Travelling light? Carry-on baggage: overseas travel

[shootingstar]

Today a work colleague asked me if I use 1 carry-on luggage for any long vacations out of the country (ie. Europe, etc.) He was curious since his girlfriend was planning to check in her luggage. It includes for her to have 4 prs. of shoes during 3 wk. trip in Italy this fall.

For 3-4 wk. long trips overseas, I try, though not always successfully try to have 1 carry on luggage. Certainly flying in North America, I really try to aim at 1 carry-on luggage. Unless I bring back gifts, etc. I don't enjoy spending time at the baggage claim carousel areas.

If I check in more baggage, it's because of bike or 4 panniers. :)


I really have become minimal in what I pack for plane flights for vacation trips where I'm touring /sightseeing an area for several weeks. Cycle touring has also made me appreciate what I truly absolutely need to wear on a trip.

[OakLeaf]

I won't put too fine a point on this.

There are two basic requirements. (1) You don't care what your shoes look like, and you don't plan any activity that requires a particular kind of shoes. (2) You don't plan to make a record of your trip [since electronics like computer or tablet+keyboard and/or photography equipment take up a LOT of space and pretty much fill one carry-on].

Then there's the laundry issue. The only way to make this work is by wearing every item of clothing you plan to bring, for a flight that may last 9 hours or longer. So, when you arrive at your destination, all your clothes stink. Is it humid at your destination? You can wash out your clothes in the sink (which I do during a trip), but they may not dry for days. BTDT. So I usually bring three days' worth of clothes that I can rotate, plus two sets of workout/running clothes (one to wear, one to wash) and one nice outfit.

I know people who get by traveling without luggage. They don't mind smelling bad, and they neither exercise nor dress up, so they have no need for more shoes than they wear on the plane. I'd love to be able to travel lighter, but I have my limits, and they're on the other side of that line. :rolleyes: At the very least, I just can't go that long without either a run or a gym workout, and I don't really see the point of traveling if I can't go someplace nice at least once. And I really try not to stink.


You can save a lot of time and possibly a little money by shipping luggage to your destination. But shipping through customs is more hassle than it's worth to me, for international trips.

Seasons have a lot to do with it also. Obviously you can travel much lighter in summer than in winter. Traveling at change of seasons is worst, since you need at least a couple of outfits to wear in any weather.

[BodhiTree]

Shootingstar, I would really enjoy seeing you have the self confidence to talk about your experiences without comparing yourself to others every time.

Be secure in yourself. Tell about your choices, the foods you enjoy, the way you like to ride, the clothes that make you feel good, how you like to travel. Stand proud and tell about yourself without mentioning someone else's choices, foods, bike, riding style, clothing, and so on.

You have a lot to share. You are unique. Let yourself shine!

[shootingstar]

I already gave my experience/story, Bodhi. Nothing else.

This is all part of participating in any Internet forum. Start a topic and it's up people whether or not they respond.

I also respond to other people's topics that they start up. :confused: Which means maybe other people are comparing against others as well? Or just sharing experiences?

Yes, Oak that's what I try to do --just have 3-4 rotations of clothing. Most of it usually casual..the dressest might be "business" casual. It's very rare I bring along a lovely dress/skirt...only if I'm attending a wedding. If I dress up, that means.....HE should dress up. But he dislikes that. :p Ever since he took early retirement, he abandoned most of his business attire.

[Crankin]

I tend to take way too much on trips. But, the last couple of times, I've done better. As Oak stated, most of my trouble comes from the varying types of exercise apparel and shoes I bring. When we have gone to Europe on cycling tours that included 2-3 days of city relaxing on both ends (2 weeks or so total), we each bring one huge suitcase that is legal size. Then we have one duffel type bag that is for helmets, shoes, saddles, and pedals that we brought for the rental bikes. And, I have a large "purse" type leather bag I use as a carry on. The airlines we use to fly to Europe don't charge for baggage.
However, the last 2 times I went to Phoenix for my in-laws memorial services, we did long weekends (4 days) where I put everything in a carry on. The last time included hiking shoes and clothes for 3 days of hiking. That was a miracle.

