The Anatomy of a Well-Packed Suitcase
Packing with a purpose assures that everything is easily visable and accessible without having to disrupt your entire suitcase and repack every time you change locations. Packing light will make all the difference when you travel by train, climb stairs with luggage, and roll along on cobblestone streets. We provide a specific packing list for each Che Bella tour, but here are some solid packing tips learned from years on the road.
Try to travel with a 9″ × 21″ × 14″ expandable rollerboard suitcase. I like the Swiss Army brand. This standard size fits in an overhead bin in the U.S. and trans-Atlantic flights and no matter how much you stuff it, it’s hard to exceed the 50-lb. international or even 44-lb. discount carrier weight limit. This size is easy to maneuver through crowds, lift and store in your hotel room.
If you need more space, a carry-on, expandable backpack allows you to use both of your hands to better maneuver your rollerboard suitcase. Finish your ensemble with a small purse or a day pack with a strap that crosses your body.
Most museums will require you to check a larger backpack before entering, which is very inconvenient, so a small purse or day pack is the best way to go. I like a purse with lots of organizing pockets and slots. This way I am not rooting around in a cavernous bag, opening it up to a possible pickpocket.
I also hook a personal alarm on to my purse: Vigilant makes a good product.
How to Pack
As we say in the business: Lay out everything you think you need to wear and the money you are going to bring. Then, put back half the clothes and double the cash. We can now begin.
Sandy Gregory, owner, Che Bella Tours
- Stuff your shoes with their coordinating socks (1 pair for each shoe only) and stack them on the wheel side of the suitcase so they don’t put extra weight on your other, lighter items while in the upright position. Try to bring only 3 pairs of shoes, including 2 pairs of good walking shoes or sandals that you exchange out every day, and one designed to wear for evening activities.
- Cobblestones and heels do not mix, so consider a wedge if you must have some lift.
- If the weather is cooler, a pair of boots makes you look very European. Born and Clarks have a full line of shoes, boots, exercise shoes and sandals for men and women that don’t scream “American Tourist” and are very comfortable, and I do like Sketchers walkers for a washable gym shoe option I can also wear nicely with capri pants or a sun dress.
Helpful Hint: Collect the shower caps at hotels and use them as shoe covers. Bring a light pair of flip-flops to wear in your hotel room so you don’t have to experience its history through the footsteps of its previous guests.
- On top of your shoes, stack jeans, pants, skirts and dresses by tightly rolling them.
- Pants, skirts and shorts: Fold in half lengthwise so that the back pockets face outward. Roll tightly from the bottom to the waistband.
- Dresses: Fold each sleeve backward to create a rectangle. Fold the entire garment in half lengthwise, smooth wrinkles. Roll tightly from the bottom hem up.
- On the other side of the suitcase, line up your shirts and sweaters and fold them using a vertical fold/roll. Fold each sleeve backward to create a rectangle. Fold the entire garment in half, smooth wrinkles, then fold in half again, rolling in any extra material.
- Place these items vertically, as if you were filing them into a cabinet. This will allow you to view all of your tops at a glance and spend less time searching, sorting and sifting through your clothes.
- Place these items vertically, as if you were filing them into a cabinet. This will allow you to view all of your tops at a glance and spend less time searching, sorting and sifting through your clothes.
- Ziplock Bags are your friend. Undergarments, pajamas and belts are all together and easily accessible if rolled and packed in large Ziplock bags.
- Bring two extra: one for dirty laundry and one as a wet bag for hand wash, a bathing suit or rain gear that needs to be transported before you have time to dry it out. Put this bag on the outside edge of the suitcase to help cushion toiletries.
- Bring two extra: one for dirty laundry and one as a wet bag for hand wash, a bathing suit or rain gear that needs to be transported before you have time to dry it out. Put this bag on the outside edge of the suitcase to help cushion toiletries.
