Everyone wants to travel light, in one carry-on bag, but sometimes it just doesn’t seem possible. At one point in my career I was gone 40 weeks a year. I was a road warrior and learned how to travel light and efficient and somewhat fashionably.The questions start with outerwear; warm coat, rain coat, jacket or sweater? Then there is the question about the number of shoes one should bring. Pants, shirts, skirts, or dresses depending on the season and where you are going and what you are doing. What if you are traveling to various climate zones? What about your electronics and beauty supplies? A basic rule is keep to one color scheme, and if you are like me, and coffee somehow misses your mouth, go with darker tones. Overdress rather than wear trendy casual or you may find yourself sticking out like a fashion don’t.
Here are some suggestions to get your travel plans packed up:
1. You can shop for clothing or shoes wherever you are for whatever you did not bring
2. I f you are bringing new shoes, wear them prior to leaving to make sure they are not going to give you any problems
3. Pack a pashima. It can dress up an out-fit or keep you warm or wrap around your waist for a cover-up, or over a blazer or jacket for extra style and warmth
4. Bring layers like T-shirts that you can wear as a first layer or alone
5. Pack a few pieces of underwear and socks, you can always wash-out
6. Bring just a few favorite pieces of jewelry that can add quick style
7. A sleepwear item that packs easily and affords modesty, like pajamas from Haralee.Com
8. Small size beauty and personal products that you use every day
9. A light-weight reusable bag for shopping, the beach etc.
10. Battery chargers, cords, and headsets for phone and other electronics including your camera
11. Empty zip lock plastic bags
12. Copies of plane tickets, reservations and important phone numbers found on your mobile phone (in case that gets lost or goes dead or is unusable)
If you have a light weight half empty bag, tip #1 is a fun activity for bargains or local interest items. If you find some things you are dying to buy but know it cannot fit into your bag, mail it to yourself. A large shipping box from the Post Office is often much less expensive than checking your bag, or paying for an over- weight bag.
Any other tips to add?
3 comments:
As a fellow former road warrior you have done an excellent job outlining the basics. I'm going to add three more:
1. Bring a swimsuit, they take up little space and can be hard to find on the spot at a good price.
2. The right attitude. This weighs nothing at all and can be a lifesaver when you get delayed, reservations are lost or things don't work out.
Oops... posted before I got the third one in!
3. For women a wash and go hairstyle eliminates the need to lug along hairdryers, flat irons and styling products.
Excellent points Nicole. I forgot a swim suit on a trip last year and ended up buying shorts and top but then the pool turned out to be very cold. Note to self, try out water before investing in attire!
Attitude is everything in traveling.More good things have turned out for me than bad in the travel throngs of things going wrong because of my attitude. Not to say that I didn't from time to time be very assertive but in a sweet, sincere way.
Your Hairstyle suggestion I think is great, but some of us have to have stuff, luckily available in travel size, to manage!
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