[Becky]

*shrugs* I used to really stress about this, but I've recently come to two conclusions: I will always have more luggage than others due to a health concern that requires some gear of its own, and there is no prize for packing the smallest suitcase. If a bigger bag allows me to more fully enjoy my destination, then so be it.

[malkin]

Less luggage is of course an advantage in transit, more is generally an advantage staying comfortable on the trip.

The worst is traveling with someone who is smug about their packing.

[shootingstar]

The last time included hiking shoes and clothes for 3 days of hiking. That was a miracle.


Not sure how much you had to haul around, but is one of the reasons why I have never done hiking/skiing and camping beyond long day hike trips.

I'm not terribly keen to carry alot of weight on my back. I just don't enjoy the hike when I'm reminded of weight on me that I could remove.

[Pax]

OakLeaf - I travel super light, and I don't smell.

I've been traveling my whole life and have figured out what works for me. I don't mind doing hand laundry, and I don't dress up, so packing is relatively simple.

The exception to my "travel light" preference is when I'm taking a scuba trip, that requires a gear bag in addition to my carry on.

[Eden]

I just spent 4 weeks over seas with just carry on..... I do it because I prefer to travel by train and foot, and often go to out of the way places, where a lot of baggage is a serious burden.

The wardrobe I took was relatively casual, easy to move in, but still nice enough to go out in. It was cold where we went, so I took a lot of wool and cashmere which packs well. I took thick wool tights, skirts and wore a pair of Keens that had a very good walking sole, but a fancy enough upper to look fine dressed nicer. I found a packing method online that allowed me to pack 8 sweaters (4 turtle necks and 4 cardigans) 2 base layers, 4 skirts, 4 pairs of tights, a pair of insulated tights, and all my undergear in one carry-on. My outerwear stayed on me - waterproof/windproof jacket, gloves, scarf hat. I was able to do laundry several times during the 4 weeks and thanks to the wonders of the fruit of the sheep was not smelly.

My shoulder bag was stuffed full of my camera gear (and I'm a pro, so it wasn't a little point and shoot...) and Ipad.

Years ago my husband and I did a bike tour in the south of Spain with very, very little - it was a self arranged tour so anything we took we had to carry. It was warmer at that time of the year. We took two sets of biking gear - one to wear one to wash, biking outerwear, one set of town clothing and sandals to wear off the bike. I ended up buying a light casual jacket because I was a little cold one evening, that I still have and still wear sometimes.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx65s8hBZO1r7n6jco1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1329403974&Signature=2M6G98BVYrL6CO16T%2F3dwujIYAg%3D
worn out sandals at a Buddhist shrine - offerings from pilgrimagers

[Reesha]

It depends on the type of vacation. I often travel alone and to destinations that require a lot of moving about from transit to transit. As such I try to get away with just an internal frame pack (mine is a Gregory Diva) and a tote bag. I've never been denied carry on with the Gregory pack on an international flight and on domestic flights the worst they've done is check it at the gate with that little tag and bring it out when I get off right away. I like the pack because it makes it possible to walk around the city easily. I tried to do that once in NYC with a large rolling duffle and I'm pretty sure I wanted to murder things after 30 minutes. In my case, I prefer not to spend money on taxis though.

[Norse]

OakLeaf - I travel super light, and I don't smell.

I've been traveling my whole life and have figured out what works for me. I don't mind doing hand laundry, and I don't dress up, so packing is relatively simple.

The exception to my "travel light" preference is when I'm taking a scuba trip, that requires a gear bag in addition to my carry on.

+1. DP and I travel a lot and have mastered the art of traveling light, w/out stinking. :) The only time we check a bag is if we have to bring gear. Otherwise, 2 pairs of shoes (Tevas and comfy but nice-looking clogs) and a few interchangeable outfits that are mostly designed for travel and are quick-drying. We don't mind hand washing and have startled hotel maids on more than one occassion with our drying laundry hanging from everything, including the chandeliers. :D

[TsPoet]

