Packing for Holiday Travel

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Started 6 months ago by Irulan
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Irulan
Member

Various threads have popped up about the wonders of one-bag travel, and I thought I'd revisit the topic now that (US) Thanksgiving and Christmas are approaching. If you're planning to travel this season, what's one new thing that you're doing this time around, or one old thing that you're not doing?

This year, I've switched from a 20" rollaboard to a small duffel bag. I'm a relatively petite woman, and one of my travel rules is that I have to be able to carry and lift my own bags into airplane luggage compartments. Duffels and soft-sided bags are a lot easier for me on that front.

Posted 6 months ago #
Ella
Member

If it's cold-weather travel, I wear my bulkiest clothes and heaviest boots aboard the plane. I like duffels or other soft bags for overhead bins - unlike a sturdier bag, a soft duffel doesn't crack my head as I pull it down. I'm short (5'3") so I can usually get a tall man to lift it up for me. If I'm in a window seat, I keep the bag down with me and use it as a foot rest. Another plus for window seating is that I can take off my bulky sweater and scarf, roll them up, and use them as cushions against the window side. My coat or jacket becomes a lap blanket.

Posted 6 months ago #
ninakk
Member

I am fairly tall and semi strong for a woman. Unfortunately I am also persistent when I should not be; a 20-23 kg travel bag swung over my back and carried up the stairs of six unusually high storeys (no elevator) on numerous occasions has led me to have a spot in my back between the spine and right shoulder blade that never heals; it is like something has been ripped off or out. Stupid. A good bag as well as healthy lifting habits are key to pleasant travelling.

Posted 6 months ago #
bandicoot
Member

i've got no holiday travel plans, but i love one bag travel and i'll be watching this topic with interest.

ninakk, i have the same permanently damaged feeling spot in the same place on my own back.
after years of pain, i got a great suggestion from a physio: relax and lossen the thoracic spine.
to do this, i simply use a yoga roller (a kind of super dense foam tube) and a pair of tennis balls taped together.
i roll the top half of my spine over the roller and let it rest at various points.
plenty of cracking and release accompanies this stage.
then i get the taped-together tennis balls and position then them up and down my spine (one tennis ball digging into the muscle on either side of the spine) and relax completely onto them, then use my arms to increase the stretch.
if you google bakballs, you'll see techniques illustrated.
i am not miraculously healed, but i am a LOT more comfortable.

Posted 6 months ago #
Irulan
Member

Sorry to hear about your back, ninakk. I was thinking more along the lines of Ella's head-cracking issue when I mentioned soft bags. Yikes.

How does wearing the bulky clothes affect your movement through security, Ella? I wear slip on shoes and less bulky clothes because I find those more comfortable when I'm trying to pull my bag and take off my stuff at the same time. That could also be because I'm clumsy ;)

I do make it a point to pack the least bulky clothes that are still weather appropriate rather than have to fight with bulky sweaters or have to explain leggings under my pants to the TSA people.

Posted 6 months ago #
Ella
Member

I've never had security people make me remove any of my clothes beyond my shoes (except once when I was strip-searched in Cairo in the 1970s, but that's another story...). Boots are zippered, so that's easy.

Posted 6 months ago #
Another Deb
Member

I would not be carrying books or photos to show family pictures. I can use my IPod Touch to entertain myself with Audio or digital books and music and can also load pictures on it to share with family.

Posted 6 months ago #
luxcat
Member

I recently switched from my super light weight roll-aboard to a much smaller soft over-the-shoulder bag. I find that I pack less and do just fine for up to about 4-5 days in a moderate climate where layers suffice to keep me warm. I recently had great success traveling on a business trip (3 days total, 1 day travel only 2 days requiring business casual kit, the last day of business travel clothing to be worn on plane home that night) with:

*one pair black Lucy pants, grey t-shirt, black cardigan, large scarf, slip-on comfortable dress shoes
*one pair black dress pants (rolled carefully so no wrinkle), red silk sweater, same cardigan, same shoes
*one pair black dress pants with stretchy waist (to make 4 hour flight comfy), short sleeved dressy top, black cardigan, necklace, same shoes
*I tossed one dressy/evening wear top and a pair of heels in there in case of unexpected evening event
*one set microfiber pjs
*undies, stockings
*one TSA approved plastic bag of (toothpaste, good moisturizer, foundation, toner, mascara, lipstick x2 (one light for day one dark for night), mini hand cream, hair gel, eyeshadow, under-eye concealer, small packet hair conditioner)
*one 4"x2"x8" waterproof bag of misc hygiene stuff (can post the list if anyone cares to see it) including earplugs, flashlight, granola bars
*one large handbag with my iPad, phone, chargers, notebook and materials needed for business trip as well as my wallet and such.

I didn't even fill the bag, had plenty of room left. I was absurdly pleased when the taxi driver said "oh, you travel light" when I hopped in to get to the airport on the way home.

DH and I are off on a new adventure for five days this Xmas (New Orleans) and I'll have to decide if I can go with the small bag or break out my rollaboard carry on. The problem is that I will need two outfits a day- one day one night- which I usually don't have to plan for on business trips (the majority of my travel).

Posted 6 months ago #
Laetitia in Australia
Member

What size bags are we talking, and is this for carry-on or stow?

A few years ago during winter I wore my ugg boots onto the plane so I wouldn't have to take them off while also keeping an eye on where the expensive camera and laptop were up to in the screening process. My steel cap shoes, which I took for walking purposes, were packed in the bag that was stowed in the hold. I changed shoes at the other end.

