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Packing in a personal item

Traci

Veteran

The family and I are going to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2 weeks on an airline that charges for every type of baggage other than one personal item per person. I'm considering trying to get everything we need for 4 days packed into a medium sized bag each. The dimensions allowed are around 18x8x14.

We fly out on Friday at 2:30 and land around 6:30pm, so the first day we won't be doing much walking or site seeing, just getting settled in. We're renting a car, so we can pick up toiletries if we need to. Coming back we leave around 7 and land at around 9pm, so that will be a pretty full park day.

Here's my list of what I'm thinking of taking:

Wear on the plane:
1 Black cigarette pants (brand: nydj, and the most comfortable pants I've ever owned.)
2 knit tank
3 lightweight cashmere cardi (blush)
4 sandals
5 scarf (pale gray w/ gold speckle)
6 knit blazer (charcoal)

In the bag I plan to pack:
7 EF lantern dress in graphite (a very dark green)
8 light sleeveless rayon dress (black)
9 3/4 sleeve striped t shirt
10&11 layer tanks (2) also for sleepwear
12&13 leggings (2) layering and sleepwear
14 button up sleeveless blouse
15 sandals (a second pair of more gear like sandals)

Outfits options (in addition to the travel day) will be:
-pants w/ striped t
-EF dress w/ cardigan (w/ or w/o leggings for warmth)
-black dress w/ knit jacket
-black dress layered over striped t
-button up blouse w/ pants and knit jacket

The weather looks like it will be mid 60's to low 70's for the highs, and into the low 50's for lows. So far I'm not planning on taking a rain jacket, but we will pack a few cheap ponchos. I've been thinking of picking up a packable rain jacket like the one below.

The cardigan can be layered under the knit jacket on cooler nights. Both dresses work with mid calf length leggings. If I get extra cold I'm planning to go full on tourist and wear socks w/ my tevas. I learned while camping that socks and tevas is literally foot nirvana, and my happy feet erase all sense of fashion from my brain.

Should we just pay for one giant suitcase for all of us? It's really more about the challenge than the cost. If I brought a suitcase I'd add in a pair of cut off jean shorts and my rain trench (in finds) and I'd have more room for souvenirs in my personal item. Over to you. Am I just nuts?

Ellen Tracy Utility Trench Coat with Removable Hood (Regular & Petite)

$228.00 $149.90

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Women's Pattern Lighthouse Packable Jacket

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Kara pebble leather carryall

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Eileen Fisher V-Neck Jersey Lantern Dress

$218.00 $108.98

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Traci

catgirl

Veteran

Honestly, I think you'll be fine - I never travel with more than a carryon, using my formula of topsx bottoms = outfits. And if everything can be mixed around, even better. I prefer skirts to dresses for this reason, but if a dress is versatile, it can fit in. And I take one pair of shoes when possible. My Jambu Mary Janes worked for everything from hiking in Joshua Tree to Disney to casual dinner out.

One giant suitcase is risky - if it should get mislaid, you will all be at a loss! I like having my possessions in my control - because I've had nothing but bad luck with checking bags. On the way back, it's fine but on the way to my vacation, I want peace of mind!

Traci

Veteran

I'm in awe of people who can travel with one pair of shoes. I have to have atleast 2 pair to switch back and forth between or even my most comfy fhoes start to rub blisters.
I'm trying to avoid even a carry on and get it all into my personal item. I think we can all swing it. The youngest's clothes take up next to no room, and she'll wear the same hoodie as outerwear for all 4 days.

Joy

Veteran

Does your airline charge for a backpack? We recently traveled with backpacks to avoid heavy charges for carryon suitcases and it is a challenge. I greatly recommend packing envelopes that compress everything to make space. Instead of sandals, I'd wear comfortable sneakers for more foot coverage. If you are going to Florida, it can get pretty chilly. I would suggest another warm option unless you want to buy a sweatshirt there or run warm. A packable rain jacket could serve you well. If you need to pack for the whole family, one big case could be great.

Diana

Veteran

Totally doable. In fact, I almost always pack for 3-4 day trips in a "weekender" bag this size or smaller, AND I always bring an extra pair of shoes (in addition to the ones I'm wearing on the plane) because of my fussy feet. I always wear my largest shoes, and my coat, on the plane. I tend to bring (where x is the number of days) x/2 bottoms and x or x-1 tops. If it's cold or I won't be doing strenuous things (for example, sitting around all day in a conference room doesn't dirty my clothes the way sightseeing all day does), I might bring less tops. By tops, I mean things like tees and blouses, basically the layer that touches your skin. Obviously sweaters and jackets can be reworn.

My sister and I experimented with rolling our clothes on the way back from this last trip (to Japan), and it totally made it take up less room. In fact, I think my suitcase ended up less full than it was when I came, and that was with the addition of souvenirs I'd purchased.

Traci

Veteran

There's no charge for the personal item size bag. I do tend to run warmish, and we're traveling from Wisconsin, so we're pretty adjusted to the cold. We've been running around w/o jackets in our current 40ish weather, but not for long periods outside. I'm debating using packing cubes, but may pack my clothes into a small backpack inside the travel bag so I have a backpack for park days. My most comfortable shoes are sandals or boots. I'm not sure it will be cold enough to justify boots on this trip.

Joy

Veteran

I agree with Una that losing that one suitcase on the way is a risk that I would not want to take. Everyone can layer on their bulkiest stuff.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Sounds miserable to me, but if you find it a fun challenge go for it. is the personal item bag for each of you small enough to fit under the seat? Otherwise you will be fighting for overhead space, and unless you know you'll be boarding early for some reason there's a chance that your bags will get checked anyway. The last few times I've flown (and not around the holidays, btw) the last third of the plane to board had all of their carryon bags checked, and the only stuff they could keep were small purses and computer bags.

