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Planning ahead for summer travel

SarahD8

Veteran

Hello all, popping in for a moment because we’ve just booked tickets to Ireland for this summer (!!), and of course I'm starting to think about my packing list. I want to plan ahead because (1) I love the anticipation and analysis , and (2) I think there are several purchases I will need to make, and I want to make sure everything goes together both functionally and aesthetically.

Here are the basic parameters of the trip:

10 nights
Mix of city tourism and walking around beaches/ cliffs/ archaeological sites/ gentle hikes — probably more slanted towards the latter
We will have a car
We are able to check baggage on the plane if necessary
We will likely have minimal access to laundry facilities and will be moving accommodations every few days (so I don’t want to depend on washing things out in the sink and then wind up with a wet garment sitting wadded up in the car all day)
I realize the weather in Ireland can be unpredictable, even in the summer, especially along the coast, and I run cold. That said, if the weather is really miserable we are not *obligated* to hike!

So here’s how I’m thinking about things so far. I’m mentally dividing my packing list into a “trail kit,” a “town kit,” and “things that can go both ways” category. Like so:

Trail kit

Sneakers to hike in (probably something by Skechers)
Hiking pants (some kind of technical fabric, not sure yet… Not black.)
4 tops: probably knit, casual, short sleeves rather than sleeveless for better shoulder coverage, should coordinate with trail kit bottoms & hiking shoes
Pullover sweatshirt
Short gear puffer (thermoball)
Rain shell (fits over puffer)
Quick-dry shorts

Goes both ways

Packable straw sun hat
Olive chinos/slim cargo pants
Stone pull-on cropped pants
Breton pullover sweater (it’s wool/cashmere and fairly warm, but non-scratchy enough to wear over bare arms, and can be washed)
Blue Teva sandals

Town kit

2 sundresses
3 toppers, of varying weights (all will go with both dresses, and I guess with the tops I mention below too):
- Navy Aran cardi (my version of a jean jacket)
- 3/4 sleeve lightweight cardi, color tbd
- White linen 3/4 sleeve button-up shirt
1-2 sleeveless or short sleeve woven tops (nicer than the tees I’ll hike in, but could be paired with the stone or olive pants in town)
Blue canvas plimsoll tennies
1 pair sturdy but presentable walking sandals
1-2 summer scarves
Umbrella

Thoughts? Am I forgetting anything? Overdoing it on anything? Please feel free also to suggest can't miss sights and destinations -- we're flying in and out of Dublin but otherwise we're pretty open to anything at this point.

Thanks in advance for your good advice!

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from BlueJay

Sal

Veteran

I love a packing post......

I agree - four pairs of shoes (I struggle with less myself)
I think you have a lot of toppers and I think you could decrease here - maybe by two pieces - I would keep the puffer, rain shell, breton and cardi... either the cardi or puffer could work with dresses. I would eliminate the first pullover and the second cardi.

Pullover sweatshirt
Short gear puffer (thermoball)
Rain shell (fits over puffer)
Breton pullover sweater
Navy Aran cardi (my version of a jean jacket)
3/4 sleeve lightweight cardi, color tbd
White linen 3/4 sleeve button-up shirt

Potentially one less tee or short sleeve shirt although those are smaller and easier to pack. The linen shirt could be worn as a shirt and a topper.

Two dresses sounds right, and four bottoms - two hiking and two more casual. You could eliminate one but I probably would not do so.

I like to take a swimsuit always with me but I am someone that likes sea swimming even in the cold......

How exciting!!

I would be taking checked luggage with this packing list but some people here seem to be able to fit in carry on over - I don't have that knack!!

avicennia

Veteran

I agree with Sal that it does seem like a lot. I know it’s boring, but when I travel i stick to one colorway so every item can mix and match. For 10 days with a combination of hiking and city, I take three bottoms (one technical fabric for hiking), 3-4 nice tops, 2 hiking tops (short and long sleeved), 1 cardigan, one puffer, one rain shell and a couple of scarves. I take powdered laundry so I can wash in the sink. So exciting! Ireland is such a lovely country.

Runcarla

Veteran

Ireland is wonderful! Music everywhere! People were super friendly. Seafood was the best!

Mix and match layers. Get more wear from dresses by picking ones that look good with pants under as an alternative.

