Taking on New Adventures

I recently booked a 10 day trip to Italy with at least a two day trip to NYC ahead of that for my husband and I. I’m getting excited to show him what I know of Rome and learn so much more about the area. However, we started discussing what to pack recently, and I started reflecting on tips I’ve given out over the years.

Packing for any trip, no matter how long, is stressful. Overall, we often overanalyze how much (or little) we need and, even more importantly, how many “extra” items we’ll need to feel comfortable on the trip. But I’ve been able to do pretty well with packing thanks to years of traveling for work and trying to make the most of everything I bring.

So here are my tips:

Dress for where you are, not for who you are. What do I mean by that? Research where you are going and try to plan outfits that blend in with the locals there. It will ultimately make you more comfortable and also help those you are around who are local feel more comfortable.

For instance, I live in New Orleans. It’s not unusual for me to wear a sequined shirt out to dinner with a fun skirt or pants. However, in Italy, a sequined shirt is not really something that you’ll see, other than at a costumed event. So those are staying at home in my closet.

Pack enough underwear for twice the amount of time you’ll be gone. This is important because it allows you to have clean underwear without having to do “sink laundry”, as I call it. Plus, if you get stuck an extra day or two due to delays, you are prepared.

Stick with a color scheme where you can mix and match pieces. Pants can be worn more than once, unless they are soiled. Certain tops can also be worn more than once as well. So I don’t need 10 day and 10 night outfits for Italy. I need enough pieces to make up 10 day and 10 night outfits, and that may mean 4 or 5 pair of pants/skirts, a couple of dresses and 7 or 8 tops. Mixing and matching is where it’s at!

I usually base my outfits around shoes. So I’ll figure out what shoes I want to bring and then build outfits around those. When I go to Italy, I know I have some grey slip-on sneakers, black Birkinstocks, and red Chuck Taylors that will likely be my staples for the trip. That means all of my clothing choices will match one or all of those options and will make it easier to decide what I should and shouldn’t pack.

Comfortable shoes (not running sneakers!) are key when traveling. Want to look like a tourist? Wear your work-out sneakers everywhere. However, it’s not necessary, especially when you are going to Europe. There are really comfortable and stylish sneakers out there that are great for strolling around a new city. Find a few pairs of shoes that won’t give you blisters and still look cute with your outfits. Pro tip: Break them in ahead of time by strolling around your home area.

Try everything on before you pack it! Nothing is worse than getting to your destination and realizing something you brought just doesn’t fit right or doesn’t look good together. It takes up space that you could’ve used for something you can wear a few times.

Checked baggage is perfectly fine. It’s no secret to those who know me that I’m anti-roller bags on a plane. I despise running through an airport trying to drag my roller bag around. Plus, people tend to overpack them, can’t pick them up to put into an overhead bin, and they are the main cause of the boarding proceess taking forever. It’s ok to check a bag to your destination, especially on a direct flight.

Finally, don’t stress over packing for your trip. Forget something? Unless you are in the wilderness, you can pick up a comparable item where you are going.

What other packing tips do you have?