A Few Travel Tips

And "don’t pack “what if” items like umbrellas. You can buy them anywhere."

Well, that explains why we have six travel size ones in the closet.

My itsy bitsy little wee travel umbrella takes up the tiniest bit of space in the little mesh pocket of my backpack. The 10 day forecast shows me that there will be rain in my destination city. I'll be taking the little fellow. :)

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Umbrellas are almost always available where we are staying

Agree. And my experience has been that I have to leave the hotel in the rain to get to a store that sells them. So, I pack a travel umbrella.

For whatever reason, the gift link isn't working :(

The simple list was:

• Use inexpensive battery-operated tea lights as nightlights in hotel rooms.
• Use the restroom at baggage claim because no one is ever there.
• Take a photo at the end of the trip of stuff you packed but never used. Refer to it next time you pack. (I can relate to this example the traveler posted: “For some reason, for many trips, I’d convinced myself that I’d do a sheet mask each night and use all the little product samples I’d collected, like Sephora samples.”
• Pack the random snack that you don’t eat often, but occasionally crave on the road. And buy it at the dollar store instead of spending $15 on Cheetos at the airport.
• Don’t pack “what if” items like umbrellas. You can buy them anywhere.
• Treat yourself to a spa treatment or food tour on the first day while you’re waiting for your room.

Have one. Used it once a decade ago on a London sojourn. Never used it again.

As far as snacks I take raisins and walnuts on trips to Europe. Also enjoy some Werthers Carmel chews. Often raw almonds from Trader Joe’s.

Honestly I could earn extra cash if I chose to buy Trader Joe’s canvas bags to re sell them in Europe. Very popular. Had no clue till one morning walked to TJ’s and there was a line around the block. Was like WTF? Since I’m a loyal customer sauntered into the store’s parking garage and walked into the store from that entrance. No line only 3 other customers.

The store had a seperate register open for folks getting the bags. Meh.

My 6" umbrella fits in the pocket of my jacket.

I usually find the toilets at baggage claim to be crowded because people use it while waiting for their luggage.

One person's "I never pack" is another person's "don't leave home without it."

Honestly I could earn extra cash if I chose to buy Trader Joe’s canvas
bags to re sell them in Europe. Very popular. Had no clue till one
morning walked to TJ’s and there was a line around the block.

Wait, REALLY? For my upcoming trip to France, I've been trying to think of small gifts to take to various friends I have there. I didn't know TJ bags were popular with Europeans - that is an idea! (A bag with a few TJ products in it.)

I pack very few "what if" items. The only thing I can think of is OTC's because if I need those I don't want to try and hunt them down. My husband was in India a few weeks ago and had digestive issues and was extremely thankful that I had Imodium in the OTC baggie that goes with us. That is definitely something you don't want to have to go searching for when you need it;)

I do pack a weeks' worth of extra RX medications just in case. It takes up minimal room and just makes me feel more at ease.

We do not own an umbrella here at home so would not buy one on a trip. A jacket with a hood works just fine for us.

We also do not pack snacks from home. If I decide I want something at the airport, I will just buy it there.

Claudia--Very true about those bags!

I always take the battery tea lught. 2 for $1.25 at Dollar Tree. really useful with an interior ship cabin and also in some hotel rooms.

I am getting ready for a trip and noticed that we have about 6 of the travel umbrellas. I remember buying 2 in Venice but have no clue where the others came from

The advice to "treat yourself to a food tour on the first day while waiting for your room" is a solid suggestion. I’ve enjoyed food tours myself, though usually in the evenings once I’ve checked in and settled into my room or the next day. Similarly, the tip to "take a photo at the end of the trip of stuff you packed but never used" is useful for one who tends to overpack and needs a visual reality check.

But the whole list of travel tips strikes me as a list of "what-ifs", and what one packs is, by its very nature, a what-if.

Every single item in your bag is a calculated gamble. You are attempting to predict the future. You are guessing whether the weather either will or won't drop twenty degrees, and how many pairs of trousers you'll actually need to cover a coffee spill or wardrobe change. Eve the number of underwear you pack is a "what-if" gamble based on the assumption that everything will run smoothly.

The problem I see isn’t that people pack what-ifs. It's that travel pundits draw an arbitrary, preachy line between "smart" what-ifs and "stupid" what-ifs. A pundit will confidently tell you that packing an umbrella is an amateur mistake, but then turn around and declare it a genius hack to pack dollar-store tea candles just in case a room is too dark. They are both what-ifs, and one isn't inherently smarter than the other.

Packing tea lights, snacks, umbrellas, or sheet masks is just a different kind of gamble. It’s an either do it or don't kind of thing, so just make your choice, embrace it, and why worry about what anyone else thinks?

I also carry a compact umbrella ( and a small zip loc bag to stash it in my day bag ) Frequently ,there have been days that started bright and clear, and turned in the other direction at some point later .

But the whole list of travel tips strikes me as a list of "what-ifs",
and what one packs is, by its very nature, a what-if. Every single
item in your bag is a calculated gamble.

Well it's not a calculated gamble to take your basic clothing and your devices - which makes up the bulk of our luggage. Those are items you WILL use every single day, no question about it. And a basic supply of toiletries - which is already limited by carryon restrictions if you don't check your luggage - so you'll have enough to get by for a few days until you can stock up at your destination.

But could you board a plane for Europe with NOTHING but your passport, wallet, phone and the clothes on your back and get by okay? Yes, if you have the money to spend you could literally buy every single thing when you get there, including a bag to carry it in!

Good discussion here.
1. Okay, I do carry a small travel umbrella and have used it, so there.
2. Important financial news: yesterday I bought THREE tea lights for $1.25 at Dollar Tree.
3. More important tea light news: DO NOT buy the sparkly painted tea lights or you will regret it.