Anybody have any travel planned for the holidays?

[marbenais]

In which cube or compartment does the cat go?

Our holiday travel plans will involve multiple 2-4 hour driving trips, so we're trying to limit our bags so we can fit presents. My mom inevitably sends us home with a ton of food, and we also have to fit the not-compactable crate (it collapses down to be a few inches thick, but it still takes up space).

this is going to come out in installments, since I've only just began packing. I'm going to Brazil for 2 weeks next wednesday and I'm bringing an Aeronaut and my Medium Cafe Bag. I usually allow myself two large packing cubes for clothes and put my shoes and accessories on the side pockets. This time I've limited myself to one packing cube because I need to bring gifts to family and plan to do some shopping there. So here is what I have so far in my packing cube:

3 skirts
2 dresses
6 tops
2 cropped pants
underwear & a bathing suit

[jaon]

I just came back from a rapid trip to the Toronto area. I had a class in NYC on Friday, so I was carrying things for that, an in progress baby blanket for a shower on Saturday, and various gifts. I took my Swift, an old roller bag I have and a small foldable cloth bag. The cloth bag held the blanket and doubled as a pillow on the trip up. The Swift held my Nook, the things for the class, the things I usually carry in it, and the chargers for the Nook, iPod Touch and my phone. In addition to the blanket, my hat & scarf got stashed in the cloth bag. The roller bag held mostly gifts. I found a great gift for my eldest and had been begger to carry some gifts to the shower from someone who couldn't attend. I actually think that without the class stuff & gifts I could have packed what I took in my Swift & Imago.

It's totally do-able. I did 30 days in Paris and Spain with an Aeronaut. You see my packing list here: Packing the Aeronaut | building bridges

AND I did research and attended a conference while I was there!

[Badger]

18 days with one bag each! I am in awe of you and your wife. I haven't managed come close to one bagging for such a long trip yet.

Right now, I'm trying to decide if this is wise or stupid. Last time we went to Italy, we took a ton of bags because I was carrying research materials. None of them survived the trip all that well.

Our strategy for this time is as follows:

We will leave our heavy winter coats in our car in Chicago.

Mrs B. will wear her black leather boots onto the plane; I will wear my fleece, my hoody, and my jacket and tuck my organizer pouches into my pockets.

We will pack mostly synthetic fabrics, which will save weight and can be hand washed; we will take a minimum number of shoes.

We rented an apartment in Venice that has a washing machine.

If we buy pottery or anything heavy, we'll arrange shipping.

Packing list to come shortly; we leave in 16 days! Holy crap!

[OnMyWay]

Where are you flying from, OnMyWay? I'd love to see your packing list, because I am nosy and obsessive about both packing and lists.

I am flying from Los Angeles--paid a little extra to book a nonstop flight to avoid all the hassle of connecting flights during the likely bad weather in December.

We will be in Italy for 18 days over Christmas and New Year's, and we are one-bagging. Mrs. B will carry our Patagonia MLC, which is a model from several years ago and great quality; I'll be carrying an Aeronaut. We have a 17-pound weight limit, which won't be hard going over but might be more challenging coming back, since we will probably want to buy gifts. At least booze from the Duty Free won't count against us.

18 days with one bag each! I am in awe of you and your wife. I haven't managed come close to one bagging for such a long trip yet.

[OnMyWay]

Yeah, that's the only part that I was slightly concerned about since the OP is going in December. But really, one can just wear the same outerwear the whole time including on the plane... And then packing the under-layers should be the same as any other trip!

Packing for what to wear may not be the problem--the problem might be controlling myself not to buy too much to bring home!!

So far I am thinking one spare pair of jeans and two extra sweaters in additional to what I wear on the plane. Then enough t-shirts to wear a fresh one every day under the sweaters. Same coat and shoes all week--I don't plan on any events requiring dressy clothes.

This is my draft list for using my WF for the trip:

Wear on flight: Jeans, sweater, coat, shoes (only pair I will take I think), scarf, leather gloves

Large WF Packing cube:
1 pr jeans
2 sweaters
5 thin cotton t-shirts
Thin cotton sweat pants to wear in hotel and to sleep (I think I can re-use the daytime t-shirts to sleep in)
Thin cotton robe

Packing Cube Shoulder Bag:
5 prs underwear
1 bra
5 prs socks
1 pair thick socks (to use as slippers in the hotel)

Clear quarter packing cube:
One side 3-1-1 liquids baggy (removed from CQPC to go through security)
Other side, non liquid cosmetics and miscellaneous

Small Stuff sack:
Small camera
Camera charger
Phone charger
Kindle charger

Front pockets:
Kindle in Timbuktu padded case

Back pocket:
Travel docs (printouts of reservations, directions, maps, etc.)

