My father had a simple philosophy on packing for travel, take half as much stuff, and twice as much money as you think you need. I am not a backpack or carry on only traveler, at least not yet. But I am finding that I pack less and less. Pack simple things that are mixable and layerable. Who cares if you wear the same thing more than once. Reduce the friferie.
But what do you do when the adventure is a long one, like the nearly five week trip we took this spring? You do laundry along the way. We had a bag of laundry done on the ship, a simple wash and fold service was $35 for about a weeks worth of fresh clothes. Was it perfect, no, but it was fine. The Gite we rented had a washing machine and dryer (a rare find in Europe.) We did a couple of weeks worth of laundry, enough to more than get us home. In the USA, many hotels have self service laundry facilities (look at Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn.) One of the fun experiences on our adventure in Germany back in 2015 was finding a self serve laundromat in Frederikshavn Germany, and doing a couple of large loads of laundry (Sweetie Bear was in the road three weeks on that trip.)
The next time you return from a trip, look at what comes out of the bags that has not been worn, and remember to pack less the next time.
You sound like me. I get all the clothes I want to take, lay them out, and make outfits, then start editing them out. What's left is things I can mix and match to get more outfits but taking less.
ReplyDeleteI count, toss in the bag and figure out what to wear on the fly.
DeleteGood advice as always!
ReplyDeleteThe bags on this last trip were heavy.
DeleteIt makes it easier to travel and easier to get ready each day, the less you pack. We have always tried to travel light and when we succeed it makes things smoother.
ReplyDeleteThe trains were really challenging with heavy bags
DeleteI pack less and less too. It makes lugging the suitcase so much easier!
ReplyDeleteWho cares what I look like when I am that far away from home?
DeleteThis is a lesson I learned many years ago. My past three trips to Europe have been with one carry-on suitcase and one tote. It makes travel much easier.
ReplyDeleteComing back, I checked my roll aboard, I had two free checked bags, it made getting on and off the plane so much easier.
DeleteI usually use a carry-on if I have to fly somewhere but of course, your trip was too long for that. I have a friend who uses that plastic packaging where you suck the air out using your vacuum to compress it tightly and she can fit so much into her bag.
ReplyDeleteWeight is a factor for me. I need to pack lighter so I can lift the bags as needed.
DeleteExcellent advice! I'm getting better about packing less.
ReplyDeleteI have a dear friend who always checks two bags, one for shoes.
DeleteExcellent advice, which we followed on our European tour back in '85.
ReplyDeleteI promise to do better next year.
DeleteI am and never was good a 'packing light' - the hardest is having enough undergarments and giving up the notion of 'not wearing the same Spo-shirt two days in a row"
ReplyDeleteI had 22 days of undies and socks on the trip this year. Not wearing t-shirts saves a lot of space.
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