I think it comes down to wool ;)
I will wear a wool shirt more than once - and it doesn't smell. I will not wear a cotton shirt more than once, because it does smell (I'm a stinky person).
I also hate carry ons, though - My blood boils everytime I fly and I see people with 2 Large carry ons - pushing the rules so now I have to get hit in the head with their cr*p. Pet peave rant over :)
I purposefully bought an wonderful carry on bag that was an 1" smaller than the requirements and love it.
However, for a Euro trip, I'd carry a duffle, not a rolling bag.
But, I think Oak hit the nail on the head - how much do you care about what you look like? What is the purpose of your trip? I carry more for business travel, in fact I carry extra because I absolutely must change into casual cloths as soon as I'm out of the meeting.
I also love my vibrams - I used to carry jogging-type shoes, boots, and slippers. I don't need boots anymore, minimalist almost always works.
Edit to say - I'm a shutter bug with way too much camera equipment - I carry as much camera equipment as I do cloths - so I often check the cloths and carry a backpack with camera gear.

[Pax]

+1. DP and I travel a lot and have mastered the art of traveling light, w/out stinking. :) The only time we check a bag is if we have to bring gear. Otherwise, 2 pairs of shoes (Tevas and comfy but nice-looking clogs) and a few interchangeable outfits that are mostly designed for travel and are quick-drying. We don't mind hand washing and have startled hotel maids on more than one occassion with our drying laundry hanging from everything, including the chandeliers. :D

LOL! I've gotten some strange looks from the TSA because I travel with an 8' piece of thin rope in my carry on, it's my clothesline but they seem to think it has sinister implications. :p

[OakLeaf]

have startled hotel maids on more than one occassion with our drying laundry hanging from everything, including the chandeliers. :D

We had one hotel stop replenishing our shampoo (which is our preferred travel laundry detergent). :D:p We had to buy some of the real stuff.

[shootingstar]

I just spent 4 weeks over seas with just carry on..... I do it because I prefer to travel by train and foot, and often go to out of the way places, where a lot of baggage is a serious burden.

The wardrobe I took was relatively casual, easy to move in, but still nice enough to go out in. It was cold where we went, so I took a lot of wool and cashmere which packs well. I took thick wool tights, skirts and wore a pair of Keens that had a very good walking sole, but a fancy enough upper to look fine dressed nicer. I found a packing method online that allowed me to pack 8 sweaters (4 turtle necks and 4 cardigans) 2 base layers, 4 skirts, 4 pairs of tights, a pair of insulated tights, and all my undergear in one carry-on. My outerwear stayed on me - waterproof/windproof jacket, gloves, scarf hat.

Impressive if it's all in a carry-on. Must enough easy-care, etc. styles. I try to wear something heavier/bulkier getting onto the plane.

[lph]

It all depends. I could go on a 3 week trip on my own carrying less than I do for an overnight business stay. I used to have a mania about packing light, carry-over from my serious hiking days. I still want to pack light if I'm going to be moving around a lot lugging my own stuff. But if I'm going by taxi and bus straight to a hotel and back-to-back meetings it really makes no difference at all (and impresses no-one) if I have one piece of luggage instead of two, and with two I have the space to pack running shoes, casual clothes so I don't have to wear the hoity toity ones ALL day, soft slippers ditto, a book or two to read, all the stuff that makes a trip just that more comfortable. And a lot of my business trips the most important thing I pack is tall rubber boots...

[jessmarimba]

It includes for her to have 4 prs. of shoes during 3 wk. trip in Italy this fall.

I guess I don't see that as unusual? I don't generally walk in my running shoes because it's just unnecessary wear. They only last about 6 months as it is. So I can see packing/wearing walking shoes (Keens, usually?), and bringing running shoes, Chacos, and maybe dress flats, depending on the vacation. It's possible to pack lighter, definitely, but why restrict yourself if you have the space? A trip to Italy is a much different experience than kayaking the Everglades or something - you might as well be prepared to experience everything available.

[shootingstar]

I don't jog so running shoes are my walking shoes.

When I travel outside of the North American continent or even in big North American cities outside of the cities I've lived (because I know which neighbourhoods are 'safer'), I really do aim to dress more casually rather than look 'expensive' or too polished as a tourist.

There's no point of me hauling along dress shoes if most of the time I'm walking around alot when sightseeing (if I'm not on the bike). My customized orthotics don't fit any dress shoes or even nice casual shoes well that allow me to walk more than 1-2 hrs.

If I travel by myself solo vacationing (I have as an add-on to business trips), I also want to have the capcity to run if I need to in an emergency.