- Your toiletry bag is cushioned between your shirts and your undergarment bag, again using Ziplock bags to contain items that could leak. On top of everything, put your jacket or coat, folded to allow easy access upon arrival for unfolding and hanging, or if you need quickly to grab it.
Minimal movement is the key to keeping clothes smooth and prevent them from shifting and wrinkling, so make sure you have a nice snug fit.
Use Tide pods, which melt quickly in the sink for hand wash; Downy Wrinkle Release really works to remove wrinkles without ironing.
Some Additional Packing Tips:
• Make sure you have a change of clothes in your carry-on and split the contents of the rest of your luggage with your traveling companion. If one of your suitcases is lost during the flight, all is not lost and you will have enough clothes to get through until your bag is delivered.
• Take photos of your checked bag and its contents. If it’s lost in transit, you’ll be able to show the airline what the bag looks like and provide a list of what’s in it for reimbursement purposes.
• Love to shop? Pack a rolled-up duffel bag in your suitcase. On your way home, you can put dirty laundry into the duffel, leaving room in your suitcase for souvenirs.
• Keep a dryer sheet in your suitcase to keep it smelling nice throughout your travels.
• Pack a reusable water bottle and get a bottle holder hook to attach to your purse or daypack to keep your hands free.
• Planning to bring home a bottle or two of wine or olive oil? You can purchase padded travel bags that seal in case the bottles break. I like the Wine Skin brand.
• To keep toiletries from spilling in your suitcase, stretch a little piece of plastic wrap between the bottle and the cap to create a seal and then stash the bottles in a zip-top plastic bag.
• I-phone wrist straps are a good idea while you’re engrossed in shooting beautiful panoramas or leaning over a bridge to get the shot. Two words about selfie-sticks: Please … no.
• It is also a good idea to carry some blister protection; Compeed Blister Bandages are an excellent product and really stay in place on your foot, even through a few showers. If you can’t find them in the U.S., they are in every pharmacy in Europe.
On the Airplane
I’m no germaphobe, but I can’t afford to get sick while on tour, so I carry a travel size Lysol or wipes. When I get to my seat, I spray or wipe down my tray, arm rests and tv monitor buttons, then use Ocean nasal saline spray followed by lining my nose with a little Aquaphor to create a protective barrier from the recycled plane air.
I don’t drink alcohol on the plane, and I take a Zzz-Quill with melatonin for sleep, which doesn’t leave me feeling groggy the next morning.
A bag of almonds, headphones, a large pashmina scarf to use as a blanket and an inflatable neck pillow are also in my carry-on. More and more, I am also traveling with a travel cord organizer, a multiple USB plug (European hotel rooms are light on outlets), and a portable phone charger.
Hair’s the Thing
Hair dryers in Europe vary greatly in quality so you decide what your “do” will do while traveling. European voltage is 220. If the appliance reads 110V or 120V, it is a single voltage and will require a converter and plug adapter.
However, if you are using a dual voltage appliance, you only need a plug adapter suitable to fit European outlets. To determine if the appliance actually requires a converter, look for the voltage rating. IF it reads something like 100V~240V, that means it is dual voltage and does not require a converter. Have a good adaptor/convertor for your laptop so it doesn’t fry.
I have found a great product I love called the ConAir MiniPro cordless curling iron, which runs on refillable tubes of butane allowed on flights. Do NOT try to use your U.S. version curling iron even with an adaptor. Trust me, the smell of burnt hair is not appealing.
Lastly, make a list of the total contents of your suitcase. If your luggage is lost, the list will help you with any travel insurance claims. My article on travel insurance is coming soon, so subscribe to be sure you are notified when it posts!
The most important thing to pack: your sense of humor.
Editor’s Note: Check out Sandy’s company Che Bella Tours and follow Che Bella Tours on Facebook. Sandy even specializes in tours designed specifically for women, and even more specifically for the most demanding needs of queenagers (that means it’ll be extra special and super fun).
Two words: please no. 😂