Buongiorno tutti! We are in Italy now and I regrettably packed too much. We were in Italy in 2019 and traveled with a backpack (filled just under 17lbs) and a handbag and it was perfect. For this trip, we are traveling with another couple and I got caught in the “but what ifs, and it’s our 30th anniversary so I want to have more options” trap. So I packed my backpack to 21 lbs and all four adults checked bags through to Milan (on Swissair). We stayed 5 days in Vernazza - don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not worth staying more than a few nights. There was so much to see! After the crowds left for the day, the town was a delight. La Torre was delicious and worth the wait. Our favorite was a drink and caprese salad at Gianni Franzi Deck. Florence was way too crowded and just two full days was plenty of time to climb the duomo, and take a short tour to see the David. We had the best time and meal at Trattoria Bordino near Ponte Vecchio. We will return to Florence another time to take in all the museums. Now in Montepulciano for a week. Although the backpacks are way too heavy, with all the steps on our trip so far - the backpacks are a necessity. We brought Rick Steve’s zip top collapsible travel tote - absolutely a must for our trinkets and purchases. But still, our backpacks are too heavy. Bottom line? Nobody cares what you wear. Nobody cares if you have one pair of sandals or two. Women wear leggings. Men wear shorts. I brought too many dresses when I needed only one. We have reworn the same few outfits and the rest has stayed in my bag. White sneakers? Not necessarily a smart idea hiking the trails on the Cinque Terre. But definitely a must to wear a good pair of sneakers - don’t wear anything less supportive or with less traction while in Cinque Terre. All in all, I could have only brought a third of my bag!! I knew this in preparing for this trip, but I didn’t trust my intuition or advice from this forum. If you are staying in a city and not traveling from place to place, feel free to consider bringing too much and stuffing it into a rolling bag. Otherwise, a backpack with a few days of clothing is plenty. Pack a light pair of sandals if you must, and wear your sneakers while traveling.
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
2660 posts
Packing too much for the first trip since the before times seems to be a thing.
I over packed a bit for the RS tour I took in the spring and it will not be happening today as I pack for my flight to Europe tomorrow.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
2790 posts
Normally I would suggest heading to the post office and just mailing stuff back. But you’re in Italy and you may never see it again. Option two might be to decide what you like to donate to a local charity. You won’t see it that way either but at least it goes to a good cause as opposed to being lost in the Italian postal system for the next couple years😂
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1880 posts
Nobody cares what you wear.
If only people would believe this.
Posted by
Brooklyn, NY
4256 posts
So true. We are leaving Friday for Spain. I will pack our carry on bags today, weigh them, then take items out. It’s a process. I was looking at the weather and saying, what if I need xxxx. Can’t do that cause you end up with items you don’t need.
Posted by
Land of La
9219 posts
Other than that Mrs Lincoln how was the play.
Thanks for sharing about packing light but are you enjoying your travels.
Posted by
California
217 posts
"Pack a light pair of sandals..."
Absolutely great advice. Your feet do care what you wear and they need a break after a day of hiking.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11775 posts
My “dressy” outfit is nice jeans with a blouse and a cardigan I can wear over it if it is colder. Works from 70+ degrees to 40 degrees if I wear my puffy coat. Leather booties are my dressy shoes. Never been kicked out of a restaurant and only my husband knows how few clothes I have.
I do want to burn my clothes when I get home, though.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8319 posts
Every international trip I travel lighter. If it won't fit in a 21" rolling bag, it doesn't go.
You would be surprised how long you can wear jeans or khakis that were heavily starched at the laundry before leaving.
And we never buy any souvenirs.
Last 3 major trips were with my wife riding a Luggie folding portable power scooter. We did fine in London and Athens. But she couldn't go all over Venice with the arch bridges. It sure beats trying to walk in those huge airports. And she goes to the front of every line.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14723 posts
Terrific post! When you have time do a packing list of everything you brought so you can remember in a year what was too much! Trust me on this…!!!
Posted by
Indianapolis, IN
369 posts
I did the same thing Pam suggested above after coming home from my trip in August. The list is titled "Master Packing List, Do Not Change"!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33818 posts
Nobody cares what you wear.
absolutely correct
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14723 posts
“The list is titled "Master Packing List, Do Not Change"!”
Linda! That made me laugh out loud! Yes, my brain needs that warning too!
Posted by
OP
62 posts
UPDATE: DO PACK (or buy in Italy) your own tissues. We have been in several towns in the Tuscany region and I actually left my tissues in our room and of course the public toilettes did not have TP.
And I agree that making a detailed packing list when I return home is very wise.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
you cannot walk into a mid-scale restaurant in Civdale del Friuli dressed this way either
Why? Since you have described my best outfit, I wonder what would happen to me in a mid-scale restaurant in godforsaken Cividale that did not happen in starred restaurants in Rome, Turin, Milan and Modena.
Incidentally, if you don't trust the subsidized postal system you can always pay the market price and trust private companies like DHL or UPS.