I guess my mentality is this way because I've lived in big cities where things do happen.

[OakLeaf]

I tell you what, my new Stem (http://www.stemfootwear.com/) shoes are going to save a TON of space on my next trip. Both because they're foot-shaped and walkable yet reasonably normal-looking for casual wear, and because even if for some reason I want to get (likely) and pack (unlikely) a second pair in the other color, they're so minimal and packable they take a third of the space of regular shoes. Yay!

[soprano]

It includes for her to have 4 prs. of shoes during 3 wk. trip in Italy this fall.


I think that this is a reasonable number of shoes, especially if there is going to be any dressing up while on the trip. It's generally a good practice to rotate through shoes so that you're not wearing the same pair every day, particularly for good leather shoes. Two pair of good walking shoes, dressy shoes and athletic or beach shoes = 4 pair.

I've switched to packing light over the past few years, and the one thing I hate about it is not being able to rotate shoes. I love not schlepping the stuff around, but my feet complain when I wear the same shoes for a week straight.

[PamNY]

Today a work colleague asked me if I use 1 carry-on luggage for any long vacations out of the country (ie. Europe, etc.) He was curious since his girlfriend was planning to check in her luggage. It includes for her to have 4 prs. of shoes during 3 wk. trip in Italy this fall.

Do you know this person very well? If not, there is something slightly "off" about him telling a colleague how many pairs of shoes his girlfriend is taking to Italy.

If he "wants the opinion of another woman", you probably should explain to him that people are individuals, and what other people pack is largely irrelevant.

Is he going on the trip as well? Does he seem like a "controlling" person?

[jyyanks]

I know I don't travel light but I hate not having anything to wear and not having the right shoes so I try to plan for every scenario I can think of. I also overpack for the kids. I'm resigned to the fact that unless I'm doing a 1-2 day trip, I need more than a carry on.

[NbyNW]

I find that I can pack the same for a week or longer as I do for a long weekend. Laundry on the road is no big deal. Shoes and outfit to suit different settings is something I've been able to work out over time, so now I've got a couple of things that I automatically reach for when I am traveling and know that I might want to dress up for dinner.

The toughest thing I've had to face as far as packing goes is changing climates (e.g., -30C in Edmonton to +25C in the Dominican Republic). Going from a cold place to a warm place, I end up with clothing that I have to lug around for my entire trip but I know I'll want them at some point for the trip home. Thankfully, down is light and compresses well!

[shootingstar]

Do you know this person very well? If not, there is something slightly "off" about him telling a colleague how many pairs of shoes his girlfriend is taking to Italy.

If he "wants the opinion of another woman", you probably should explain to him that people are individuals, and what other people pack is largely irrelevant.

Is he going on the trip as well? Does he seem like a "controlling" person?


You're right, Pam. He was seeking an opinion in particular, a woman. He sits near me at work. I did say it depends on the person. But clearly he hates having checked in baggage. And he knows for me as a cyclist, I've just become more streamlined in vacation baggage packing. I have to say, cycle touring truly has changed me alot how much less I pack in general to still enjoy a trip.

Yea, NBYNW. Even between Calgary and Vancouver in winter, I have to plot my way a tad, on clothing a bit. Meaning what type of jacket/coat I will wear on the plane/getting off and getting home..ie. The 2 cities can have markedly different temperatures, but right now it's unusually warm in the prairies.

[SadieKate]

OMG, don't travel around me, but then I just can't handle look-and-don't-touch traveling/vacations. If dirt, water, wheels or fish aren't involved, I'd rather stay home.

10-day fishing trip minimum footwear list:


studded felt-soled boots for slippery, nasty, fast rivers
rubber-soled boots for benign rivers or when felt isn't the PC thing to wear
wading sandals if spending the day fishing from a boat
running/walking/hiking shoes for when the river is a long hike in
sandals for apres-fishing
closed toed apres-fish shoes in case it's raining more than the sandals can handle


And that doesn't EVEN include the variety of rods and reels I take with me.

And, yes, I've flown with that.;)

[salsabike]

Sounds like our rock-hunting trips, although for those we are better off driving to Utah or Oregon or wherever in our own truck, where the boots and shovels and tools and packs and water jugs--and the rocks--can all be thrown in the back.

