Many of us want to be that woman with six porters trailing after us with our trunks, boxes and suitcases full of expensive designer clothes while we travel throughout Europe. Many of us want to be that woman...but few can afford the hundreds of dollars in baggage fees! What’s a girl (and by “girl” I mean 40+ year old woman) to do?
Never fear – traveling light has never been easier. From bottle-less haircare to mini laundry stations, we have the know-how for your next trip abroad. Depending on climate, these tips could help you travel weeks with just one bag or pack.
1. Pick a pack. It pays to find a backpack or suitcase that really fits your lifestyle. The large spinning bag is fun in O’Hare Airport but when you really hit those European cobblestones or find out that the elevator is broken in your backpacker’s hostel, you’ll be glad to have a moderately packed...um...pack. I pack an REI Rutsack modeled here by my daughter.
2. Roll, baby, roll. And by this I don’t mean use a roller bag. Didn’t you read tip #1? Roll your clothes and you’ll fit more in your pack and find yourself less frustrated when looking for that matching outfit. The concept is simple. Lay out your skirt or pants. Pile all the tops that look good on top of the pants, and then roll them up together. You’ll have clothes that are wrinkle free and easy to find. Look here for more rolling inspiration.
3. Ditch the suds! Shampoo doesn’t have to come in a bottle (honest!). Lush is well known but there are now many brands of solid shampoo and conditioner that travels better than those bottles that tend to explode under pressure. Learn from my mistake and keep the bottle of conditioner out of your luggage. It takes years to get that stuff out of your bags. Instead enjoy all the amazing beauty supplies in solid form and breeze through TSA.
4. Teeth tabs help you avoid that breath that follows airplane food. Again, these are great for avoiding long TSA delays. They look like an aspirin or tiny breath mints but, as you chew them they bubble and foam... almost like regular toothpaste! You can easily buy teeth tabs through Amazon.
Queen Elizabeth could really layer it on. They say the Tudors wore a minimum of four layers - so does the modern traveler.
5. Layers help up lighten up. Think of yourself as an onion… or Queen Elizabeth…you have many layers! Pack outfits that start with a short sleeve top and end with a jacket or sweater that works with other outfits in your pack. Be appropriate for the climate and season. People from a cooler climate don’t need a heavy jacket in Thailand, and Italy can be quite warm in June. Layer light scarves, flowy blouses, and maybe a light cardigan on trips where cold isn’t an issue.
6. Carry on if you possibly can. I chaperoned a group of about twenty high school kids on a trip to Italy and Greece. We had to switch planes quickly in Amsterdam and absolutely everyone who checked a bag lost it between Amsterdam and Rome. It took five days for those bags to catch up with us and then they disappeared again between Rome and Athens. I warned them to carry on, but would they listen? No. Needless to say, they all had bag envy as I and the few other savvy travelers were able to change into clean clothes.
7. Itty bitty teeny weenie laundry machine (OK, hand washing isn’t a machine but with fine French milled SOLID laundry soap and the cutest clothesline ever, you won’t miss the washer and dryer). My little laundry kit holds the basics for clean underwear of for getting out that wine stain. A six-foot cord is perfect for hanging clothes to dry from mini binder clips and the sealable container, found at the dollar store, holds everything perfectly. I created a first aid kit, as well.
A little bit of planning and repressing the impulse to pack every stitch of clothing we own can help facilitate a smooth trip without the needed for all those porters...or even a luggage cart! Enjoy the lighter side of international travel!