This fall when I had to travel cross country for my uncle's funeral and associated family events, I packed everything into a tote bag sized bag, and only wore one pair of shoes for the three days. It worked, but I wouldn't recommend it, especially on a more normal vacation where you're likely to want to bring back souvenirs and such.

Traci

Veteran

Right, that's what I'm trying to decide. Is it actually a fun challenge? Or more fun to think about and not so fun in real life?

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I found it a fun challenge to pack for a week in Ireland plus a few extra days in Philly on the way over, in a carry-on bag. It worked out just fine. I like your list, though I would want a non-sandal option for shoes, in case it was too cold for sandals. You could wear your rain trench on the plane, too, so you'll have it without packing it.

crutcher

Veteran

Could you pack back packs for each of you?...That would give you more room and the kids could help with the load...I have a rule never to leave without some warm item such as a sweatshirt or sweater...I have been burned in the past...I would wear as much on as I could..lessen your load...Sounds like an adventure..have fun...

Kim

Veteran

I packed for a 5 day trip to Nova Scotia in the late fall (cold weather) and used just my personal item, (no carry on bag, just an under the seat style one) and it's a challenge, but do able. I packed heavier clothes than you will need, and I packed a pair of shoes in my bag too, (and wore my tall boots.) I was fine for everything I wanted to do, including a night out to celebrate a friends 50th birthday, and a Memorial day service. I do like remixing, scarves and rewearing favorite outfits. I think that's probably key. Will you be sick of the clothes you are using, or will you be happy to have easily mixed outfits and be out of the door and on your way to fun in no time flat?

I used packing cubes, but in hindsight I wouldn't do it again for that kind of packing, unless you use the smallest ones. They help you stay organized, but they don't make the most efficient use of the space, (and that's important when travelling with just a small under the seat bag! LOL) Rolling clothing (and stuffing things inside of shoes, etc.) made it workable. Washing in the sink every night means you don't have to bring 2 weeks worth of undies or socks...I used 3 pairs. One I was wearing, one I washed, and one was usually drying.

It can be done, and I'm glad I did it, because on the plane I took, when I went to put my personal item in the overhead bin it didn't fit! (Smaller plane.) It did however fit under my seat in front of me, so I never had to let it out of my sight.

And, you *can* buy anything you feel you should have brought, but forgot when you get there, if you really need to! (I hear they have shopping there...LOL)

Joyce B

Veteran

I have not done that with a personal item bag, I try to go with the carry-on with good wheels so that it's comfortable to shlepp. What helps me a lot is that I pack the daily outfits or the ones with shared pants with everything including the underwear and stockings or socks in one space bag of the rolling kind and I get the air out of the bag. That makes up a lot of space and if you pack the clothes carefully they will not wrinkle. That way everything is ready and I do not have to fumble through my bag looking for what to wear. I also make sure everything that I pack goes with everything else, so that I have more outfits if I need them.
Enjoy your trip! Let us know how your packing goes.

frannieb

Veteran

We travel tons for fun and I manage the packing for all three of us. 15 items is always the max. We use packing cubes and roll clothes - cubes work well for us. For the three of us I got us into one backpack and a carryon for two weeks in paris. Mix and match is key and clothing that can be rinsed and air dried. I could easily go for over a week with what you have listed.

Gaylene

Veteran

Totally do-able. You've listed enough outfits for six days, and, if you repeated at least a couple, you'd easily have enough for ten days.

I also think you've gone about it the right way by concentrating on outfits you'd actually wear comfortably on this trip instead of some arbitrary number of tops and bottoms--or someone else's packing list. To my mind, the question isn't "will you have enough" but "why would you need more"? Give yourself permission to buy something if something freaky happens like an invitation to a swanky dinner or a once-in-a-lifetime weather event, and limit your souvenirs to small, easy-to-pack items. If something big attracts you, add shipping costs to the purchase price before buying that item as a souvenir.

Traci

Veteran

Thanks for all the tips. My family thinks I'm nuts for over thinking this at this point, so I appreciate all of you entertaining my questions.

I woke up this morning to an updated forecast and now they are calling for sunny and highs of 78 for the first 3 days, then cloudy and 68 the last day.

I'm thinking of swapping out one dress for a pair of light shorts. I'm also thinking I'll be too hot in a 3/4 sleeve t in 78 degrees, so that may need to swap out for a tank. I'm going to trim the leggings back to 1 pair.
The warmer weather will make this quite a bit simpler since smaller and lighter clothes will take up less room.

VioletMyra

My point of view = the dress is more versatile than shorts i.e. you can be cool by dispensing with layers or warm by adding layers. Three quarter sleeves protect your arms from the sun/heat (I prefer long sleeves that I roll or push up).

Traci

Veteran

Thanks for all the feedback! It's great to have a sounding board.

I did a major try on and test pack and decided to ditch the shorts in favor of a knit skirt. I also added back in the light weight rayon dress because it takes up so little room and that's my go to summer dress. If it's sweltering, I'm going to want it.

I have a light weight, long sleeved tunic that I've been going back and forth on whether I should take. I'm thinking of adding it in and taking out the knit jacket. I've ordered a new cardigan. I'll wait to see how warm it is before making the final call on the jacket.

With everything packed in a cube the clothes took up slightly less than half my bag. I'll have plenty of room for my second pair of shoes and sundries.

Pleione Mixed Media Tunic (Online Only)

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