Experiment in packing
Woman in the Middle | March 20, 2013This summer Hubby and I will be going on a once in a lifetime trip to northern Europe. I have had the desire to visit St. Petersburg, Russia on my bucket list for a long time. So, after 5 years of planning, it is going to happen!
We will be staying 2 nights in Copenhagen Denmark in order to have a day to explore that city before we get on a cruise ship for the rest of the trip. I have started thinking about what I am going to take and how I am going to take it, and I have to admit I am a bit concerned about that aspect of the trip. I like to pack light. I joke that I am trying to get my vacation luggage down to a toothbrush and an extra pair of underwear. I truly do no care what I look like on vacation. I will never see these people again. So I already know won’t be taking any hair appliances. In an ideal world I would like to take a carry on for cost and convenience. But is this even possible? Probably not. My friend, the world traveler, who is an amazing packer and will be going on this trip with us told me to not even try as it is just too many days. That being said, I am determined to pack light. Here is what I know:
1. Shoes are my downfall. I believe in keeping my feet happy as all costs, especially on vacation. So that means extra shoes. Since my feet are not what you might call “delicate” that makes for a lot of room taken up by shoes. I know I can stuff things inside them, but it is still an issue.
2. I really do not like washing clothes in the sink if I can avoid it. After all, it is vacation! However, I would rather wash clothes in the sink than take a big suitcase, so we shall see.
2. I discovered that what they say is true – rolling your clothes makes them much smaller. I learned this when I sent Eldest Daughter to NYC for two weeks with only a carry on. I couldn’t believe what we fit in that suitcase just because we rolled her clothes! We actually added things that she was not originally going to take because we had so much room even after everything was packed.
3. I know we will want to take advantage of certain things on the cruise like the formal night and will want to dress accordingly. So clothes will be going in the suitcase that I do not normally take on my trips. Happily, some of this problem will be solved by a dress I have already purchased on clearance at the end of last summer. It is polyester so it won’t wrinkle and it will not take up much room. It will probably be the only dress I take so I have a feeling it will be showing up in a lot of photos….
4. I will be taking my thinnest and lightest pants. I will not be packing heavy jeans but will take thin jeans, leggings, and /or khakis. I will also be taking a couple of pairs of Capri length pants. The Capris have less material so they take up less room and they will work everywhere except on the coldest days.
5. I plan on taking thin underwear so if I do decide to wash them they will dry quickly. I still haven’t decided if I will be taking enough for the whole trip or if I will be washing in the sink.
6. My much larger challenge is getting Hubby’s clothes in the smallest possible suitcase. The man loves his Levis and those are big and bulky! His feet are bigger, his underwear are bigger, his socks are bigger….and none of it will be easy to wash in a sink and get to dry in a timely fashion. On the plus side, he will only need two pairs of shoes – his usual Reeboks and a dressier black pair of shoes. Those Reeboks live on his feet day in and day out and when they fall apart they are just replaced by another pair of the same thing. I will just make sure he has a relatively new pair to take and he will be set!
Do any of you out there in reader land have any helpful packing tips? I would love to hear them!
The SITS Girls
No helpful tips, I’m afraid and, if I were to ask hubby to assist you, he’d have you take the kitchen sink (he’s truly the worst packer I’ve ever met). Have a wonderful trip, though. Terribly exciting. Have always wanted to go there but have not yet had the chance.
I never do laundry on vacation, so I take enough undies for the trip. Don’t foget a warm sweater & raincoat. I froze to death in July in northern England. I’m going to France in June & plan to take one 25″ suitcase & one small carry on. I take jeans because you can wear the same ones several days. I found a reversible dress in Travelsmith that will be perfect for dress up nights on the cruise. I take 3 pair of my most comfortable shoes. Have fun!
That’s why we always vacation at the lake or the beach. Shorts and bathing suits don’t take up much room. Neither do flip-flops! Have lots of fun!!!
I rarely do washing while on holidays but there are times when one has to………..I also have a habit of packing pretty much the right amount of clothes it is hubby who either over or under packs……….but then he is a man
You know, Hubby usually does fine in the packing area, it is just, as I mentioned, his clothes are so big and bulky!
Well, I say don’t be afraid of washing your intimates in the sink! After all, you’ll have to wash ALL OF THEM when you get home, and who wants to do that? If you don’t want to wash on vacation, just take turns with Hubby. He can wash one day, and you can wash the next, or you can both wash your own clothes. Or, maybe you can find a laundromat where you stay or have the hotel do it for you, if you have the money. Finally, leave some room in your luggage in case you want to buy an article of clothing that will suit you better than if you brought it from home. After all, isn’t that part of the world much colder than here?
My dad has, at least that’s what he’s always told my family and me:
One night at a party, he noticed that his pants were unzipped. So, to get everyone to look away, he said, “Everyone! Look out of the window!” When they did, he quickly fixed his pants. However, they kept looking outside, so he looked too. And lo and behold! Two dogs were…..you know.