It’s a lot less than you think.
So many friends have asked us about how we packed for our trip that I thought it made sense to share our process and philosophy. If you don’t get excited about optimizing space in a suitcase, then this blog is not for you. Here goes…
In order to comply with airline regulations, we were each limited to one suitcase to check in and one bag to carry on for the entire journey. Our philosophy was essentially “if it doesn’t fit, you must omit.” This was tough when the souvenir stands were calling, but we managed to make the 20 kilo/8 kilo airline weight limits almost the whole time. Here are my takeaways:
- Invest in your luggage. We bought 25” Hovercraft wheelie bags from Eagle Creek (Russ had the 28” since he was carrying the IT supplies and extra Road School books for the kids). These bags are among the lightest you can find, weighing in at approximately 4 kilos (which is 20% of your total checked baggage allowance!) Wheels are a necessity and soft sides and/or an expandable zipper are critical for those times when you need to sit on the bag to get it closed. I also bought the companion carry-on piece, the In-Flight Bag, which I loved. It is the perfect size and has a special slat on the back which allows it to slip over the wheelie handle for easy maneuvering in the airports. Russ and the kids had Jansport backpacks which worked hard and well.
- Invest more in the organizers inside your luggage. These will change your life. Packing cubes and folders optimize your precious travel space, minimize wrinkles, and make re-packing a breeze. Inside my 25” Hovercraft, I used:
- 3 14” folders: one for skirts, one for pants & shorts, and the last for my dress, scarves, and sweater
- 2 large packing cubes: I used one for short sleeve shirts, the other for long sleeve shirts
- 1 small packing cube: for socks, underwear, pajamas, and swimsuit
- 1 double-sided cube: for toiletries (one side for infrequent use but gotta’ have just in case, and the other for daily use)
- 1 half-cube: for make-up
We color-coordinated these pieces for each person so there were no mix-ups: I had red, Russ had black, Carter had green, and Katherine had purple. Once you pack these pieces in your suitcase, you never have to figure out where they go again. Re-packing takes minutes.
- Pick a single color scheme and pack lots of solids. I went with the somber but oh-so-forgiving palette of black, grey, and red for my travel wardrobe. The dark colors reveal less travel wear-and-tear, and can easily be dressed up for evening with the addition of a colorful piece of jewelry or scarf. Pick your color to suit your destination: black is not great on safari, but grey or tan is great; a bright palette is ideal for the tropics, but might make you stand out in ways you don’t wish while touring Europe. The key is to commit and then “mix and match” like crazy. You’ve got to channel your inner Geranimal!
- Layer up against the cold. The biggest challenge I encountered was how to pack for varying climates. Our trip brought us from tropical islands to freezing desert safaris, with a few sweltering medieval cities along the way. The answer for us was layers. We all had really good rain slickers and heavy fleeces. When one was insufficient, we wore both along with a long-sleeve shirt and sweater. We learned that a hat and scarf can make the difference between tolerating the cold and enjoying the weather. We bought the latter items en route, wore them as long as temperatures demanded, and then shipped them home as souvenirs.
Wardrobe Essentials
Everyone knows that a woman’s wardrobe is as unique as her fingerprint, but there are a few essential pieces I would suggest for every suitcase. These include:
- A large cotton scarf. This magical piece can be used as a wrap when it’s cold, a fashion statement over a plain t-shirt, a cover-up over a swimsuit, a head-covering or shawl for entering a mosque or church, and probably one hundred other things. Plus, it folds up to nothing and can easily be carried in your day bag or purse. Katherine and I bought a different one in almost every destination. They are inexpensive and make great souvenirs.
- A black skirt. I actually packed two, one in cotton and one in a “wash-and-wear” travel fabric. Both were knee-length and easily dressed up or down. For cooler weather, I layered the skirt with leggings or tights so it was an (almost) all-weather piece.
- At least one good sweater for layering. I began my trip with a simple black cashmere cardigan which kept me warm on flights, could be worn under my fleece or slicker as an extra layer, or could be dressed up with a silk scarf for evening. Mid-way through, I shipped it home and replaced it with a blue wool v-neck pullover. Whichever style or color you choose, you should have something which can roll up into your purse or carry-on, is relatively wrinkle-resistant, and can be worn when a fleece jacket or nylon shell is too casual.
- Tan “zip-off” pants. I’m not sure what these are called but they’re the ones that convert from full-length pants to shorts. They are made from nylon or some other fast-dry travel fabric and usually come in various shades of khaki and tan, although I’ll bet you could find black if you searched online. I bought mine at REI and wore them on 80% of our safari outings. They might not be perfect for city touring, but they were great for all our nature outings and are a true two-for-one hardworking piece.
- Travel underwear. At $16 per pair, I was skeptical when I saw the price tag on these (REI, again), but I am now a convert. They are made from a thin, comfortable, fast-dry, antimicrobial fabric. They advertise that you only need one pair for a 6 week trip (assuming you wash them daily). I went with 8 pair and never once had to resort to paying a hotel $5.00 to clean a pair of panties.
