My wife and I are traveling to Italy soon for 13 days. will be spending first week or so on Amalfi Coast with the last 4 days in Rome before returning home. We are committed to packing everything into one 21" carry-on size bag each, plus a camera bag and her 'purse/backpack'.
But - we have a wedding at the end of the weed in Amalfi! I need to pack a full suit and she needs to pack a formal dress, shoes, etc.
Anyone have any suggestions for getting a suit crammed into my bag and still having is useable by the time we get there? Should we just suck it up and getting folding suit/dress hanger and add as a third bag? Suggestions?
thanks!
David.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, US
127 posts
Can you ship the suit and dress there and back? That might actually be cheaper than the airlines' extra luggage fees? Can your wife squeeze a dress in that is appropriate for a wedding that can be used for other portions of your trip as well(and have the hotel press it the night before the wedding?) but a cuit of course takes up much more room.
Or ask another guest who might not be as committed to packing light if he or she wouldn't mind bringing it to the wedding?
I'd say just check your suitcases and use a garment bag for your carry on, but I know a lot of people are physically incapable of checking a bag :)
Posted by
OP
Phoenix
6 posts
Well, we actually are committed to only taking a 21" bag each - but I must confess we were planning on checking them. We were less concerned with checking or flight than having too much to lug around between train connections, etc.
We are the only ones travelling from our city so no one else to take for us, unfortunately. Also, we are staying at a rented villa for the first week so no place to really ship to.
David.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
There are times when you have to break the one bag rule -- simply a matter of physics. When we do cruises we have that problem. Our solution is to pack our normal travel wardrobe in our two carryon size, backpack style of bags. The extra clothing -- suit, dress, shoes -- for the cruise or the wedding goes into an additional carryon size rolling bag. That gives us three bags but very manageable. We fold everything using the packing envelopes which lets everything travel very well and wrinkle free.
Posted by
OP
Phoenix
6 posts
I had been considering one of the EC folding envelopes, the larger looks like it might fit a suit.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
That is what we use. And large does handle a suit well. Just make sure it will fit in your bag. We use a medium in our regular bags. The clothing will have creases but we find the crease fall out within a day or two.
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
113 posts
What are EC folding envelopes?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17440 posts
David, my husband is taking a suit for the night we will see a ballet at La Scala. We are taking carry-on bags only (he'll use the RS rolling bag). Last night he "preacticed" his packing---he folded the suit carefully and it fit, along with his dress shirt, into the 20" Eagle Creek packing envelope. He placed this in the bottom of the bag, leaving plenty of room for the rest of his clothing and other stuff. It will stay ther undisturbed throughout the trip.
He is planning on having the suit pressed when we get to Milan, if need be.
My dress and shoes take up very litttle space, so I won't have to worry about that.
Posted by
Morrison, CO, USA
893 posts
My husband and I both use the EC (Eagle Creek) folding envelopes and a RS 21" (each) carryon for domestic and for international flights. We bought them at "The Container Store" here in Denver. We were looking at them one day when a woman walked up and picked up 2 that she said were gifts for friends. She told us that she is a travel agent and that they are great. She was right! We haven't checked bags since! As for a formal dress, you wife might get away with a long skirt and soft top. The suit might be trickier, but if there are others traveling from the states, you probably won't be the only one with a suit with a few wrinkles.
The bride & groom are going to be who everyone is looking at anyway! Have a Great Trip!
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12314 posts
You are traveling thousands of miles to attend a wedding. I doubt people will criticize you for not wearing the same clothes you would wear to a wedding in Phoenix.
The dress is easy. A polyester cocktail length dress takes up no room at all. Wear a dress you like enough to wear more than just to the wedding. You can even substitute a nice skirt and top; chances are good they won't kick you out. Dress it up with a scarf you purchase in Italy. The shoes are the hardest part. I suggest a pair of simple/nice looking sandals but my wife insists on heels (which means one non-flexible pair of shoes in her bag).
For the husband. Wear a blazer on the plane. Match it with a decent button up shirt and slacks that you will wear more than once during your trip. Add a tie to your pack list and you're fine.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
And don't forget to check with your airline on any weight restrictions for carry-on. It varies wildly from airline to airline.
Posted by
Bloomington, USA
41 posts
A lot of good suggestions here. If you really can't get it all into your two carry-on bags, consider ditching the camera bag & adding a backpack for yourself.