Also. all you"GP's" out there - I'm working on a book about style for travel -- if you have experiences, knowledge, or advice to share, I'd love to hear it. Thanks!
That seems like an interesting discussion topic. I will make a thread especially for it.
Reply to this My theory is this - i like to *try* to pack light (emphasis on try). However, i know myself and I feel way better when i have a few of my comforts than when i am wearing the same three outfits over and over again with no make up and my walking shoes. Basically I try to make smart packing decisions (such as things that can be worn in various situations or with different tops/bottoms/shoes etc) but i am not going to let myself enjoy my trip less at the expense of packing slightly lighter. I think this is because i did travel on a backpackers budget a lot when i was younger and now that i can afford not to do so (a little bit) I enjoy going to slightly nicer restaurants and hotels and feeling like i'm dressed like i belong.
However, i'm practical. i'm not going to go walking through the countryside in my skirt and high heels. I try to have enough options to dress for whatever occasions might come up, but not bring things I really am not going to need/wear.
Reply to this Thanks so much for starting a discussion! I think this topic is really important, especially for business travelers, and the rest of us that don't want to be identified as poorly dressed tourists. I am guilty of being a major over-packer. This book project is quasi therapy for me. I think there are different travel styles based on many factors - where you're going, how you're getting there, what you're anticipating doing, etc. I'm doing much better - I packed a "capsule" wardrobe for my image consulting convention in Tampa. Talk about style pressure! 300 people who give style advice for a living -- EEK! I'm applying to do a program on providing travel consultations at our international conference in Irvine, CA May 2009. I would love to hear from people who do more of the "adventure" travel thing and hear their advice -- this is outside of my experience (yes, I'm a wussy girl!)
I know if you are flying, and you have a lot of stuff you want to bring, it is cheaper to bring two smaller bags than 1 heavy bag. The overweight charge (after 50 pounds) is $50, whereas checking a first bag is $10, second is $25, at least on AA. Still not cheap, but if you will be shopping and bringing back more, this works great. I think if you are going somewhere tropical, it is really easy to do the carry-on thing. I had a trip to Europe which included a wedding in Switzerland in December -- needless to say my arms were killing me by the end of that trip.
Reply to this Hi Mimi,
my mom and I were just talking about this earlier today and one thing that some people are doing who travel for long periods of time on business (e.g. cannot do the backpacker thing) is they are using luggage conceirge services which basically take their luggage from door to door (departure to destination and back). This used to be a really exclusive thing, but not with the charge for bags plus a high overweight baggage charge, the price difference is getting smaller.
One thing i have done when traveling for a long period of time is to use laundry service at a hotel or at my destination (e.g. my sister did laundry when we were in the UK for a couple of weeks b/c bringing stuff for her 10-month old took up a lot of her carry-on/lugggage allotment). Again, this used to seem really expensive but compared to paying so much for checked baggage it could be more affordable or close to it, considering you don't need to drag around as much luggage. For less expensive clothing items, I'm definitely known to wash them out in the sink and hang them over the tub if i'm in a location for a few days! Also, a bottle of ringle releaser and a bottle of Febreeze (or a similar odor removing spray) go a long way. Clothes aren't wringled and they do smell a good bit better. It doesn't work for weeks on end, but for one or two extra wearings it's great!
Finally one more trick i use is to pack a spare duffle bag in my luggage. If i really feel i haven't brought enough (and i'm in a big enough city or town) I can buy things i need at my destination and just fill the extra duffle and check two bags on the way back. this way i'm only paying for the 2nd bag one way and only if i need it!
Reply to this Just thought I'd share that in one of the travel e-newsletters I got today, there was an article on Glamping - Glamour camping! I guess we were close with our "glampacker" label!
Reply to this If I needed business wear for travelling I would go with a very understated look.
2 black suits and 2 white silk or linen shirts.
2 pairs of black shoes.
Jeans and shirt and shoes and light rain jacket for the times I am not working if there are such times.
Every evening I would hand one suit and shirt in to be dry cleaned and pick it up the next day when handing in the other.
Surely it is possible to travel light even if one needs business clothes.
Reply to this I love the "Glamping" label. My husband is Mr. Hike - he is a hard core camper (in my eyes. I'm sure there are many travelsnobs who would sniff at that title). He went ice camping for a week. That's my idea of Hell if there ever was one. We live in CA, so he does one of the "14" every year. I ask him to kindly stay at a motel on the last night and "de-forest", which he so kindly does. I get completely grossed out if I can't take a shower before I go to sleep.
Long live the Glampers! Thanks!
Reply to this I think understated always works well. I like the idea of drycleaning, but have never used a drycleaning service at a hotel -- I'm terrified that my clothing won't be ready on time, and it can be frightfully expensive. Has anyone had any experience doing this? Would love to hear more about it.
Reply to this My husband is Mr. Hike - he is a hard core camper (in my eyes. I'm sure there are many travelsnobs who would sniff at that title). He went ice camping for a week. That's my idea of Hell if there ever was one.
Here's more proof that opposites really do attract. :D
Reply to this Mimi, I did dry cleaning at a hotel in Rome and at one in Lyon. It worked out beautifully both times and it was nice because I didn't have to pack nearly as much - I just washed everything half way through. It was kind of pricey, but I everything was nicely folded, clean, smelled great! i was worried about it too but turned out great!
Reply to this Thanks so much! Glad to hear you had a good experience with it. I usually just bring hand washables, but I am doing more frequent business trips where I will have to wear things that need to be dry-cleaned.
Reply to this I still do handwashables when i can, but i have had some traveling for conferences and just easier to have things dry-cleaned!
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