Convince this notorious over packer that it’s ok to pack light this time!

[Anonymous]

My theory about packing lightly is, if I reallllly need something else, other than medications, contacts, and my passport, phone and wallet, I will buy it there. Otherwise it’s not that important.

This has served me well living in multiple countries and traveling extensively for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You don't need backup sandals.

If your sandals do break you can buy some new ones there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I plan to wear sneakers on the plane and then rewear my travel clothes when we depart. I’m not too worried about extra sandals since, in a pinch, I can wear the sneakers.

My main hang up is that it just feels so weird to only pack a couple outfits with the intention of rewearing them, and I don’t know why.

I guess I am just not a minimalist - but why do you need to pack so light, if you're just going to one place and won't need to be schlepping things around? I'd pack enough to have clean clothes every day. Not fancy - but stuff you feel good in. And definitely do not sleep in a dress you're going to be wearing out again - unless you and your husband were having such a good time you had to sleep in your clothes. But don't plan for that!

Only you know how often your feel like a change in shoes. I walk a ton and my feet demand a change after 15,000 steps. I'd want a pair of sandals (Birks or Tevas) I can walk that much in - then something else I can slip on afterwards.

Anyway - I get why people who are backpacking around Europe and Asia like to pack really light. I don't get the obsession with light packing otherwise. Check your bag, get it to the hotel, then you have stuff to wear for your whole trip.

[Anonymous]

We are taking a 5 day Disney Cruise with my inlaws this summer. The cruise room is small so we are going to pack light and keep each person to a carryon. I'm thinking:

3 swimsuits/3 coverups (that I am comfortable walking around in, not skimpy fake coverups. I do 3 and not 2 because sometimes I want a second one in the same day and the first one is still wet.)
3 nice but casual dresses to rotate for dinner (one of which slightly nicer for dress up night)
1 pair of dress sandals and 1 pair of pool/beach sandals
2 pajamas
2 shorts and 3 casual tops (this is the most likely category to be unnecessary for me)
Wear sneakers on the plane

I am extremely low maintenance with hair and skin care so that's never an issue for me.

[Anonymous]

The first time you pack light as a heavy packer something will go horribly wrong and you will regret leaving behind something. However, you will survive nonetheless and realize that it was okay to leave it behind. And the next time, you’ll be more willing to pack lightly.

[Anonymous]

Also, OP, I'm assuming worst case scenario you can overpay to send some laundry out at the hotel.

[Anonymous]

omg pack what you want! There is no prize for packing light. Bring whatever you need. Have you ever been to baggage carousal? The majority of the people on your flight checked a bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I plan to wear sneakers on the plane and then rewear my travel clothes when we depart. I’m not too worried about extra sandals since, in a pinch, I can wear the sneakers.

My main hang up is that it just feels so weird to only pack a couple outfits with the intention of rewearing them, and I don’t know why.

Well, do you “rewear” your winter coat, or do you wear a new one every day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Help!

We are taking a five-day weekend to an all-inclusive. Our goal is to relax and just go with the flow; we have no real plans. So much so that we’ve even opted out of making “fancy” dinner reservations and will instead eat at the casual market/buffet-type restaurants every night.

I see no reason at all that I will need to wear anything other than pajamas, a bathing suit (with cover), a casual top with shorts, and the same pair of sandals with everything.

I don’t need a bunch of special toiletries when my hair and body will be covered in pool and saltwater and sunscreen the whole time.

But my mind keeps YELLING at me: What if your sandals break? Better pack a backup. And maybe you only need flip flops for the pool!

What if your clothes rip/stain/whatever? Better have two days backup!

Etc etc.

So please, help! I don’t want to panic pack all of that crap!

I only take carry-on if a week or less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 swimsuits, 1 cover up, 3 day outfits that can also be worn to bed- including a dress in case you change your mind about dinner. 2 pairs shoes.

You wear a dress to bed? Isn’t that a nightgown?

Different poster than the one you quoted here.

I've seen people do that in packing lists before--they bring one dress to use as a swimsuit cover up/casual dress/nightgown.
Personally, I think that's gross. A swimsuit coverup is going to get chlorine or salt water, sunscreen, and sweat on it. I don't want to put that on and hop in bed!
But, fwiw, I'm the poster on a different thread from about a week ago that thinks it's gross to put winter coats on a bed when you're hosting a large gathering.

Would sleep naked before sleeping in pool or beach dress.

[Anonymous]

Op, are you comfortable washing in the sink and having-up to dry? You wash what you wore and it's ready for you to wear again, probably next day. You don't have to wear the same, but how about every other day. At least come-at-it from that point of view.

Shoes I'm very particular about. I will develop foot problems w/out changing-up my shoes. Need good arch support, that's just me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 swimsuits, 1 cover up, 3 day outfits that can also be worn to bed- including a dress in case you change your mind about dinner. 2 pairs shoes.

That's it! We went on a 10 day cruise last year and had to fly to get there. This time we packed light, no checked-in luggage. I refused to pay crazy fees for the checked-in luggage. It was great! We had all the types of clothes we needed, and in the worst case, you can always buy something in the gift store in the resort or on the ship. I had 1 pair of nice sandals, 1 pair of flip flops only. Funny, because my nice sandals ( that were old) got straps broken at the end of the cruise. I literally tossed them at the airport and have worn flip flops on the flight.

[Anonymous]

Clothes for this type of trip can roll up into nothing. 5 days of clothes is easily a carry-on and a bag for under the seat in front of you. After Covid when airlines were losing luggage right and left we started traveling to Europe in carry-ons. It’s very doable.

This is my favorite bag for under the seat in front of me. It has to be shoved in, but it fits. I can fit 2-3 pairs of shoes in the bottom zipper pocket. It’s a dream bag.

https://beistravel.com/products/the-convertible-mini-weekender-in-black?nosto_source=cmp&nosto=113135890

I also have their carry-on suitcase and firmly believe carry-ons that zip down the middle with two equal sides are the best for packing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! I plan to wear sneakers on the plane and then rewear my travel clothes when we depart. I’m not too worried about extra sandals since, in a pinch, I can wear the sneakers.

My main hang up is that it just feels so weird to only pack a couple outfits with the intention of rewearing them, and I don’t know why.

I guess I am just not a minimalist - but why do you need to pack so light, if you're just going to one place and won't need to be schlepping things around? I'd pack enough to have clean clothes every day. Not fancy - but stuff you feel good in. And definitely do not sleep in a dress you're going to be wearing out again - unless you and your husband were having such a good time you had to sleep in your clothes. But don't plan for that!

Only you know how often your feel like a change in shoes. I walk a ton and my feet demand a change after 15,000 steps. I'd want a pair of sandals (Birks or Tevas) I can walk that much in - then something else I can slip on afterwards.

Anyway - I get why people who are backpacking around Europe and Asia like to pack really light. I don't get the obsession with light packing otherwise. Check your bag, get it to the hotel, then you have stuff to wear for your whole trip.

Checking a bag costs money. Also, packing in a carryon saves you the trouble of having to buy new clothes and toiletries if your luggage gets lost or if someone steals it, both of which have happened to me. For 5 days I definitely wouldn't check a bag, and If I'm going somewhere for more than a week I will plan to do laundry. The last time I checked a bag, I was traveling with young kids and needed free hands to manage them in the airport, which made sense at the time. Otherwise it's all carryon for me.

[Anonymous]

Is there shopping where you are going? IF you end up absolutely needing something you didn't pack, buy it there. You will probably decide you don't need it.

My suitcase got destroyed somehow by the airline on my way to a vacation. I had to buy everything including a suitcase home. It changed how I pack forever.