Good golly - it's not the clothes!

As you cull stuff and try to move it around, ask yourself this
"Would I REALLY wish I had this if ______ happened while I was out and about?" If the answer is yes, then put it in your 'bus/day' bag. For example, that is where I keep my first aid kit. I'm more likely to really need it when I'm out 'touring' than in the hotel room. Same way with a small pad of paper and pen, hand wipes, etc. But not the hair/body soap, soap flakes, etc. For your time in Venice, you will want to put those things in that bag, but most of the time, no.

Nance, I'd do as Toni suggested and put some of the stuff you may need during the day in your/your husband's day bags. Hand wipes, first-aid stuff, Advil, binoculars, pen and pad, etc, are things you need for a day of sightseeing so divide those sorts of items between you.

I'm curious why you're taking body soap? It's the rare hotel which doesn't provide soap/gel for showering.

For transport, I put everything I can't do without in the smaller carryon bag; i.e., electronics, meds, documents and hand sanitizer, etc. Everything else goes in my suitcase/carryon (20"). But now I see, you have a backpack, not a rollie, then I might try to even out the weight a little more, but it would screw with the organizational side of my brain… I did find that the 'stuff' besides clothes took up more space than I had expected, at first. I like to keep my smaller bag light, and check my carryon suitcase whenever I can so someone else moves it whenever possible. Have a great trip, Wray

Look at these small items and think about what you really need. Some will be necessary, some you can reduce the size, and some you can cut altogether. It just depends on what you need for your specific trip. For example, I don't bring a sewing kit (the likelyhood I'd need it in 3 weeks is low for me - I do, however, make sure buttons are not loose before I leave). Binoculars would be good for nature trips or operas, but not for other trips. What is the duct tape for? Do you have a specific need for it? If so, are there smaller rolls available? In general, if the likelihood that you will need an item is low and it's not medically important, don't bring it. You can buy many things there if you end up needing them.

I think the first aid kit should go into the bag you have with you most of the time, along with your phone and anything you might want on the bus (tablet, book). The other stuff can go in the bag that you leave at the hotel - you won't need razors or soap on the bus or out touring but you will need them in each hotel.

On our European trip last month, our airline gate agent singled my wife and I out of a long line of passengers to weigh my carry on bags. I was 1 kg. over their 10 kg. limit for carry on's. (We'd paid to check my wife's heavier bag.) They were going to require me to check the bag and pay them an additional $50. I really didn't appreciate being made an example.
I opened both suitcases on the spot and spent 5 minutes (holding up the kiosk) repacking 2.2 lbs. from my bag into my wife's bag so I'd be "legal." I continue to carry personal items, toiletries and a Chromebook in a small backpack.
Just be aware of the airlines' rules and be prepared to meet'em.
While I continue to pare down my wardrobe and follow Rick Steves' packing list, I still carried clothes I didn't use. I told my wife next time I travel, I'm going to pack in a 4" attache case and just throw away underwear and buy new as I go.

I would keep at least some of your meds in your carry on bag. I almost packed my allergy meds for the flight home thinking I wouldn't need them. I am so glad that I decided to put them in my carry on (we checked a bag on the way home). So two hours into an 8 hour flight, part of our meal was a kiwi. I was excited as I hadn't had one in a long time. Turns out I had developed an allergy to it and was oh so glad I had my allergy meds.

In terms of handwipes, I would keep them, as the bottle of hand sanitizer needs to go in your 311. The wipes don't.

If your hubby has extra room, I would give him a few things to carry.

Great ideas about thinking about true need - doing that in tossing out meds. Renting apt first week, not in hotel. Have emailed host to find more specific on amenities to see if I can toss soap. Have 1 pkg of moleskin in case, but read that duct tape was good to prevent forming blister as well as solving bag issues, etc. I bought a pack of two mini duct tapes and plan to take 1. Will take hand wipes/a few shout wipes out of 3-1-1 bag.

lol - I sat and resewed button on all new shirts and then ended up packing different shirts! Will toss it as I have pinned a kilt pin along with one large and 2 small safety pins inside my purse.

Binoculars would be good for nature trips or operas, but not for other
trips.

Mira, a lot of people like those for seeing the detail of frescos on very high ceilings of the churches…like the Sistine. But I'd agree with leaving them home if shedding weight.

One phone should do ya too. We don't travel with phones at all (yet) but tell everyone just to email us, or call the hotel if there's a dire emergency. Email is easy with wifi, and usually free, and we like to unplug as much as possible on vacation. I do realize that the situation can be different if there are children at home, though.

My 'sewing kit' consists of a 1"x2" piece of light poster board with black, white, beige, red , blue and yellow thread wrapped around it (like the ones they USED to have in hotels), 2 needles stuck into it, 2 buttons that match hubby's pants and shirts, a few safety pins, and small nurse's bandage scissors (blunt tips, good small blades and not curved like nail scissors). All goes into a very small baggie. Takes almost no space and weight is minimal. I have used this to repair clothes, shoes, day bags, even umbrellas.