- A sun hat. There are some places where the sun is so strong that extra protection for your face, ears, and neck is essential. This includes anywhere on or near the equator, New Zealand, and Australia. Pick something that can pack flat or be rolled up and stuffed into a purse when you don’t need to wear it. For hiking, safari, or other outdoor touring, a hat with a chin strap is essential so it doesn’t blow away and land in some inaccessible spot (which happened to me in the Galapagos).
How many pairs of shoes do you really need?
Well, in my case the answer is four but I confess that I am not a shoe horse. Here is what I got by on for the year (with the exception of autumn in Paris when black boots are de rigueur):
- Black closed-toe flats. These were my go-to shoes: I could wear them with skirts or slacks, casual during the day or out to dinner at night. These were also the pair I wore on all flights; a slip-on shoe is key for when you have to remove your shoes at security and for getting comfy on the plane.
- Tan mesh closed-toe Merril Mary Janes. These shoes have seen me through 3 years of travel. I can’t seem to part with them. They are lightweight, have a fantastic tread, and are perfect for everything from urban strolls to light nature hikes to horseback riding. They are the right shoe when you need something a little sporty but still a bit stylish.
- Black leather sandals. Mine are from Rockport and have great arch support for long hours of walking. The style is simple “flip-flop” and the leather was dressy enough to wear with skirts in hot climates for evenings out, but they were suboptimal for the beach.
- Black/Grey Merril lightweight hikers. I got these for safari. I needed something with ankle support and full foot coverage. They were perfect.
If I could have added one additional pair of shoes to the list (aside from the autumn boots), I would vote for a cheap pair of foam flip-flops. They are lightweight and perfect for the beach, pool, or questionable hotel shower. A pair of Teva’s would also do the job.
While on the topic of footwear, I must note the humble “ped” sock. Most of you probably know about these but I spent more than thirty years wearing adorable flats with no socks. This is not a great strategy if you are going to be spending a lot of time on your feet because your shoes will get sweaty and smelly and you are bound to get blisters. The magical cotton ped, however, is invisible above the shoe so it looks great but also provides a lining to keep your feet cool and comfortable. They are lightweight, compact, and inexpensive. I invested in 8 pairs (3 black, 3 grey, and 2 tan) and am never going back to bare feet!
Stuff you wouldn’t think about packing but which was really, really useful
- An inexpensive nylon laundry bag. At the last minute, I bought us each a brightly-colored compact laundry bag (the kind you can roll up into a tiny little drawstring pouch). This was a stroke of pure luck because they turned out to be essential. We kept our dirty laundry separate in these bags and, when full, were easily able to drop them off at the local laundromat. In a pinch, they could also hold wet swimsuits.
- A compact nylon shopping bag. My mother-in-law handed me one of these as she left Paris and I was skeptical that I would ever use it. However, I popped it in my purse “just in case” and I used it almost every day. It was perfect for a quick grocery run, or for stashing souvenirs while shopping in street markets, or for off-loading the stuff that everyone always wants mom to carry in her purse (e.g., heavy water bottles, half-eaten sandwiches, sweaters, and guide books).
- Foldable back pack. We bought a collapsible nylon backpack from Eagle Creek (only 6” folded-up and just a few ounces) and used it as our day bag. We never went anywhere without it.
- Compact travel duffel. Ours is from REI, size medium. We used this bag to hold our souvenirs: when it was full, we found a DHL office wherever we were and shipped the contents home. Buy something that is sturdy enough so that you can check the bag if necessary. Ours went through baggage handling on more than one occasion and we sang REI’s praises each time.
- Collapsible pocket umbrella. Pick a light color and this becomes a shade parasol as well as a shelter from the rain. Pompeii without it would have been miserable.
What we did NOT bring
This is purely a matter of personal taste, so I share our list as an example of the cardinal packing rules which we maintained all year. Since one of our goals was to blend in as best we could wherever we went, we did our best to defy the dressing stereotypes of the American tourist. Consequently:
- No jeans. They are heavy, do not dry quickly, and are too casual.
- No sneakers. Nothing screams “tourist” louder than white sneakers. We invested in serious touring shoes instead. Russ and Carter bought Ecco and Timberland, I had Merrills, and Katherine had Clark’s. They all had solid treads, great support and a polished look which could take us from a field to a museum and then on to dinner.
- No clothing with words. Much to the kids’ consternation, we maintained a “no human billboard” policy while traveling. Part of the reason was philosophical (why advertise?) and the other part was due to our desire not to stand out. The one exception to the rule was the purchase of souvenir t-shirts.
We were often asked our nationality while on the road and each time we proudly responded “US of A.” However, I was secretly delighted when people would assume or guess that we were from Canada, France, or Italy. To me, it suggested that our behavior, dress, and speech weren’t easily placed and that we were achieving our goal of blending in.
While all of these tips won’t apply to every trip, I hope there is something in here for you to take on your next voyage. Happy packing!
