In getting ready for a brief holiday trip, I was thinking about how I go about packing even for just a 4-day trip. This process started for me about 12 years when my husband and I began the car hobby. We went right off the starting line almost at the top with a 1933 Packard. And wow was it ever the most rewarding hobby in so many ways.
From the beginning we began to win award after award in our local community. Just after the restoration for which we wrote all the checks for and did none of the work, we began the Concours’ d’Elegance touring.
Right after the first trip out I realized, “What kind of easy process are we going to have to put together so when we get there, everything we need is with us?”
It started with some fine tweaking learned from a video like this, and went from there.
Here’s what now takes me so darn long to pack, like for this little 4 day trip, one day.
– First we have to know the agenda of each day and night. Usually even though my husband has all the details, until the day before I don’t know what the heck we are signed up for! It could be a black tie event or a hayride. I generally go along with anything because the events are full of fascinating people.
– Once we know the agenda, that tells us what to pack but not much flexibility in how to pack. Around 6 or 7 years into our travels I came across a YouTube video of how to get the most space out of rolling your clothes into the luggage. I couldn’t find the exact video but if you looked at the one I shared here, you’ll get the main idea. Today, whether 2 nights or 2 weeks it’s how I pack.
– Then there are the miscellany items that are weather dependent. If it’s likely to rain, we roll up our Patagonias. We each purchased one when visiting with my son and his family in Seattle about 8 years ago. Do you know it rains in Seattle Washington? Really it does. Best place for all kinds of rain weather.
– Then of course, there are the toiletries and deciding how to get all those little 3-ounce bottles into what seems like an even smaller plastic baggy! The only thing worst is when we drive instead of fly. Because that means I am looser with taking more than just one 3-ounce bottle of that special hair oil that reduces the frizz.
– Finally of course is asking my husband, has he packed. Of course he hasn’t. He waits to the last minute, lays out all of his clothes and convinces me, “You are the best clothes roller there is. Can you do mine?”
To keep the time to as minimum I can get it, I keep a list. One list for the car show trips, one list for the Seattle WA trips and one list for any other different kind of travel.
Did I mention that even when we fly, for a 10 day stay, we each get everything into one carry-on? And we have a lot more energy when we have to pack to come home.
Whew. Now my mind is running running running: how do we pack even better next time?
My husband and I try to keep it to one carry-one for most trips, but when we spent almost two weeks in Europe, we brought a third, larger suitcase. We filled it with lots of miscellaneous stuff we didn’t need. Since my hubby often travels four days of each week, he has packing down to a science. I still don’t usually roll my clothes up, even though I know that helps save space. Most of my packing know-how has come from following Rick Steves’ lead.
It’s great that you can learn from your husband. We’ve also done that third larger piece of luggage when heading to Europe. Mainly because I know I won’t be able to resist buying clothes there. In particular when in Italy. I can’t say enough about how much space that little rolling trip frees up. Marvelous. Thanks Jeri.
I have it down to a science! Actually, I used to have a packing list on my computer that I would refer to before a trip. My husband is a last minute kinda guy too, but I don’t mind going shopping when he forgets things!
Oh Aleshia that is too funny! I must ask, so if hubby forgets something, and you go shopping to replace it, do you find yourself shopping for some other things too? LOL. I can’t rely on my mind for the list these days. Mainly because we have a list for what to pack when headed to certain events which require different items, ie, car shows, cruises, Las Vegas (teehee!), all different. Thanks!
Absolutely! I can’t walk into a clothing store and leave empty handed…lol!
Interesting – i have never heard before about the rolling clothes tactic… maybe because i never needed it 😀 I used to work as a travel guide and traveled frequently with groups – so i was trained to pack and get ready for like 30 minutes, on pretty short notice – regardless the type or duration of the trip. I just get into packing mode and get it done ASAP. Been that way ever since.
