You have described my packing process EXACTLY (and my husband's, annoyingly). I wait with bated breath for your part two, I have a trip coming up that I am going through this identical process for and it's not until November so I just stretch it out like a glutton for punishment. Share your successes!
We are going to Vietnam this fall and while I know I can get anything made there I want, I can't just go to a store and get anything since I am basically a giant over there (I'm big/tall in America, which makes me HUGE there). So I will check a bag and try not to fill it too full, and then panic stuff multiple extra pairs of underwear and an entire backup outfit including shoes in my laptop backpack to carry on with me.
I laughed so hard, you are all of us. Sometimes I check a bag, sometimes I don't. Sometimes they make me check my bag at the gate, and that is just fine with me. When I went to Amsterdam, I did not check a bag, and was glad. Everywhere I went, folks were quite casual. This is a nation that does everything on a bicycle, including getting married, so they're not so much into the high heels.
The last time I tried to carry on they gate-checked it, so now I just cut out the middleman. Also, you know I'm not talking about high heels, right? I am still checking a bag.
I'm going to be in Amsterdam for a few days at each end of a trip in late September and would love any recommendations you have to share from your trip!
I am neither a checked bag or carry-on purist; it really depends on the trip (length, how many different places are we going, modes of travel, access to laundry that is not a sink or laundromat). I'm deep into the buying random things phase of planning for an upcoming period of heavy travel.
Also a bag checker forever and always!! Are there times on a trip when I wish I had a single light little bag that I could just whirl around? Sure. But I also know it would mostly made me very sad not to have options and constantly be worrying about “what clean clothes do I have?”
Yay for Team Check that Bag! Especially if you are traveling alone, it’s so much easier not to have to lug a suitcase or two carryons to the bathroom. And as I usually end up traveling when it’s hot out, I always like to pack about twice as many underthings as I think I will need, otherwise I would be trying to wash stuff out in the sink all the time. No thank you.
I feel you on the pre-trip shopping. I don’t do that so much anymore, but several years ago, before a trip, I decided I needed a new day bag. I’m not a backpack person so I found a lovely Orla Kiely crossbody sort of satchel style bag on Zappos and bought it. This actually did become my bag for trips or for a day out in about in my or other cities. It also triggered a love affair with Orla Kiely bags…
I'm Team Check A Bag, too. Half the time these days they make you check your carry-on at the gate anyway, so let's just go ahead and give ourselves some space. I'm a chronic overpacker because I want options when I get wherever I'm going. I have to travel a fair amount for work I'm afraid I play out your exact scenario for even trips of a day or two. I can usually be found at TJ Maxx a day before my trip trying to find something that's not hideous like the rest of what's in my closet. It's not good for my wallet.
You had me cracking up! I was going to ask how your other half travels and packs. Does he also check a bag? For my 10 day trip in May, I took a backpack and a carry-on! It made things so much easier but I know you’ve already stopped reading this by now 😂 Im so excited for your trip because I know you are going to have a spectacular time!
Hahahahahaha! I check a bag too. One year we were going to Paris in the spring. For five weeks. (We haven't been on a trip since in case you think we are fancy world traveler types.) So I obsessed and obsessed, making lists, checking and re-checking the weather forecast. Felt fairly smug about my choices. Then we get there and it is one of the hottest Mays ever. So I had to go to Muji and Uniqlo and buy linen pants and dresses and tank tops which I then wore for the rest of our time there. Arg.
You are me, I am you, this is the EXACT PROCESS! 🫠 My family went to France for nearly three weeks this summer and because of the highly mobile, no-cars all-trains itinerary, we had … one backpack each. Mine was 65L, stuffed to bursting, but still - one bag. Packing was agony. Never again!
Check the bag forever! Let them handle it! No scurrying onboard to look for overhead room. Honestly, I think they should pay me for checking a bag, because I help boarding and disembarking the plane so much faster :)
This is hilarious and so very relatable. Every time I think I’ve finally found the “perfect” pants or top or shoes for traveling, I end up doing much of this. No shame in checking a bag either! My goodness, the stress and strain I deal with from packing my carryon suitcase is ridiculous and I always (always) have to put a bunch of my stuff in my husband’s suitcase. Thank goodness he packs lightly! Hope y’all have a wonderful trip!
You have described my packing process EXACTLY (and my husband's, annoyingly). I wait with bated breath for your part two, I have a trip coming up that I am going through this identical process for and it's not until November so I just stretch it out like a glutton for punishment. Share your successes!
