Minimizing the shoes helps big time. For a tropical location, a pair of walking sandals (Privo or Keen, depending on how dressy I need to be during the day) and a dressier sandal for dinner. I am a big fan of knit dresses, as they can be dressed up easily with costume jewelry, and pack well (few wrinkles, roll small). I like Athleta skorts for travel: good for hiking, golf, lunch, museums, casual dinners, and dry quickly if you wish to wash them, and more flattering than shorts.

The key for me is to minimize duplicates, esp SHOES. I once traveled with a woman who brought an entire suitcase of SHOES. Are you kidding me?

I pick one neutral (black, for instance). Everything must go with black shoes, so clothes requiring brown sandals or the like, simply get left at home. That simplifies the shoes.

Like PP's I usually wear my bulkiest (running) shoes. It's not the fashion statement of the year, but oh well.

When packing, I assume that I am going to wear sports bras and tank tops as PJ's/lounge around clothes, THEN as workout gear. Double duty.

I look for separates that can mix and match, not "outfits." ie a casual black or khaki skirt that can be worn with a cute tank, or dressy top for dinner, or bathing suit top at the pool. Dresses, unless super simple, are a waste of space.

Cruise = no need to bring a hair dryer unless you are super picky for some reason. Minimize makeup and jewelry.

The space bags are not new, and they are a lifesaver. You pack the bag full and "roll" the air out of it - it's a one-way-valve thingy in there. Fab.

And when all else fails, sneak a few things into DH's bag

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me? It would be tight. My problem is shoes and toiletries--hair dryers, make up, brushes, etc. I also am a runner and have to run when we are on vacation and those running shoes take up a lot of space.

I also like to have options when I arrive. I then find I only wear 1/4 of what I packed. I am a horrible packer.

I have gotten better as the years go by, but still not great.

DH is a master packer. Neat, efficient and tidy.

Not much of a runner, but my solution is to wear the largest pair of footwear on the plane ride. In my case it's usually hiking boots.

I hate looking like a frump traveling and my Saucony running shoes do not mix with normal clothes.

A friend who is a personal trainer uses those barefoot shoes when traveling. She prefers "regular" shoes when at home but likes to travel light.

Oh God--are those the ugly--toe shoes. I'd rather actually run barefoot.

Never check bags.

Runner, here's what I do: put your smallish purse into a larger totebag or backpack as your purse-like item. Your running shoes should fit in there. Take just one pair of running pants/shorts (you can reuse those before handwashing) and 2 running shirts/bras/prs of socks, which you handwash immediately after each run and hang up to dry. There; now you just pack your other clothes around that and you're good to go with just a carry on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me? It would be tight. My problem is shoes and toiletries--hair dryers, make up, brushes, etc. I also am a runner and have to run when we are on vacation and those running shoes take up a lot of space.

I also like to have options when I arrive. I then find I only wear 1/4 of what I packed. I am a horrible packer.

I have gotten better as the years go by, but still not great.

DH is a master packer. Neat, efficient and tidy.

Not much of a runner, but my solution is to wear the largest pair of footwear on the plane ride. In my case it's usually hiking boots.

I hate looking like a frump traveling and my Saucony running shoes do not mix with normal clothes.

A friend who is a personal trainer uses those barefoot shoes when traveling. She prefers "regular" shoes when at home but likes to travel light.

I stopped checking bags years ago. I roll my clothes for maximum space.

Anonymous wrote:There are also space bags designed for travel (apparently new)- instead of using a vacuum to suck the air out, you roll it tightly and it supposedly takes up less space. DH will be trying one on his next business trip for tshirts and underwear/socks- not sure it's a good idea for dressier clothes unless you want to iron everything when you arrive at your destination.

One thing that I learned from a master traveler is to take microfiber or bamboo clothing that dries quickly and can therefore be rinsed/washed in the hotel sink. That way, you can take fewer undies, socks, etc and use the space for something else.

We used those bags on a 6 week trip through tropical and subzero weather and they worked really well. Highly recommend them. It let me get away with taking one bag. (Obviously we did laundry, we didn't have 6 weeks of clothes with us!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Me? It would be tight. My problem is shoes and toiletries--hair dryers, make up, brushes, etc. I also am a runner and have to run when we are on vacation and those running shoes take up a lot of space.

I also like to have options when I arrive. I then find I only wear 1/4 of what I packed. I am a horrible packer.

I have gotten better as the years go by, but still not great.

DH is a master packer. Neat, efficient and tidy.

Not much of a runner, but my solution is to wear the largest pair of footwear on the plane ride. In my case it's usually hiking boots.

I hate looking like a frump traveling and my Saucony running shoes do not mix with normal clothes.

Yes, DH and I spent three weeks in Europe with two carryons. The only downside is that I'm was one of three outfits in all these amazing pictures.

There are also space bags designed for travel (apparently new)- instead of using a vacuum to suck the air out, you roll it tightly and it supposedly takes up less space. DH will be trying one on his next business trip for tshirts and underwear/socks- not sure it's a good idea for dressier clothes unless you want to iron everything when you arrive at your destination.

One thing that I learned from a master traveler is to take microfiber or bamboo clothing that dries quickly and can therefore be rinsed/washed in the hotel sink. That way, you can take fewer undies, socks, etc and use the space for something else.