What do you NOT bring on your trips?

Same for me, the 3 items you mentioned. We also do not bring OTC meds except for a very small roll of tums in case they are needed. My toiletry bag doesn’t need to get any larger.

Same as SJ. I leave my hair appliances at home. The hotel hair dryer will do. I also leave most of my cosmetics at home. I just bring moisturizer, sunscreen and the bare minimum of face paint for any special nights out.

DH still comes along, since he has more pockets than I do on any given day. Historically he has been a much heavier packer than me.

I never take a big water bottle when one can take a collapsible water bottle in its stead.

I never take a big suitcase. My upright two wheel Pullman is a carry-on size fitting easily in the overhead compartment.

I never pack more than one pair of shoes. Those are the über-comfortable waterproof walking shoes.

I never pack a hairdryer.

I never pack liquids greater than 100 mL.

I never pack valuables; the jewelry I wear is the only jewelry I will have on a trip.

My troubles... or I try not to, anyway.

What one person absolutely leaves at home may be a necessity to someone else.

And vice versa.

I don’t bring snacks or coffee making equipment from home. There are a lot of stores, markets and cafes and part of the fun of travel is getting to try new things.

My laptop.

However, I'm considering bringing it on my next trip because it's so much easier to access all my planning information than on my phone or ipad. But it heavy! Dither, dither.

I don't bring along my CA 'to do' list, either it gets done before I leave, or it can wait. And wait.

Overly bulky or heavy articles of clothing.

Jewelry....I'm not a jewelry wearer at home but somehow for a number of years I would pack a couple of silver bracelets and earrings. No matter how much I want to be a different, stylish person when I travel I've come to the conclusion that I am not, hahahaha!!

All of the things mentioned so far — I don’t bring any of them. The only exceptions are sometimes I bring a small water bottle and sometimes I bring a lightweight pair of sandals in addition to the shoes I wear. I also never bring nice clothes; just casual athleisure wear. If someplace requires you to dress up, we don’t go there.

All of the things mentioned so far — I don’t bring any of them.

Me too. I also don't ... pack up all my cares and woes....
What helps me to not do that is to not watch the national news.
And I don't pack any Discover cards, AMEX, or traveler's checks.

An umbrella. It's a PNW thing, but I don't use one at home, either.

Umbrella, rain coat, rain pants and my life problems.

Kate, I just scrolled up, you beat me to it.

I’ve whittled down my list over the years. I’m currently on an art class in Ireland, and this one tested my packing skills even more. I was able to get all of my clothes, raincoat & TSA toiletries in a personal size backpack. Just my extra pair of shoes & dry lightweight toiletry bag went into the 2-wheel carry on along with the heavy, bulky pastel plein art supplies.

So, none of the items listed so far are essential for me except I do bring three pairs of earrings, a few coffee sticks & a few individual bags of almonds. The last two are preventatives to avoid migraines.

I used to piggyback personal travels on to the more interesting of my business trip destinations. So I always had to take my work laptop.

No more!!

Aside from the minimum basics (a few clothes, rain jacket, toiletries, meds, and a tablet/phone setup), everything else stays behind. I travel with a softsided carry-on and a hardshell carry-on sized bag that starts completely empty and gets checked. I have a cane and if I can't move my stuff easily on my own without getting bogged down, it's not coming.

Two luxuries that make the cut are a small Bluetooth speaker and now a PRESSE by Bobble coffee press that I've just bought and will travel with for the first time this autumn. Dang it, I want actual brewed coffee on the road; I refuse to do instant anymore! At only 13oz, 6in tall, and 3in wide, it will slide right into the side pocket of my Osprey Daylite Plus or into my carry-on bag for travel days, and then it just stays in my aparthotel room until it's time to move on. Otherwise, if it’s not on that core list, it stays home.

Long pants

I never bring my laptop, over the ear headphones, water bottle or travel pillows. I also bring minimal toiletries on the theory that I can buy inexpensive shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen etc. at my destination.

