Any regrets on packing light

We were in Italy last October/November for three weeks-one 22" suitcase for me and I had to also handle my husband's b/c he was on crutches. I brought 3 pair of Sugoi black

Bravo pants and on pair of capris-these wash easily and dry overnight. All my tops were NOT cotton but synthetics that dry fast. I also brought a quilted jacket (very cool at night), a short rain jacket,a zip up nylon jacket, a scarf( for warmth and to spice up and outfit), two pair of closed shoes and one pair of sandals. It did rain a few times so an umbrella would have been good and I should have brought my travel hairdryer. No regrets.

You can always buy what you don't have. And then you have a nice memory.

I agree, packing light is freeing! I always (and I mean always) over-pack because I want to have something for every occasion, weather, dinners, museums etc. But on my trip to Italy this year, I am taking a good backpack and that's it.
When I went to England a few years ago, I took a large duffel bag with at least 3 pairs of shoes, my flat iron and blow dryer. Not sure what I was thinking because after the first 4 days I realized I only needed about 1/3 of the items. Plus, pretty much every B&B or hotel has blow-dryers in the rooms.
Besides, purchasing items in Italy will always be a pleasant reminder of your trip!

Hello,

I will be going to Italy and taking a Mediterranean Cruise. I will also be away for nearly 3 weeks. Packing light will be a first for me but do know that it is to be benefit to do so as I do not want to deal with heavy bags being that we will be doing some travel via train throughout Italy prior to going on the Cruise. Being that we are going on the cruise, I will need to pack at least two nice simple dresses for the formal nights and just accessorize.

Thank you for all the feedback as this put my mind at ease. On another note, we are flying from Venice to Rome at the end of our cruise and the airline has so many restrictions with luggage therefore I have no other choice than to pack light. Safe travel to Italy!

I absolutely have no regrets with packing light and each trip I try to take less. It's actually fun to put together different outfits with just what's in your suitcase--scarves do a lot to jazz up what you're wearing. If you need something--you can buy it in Rome!

Lisa, everytime I travel to Italy I pack less! A few basics, dark colors and like Sharon said, scarves are great to dress anything up and even to make it "look" like you're not wearing the same thing all of the time.
Have a great time!

After years of over-packing, I finally gave in and limited myself to carry-on for my last trip to Italy lasting two weeks. Didn't miss a thing, did some laundry periodically in the bathroom sink a few times. Just take basics you can dress up or down (I found having a nice navy blazer was especially helpful) and you'll be fine. You have to toss your luggage around more than you think you do: up and down stairs in hotels, into and out of taxis, trains, and the like, and you'll thank yourself over and over for packing light.

It is really a challenge the first time to pack light, but after you realize how freeing it is...you will continue.

For my last 2 week trip I took: 2 pair of nylon pants (Prana brand) that I could roll up to capri length for warmer days. 5-7 nicer short sleeve t-shirts. 2 long sleeve t-shirts, 2 sweaters ( one light weight Merino wool, and one cotton) 1 fleece jacket, 1 rain jacket with hood. 5 pairs panties. 2 sport bras (I like them better than underwire for travel) Then my toiletry stuff, leaving hair dryer at home, but I took an inexpensive flat iron. I wore one pair of closed toe shoes on the plane and took one pair of sandals packed in my bag.

I fit all this in an internal frame backpack that is carry on size. I took a smaller day pack for my camera, books (I now own an ereader, so I lightened up my load a bit more) and other day necessities. In that smaller daypack I also bring my PacSafe metro shoulder bag for sightseeing. The daypack on the plane is important for me to have access to things I'll need, like toothbrush, comb, the books, asprin, etc.

Hope my experience helps you to pack light. You might "regret" not having some article of clothing, but then this trip isn't about how wonderful you look, but how wonderful the sights you are seeing look!

Regretted packing too much before but never any regrets for packing too light.

Lisa,

I have managed two winter trips to Italy on 3 pairs of pants (pack 2, wear 1), 3 shirts, 1 sweater, rain jacket, 1 pjs, and underwear/socks. When the clothes got dirty, I either sink-washed or found a laundromat. The experience of doing laundry in a foreign city can be quite entertaining. There are also places where you can drop your laundry off and pick it up again later.

