Packing tips requested

[Anonymous]

Wash and dry timing worked once for most of DH's clothes, as his clothes are mostly traditional fabrics and frankly on the large side for his newer svelte frame. Most of my clothes have to be hanged dried. Once I started the sink wash it made sense to throw in my underwear and socks. Biggest regret was lugging around dry clean only dress clothes for dinners. We never changed into them for dinners. It did not affect the service we received.

p.s. Keep in mind that laundry services even at hotels use very high heat to dry. It can do a number on your clothing.

[Anonymous]

These are such awesome things to consider, thanks all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- did you say where you are going?

Italy- HOT.

Just being upfront we are not the wash ourselves in the sink kind of people so I was really looking for folding/packing tips which I received. Probably will send the performance wear/T-shirts out for washing halfway through. To answer someone else’s question yes we will be checking, but also taking many trains so not trying to bring a ton of large suitcases.

[Anonymous]

Good OP that you shared more details. Large suitcases will be very difficult in the train overheads. Would recommend at most a carry on and 1 medium bag per person assuming each person can carry their own luggage up and down stairs in the terminals.

Italy is incredible. Leave with the bare necessities and fill in your clothes over there.

[Anonymous]

Carry on only in summer
Rolling bags are a pain
Backpacks are better

Must have pacsafe or travel pro bag pickpockets in the summer there are insane and they will cut your bag right off you

[Anonymous]

I always pack carry on only. All natural fibers (silk/linen/wool/I don't like cotton). I create a wardrobe that will work with whatever events I have planned and can usually make 10-15 outfits from my capsule. Think layers.

[Anonymous]

Take a look at Merino wool dresses and t-shirts- they breathe well and you can hang them up overnight to air out and they will not smell. I'm a fan of WoolX but there are other reputable brands as well.

[Anonymous]

Also - if you really want to go down the rabbit hole - check out Reddit's r/OneBag and r/HerOneBag for ideas on how to travel light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- did you say where you are going?

Italy- HOT.

Just being upfront we are not the wash ourselves in the sink kind of people so I was really looking for folding/packing tips which I received. Probably will send the performance wear/T-shirts out for washing halfway through. To answer someone else’s question yes we will be checking, but also taking many trains so not trying to bring a ton of large suitcases.

PP is correct that there is limited baggage space for large luggage on trains. Many times the space for large bags is at the end of the car near the exit. And you may be seated in the middle of the car without being able to keep an eye on your bags. During the rush of people on & off at stops, it may be easy for someone to grab a bag from the storage area and hop off.

To try and prevent this, we stack our bags on top of or next to each other in the luggage storage/cage area and use a bungee or a cord (brightly colored) to tie them to the bars. If there aren't bars, then we bungee/tie them both together. It's not secure like locking them would be but it is enough to prevent someone from snatching them quickly and the bright color serves as a warning that our bags won't be an easy hit.

[Anonymous]

For crazy hot places: bring your oldest underwear and just toss them. The kind with holes or ruined elastic that you would have tossed before. I love doing that so sweaty, stinky underwear isn't going back into my luggage.

[Anonymous]

There is no where in the world that you can NOT do laundry. You can pay for hotel laundry (more money, but no time cost) or you can find a laundromat and spend a sometime there/near there. We have taken turns washing the machines while the other can browse nearby shops

[Anonymous]

I just pack dresses and things that aren’t too wrinkly (cotton jersey and the like) l, hang them when I can, and wear the same things over and over. I don’t wash unless I have to. Am I sick of my clothes by the end? Yes!!! Do they smell? No, though this could vary by person. (My teens need a clean shirt each day). Travel is about making do, imo.

[Anonymous]

Portable steamer. You can alway find laundry, I am not wearing items multiple times between washes. Merino wool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- did you say where you are going?

Italy- HOT.

Just being upfront we are not the wash ourselves in the sink kind of people so I was really looking for folding/packing tips which I received. Probably will send the performance wear/T-shirts out for washing halfway through. To answer someone else’s question yes we will be checking, but also taking many trains so not trying to bring a ton of large suitcases.

PP is correct that there is limited baggage space for large luggage on trains. Many times the space for large bags is at the end of the car near the exit. And you may be seated in the middle of the car without being able to keep an eye on your bags. During the rush of people on & off at stops, it may be easy for someone to grab a bag from the storage area and hop off.

To try and prevent this, we stack our bags on top of or next to each other in the luggage storage/cage area and use a bungee or a cord (brightly colored) to tie them to the bars. If there aren't bars, then we bungee/tie them both together. It's not secure like locking them would be but it is enough to prevent someone from snatching them quickly and the bright color serves as a warning that our bags won't be an easy hit.

Great tip, thank you. Luckily, we have reserved seats for all of our trains and we are in the very back of each car by luggage rack. Will bring bungees!

[Anonymous]

Were you able to reserve the luggage rack space? I haven't used trains in Europe. My experience is recently with Japan where the rack space was reserved only, at least on the bullet.