Same for first aid kit. A baggie with assorted band aids, a few seri-strips or butterflies (have actually needed these), a few packets of anti-bacterial gel and a few of cortisone gel (moved from 3-1-1 bag after security), a couple of 2x2 gauze pads, a tiny roll of adhesive tape (paper kind that tears easily), chap stick (it works for paper cuts, dry cuticles, bug bites and other things as well as dry lips) and a few alcohol wipes. You could add a bit of moleskin if wanted. Again, it is very small and takes up very little space. I take extras of some things in my 'big bag'.

As for the duct tape (or masking tape or cellophane tape), I have read of many uses here and think it might be wise to have some (but I don't agree with putting it on your skin to protect against blisters- the adhesive is NOT designed for human skin and could cause problems- just take mole skin or use band aids). One suggestion someone once made- don't take even the whole mini roll. Take a very short pencil or a pen cap and wrap a few inches around it (can do the same with the adhesive tape above). You want to take just enough to get you through an emergency (a hole in your bag or sole of shoe coming off, etc.). That will give you time to go buy more, or make other 'repairs' later.

I now put our daily meds in individual 'pill pouches'- tiny baggies you can get at your pharmacy. So Monday's AM meds for me go in one, lunch meds in another, then repeat with Tuesday, etc.. I also have a few Over The Counter meds that we use regularly- Aleve, Dramamine (hubby needs sometimes), Benadryl, antacids, etc. in other pill bags. All the pill bags go together in a baggie (mine in one, hubby's in another, OTCs in a third, then all into another. Each day I put that day's meds and the OTCs into my day bag, along with my inhalers. I also have to take a few hard candies- I am pre-diabetic and sometimes my blood sugar drops and I use them to deal quickly with that.

I also take a small 'nail kit'- small clippers, tweezers, and emery boards (not metal files). The clippers can sub for scissors if needed, plus hubby is always asking to use them to clip hang nails, etc. Emery boards have extra uses, too. This also goes into my day bag.

ALL of this takes up very little space and does not weigh very much at all. Every bit of it has been used multiple times on our trips. I don't take enough to stock a health room at a middle school- just enough to get us through an emergency until we could buy more, or to save having to hunt something down.

it's amazing how over the years the luggage weight gain has transitioned from clothes to gear. On recent trips I've been seeing how my tech gear and toiletries have really hogged up space. With tech gear, even if it's just a phone, you've got the cables and charger to deal with and of course, all other electronics will ahve their own batteries/chargers/accessories. My toiletries bag alone would take up 25% of the space in a typical roller carry-on (21"-22") case. In the old days people just brought toothbrush, toothpaste, maybe a razor. Just have to keep reminding myself I dont' need an entire bottle of advil (maybe just a few for emergencies) and that all other meds/toiletries can be bought along the way as we need them.

Hi Nance. When you say 'tablet', do you mean an ipad like device? If you are bringing a phone, the ipad would be an easy one to consider leaving at home. Enjoy your trip!

Bob - yes, I have a 7 inch tablet that I am bringing. I have downloaded the citymaps2go and tripadvisor offline app onto it. The phone has pictures of other maps on it but will be using phone for texts, a few calls, and as our camera. The tablet also has games to keep Nance happy on the plane. : ) I tried the maps on my phone but by the time I get it large enough to see I don't even know where I started from - hence, the tablet. I am almost done sifting through my own stuff but unfortunately made a bag for dh to carry so am going through his stuff too.

I'll use my iPhone for navigating, maps, guide book, music, and audio guides walking around. I will also take the mini iPad Air for checking email, reading books, watching videos and movies on the airplane and in the room at night.

Since we did not put husband's phone on a plan he is considering not even bringing it since he would only have it for wifi and pictures. We have mine for that. Of course I will kill him if he loses my phone. Note to self - dh only gets to use my phone in the room. snort.

Ray, I guess I missed it or you didn't say, where are you going?

Speaking of maps, from all my travels I've found the most useful map to be the free one they give you at the hotel. There's something about being able to fold it up and stuff it in your pocket and pull it out at a moment's notice, not worrying about damaging it, needing to turn it on, like a device, etc. I usually use that in tandem with my iPhone, which is able to provide GPS locating, to round out my personal navigation package.

I agree with KC that the clothing gets lighter and the gadgets just seem to get heavier. My clothing for 3 weeks all fits into a medium E-bags packing cube. The electronics are always my downfall.

On the plane, I make sure that anything that would be difficult to replace --- glasses, electronics, cables and adapters, and prescription medicines --- stays really close to me.

The bus bag -- well, that's usually my camera bag, along with maybe chapstick or sunscreen, sunglasses, a band-aid or two and a possibly a light sweater or rain jacket, depending on the weather forecast. If the day includes a lot of travel on the bus, I almost always take a light sweater or long sleeved shirt.