Posted 6 months ago #
Anita
Member

My Chrismas travel plans are spending a week on a beach somewhere sunny with my mom, which makes my packing extremely easy. I plan on taking my purse and one small overnight bag. It will be a very welcome change from the past few trips when I needed as many as 6 outfits a day and felt like an idiot having to pack a suitcase for 3 days.

Posted 6 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

We are going to Hawaii for 3 weeks right after the first of the year. I think we will take one regulat suitcasefor the two of us, mainly because we both have swim fins, snorkels and masks, which take up too much room in a carry-on. We are at a level in our mileage plan where baggagefees are waived, and Kona is such a small airport that baggage comes out quickly. Otherwise packing is light - loce tropical vacations. We leave our Alaska winter gear in the car for our return.

Posted 6 months ago #
Robin
Member

This year my one new rule is that I'm not bringing an extra set of "fancy" winter boots when I'm traveling. When it's cold enough that you're wearing ugly waterproof boots, nobody cares what they look like. Indoors you're in stocking feet anyway.

Posted 6 months ago #
BreakingFree
Member

I am lucky to live less than 200 miles from my family, so I do not travel light for those trips, although it would probably do me some good to try to travel lighter. <sigh> I sometimes have my trunk packed with stuff I am decluttering for my Mom and sister to look through before it goes to Goodwill. Then I bring my small softside suitcase (carry-on sized), laptop case, and purse.

I do try to travel light for plane trips, though. I use the same small suitcase (purchased before wheels were the norm) and put the laptop in a smaller case inside that, then pack an empty tote to use as an everyday bag. I carry a small bag with stuff like wallet, kindle, ipod, etc. I try to use the same black slip-on shoes and switch slacks/jeans every other day. I bring along a small packet of detergent in case I need to wash something in the sink. I once packed too little for a week-long trip (I thought I would have access to a washing machine) and felt less than fresh by the end of that trip, despite a daily shower. :-/

This works for me since I do not travel much, but if I did I would invest in a good small wheeled bag. If I traveled by plane for the holidays, I would shop online and have things shipped to my destination, or rely on gift cards.

Posted 6 months ago #
Irulan
Member

Laetitia, I think carry-on size (max 22" high) is a realistic limit unless you have specialty items, like baby gear or pkilmain's snorkel stuff.

I agree that traveling by car does not have the same "packing light" imperative as traveling by plane or train, BreakingFree. I still use a small suitcase, but I'm much more likely to take advantage of the trunk and bring a cooler, travel pillows, etc.

One small thing we do that is a huge help is to keep some toiletries at my parents' house (driving distance) and my in-law's house (plane distance). We don't have to pack toiletries and we don't have to buy any when we're there. If we run out, we just use whatever they have.

Posted 6 months ago #
bandicoot
Member

luxcat, i know that feeling.
i came through customs and quarantine at 3am one night in august, with my one small bag and pulled out a handful of vanilla beansto declare.
the inspector goggled at my single small bag, then surveyed the room full of people opening enormous suitcases piled high on trolleys and asked me, is that really ALL you have?

Posted 6 months ago #
Rosa
Member

What about winter travel? My son's coat, snow pants, gloves & boots fill nearly his entire (slightly smaller than regular) carryon bag.

I wish it were possible to cheaply rent a locker at our airport. I know they don't allow it for security concerns, but the choice of getting home to -10 weather and no coats, or taking Minnesota gear to Arizona and back really sucks.

Posted 6 months ago #
irishbell
Member

Layering a few shirts, a short sleeved t and a couple long sleeved shirts over that,
usually suffices for us when we've travelled from warm climes back to MI in the winter.

Posted 6 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

Rosa - we face the same issues. We leave winter gear either in the car (if it's parked at the airport) or have whoever is picking us up bring it with them. Not 100% perfect, and I often do stick a hat and gloves in my luggage.

Posted 6 months ago #
Irulan
Member

@Rosa: Can you pack one of those space bags? You could put the coat and pants in the bag once you get to the airport, and then roll up the bag to get the air out before you put it in your suitcase.

I tried that one Christmas so that I'd have enough room in my bag to bring some presents. It worked fine, although my bag weighed a lot. If you're flying domestic, the weight shouldn't be a problem.

Posted 6 months ago #
geochica72
Member

I spend a fair amount of energy figuring this out fairly often. I find it interesting that apparently people in other countries don't have the same kinds of security issues as here in the U.S. I fly domestically about 10 times a year, and wouldn't want to wear lots of bulky clothes on the plane because in the U.S. you have to take off all outer clothing layers to go through security - including coats, jackets, sweaters, if you have a shirt on underneath a bulky layer you have to take it off. And all shoes come off every single time, even flip flops. (Which is why I always wear socks to the airport, I think you can catch gross foot fungi from the floors in security. Ick.) I even specifically choose to wear an underwire-free bra to the airport to avoid extra screening.

I live in a cold place, so in winter I wear my coat from the car to the actual airport, then often stuff it into my suitcase. I frequently check a bag, so I get it back out before leaving the airport upon my arrival. This means I have to weigh my bag ahead of time with my coat in it, because in the U.S. all airlines charge you extra - sometimes a LOT extra - for a bag over 50 lbs (22kg). I do usually fly Southwest, which still gives you 2 fee-free checked bags. I find it worth the extra time to avoid hauling my bag through security, the airport train, the miles of concourse, bringing it into the bathroom with me, keeping track of it the whole time, kicking it with my feet while walking, lifting it up into the overhead space, it's just a hassle. I'd say one-bag travel for anything other than a two- or three-night trip in warm to cool weather is overrated. I just accept it.

this year I think I'll get one of those handy suitcase scales that you can take with you to weigh your bag, so if you're in a hotel you can still see if you'll be overweight at the airport.

Posted 6 months ago #

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