We are going to Vietnam this fall and while I know I can get anything made there I want, I can't just go to a store and get anything since I am basically a giant over there (I'm big/tall in America, which makes me HUGE there). So I will check a bag and try not to fill it too full, and then panic stuff multiple extra pairs of underwear and an entire backup outfit including shoes in my laptop backpack to carry on with me.
I laughed so hard, you are all of us. Sometimes I check a bag, sometimes I don't. Sometimes they make me check my bag at the gate, and that is just fine with me. When I went to Amsterdam, I did not check a bag, and was glad. Everywhere I went, folks were quite casual. This is a nation that does everything on a bicycle, including getting married, so they're not so much into the high heels.
The last time I tried to carry on they gate-checked it, so now I just cut out the middleman. Also, you know I'm not talking about high heels, right? I am still checking a bag.
I'm going to be in Amsterdam for a few days at each end of a trip in late September and would love any recommendations you have to share from your trip!
I am neither a checked bag or carry-on purist; it really depends on the trip (length, how many different places are we going, modes of travel, access to laundry that is not a sink or laundromat). I'm deep into the buying random things phase of planning for an upcoming period of heavy travel.
Oh, for a very short trip, I will carry on, but mostly I find it way more stressful.
Also a bag checker forever and always!! Are there times on a trip when I wish I had a single light little bag that I could just whirl around? Sure. But I also know it would mostly made me very sad not to have options and constantly be worrying about “what clean clothes do I have?”
Yay for Team Check that Bag! Especially if you are traveling alone, it’s so much easier not to have to lug a suitcase or two carryons to the bathroom. And as I usually end up traveling when it’s hot out, I always like to pack about twice as many underthings as I think I will need, otherwise I would be trying to wash stuff out in the sink all the time. No thank you.
I feel you on the pre-trip shopping. I don’t do that so much anymore, but several years ago, before a trip, I decided I needed a new day bag. I’m not a backpack person so I found a lovely Orla Kiely crossbody sort of satchel style bag on Zappos and bought it. This actually did become my bag for trips or for a day out in about in my or other cities. It also triggered a love affair with Orla Kiely bags…
I'm Team Check A Bag, too. Half the time these days they make you check your carry-on at the gate anyway, so let's just go ahead and give ourselves some space. I'm a chronic overpacker because I want options when I get wherever I'm going. I have to travel a fair amount for work I'm afraid I play out your exact scenario for even trips of a day or two. I can usually be found at TJ Maxx a day before my trip trying to find something that's not hideous like the rest of what's in my closet. It's not good for my wallet.
You had me cracking up! I was going to ask how your other half travels and packs. Does he also check a bag? For my 10 day trip in May, I took a backpack and a carry-on! It made things so much easier but I know you’ve already stopped reading this by now 😂 Im so excited for your trip because I know you are going to have a spectacular time!
LALALA I CAN'T HEAR YOU. And yes, my husband is also a bag checker. :)
Hahahahahaha! I check a bag too. One year we were going to Paris in the spring. For five weeks. (We haven't been on a trip since in case you think we are fancy world traveler types.) So I obsessed and obsessed, making lists, checking and re-checking the weather forecast. Felt fairly smug about my choices. Then we get there and it is one of the hottest Mays ever. So I had to go to Muji and Uniqlo and buy linen pants and dresses and tank tops which I then wore for the rest of our time there. Arg.
Oh, that is SO annoying! But sometimes you just really don't know.
You are me, I am you, this is the EXACT PROCESS! 🫠 My family went to France for nearly three weeks this summer and because of the highly mobile, no-cars all-trains itinerary, we had … one backpack each. Mine was 65L, stuffed to bursting, but still - one bag. Packing was agony. Never again!
Check the bag forever! Let them handle it! No scurrying onboard to look for overhead room. Honestly, I think they should pay me for checking a bag, because I help boarding and disembarking the plane so much faster :)
LOL
This is hilarious and so very relatable. Every time I think I’ve finally found the “perfect” pants or top or shoes for traveling, I end up doing much of this. No shame in checking a bag either! My goodness, the stress and strain I deal with from packing my carryon suitcase is ridiculous and I always (always) have to put a bunch of my stuff in my husband’s suitcase. Thank goodness he packs lightly! Hope y’all have a wonderful trip!