Our European trips often involve a high degree of museum weeniedom (see the trip we dubbed the "London Museum Death March" of 2003, when we went to the Aztec exhibit at the Royal Academy, the Courtauld, the V&A, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum, the Tate, the Tate Modern, and Hampton Court (skipped British Museum because had been there before and feet dead by then anyway).

For European trips longer than, say, 10 days, we are likely to check one bag.

[Biciclista]

If I bring an extra pair of shoes, they are flipflops. I pride myself in travelling light, but i usually check a bag. that leaves me with a backpack holding my lunch, notebook, and once upon a time books to read, now i have my kindle ...
I usually carry a change or two of clothes but lots of socks and underwear. :-)

[maillotpois]

OMG, don't travel around me, but then I just can't handle look-and-don't-touch traveling/vacations. If dirt, water, wheels or fish aren't involved, I'd rather stay home.


Guilty as charged (but leave out the fish unless it's on my plate). We're leaving tomorrow on a ski trip in another country (the one up north where there actually IS snow :p ), and we'll be checking a lot of bags, and skis and everything. I also like active vacations, and I figure I'm strong enough to carry all that cr@p plus it makes NO difference to the airplane how many bags I take. So who cares how many bags I take?

I'm putting off packing now...

[OakLeaf]

I will say one thing: when they say to pack light when you go to Venice, they mean it. Every block connected by stone bridges means there are no carts and the wheels on your luggage don't work. What you carry, you carry for several blocks between your hotel and the nearest vaporetto stop.

[Marquise]

I will say one thing: when they say to pack light when you go to Venice, they mean it. Every block connected by stone bridges means there are no carts and the wheels on your luggage don't work. What you carry, you carry for several blocks between your hotel and the nearest vaporetto stop.

My husband and I went to Italy a few years ago when I had a business meeting in Rome, and the first week we walked many, many miles up and down the hills of Rome. I'd been to Italy before but my husband hadn't. On the train to Venice he said he was looking forward to Venice being flat and I didn't have the heart to tell him we'd be climbing up and down stairs every time we crossed a canal. I had to have a computer and business clothes for work but otherwise we'd packed pretty light. It was an unseasonably cold March and we had to layer what we had to stay warm.

We got royally lost one night in Venice, walked in a great circle and found ourselves back where we'd been when we first realized we were lost. A tiny woman in a fur coat saw us peering at a map by the light of a shop window and asked "Can I help you?" but after that all she had was Italian. I came up with hotel (albergo?) and when she asked "Dove?" I initially blanked on the hotel name. Then it came to me and she walked with us three or four blocks and pointed us to the stairway leading to our hotel.

Navigating Venice in the rain was fun, with constant maneuvering of umbrellas up and down in narrow walkways so as not to hit those of people walking in the opposite direction. Fortunately, we had packed an umbrella.

[OakLeaf]

Fortunately, we had packed an umbrella.

Now see? That's an item I always save space on the outbound trip. If I don't need one, then space is saved in both directions. And if I do...

Just this very afternoon I got a compliment on the umbrella I bought in Valencia. And the ones I bought in Vienna and in Amsterdam always bring a smile to my face. :)

A lighter packer could just buy a cheap umbrella at the destination and give it to a homeless person or "forget" it at a train station before they leave.

[salsabike]

Now see? That's an item I always save space on the outbound trip. If I don't need one, then space is saved in both directions. And if I do...

Just this very afternoon I got a compliment on the umbrella I bought in Valencia. And the ones I bought in Vienna and in Amsterdam always bring a smile to my face. :)

Oh, I like that. Umbrellas from around the world with memories attached...Nice.

[salsabike]

I guess I don't see that as unusual? I don't generally walk in my running shoes because it's just unnecessary wear. They only last about 6 months as it is. So I can see packing/wearing walking shoes (Keens, usually?), and bringing running shoes, Chacos, and maybe dress flats, depending on the vacation. It's possible to pack lighter, definitely, but why restrict yourself if you have the space? A trip to Italy is a much different experience than kayaking the Everglades or something - you might as well be prepared to experience everything available.

Yes, exactly.