TBD is a purse/tote bag which will include my wallet, glasses, keys, etc.


I am going to do a packing dry run soon--I'll try to post pictures.

[OnMyWay]

Wafels & Dinges

LOL...WMD = Wafel of Mass Deliciousness. It sounds fabulous! Thanks for the recommendation.

[Just]

Oh, we'll, it's still amazing! I absolutely love my Western Flyer, I wonder about as many days in cold weather?

Yeah, that's the only part that I was slightly concerned about since the OP is going in December. But really, one can just wear the same outerwear the whole time including on the plane... And then packing the under-layers should be the same as any other trip!

[dwright17]

I'll be going to Tennessee to see my family. We're getting a cabin in the mountains this time, and it should be gorgeous there!

I'll be taking my Western Flyer, and either my Co-Pilot or Synapse as a companion. I'm doing the stockings for everyone this year, so I think I'll probably take the Synapse to tote all the goodies back with me!

[dorayme]

Oh, we'll, it's still amazing! I absolutely love my Western Flyer, I wonder about as many days in cold weather?

[Just]

Please share your packing list, and how yiu laundered everything, this is so impressive to me!

Actually dorayme, you've already seen my packing list, quoted below:

It's all in here:



Inside the Tom Bihn Packing Cube Backpack:
black Icebreaker Meridian short sleeved shirt
black ExOfficio Kizmet Camper 1/2 sleeve shirt
striped white BR shirt
grey pants
black Banana Republic dress pants
black Columbia shorts
5x ExOfficio Give-N-Go Bikini Brief, 1x Jockey bikini brief
1x VS bra
2x Teko socks, 1x dress socks
pink plaid shorts
black Nike Dri-Fit tank
Packtowl
1x ziploc gallon sized bag
2x ziploc 2-gallon sized bags

Tom Bihn Packing Cube Shoulder Bag:
light grey/clear slippers (aka flip-flops) in plastic bag

3-1-1 bag:
Olay moisturizer/sunblock
mini A&H toothpaste
mini H&S shampoo
sunblock
Blistex
NIVEA lip balm

Tom Bihn 3D Clear Organizer Cube:
travel toothbrush
Dr. Bronner's tea tree soap bar
Soap container
Salux Washcloth
face washcloth

Tom Bihn FOT Pouch:
Brookstone nail clippers
Band-aids
Immodium, Tylenol Cold, Benadryl

Tom Bihn Small Organizer Pouch:
Wet wipes

Tom Bihn Passport Pouch:
Passport
Colored Key Strap

Tom Bihn Clear Mini Organizer Pouch:
Thumb drives

Tom Bihn Kit:
Memory cards
Camera
Camera charging cables
iPhone backup power supply

Coach bag:
sanitary napkins

Trip info printed out and put into folder, Extra copy of passport
Wallet
handkerchief
black belt
Surefire flashlight
Flashlight extra battery
sunglasses
TB cleaning cloth
Laundry line
iPhone
iPhone bumper
iPhone charging cable
Murder on the Orient Express mass-market paperback
Luggage lock for hostel locker

Grand total (weight): 14.5 pounds

Pictures and more on the blog linked in signature.

As far as laundering went, I found a self-service laundromat near where we were staying in NYC and laundered my clothes there. Made friends with the guy who worked there - turns out he was from Nepal! Very cool.

[misterN]

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I've got an 8 day trip to my grandparents place in Sun City, AZ. I'll be flying out of Milwaukee to Phoenix on Southwest. Sadly I made the mistake of waiting over the Thanksgiving weekend to purchase tickets--I could have gotten a first class ticket on Air Tran for 167--now on economy on Southwest it's around 250 each way. Oh well. I'll be using my Aeronaut on its maiden voyage for my main storage, and either my Super Ego or Cadet as my personal item. (Sort of annoying--due to me flying southwest the parents want me to check a golf bag due to the free bags--so I'll still end up sitting around the stupid luggage area regardless of my savvy carry-on luggage :-(

[dorayme]

I did 7 days in NYC + 4 days in Montreal with just a WF, so I think you'll be fine Just wear your winter stuff on the plane

Please share your packing list, and how yiu laundered everything, this is so impressive to me!

[Just]

I did 7 days in NYC + 4 days in Montreal with just a WF, so I think you'll be fine Just wear your winter stuff on the plane