I've never felt like I didn't pack enough from home in the way of clothing. The only 3 regrets I've had were:

1) I forgot my camera battery charger. Fortunately my roommate had the same kind of camera, or I would have only had pictures of the first three days of the trip!

2) Didn't take a scarf with me when I went to Florence and about froze to death. I buy scarves in Italy rather than pack them from home anyway.

3) The gloves I brought from home were woefully inadequate in Florence. I ended up buying a really nice pair of Florentine leather gloves, which I then lost one day before the end of the trip.

In short, you can buy almost anything you need in Italy but remember to pack your camera battery charger (and an adapter.)

Make sure your clothes don't wrinkle easily! Though sometimes, hotels can provide you with an iron. I bring an old T-shirt for sleeping in, to be jettisoned at the end of the trip. I usually bring an item of clothing that can be accessorised to look a little more formal. And a towel can be useful, especially if you're in budget lodgings where you may not like the ones they provide. The small expandable ones like the Micronet Travel Towel at Rick's Travel Store here, are light and compact.

"Can I really do OK with what Steve says to pack?"

Yes, absolutely. And remember, you're going to Rome, not to the moon. If you forget anything critical, odds are good you'll be able to buy a replacement over there.

Never.

I think the biggest thing I regret not taking-besides enough $$-is an emery board. Since you can't take clippers (or at least the kind I use), it's so annoying to not have a nail file!

Traveling light is definitely the way to go. I must confess that I deliberately take a few clothing items which are already on my "to be jettisoned" list. This creates space in my small suitcase for a souvenir or two.

The jettisoning idea came from my friend, Joyce, who told me about her trip to Rome. At the time, she was in the throes of a divorce, and took on her trip the (not terribly formal) dress she'd been married in. She wore the dress one day and then the next, carefully arranged it upon a train station trash can. Thus, she did three things: had some divorce closure, had a dress in Rome for a day, and helped a homeless person!

The real trick to packing light is don't bring anything you don't need to carry.

First, don't pack any clothes that you think you "might need if...". Every clothing item you bring should be something you enjoy wearing that can be worn in a number of different outfits. If it can be worn to the beach AND to a nice restaurant, it's perfect.

I do two pairs of shoes, both lightweight. Women can find sandals that are casual enough to wear to the beach but also look nice enough to wear with a skirt or dress when dressing up is appropriate. Add a pair of shoes sturdy enough for long walks on cobblestones and you're set.

For warmth, layer lightweight clothes that can be worn seperately in warm weather.

Second, avoid packing the kitchen sink in toiletries. Keep it simple and basic. If you find you can't live without something, you will either be able to find it there or find a suitable (possibly better) replacement.

Everyone who packs light finds ways that they can pack a little lighter. I haven't checked a bag in years and I still find ways I can reduce the load a little further.

My mother just had shoulder surgery because she insists on lugging a very large and very heavy suitcase while traveling (really, truth is stranger than fiction). I probably still won't be able to convince her to pack light.

You won't regret packing light when you hoist your bag up on the luggage rack on a train.Liz has a good list. Take nylon underwear since they'll dry overnight. I wear a coat that has a hood with a zip out lining. Covers me for both rain and cold. If you want to dress up your outfit, buy a scarf. I've got a nice collection of them from my trips that I enjoy wearing at home that were bought to dress up my travel clothes or for extra warmth. I do cheat a little by adding an empty duffle bag to the bottom of my suitcase. On the trip home,I put my clothes and any unbreakable in the duffle and check and put my breakables in my carry on. Works great!

In June I took my 2 40ish daughters to europe along with husbands.When I told them we would travel for 11 days with no checked luggage they about had a heart attack.Lufthansa only allows 17.6 pounds and one daughter had 10 and the other 13.My wife and I were at about 13.When on the trip both girls stated am I glad you insisted that we travel light.Hauling into trains,up and down steps and to and from hotels was easy for all of us.