I also bring very few (if any) "just in case" items. I don't bring an umbrella "just in case it rains." I'll buy one there for 5 euros IF it rains, and I have indeed done that. I don't need to lug one around for several weeks "just in case." Ditto rain gear (unless it is truly the rainy season at a rainy destination) and sweaters or jackets "just in case" it gets cool on a summer trip.

As for the devices, I DO bring my iPad with external keyboard which does everything I'd need a laptop for but is much smaller and less expensive to replace if it's lost or stolen. And I swear by my Air Pods Pro which have excellent noise cancellation and take no room at all.

I don’t take guide books (sorry Rick). I spend a lot of time planning my trips, write an itinerary and pre-booking which tickets I need. I took guide books or just pages on four tours, never once looked at them so easy weight to cut.
Laptop stays home; everything I need is on my phone.
I do take snack bars because of some food allergies. And tea bags that I like. I seldom drink coffee while traveling because I want soy milk for it and soy is not always available.

No matter how hard I try I always pack more than my goal. Oh well, as long as I can lift the carry-on suitcase into the overhead. I’m trying a backpack as a personal item this trip instead of a tote. I leave tomorrow so will let you know yea or neigh.

I no longer take a camera with multiple lenses. Now, I just wear my Meta Glasses.

Kate, I just scrolled up, you beat me to it.

More the merrier. Nice to be in good company. :O)

I don't take the big noise-cancelling headphones, nor a neck pillow. Sometimes I wish I had each of them, though !

I do take a whole heck of a lot of stuff though. I like my creature comforts.

When I think what I used to bring…..like a good size art reference book plus 2 travel guides(!!), it’s wonderful how streamlined we can get thanks to the phone 99% of us rely on. I travel in winter frequently but still never take a puffy anything, vest, jacket or coat or umbrella. I bring a waterproof all weather coat with a zip out liner and a hood. Never haul a water bottle insulated or otherwise. Do bring a bag of good tea, Taylor’s Yorkshire Red, and a heater coil because I’ve gotta have a decent cuppa!

I’m trying to be like Pam but I find myself still throwing in 2 or 3 jewelry pieces, hey, they’re light, right?, and most of the time, never wear them. Sigh; my next life I’ll be a classy dame.

I don't take the big noise-cancelling headphones, nor a neck pillow.
Sometimes I wish I had each of them, though

Have you tried Air Pods Pro2 for the noise cancelling feature? They work great - you might be surprised. I wear them at home sometimes to drown out family noise (husband's TV shows, son's music) and they get frustrated because when they want to talk to me I CANNOT hear them! So if you want noise cancelling on a flight, give them at try.

As for neck pillows, I have been known to bring an old one along on a flight and then ditch it at the airport when I arrive because I don't want to carry it around with me for the next three weeks of my trip. Inflatable ones are a good alternative, too, because at least once deflated they don't take up much space.

"Sigh; my next life I’ll be a classy dame."

Oh gosh, that made me snort into my coffee. Double siiiigh....here's hoping for me too, lol!!

I totally forgot about guidebooks! Oh yes, when I first started back to international travel in 2013, I hauled Rick's Italy guide book along. Then I started ripping out pages. Then when the forum convinced me I needed an iPad Mini instead of another Kindle the guidebooks were SO MUCH better on them that I download an e-version and have not looked back.

Another thing I've made myself leave at home is exercise equipment. For a couple of trips I took a microfiber yoga mat and/or exercise bands. Who am I kidding???? No, this is not happening. Who has the energy to workout when you are walking 10,000 steps plus a day on most vacations?

And by the way....you should have seen Jean's packing job with her pastel box and easel in her carry on suitcase. It was miraculous, seriously!

Sadly, I bring less hair now so I don't bother with hair gel, but I have had to add hats.

Allan! : 🤣

No curling iron and no spinning reel (but my fly rod and reel, yes).