Traveling Light Lists

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am going on a 2 week trip to several cities in Europe (warmest, Rome; coldest, Munich), in mid September. It’s a singing/pilgrimage tour with my diocesan choir, so lots and lots of standing on stone floors. There will be one formal-ish dinner. Besides my choir clothes, which would be nice to pack in such a way that they are minimally wrinkled, what else should I be taking with me?

It would be great to get everything into a carry-on bag plus a messenger bag.

I need to be presentable in conservative but fairly casual situations. Leave out any clothes that can’t be worn in churches. Middle-aged lady clothes.

Here’s my initial list:

(choir clothes – long formal skirt, tuxedo blouse, thin drapey jacket, mary-jane flats)

tops:
light water-resistant wind shell jacket
medium-weight fleece jacket, a bit tailored
thin pullover sweater (silk blend)
4 synth-cotton blend non-sloppy tees: 2 short sleeve 2 longer sleeve

black tencel skirt, mid-calf
black crepe loose cotton pants
knit floral 3/4ths sleeve pullover dress, can change look with sweater
1 pair dressy khaki chinos, nice belt

other:
walking sandals
2 bras, 1 stretch cami
light pajamas and slipper-socks
6 pair microfiber undies
selection of black and colored knee socks, pantyhose, tights.
foldable sun hat
wool beret

laundry kit for sink washing
small toiletries bag w/travel size stuff (replace as needed when I get there)
journal & pen, phone
underclothes neck bag for passport, money etc
water bottle
extra ziplock bags for collecting dirty laundry, for snacks, etc.

Will I be too hot, cold, wet? Am I missing something basic?

2

This site is great for packing light - http://www.onebag.com/ When in doubt, leave it out.

3

I think that list is about perfect for a 2-week trip in which you’ll be able to wash some things by hand.

I would personally take more bras because mine take a warm dryer to snap back into shape, but women with a lesser need for support could easily get by with hand washing several times.

In September I would not bother with the fleecy jacket and instead rely on layering the wind proof jacket with a long sleeve shirt & the thin sweater, but that’s me. You may want more variety.

The only real advice I have is to make sure everything goes with everything else. Stick to a complimentary colors so you can mix and match with impunity.

4

In case this is enlightening, here is my packing list for my upcoming trip to Iceland, England & Scotland in late September through early October, which includes the clothes I will wear on the trip there.

(skipped small list of toiletries I can’t buy there)

light pajama bottoms & tshirt for sleeping
2 long sleeve shirts
2 t-shirts
2 pair lightweight hiking “khakis”
walking shoes (light hikers)
4 pair socks
Clarks Mary Janes
1 pair light socks for wearing with Mary Janes
light zip cardigan sweater
rain jacket
4 pairs underwear
4 bras
hat & gloves

iPhone, iPad & 1 charger
digital camera & charger
SD card reader for iPad
extra camera battery
extra SD card(s)
fitbit & charger
electrical plug adapters

wine diapers (for bringing home whisky)
day bag
wristlet
very small bifold wallet
maps
1 guidebook
notebook & pen
deck of cards
money belt
assorted ziplock bags
passport
drivers license/ID
case for my eyeglasses (for sleeping on plane)

3 photocopies of each of our passports & credit cards (one in suitcase, one in money belt, one in my desk drawer at work)

ETA: we will have a wahser/dryer in our London apartment & Edinburgh apartment but not on Islay or in Iceland.

5

I’d be inclined to add some kind of sparkly/dressy top to pair with the black pants and skirt, in case there is more evening socializing than you are expecting.

And maybe a second choir blouse – how many performances are you giving? Serious singing is hard work; you might appreciate not having to launder and iron every night.

6

First aid kid, even if it’s a small one with only bandaids and moleskin. Two doses of Imodium (give you time to get to the store and get more if you need it) and your headache medicine of choice.

Tampons/pads/cup, if you’re of an age. Note I don’t say “if it will be that time of the month.” Travel makes bodies into jerks. :wink:

Clothing choices look good. Seconding the “make 'em mix and match”.

Maybe I missed it, but I only see one pair of shoes there, and that’s sandals. Are sandals okay for church? Maybe a pair of conservative flats; they don’t take up much room. Do NOT wear new shoes you got just for the trip. Your feet will hate you. Old worn old lady shoes, if you’ve got 'em.

Enjoy your trip!

7

The best advice I ever had in this regard was to lay out all the clothes you intend to take, then put precisely half of them back.

8

I got a lot out of the replies, thanks! Also the link is a great one. I do have two pairs of shoes, one’s my “singing shoes” that will double as my other walking shoes. The sandals are fancy and closed enough for churches.

I am going to have to make do with one choir shirt as it was a special ‘uniform’ purchase for all the women choristers. We can pick our own skirts, they need only be long and black. I do have another tuxedo shirt which isn’t an exact match but I might take it anyway. Accidents may befall. I think we have 2 Masses 1 Vespers in St.Peters in Rome, 1 Mass at the shrine in Prague, 1 Mass at St.Stephen’s cathedral in Vienna, a recital in the abbey church in Salzburg, Mass in the Salzburg Cathedral (Mozart!) . . . what does that come to? Doesn’t include rehearsals either.

There is one gala dinner, but we do have to find our own food at times, so maybe one fancier top is a good idea.

I forgot that I normally take a first aid and repair kit with me whenever I travel. And my personal meds.

this is all very helpful.

9

If you are at all the decorative scarf type, it’s a nice way to make an outfit look different. Also helpful when chilly or visiting very conservative churches.

10

"medium-weight fleece jacket, a bit tailored
thin pullover sweater (silk blend)"

I think these cancel each other out. If you need to layer for the cold, you can do so with a long sleeve t-shirt and either the sweater or jacket - whichever you prefer.

"foldable sun hat
wool beret"

I’m not going to ding you for doubling up on accessories, but from a practical standpoint, I can’t imagine needing more than one hat.

Everything else looks great - good job making some tough cuts.

11

Europe has a way of being much warmer than you expect, and mid-September isn’t out of the danger zone. I probably wouldn’t bring more warm clothing than I wanted to wear while on the plane, to tell the truth.

12

I always bring too many warm clothes, wherever I go. Exceptions: Saskatchewan in summer (catching sheep in tall grass in a downpour), New Mexico in April (snow and wind).

Beret is for chilly nights, sun hat is for shade. Neither take up any room to speak of. The jacket vs sweater vs both question, however, is more of a challenge.

I have never traveled like this before, really. Hotels and airports and tourist sites all in a group of some fifty people most of whom I don’t know. I have never done any kind of tour group thing, ever – the whole idea is not my style in any way. Being around people all day long wears my skin off.

13

Totally disagree. I wore jeans with a fleece for a whole week in Switzerland earlier this month, and my parents were in Austria freezing their butts off in May.

14

And I spent a very chilly July in Switzerland one year.

15

I have bought many a fleece or jacket on a trip because I was too cold during some activity. However, packing a warmer layer wouldn’t have helped, since half the time I have a warmer layer with me but left it at the hotel.

ETA - so maybe look at being cold as an opportunity to buy a warm souvenir. :slight_smile:

16

That sounds like a fabulous itinerary. :slight_smile:

If you find the bus tour aspects wearing, you could consider it as adding a penitential dimension to your pilgrimage. :stuck_out_tongue:

17

There ya go. Excellent idea.