What Should I Pack?

Packing is necessary if you want to travel.  Some people have problems deciding what to pack and how much. I have been on many trips and I believe that I have some pointers.

The right piece of luggage or two pieces of luggage is essential for good packing. I like to check a bag and carry a tote on board with my personal purse.  I always carry a cross body purse as it is the easiest to carry and conveniently out of the way when site seeing etc. My tote is a Betsy Johnson bright orange quilted bag. It has a big bow on the side, pure Betsy Johnson! It has lasted me many years. It doesn't have a lot of pockets but I find putting things in a couple of Ziploc and my computer in it's case does fine. Everything is in one place. One zipper, one area, I know it's got to be in there...  I also carry a very large purple soft sided suitcase that I check. I prefer to check a bag so I can take a large one and stuff it full of souvenirs or if I am traveling to see my grangirls..presents.  I don't worry about losing my bag because in all reality that doesn't happen too often.  If I know I want to take just a carry on piece of luggage then I really have to deliberate over what I am taking.  If you are going on a long trip my advice is to do one or the other. Doing both, which I have done, is really difficult once you get to your destination, especially if using mass transportation.  If you are going directly from airport to rental car to hotel then it doesn't matter.  You have to consider how many in your party also. If more than two people, rental cars can become quite small when trying to place 3-4 or more large pieces of luggage inside the trunk.

Now for the contents of the luggage. I always start out the old fashioned way,  with pen and paper making a list of specific things I will need.  Such as, toiletry bag with it's beauty products and essential grooming items.  Shoes and how many? I can go a bit crazy with the shoes so I really have to pay attention.  Outfits and how many? Raincoat?  Sweater? Bathing Suit? Books? Socks and underwear/bras. Jewelry and accessories.   All these items depend on what season it is at your destination too.   When I am going from one climate to the next I dress for the climate I am leaving from and then returning too. I never dress for where I am going unless it is the same season or temperature.  As a retired FA , I have seen many people arrive back to their home state in flip flops and shorts when it is snowing out!  I find that odd.  Maybe they just want to advertise that they have been to the beach or some extravagant island? I don't know, seems weird that they figured it would now be warm in the place they left only a couple of weeks ago.   My toiletry bag is always packed with shampoo, brushes, hairspray, lotion, face cream, sunscreen (if needed), make-up, toothpaste and toothbrush. , I leave it in my large suitcase for future trips. I do this with my makeup also. I have two sets of makeup, one for home and one that stays in my suitcase. That cuts down on packing those items every time I travel.

Choosing outfits should be done according to what you will be doing and of course the weather..  I go through all my clothes and shoes and just start pulling stuff out a few weeks before my trips. I  have a huge pile a couple of days before which I leave on a bed or table somewhere in the house.  When I begin packing , for real, I go through stuff and decide which outfits I want to take. What can be worn with something else, lots of coordinating colors to mix and match.  I like layers if I am going to a cold climate. That way I can take several shirts wearing them under the same sweater. I always wear my jeans/slacks twice and possibly a third time during a trip. Usually 2 bras , a sports bra and underwear for each day that I am gone,  2-3 pairs of socks if one is taking socks.  Wear them twice, it's okay...really it is.  Two pairs of PJ's , I get sweaty at night so I  like to change in the middle of the vacation.  As for shoes, I hate wearing tennis shoes to travel. They look horrible, they are not that comfortable and if you are traveling in a foreign country they know you are an American if you are walking about downtown in tennis shoes. I choose to blend in more with the locals.  So I take them only if I am planning on working out ( ha it's vacation, very doubtful).  I wear hiking shoes or boots to sightsee or sandals if it is hot place.  So I might take 2-4 pairs of shoes depending on the destination and my outfits.  I always take a rain jacket no matter where I am going.   Coats should be worn on the plane and then you don't have to pack them, plus it gets cold on the plane. If it is summer, I always take a shawl or small blanket in my carry on tote , I tend to be cold on planes in summer as well.

Try to pack as little as possible. That is the best way to travel but let me assure you that I have a hard time doing this too. So it's not just you. HA. I am getting better at packing as the trips mount up. I find I really don't need to change my shoes with every outfit.  And one or two sweaters is plenty also as long as you have t shirts or blouses underneath which is where the real sweating will occur.  Just do a preliminary gathering of clothes, etc and then a couple days before departure pack for real. And then get rid of some clothes from that packing and you should be good to go!  Bon Voyage!  Go places, sees stuff, do shit!  That's my motto!