[Crankin]

Yup, I agree. When we went to Italy, we first spent a long weekend in Berlin, visiting our exchange student son. It was April, but still cool. Then, on to Siena. The first 2 days were cold, rainy and raw. Then it became beautifully sunny and 65 degrees. We rode up into the Tuscan hills on crappy mountain bikes, walked miles around town with our son who was studying in Italy, and ate in countless restaurants. Then we spent 2 days in Florence, where it was 75 degrees. When I go to Europe, I make a point of dressing like a native. No running shoes or fanny packs, or anything that brands me as a dumb tourist.
What I'm trying to say is that if I hadn't had my "big red" suitcase, I would not have been prepared for all the different weather conditions, or situations that required nicer clothes as well as casual stuff, along with my cycling clothes and shoes. Sure, we had to lug those damn things up stone steps at the Siena train station, but, we managed.

[jobob]

Might not have been the original intent of this thread, but your stories are giving me wanderlust! :)


mmmm ... Belgium beckons. And if we go, rest assured, some might be amused by the amount of crap we manage to bring with us. And the rest would be having too much fun to give a hoot. :D

[PamNY]

You're right, Pam. He was seeking an opinion in particular, a woman. He sits near me at work. I did say it depends on the person. But clearly he hates having checked in baggage. And he knows for me as a cyclist, I've just become more streamlined in vacation baggage packing. I have to say, cycle touring truly has changed me alot how much less I pack in general to still enjoy a trip.

You should have a talk with him about privacy and discretion, and about his tendency to be controlling.

It's likely this issue has nothing at all to do with luggage, and everything to do with his desire to control. If this is a normal taxis-and-hotels type of trip, taking only carry-on bags is ludicrous.

[indysteel]

Might not have been the original intent of this thread, but your stories are giving me wanderlust! :)


mmmm ... Belgium beckons. And if we go, rest assured, some might be amused by the amount of crap we manage to bring with us. And the rest would be having too much fun to give a hoot. :D

DH and I so want to go back to Belgium and Ghent in particular. What a pretty city. Sigh....

[Reesha]

Speaking of traveling light, packing for my summer cross-country bike adventure should be an interesting challenge. The packing list is truly impressive, but in past years they made people send stuff home because of weight issues with their truck.

I've got get my bike accessories, bike clothes, camping gear, casual comfortable clothes, electronics, etc all into enough bags that I can take on the train. i suppose I could ship some of the stuff along with my bike. Anybody familiar with recent domestic bike shipping rates? :ughhhh:

[Reesha]

DH and I so want to go back to Belgium and Ghent in particular. What a pretty city. Sigh....

Have you been to Brugge? ...It's a notch up from Gent (former Brugge resident, perhaps take it with a grain of salt). I'd also argue Antwerpen is even prettier. If you ever bike tour in Belgium, definitely hit Damme, which is a quaint medieval village just outside Brugge. Also Sluis, NL just on the border :)

[Marquise]

I loved Belgium when I went there many years ago with my sister, who was living in Germany at the time. We went primarily for the art because I was studying art history and specializing in Northern Baroque but there was much more than just the art to love. I think it was in Ghent that we were heading for the train station and this being before wheeled suitcases were common (yes, that long ago), my sister had some sort of little folding cart that could barely hold our two very small bags. Something went amiss - couldn't have had anything to do with the cobbles! - and a little old man riding by hopped off his bike and said "Let grandfather help!" He secured things with a bungee cord and was back on his bike in a flash.

[shootingstar]

You should have a talk with him about privacy and discretion, and about his tendency to be controlling.

It's likely this issue has nothing at all to do with luggage, and everything to do with his desire to control. If this is a normal taxis-and-hotels type of trip, taking only carry-on bags is ludicrous.

I dunno, Pam. But I don't intend to get further with him on advising on his personal stuff. After all, both of our jobs require that we work with one another on projects on a daily basis.

Best to keep it that way. After all, he "hates" cyclists. He's the employee who thinks I lead a deficient life by travelling around our city (which is uglier when one gets off the parkway cycling routes...just urban sprawl in oil-energy prairies area).

Kinda in this whole thread, to learn of other things that people do on vacation outside of cycling, jogging, skiing, hiking, etc. Wonderful story, Marquise.

