Women: One Bag Only?

I just spent 6 weeks in Italy with a 22" carryon and a tote bag. That also included my laptop. Plan to dress in layers and hand wash items. Make good use of space bags. Once she has lugged her bags up and down train station steps and lifted them in and out of buses, she will appreciate smaller bags. I only found 2 stations with a working elevator. Bags in trains go on racks above your head and only accommodate a 24" or 26" bag.

You could always find a place with lots of stairs and rough surfaces to practice on.

TAB

My wife and I went to Italy in mid-Nov 2007; Rome (6 nts), Venice (3 ns), and Verona (1 nt) and we carried on plus on backpack ea. She used a rollaway bag and I had the RS convertible backpack. Our second backpacks were just for stuff we may need on the flight and our carry-on's went overhead.
She doesn't need shoes for different occasions - she just thinks she does. One pair for the flight and one in the carryon is plenty (and 1 more than needed IMO). Jeans were fine, although I wore non-denim so it would dry quick.
We took 1 night and went to a laundrymat in Rome (night 5) and were good for the rest of the trip. It was SO worth it when having to switch planes and not wait for luggage - especially with 90 mn layover in Paris for return trip. We needed all of it.
As far as the contact solution - she's stuck unless she can transfer into smaller bottles. They do have stores in Europe to buy lotions too. How much time is she going to use getting ready each day?

Sounds like your wife and my wife have the same concerns about packing for Italy. No matter what anyone say's she has her own mind made up. My advice, buy a bigger siutcase.

Greg

7 days is easy in one carry on size bag. My daughter and I did this in a backpack

You can't bring your entire closet. It's NOT about the clothing, it's about the experience. 7 days is nothing. I got by with one pair of good walking shoes (mine were Puma), one pair of black pants. I took 6 shirts, one pair of socks (6) for everyday. My make up is minimum. The hotel supplies body lotion, and in a pinch you can buy any other supplies there.

We went first week of November. We took 2 layers for warmth. One was a fleece jacket, and the other a water proof jacket. (wear on plane!) These 2 items combined were fine for the 50-60 temps we had.

Take a warm scarf, a cute hat and some light gloves (wear on the plane) and you are set.

If you are going in Feb, no one is going to see what she has on under her coat!

Jeans are fine, everyone wears them. My pants were Prana, a nice stretchy nylon that was so comfortable to wear! No jeans for me- to heavy, too cold.

You can each take another personal bag and put some of your items in it. It can be as large as a school back pack. You can get quite a big in that.

With some adjustments for the seasons of the year, one can travel with the same gear for one week or two months. I've done it with a 17# backpack. Some attractive sandals can cover for everything but the daily walking. A couple of different tops and scarves can create a variety of outfits. Each person should be able to handle their own baggage for whichever form of transit you will be using. A couple I know took 165# of luggage with them to Italy; then they took trains from place to place. They were miserable moving that much stuff on and off trains. The contact lens solution can be carried in a couple of smaller containers (3.5 oz max per container); all the stuff on her list can be bought in Europe. They actually have stores there with many choices in each category. I get bored with my clothes in a few days, but the trade-off is that I can pack/unpack in a few minutes and move about with my luggage without needing help or ruining my back.

JFK,

I am traveling with 3 other women to Italy the 2nd week in March and my solution to their questioning the one carry-on bag was to meet with them with my packed bag to show them it really can be done. As for the contacts, does she have glasses for back-up that she can wear for a week? She can always take them off for photos... Keep reminding her that the people she sees in Italy are NEVER going to see her again and don't particularly care if her makeup is flawless or if she has already worn that shirt twice or that her glasses are ugly. :-)

You may have to spend a little money to get items that will fit into one bag but it will be worth every cent.

Contacts: Ask her eye dr. if they have sample bottles of her solution, she won't go through more than 3-6 oz in one week, esp. if she wears her glasses on the plane. If she doesn't believe it, have her get two sample bottles, use one for a week and see.

Makeup: Almost every makeup product comes in some sort of travel size or bottle that is less than 3 oz, she may have to buy new stuff just for the trip.

Lotions: If she is using more than 3 oz in one week (test it, I was surprised) and therefore can't just put it in a smaller bottle, maybe a trip to a fancy italian store to buy new lotion will be a fun alternative to dry skin.

Bulky sweaters: She should go shopping, get two sweaters that are thin and warm, merino wool, or cashmere blend. That, her winter coat (wear it on the plane, don't pack) a hat and scarf will keep her warm.

More below-

Cont:

The key to one bag packing for me is that every item of clothing matches or coordinates with all the other items, the Italians wear a lot of black, so follow their lead. Also remember that besides the people in your hotel, no one will ever see you twice or remember that they have, so repeating fabulous outfits is not a problem.

