I am filing away my trip paperwork of my recent trip and thought this might be helpful. I always review what I brought for any tweaks for next year’s May or September packing list. During this review, there’s nothing that is getting removed or added.
Because of the sporadic heavy rain forecast, I did bring a small umbrella that I planned to donate to a hotel after the first week….which I did.
My carry on weighed 14 pounds packed with the umbrella.
Two items on the plane:
-Cotopaxi Allpa 35L
-ORI Kennington nylon crossbody purse (I keep this down to bare essentials, especially during the day.)
Worn on the plane: thicker black leggings, 3/4 sleeve patterned top, Keen sandals, watch, earrings, underwear.
Clothing packed:
3 dresses - all of them washable in a sink & dry overnight.
1 short sleeve patterned top, a 32 Degree long sleeve plum top, 1 scarf from my previous Spain trip
Columbia black rain jacket & black flats for concert/evening shoes.
Short cotton nightie, underwear.
(The plum top was never worn, even as a top with the scarf for evenings. The weather stayed warmer than I was expecting.)
Toiletry Kit:
Comb, a Pantene tiny tube Rescue shot used as an occasional hair conditioner, toothbrush/paste/dental floss. Makeup: foundation in a tiny sample jar, mascara, eyebrow mascara, eyeliner, lipstick. Deodorant, Oil of Olay makeup remover clothes cut in half, Q-tips, Athlete’s foot cream (seldom need but always bring), OTC meds & prescriptions loaded into 2 tiny days-of-week containers.
Misc:
Money belt w/ passport, Euros, 2 credit cards & 2 ATM cards, drivers license brought in case I need to leave something at a bike rental shop. (I never leave my passport with them.)
A LeSportSac 3-zip small jewelry holder with two pairs of earrings & a necklace. (Bought an extra necklace I planned in Torino.)
In a gallon Ziploc:
-1 foldable hanger (sometimes I bring two. They’re very nice for underwear or dresses drying.)
-Purell individual packets - my essential for trains’ bathrooms, before a meal, etc.
-A gallon & a quart Ziploc (didn’t need them this trip, but sometimes I use for leftover veggies)
-Post-its
Tom Bihn large size travel tray. This sits on the bedside table:
-Extra pair of reading glasses
-An extra pen
-Tiny flashlight (had to add a small ribbon, so I don’t lose it in my coat pocket!)
-Eyeglass mini screwdriver
-Phone & iPad chargers
Other:
-Smaller size iPad
-Mesh zipper with reservations/tickets/hand-maps. (I throw them away as I travel & usually acquire some favorite ticket stubs, a few brochures & some gelato spoons in return.)
Helpful hints:
If you’re wanting to pack lighter (if not, stop reading - LOL!) - Weigh every decision with items placed into a kitchen scale. For example - I have three possible toiletry kits, but after weighing each one, it’s easy to decide which one is my European travel one.
I will select dresses and weigh each one. Then I hang the five lightest ones on the front of the guest bedroom closet door. Which ones need a scarf to look nice? I like a variety of color during my trip; are three of them too similar in color? I hang them there for a week to have time to think through what makes the most sense. After I pick the two or three, I leave those hanging there. Do I still like my decision a week later? If so, that’s the final choice.
If the weather had suddenly changed to an unexpected cold, there were plenty of shops in even the small cities I stayed to buy something - didn’t need to do. And I do like to go into a pharmacy during my trip to pick up toothpaste. I’m enjoying the last bit of the Marvis tube at home now.