear when I go to the US as I tend to buy new there. I like to leave something behind, especially if I think I'll buy something to take its place.

+1 for this.

H will often pack undershirts and boxers that are on their last legs to free up room. 

we are fans of packing cubes, wearing the biggest pair of shoes, etc. i also like to shop on vacation so we try to leave room for purchases.