Each trip I pack lighter than previous trips. We spent 7 wks going to 6 countries in Europe in July-Aug of '08, taking mostly trains, and I only had one Rick Steves carry-on suitcase. I still didn't need everything I brought! I packed 2 pair of capris and wore one on the plane (could have gotten by with bringing one and wearing one) and 4 tops were plenty. I packed one pair of Birkenstock sandals, and wore a second pair on the plane. It's very freeing, as Claire said, to bring very little.

I don't regret it all; I will say one thing though, the US customs agents acted weird when I told them I was only carrying one carry-on bag when I came back through Philadelphia. Not sure if they were getting suspicious, but I didn't have to go through any additional screening.

Never regretted packing light. You can buy just about anything in Europe (except large men's clothes). I use the jettison method too - usually take at least one pair of pants etc, that are on their last legs.

The only thing I would regret not bringing is a good book, or some music.

Never regretted packing light for Italy or any other destinations in Europe! Pack your bag and then go back and take 1/3 of the stuff out. If you aren't going to wear something at least 3 times then don't pack it. Lisa I know your destination is Roma but packing light applies to any destination but particularly helpful for Venice. Every time we have been in Venice we have seen people trying to navigate the bridges with massive suitcase/suitcases. Met people in the Venice airport with tons of luggage (cruise they said) to manipulate. It is freeing to pack light! Go for it!

never...my goal is to take less each trip...i even went to a bit of a smaller bag...was using rick's classic bag which is great but always had some spare space so on my last few trips have been using the patagonia mlc...dimensions just a tad shorter and also converts to a backpack which is a must for me...but i think i am at about the right amount of what i pack now...

My husband and I decided to pack light on our 2 week honey mood to europe last year (which included italy and rome)Trust me, you will enjoy the freedom traveling light offers! To be honest, my husband was a little nervous but everything worked out.
I brought:
1 rain jacket/shell
1 fleece sweater
2 long sleeve shirts
2 pairs of pants (which were jeans because we didnt have the 'light weight pants' and didn't want to make that investment
3 or 4 t-shirts
plus socks/underwear/etc

My regret - packing socks that did not dry very fast!

Enjoy!

Never a regret packing light. Travel during warm months is much easier as the fabrics are lighter. I stick to mostly light weight dresses and skorts from Patagonia that are good for day (yes, even hikes) and evening. Must admit that I am not as good about my old one to two pairs of shoes policy from the past. No jeans (too heavy), no blazers, no slacks.

Many regrets on packing light and only carry-on with TSA requirements. No more of that carry-on stuff for us. We Check It now. The balance has sort of changed for us to take big rolly bags in check and nothing but essentials in Carry-On because we take the cheaper multi-flight paths and suffer That whole other sort of lost luggage insanity better than the carry-only method where all your stuff gets questioned three times getting there.

American Adults, should dress well in Italy. Rick is sort of an exception to this.

You asked about regrets: My first trip I went too monochromatic...black, navy, etc. (I had heard that this helped everything match and Europeans don't wear much color) My pictures were very one "note" except for the ones where I was wearing my one red sweater. I loved those pics. Now I bring neutral pants, skirt, etc, but I add color with sweaters and shirts (I don't wear prints...too petite, so they are solid colors) Everything mix and matches but not so monochromatic.

I never pack enough shirts or socks. Socks I end up buying there since they are a fairly cheap item.

I've run out of Rolaids/Tums a couple of times. I've only been able to find Gaviscon antacids which are horrible.

There are already lost of people telling you of the advantage of packing light - and it's true. Packed heavier for a London/Dublin trip last spring and didn't use it all at all. Two favorite memories from previous trips with 2 kids are getting very lost in Barcelona trying to find a self-service laundry and not knowing any Spanish; then a wonderful afternoon in Levanto, Italy drinking wine at a cafe watching kids play at a park and waiting for the next cycle at the other end of the piazza. Taking a break to do laundry can be a great opportunity to slow down for a few!

No regrets, My wife, the queen of overpacking, made a list of everything we could have left, and we did the trip in two carry on bags. Hit the train station a time or two in a hurry, and one bag will seem like to much. Besides, everything you might need will be for sale somewhere close to where you will be. That is a wonderful thing about Europe, they are much more small community oriented. Go light and enjoy! Jeff