Shoes: One pair for walking around all day, one pair for a special dinner, etc. If she doesn't have a pair that matches every outfit, try a metallic shoe, bronze looks good with black, navy and brown and metallic shoes are all the rage right now, my young, hip sister told me so.

No, nice jeans aren't frowned upon in Italy, just don't wear them out to a nice dinner.

Also, Rick's advice to pack your bag and then carry/wheel it around is a really good test, suddenly, I didn't need as much. Besides, if you carry on, you'll know you have your luggage when you land, not always true if you check it.

Do your best to persuade her--you will both be much happier for it! In addition to the suggestions above, I recommend taking long underwear for warmth. Then she can pack lighter cashmere/wool sweaters. Have her wear her bulkiest clothing on the plane, since they tend to be cold anyway.

Assuming you will be doing the usual tourist things (i.e., going to the Colosseum/walking through the Forum) jeans and sturdy shoes will come in handy. The ancient Romans built nice, straight roads, but those paving stones are uneven and the stairs are steep. However, jeans are bulky, so I packed one pair and took two lighter-weight black slacks which were perfectly acceptable for a nice dinner out.

Buy scarves, lotions, makeup, etc. in Italy rather than packing them. Saves you the trouble of dealing with the liquids rule, and you get the chance to see what Italian women wear.

Be ruthless in packing. If you "might" need it, leave it home.

Dear JFK,

My bride takes only one carry on for 22 days at a pop. At the very least, try to get her to experience the joy of dragging several bags around your neighborhood for a week. This may get her to see the light. Good luck and safe trip!

Great advice from a poster on earlier thread... wear long silk underwear under clothes. Don't have to wear such bulky layers and in addition, saves on laundering.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

It is harder to pack for winter travel, but it can be done. If she takes 2 or 3 sweaters in one of those space saving roll-up plastic bags, she will have room for a second pair of shoes. I just spent a week in New York, when the temp was in the 30's, with a 22-inch roll-aboard and a large purse. Bring a good raincoat on the plane and use it as a blanket rather than trying to pack it. A good wool hat and gloves are also essential. Think layers for warmth and for easier laundering.
Have a wonderful time.

You are all inspiring me so much!! To be fair, for our semi-annual week long cruises I usually pack (for myself and darling daughter) a LARGE suitcase, a Medium Suitcase, a Big Duffle of snorkeling stuff, and a carryon sized bag for excursions.. oh, yeah, and I check a cardboard box with water and sodas. BUT (big caveat, thank you), we live in Florida and drive right to the port and check in curbside. We also change for formal nights into lovely gowns and each have many pairs of shoes ;-)

Now we will be cruising again (for 7 days WITH formal nights), but this time out of the Port of Civitavecchia, and will be spending 4 days in and around Rome. I'm going to TRY TRY TRY to follow your sage advice and see what I can cram into 2 carry-ons. Ok, so my wardrobe will be all black -- maybe I'll just be a little more chic that way. Thanks for the great tips!

Donna,
Throwing a cruise into the mix makes things a bit more difficult since they do have formal nights and such. So you need not only clothes for general "schlepping" about town, but for the formal nights too. Of course those clothes will only end up being worn for a few hours and then back into the closet they go...
I think in general people forget how so many people that they've never seen before, don't know, will never see again, etc... don't really care what you're wearing. There's nothing wrong with wearing something you're comfortable wearing, but if it takes you an hour to 'get ready,' are you REALLY comfortable wearing it???
You can do it!

My husband and I traveled in Italy ( Lake Como to Venice,Florence, Sorrento and Rome) for over 2 weeks in 2001. We each had a carry on and a backpack. We traveled in May, so didn't have to deal with the colder weather and sweaters, etc. Pick one color and coordinate all the outfits. There are lots of clothes made with microfiber material that can be washed in the sink and dry overnight. Also, check out the Travelsmith site. It carries clothes and other products just for travel. Now they have the crinkle shirts that are designed to look wrinkled. A broomstick skirt might be another option. She will appreciate the lighter load on those trains and buses.
Good luck.

Great advice so far. Check other parts of this site for suggested packing lists. You can plan out a very nice coordinating wardrobe and only take a few key items. I spent 21 days in Italy with one carry on sized backpack and had things I wished I hadn't brought because I never needed them. In my opinion, you do not need a completely unique outfit for seven separate days.

However, if your wife is set, let her take what she wants. But make a deal that she carries what she packs - on the bus, on the train, and on the long walk to the hotel. One week hauling the unnecessary may change her mind in the future. As Rick says, you never wish you had packed heavier.