KC is soooooo right about the free paper map from the hotel, if it does not already have the hotel marked on it, staff is always prepared to do it....usually w a big red felt tip......you can always find your way "home"

I ended up culling more on the trip. I kept back two shout wipes and one package of soap flakes but threw out wet wipes, more soap flakes, etc. I did need the sewing kit as dh got a hole in something I had to repair. I did need the first aid kit as I got blisters even though I had walked miles at home in well worn shoes - different walking on asphalt vs. cobblestones. I continuously watched where we were in the tour and disposed of things I knew I wouldn't need. Next time I'll know. I never used the stopper or the clothesline I had taken.

I did end up taking the pacsafe 400 as a second carryon bag for dh to carry and am glad I did. dh and I packed one change of clothes and our shared 3-1-1 in it and left our backpacks on the bus for the stops in Venice and Monterosso. I used my medium sized Travelon purse for my second carryon and it held our tablets, cables, and six port charger, as well as an extension cord which I did need in a few hotels.

That sounds great.....

Excellent. Now...before you forget...make notes on your packing lists for next time. You will think you will remember, but you will not. Trust me on this!

I'm glad I read this topic. I am preparing for our first trip using only carry-ons. I purchased the carry-on size luggage that is the correct size for international planes. I didn't realize I also need to think about weight - ugh!

We're going to Hong Kong next week and there's a fancy banquet dinner involved with our family, requiring a suit and tie on my part. Which of course, also requires the requisite dress shoes to go with. That all just blasted a huge hole in my packing budget, unfortunately. So we're checking our luggage for sure. But even with the "luxury" (or perceived luxury) of checking our bags, there's still a lot to be said for smart packing and carefully selecting clothes that are versatile and work well together (for example, pants and shirts that can all match each other vs. a shirt that ONLY goes with a certain pair of pants). Also, toiletries, equipment, etc. that can be shared between you and your travel mate (for example, you only need one guidebook between the two or three of you).

My usual packing ritual consists of taking out a folding table (those typical square poker tables) one month before the trip and ever day or few days, I'll put something on it that I would eventually pack for the trip. Over the course of the month I would have had time to consider, reconsider, add too, take from, the items on that table, until the trip draws near and I'm comfortable with those things that have made the cut and are ready to go in the bag.

I think the lesson is to fight the urge that all of us former scouts have to "be prepared". It takes a little training to realize that there is a difference between the things you are very likely to need, versus the things that MIGHT be handy to have in one of 6 relatively unlikely scenarios... and that the "what if" things can almost always be easily purchased on arrival. Safe travels to all!

I have found that soap and water work much better then the useless hand wipes and "sanitizer" (and the way most of us use the sanitizer it's not really sanitizing LOL!

I also don't take binoculars as I have never used them

I do take a small first aide kit with basic meds and i would NEVER check prescription meds since I would not want to have to race around the first day back home refilling lost medications :)

In the last 15 years, I've made 9 2-week trips and 1 3-week trip in Europe, 23 weeks, and I have never needed a sewing kit. Come to think of it, I probably haven't used one at home in 15 years, either.

Four years ago, I took a trip to Europe and took along a couple of Ibuprofen for each day - I have arthritis in one knee. I did so much walking that my knee bothered me more than usual, and I used it all up half way through. Guess what? The sell Ibuprofen over there (although they pronounce it "E-bu-pro-fen").

Would you believe Europeans make frequent trips to America just to buy the necessary things they can't get over there? Nah, I didn't think you would, so why pack like you believe it?

YES they do , a friend comes with her mother and what do they buy here in America. A bras that her mum can't get there !

I take a smaller used bar of soap when I travel since I don't like the tiny bars you get at hotels and small tiny bottles of shampoo/ conditioner because some of the hotel shampoo does terrible things to your hair " dry / frizzy / ugh. Bandages , other items put in baggies so no boxes or containers. I might buy a tiny bottle of Asprin or antacid ?? just so I can pack that instead of a larger bottle of pills. If they check your bags then they know what the pills / medicine is. I throw the bottles away "shampoo , med. " when I leave for home. I also pack a couple of older sleep tops , unmentionables "underwear" so at the end I toss them. I take meds, camera - battery , ect onboard the plane with me. Washing clothes out at night in the sink is part of my routine and I do use the clothes line I bought from RS every trip.

Of all of the things you've listed, I only take these - ( but take your meds!) aspirin, 10 band-aids, foundation makeup in a sample plastic jar the size of a short stack of quarters, mascara, lipstick, disposable razor (my hubby brings his phone). You don't need the rest. Use the shampoo & soap at the hotel, and you can also use it to wash clothes in the sink. Use your camera phone as your binoculars if you need one. Skip the rest.

If you're packing light, you don't need to have this separate bag for switching items for Venice. We've been there multiple times and always just have our carry-on suitcase. I should clarify, when I pack my suitcase, I aim to have at least 25% of it empty when I start. Four main outfits are enough when you're washing clothes every two days, and you'll want some room to bring home souvenirs.