[maillotpois]

Our six checked bags (14 total if you count our 2 friends' bags and all our carryons) have arrived safely in Vancouver. :D

[indysteel]

Have you been to Brugge? ...It's a notch up from Gent (former Brugge resident, perhaps take it with a grain of salt). I'd also argue Antwerpen is even prettier. If you ever bike tour in Belgium, definitely hit Damme, which is a quaint medieval village just outside Brugge. Also Sluis, NL just on the border :)

Yes, we've been to Brugge, but we spent more time in Ghent on the advice of nearly everyone we spoke with, including a native here on TE. We much preferred Ghent. Much less touristy and crowded, but every bit as pretty. Brugge was wall to wall people when we were there in May of 2010. It was also more expensive than Ghent. We did go to Damme, too. It was lovely as well.

[shootingstar]

Our six checked bags (14 total if you count our 2 friends' bags and all our carryons) have arrived safely in Vancouver. :D

Yes, you were in Vancouver about 2 yrs. ago or so? :)

Air Canada started to charge $35.00 (I think) 1 way for past 12-18 months, for any additional baggage that must be checked in (even if it meets carry-on size/weight) beyond 1 free carry-on. I've flown enough by now, that I can't remember when their policy started. As a result of this policy, I have noticed WAY more people taking on their carry-on luggagge aboard. At least for domestic flights.

With this airline's extra fuel charges and tax for each 1 way trip, it's more of an incentive for me to tend to use 1 carry-on for clothing, if I can. I'm cheap. :) I haven't done a biz trip by plane for past several yrs., so really it's for me to save money on my personal/vacation trips. I've made several personal trips in the past 18 months ...so cost really can add up for me, if I'm not careful.

I really do think about weight and bulk and ease of handling by myself as well as cost.

[maillotpois]

We were here over the summer. Talked about it 2 yrs ago, but didn't make it past Seattle.

I do wish we had just one big bag for our 3 sets of skis. That would have saved us some fees.

[Blueberry]

For domestic flights, I try to fly Southwest. Our Bike Fridays travel for free with them (along with another checked bag). No stress, no fuss. I am so over trying to scrimp and pinch and pack everything in a tiny carry on (and not end up with some stuff I need that comes in larger bottles), when I can fly an airline that doesn't make me (and is usually cheaper anyway).

[Reesha]

Yes, we've been to Brugge, but we spent more time in Ghent on the advice of nearly everyone we spoke with, including a native here on TE. We much preferred Ghent. Much less touristy and crowded, but every bit as pretty. Brugge was wall to wall people when we were there in May of 2010. It was also more expensive than Ghent. We did go to Damme, too. It was lovely as well.

Probably a good point-- I had Brugge to myself for a whole year and got to see it during the quiet cold times, as well as the touristy crazy times. As it is, I lived in the tight little suburbs and spent my weekends riding the countryside. I'll have to remind myself not to do a bike tour of Belgium in the peak touristy areas and times. I'm hoping to do one with DBF in 2013 :)

[malkin]

I'm just starting to think about packing for a trip to my parents in Switzerland. Essentials for this trip include robe, slippers, Ibex sweatpants, Kindle, knitting...

[Reesha]

compression sacks are a must for bringing knitting :)

[malkin]

compression sacks are a must for bringing knitting :)

Oooh!
That's a good idea!

[jobob]

Our six checked bags (14 total if you count our 2 friends' bags and all our carryons) have arrived safely in Vancouver. :D

Score! :cool:

[Reesha]

Oooh!
That's a good idea!

In fact it's the only way I was able to fit a month's worth of clothes, amusements (including knitting) etc into one internal frame pack for a sailing trip last summer. I should get some more for my summer packing this year!

[OakLeaf]

Anybody familiar with recent domestic bike shipping rates? :ughhhh:

When I shipped my bike in December in its Thule box with some various extra gear, FedEx Express Saver, it was $230. I want to say it was 65 lbs total, but that's a guesstimate.

You have to ship express to get the best insurance, and to be able to hold it for pickup at a FedEx location.

If you log into FedEx you can price a shipment regardless of whether you wind up sending it or not. Enter dimensions, weight, which service you want, origin and destination, and it'll give you a price.