Now, we travel for pleasure only and often, too. If we are flying, we definitely bring only 1 suitcase and a couple of small pieces for hand luggage (laptops and all). When we are driving though – i allow myself to pack more things but a trick i find useful is to pack a couple of different sized suitcases. For instance, if we are going to stay let’s say a week at some place and then, on our way back home just a couple of days somewhere else – i back a bigger suitcase for the long stay and a smaller one for the shorter stay. This way, i don;t need to unpack and pack all the luggage. I just take out from the car the smaller or the larger suitcase (depending where we are staying). Hope this helps 😀
Aha Diana, that travel guide experience sounds quite handy for your travels now. Nice. I’m so glad for technology reducing the size and weight of laptops, cell phones and the like. It is so much easier now to get it all in a small piece of hand luggage. Thanks.
Boy I hear you on this one. I just returned from a 10 day trip and it was as if you were describing me. I do use a list to help prevent forgetting something (oh horror). It takes allot of emotional energy but I am able to pack efficiently and get it down to a personal item and a carryon. 🙂 My husband on the other hand is quite another matter… LOL. 🙂
So much of it for me IS in that list. Little things that I might forget, ie, toothpaste, floss, etc, are easily replaced. But if I don’t think through the agenda, I’m so not likely to buy a new dress for a black tie event! Thanks Susan.
Pat — a few tips I’ve learned. 1) divide and conquer. Pack like items in separate bags, like underwear, so it doesn’t get all over the suitcase, and there are all in one place. 2) Lay everything flat (not rolled up which takes up excess space). I learned this from a world traveler, my friend. It’s amazing how much more you can pack and it cuts down on wrinkles 3) Keep a detailed travel list in your computer and print it out for each trip. Check off items as you put them in the suitcase. If for some reason you lose your bag, you will have a list at home for insurance purposes
Jeannette we used to use the separate bags for things like underwear! I actually find that rolling both saves space and reduces wrinkles. Interesting that you have found that to be true with laying everything flat. I do like that idea of keeping a list on your home computer. Maybe even add it to drop box in the event of an airline losing your luggage. Thanks!
Interesting. Am so used to packing since I was travelling around the world non stop, I never give it a thougth.
Do it swiftly and then I’m off. At one stage I actually travelled with about 90 kilos. What I needed for work, my spare time, books and a lot of stuff you need when your home is different hotels.
What a PRO Catarina! I’ve been traveling as long as, well if I told you you would know my age and then it would be all over. However, traveling long enough that I’ve seen traveling change, in particular flying. So my husband and I have tweaked things over the years with new rules, new purposes for flying etc. Books – I always have at least one real book but these days, my Kindle or iPad is the book for me. Thanks!
I used to travel on a regular basis as a software trainer. I learned to roll my clothes a long time ago. 🙂 I am a pretty practical and space saving packer and try to stick with just one carry on.
Traveling as a corporate speaker is my experience. But back then, it wasn’t as critical in my view to pack like I do today. These days having a carryon and that “personal item’ makes the whole experience less stressful. Until it is more than 2 weeks, ie a long cruise, I can do it with just those 2 pieces. Thanks Cheryl.
Im an extrovert and I go through the same things when packing!
The more I blog about the introvert perspective, it’s quite often I get a comment like yours gracr. Proving once again, labels are okay to help put us on the same level of understanding. But after than they may only serve to divide us unnecessarily. Thanks for commenting!
I used to look like I was moving homes, the laptop bag, the big suitcase and the big handbag. I was attending a lot of meetings and conferences that required me to not only have my work material, but as you noted, everything from jeans for a hay ride to dresses for formal dining. Over the years I have gotten better at using the same things for multiple functions and my bags have gotten smaller. What’s interesting is that I have not transferred that leaner thinking to packing for personal travel. 🙂
Debra, sounds like you are very close to packing lighter for both personal and business travel. For me, it’s just easier to pack one way, regardless of the purpose. Thanks for commenting!