3 bottoms (2 pants, 1 shorts)
8 tops
2 dresses
2 sweaters
1 lightweight/micro puffer
1 topper (jean jacket, bomber or blazer)
1 coat (lightweight trench coat or similar rain jacket)
1 hat (snug fit or ties under chin - Ireland can be windy!)

3 pair shoes - sneakers, dressy flat, bootie

Agree with Sal, pack a bathing suit!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

First off, this is wonderful news! It sounds like a fabulous trip!

Fabulous, but not super easy to pack for, given varied weather, and very different activities.

When exactly in the summer? (Thinking about weather, which yes, is quite changeable I imagine, though I have never been there -- sob -- but still, probably warmer in July than in late May, for example.

I am fascinated by the different takes on what to bring. And also a bit awestruck by these very tight lists! I can tell you that I'm in the midst of planning a 10 day trip to London, without any outside the city hiking, and my list of bottoms is already at least 5 deep....and I definitely want 4 footwear choices, and several toppers, and and and....

I admire those who can stick to a very limited travel capsule but try as I may, I always want at least a few options!

Anyway. I love how you have divided things up by function.

Having said that, if this were me, I think I might bring:

Trail Kit:

1 hiking sneaker
1 hiking bottom (hopefully crossover potentiality)
2 tees -- probably merino because they do not collect smells and are cool and warm.
1 merino overlayer (hoodie or pullover)
1 pair shorts -- if nice enough looking, could be crossover.
1 packable puffer
1 rain jacket

Goes both ways

Packable straw sun hat
Olive chinos/slim cargo pant

Breton pullover sweater (it’s wool/cashmere and fairly warm, but non-scratchy enough to wear over bare arms, and can be washed.).

{Editor's note -- I want that sweater!}

Blue Teva sandals

Town kit

2 sundresses.

{By sundresses, what exactly do you mean? I worry they might not be warm enough for Ireland -- but I hope someone can weigh in here...)

3 toppers, of varying weights (all will go with both dresses, and I guess with the tops I mention below too):
- Navy Aran cardi (my version of a jean jacket)
- 3/4 sleeve lightweight cardi, color tbd
- White linen 3/4 sleeve button-up shirt
1-2 sleeveless or short sleeve woven tops (nicer than the tees I’ll hike in, but could be paired with the stone or olive pants in town)
Blue canvas plimsoll tennies
1 pair sturdy but presentable walking sandals.

(Could these take the place of the Tevas, too? I mean, could the right sandal be the sandal of all sandals?)

1-2 summer scarves
Umbrella

To me, this sounds reasonable, honestly. Because you want mix and match -ability for the in-town days. I guess my only question is what proportion of time will you spend doing what, approximately, and can you expand the "goes both ways" capsule and reduce the other two a tiny bit, if you find your luggage is overfull?

Having said that, I know that this would fit into my own checked bag, no problem. So why not go for it?

avicennia

Veteran

@Suz I have to admit that shoes are my weak point. For a summer trip like this I’d take four pairs of shoes: hiking shoes (trail runners), leather sneakers for sight seeing, some sort of sandal or ballet shoe for evenings out and flip flops for the hotel. A silk scarf and a nice piece of jewelry can really lift an outfit. And a cashmere scarf can double as a shawl. Oops — I forgot to mention my secret trick. Two silk undershirts, one tank top and the other bracelet length. If the weather is cooler than expected these are a light weight way of adding a layer of warmth. If the morning is cool, but the afternoon is warm, you can always shed a layer. Maybe I travel too far on the light side, but I like to keep it all in one carry-on.

Roberta

Veteran

My only comment since I am a terrible packer, is that with climate change, the UK is getting hotter and hotter every summer. Definitely throw a bathing suit into a corner of your luggage. You never know when you might want to jump in a brook or even a hot tub!

pirouette

Hi I live in Dublin so definitely a rain jacket! I agree with Suz sundresses sound too light for our weather it’s so changeable and never very warm. I only wear sundress when I go abroad. Please feel free to message me if I can be of any help to you planning your trip.

RobinF

Veteran

Oh exciting! Ireland is on our wish list!

I am not good at limiting myself packing and would find a carryon for 10 days almost impossible. Your list looks great to me, maybe a few more tees?

Joy

Veteran

We were in Ireland in March..,,,early spring. It was so cold and wet that I mostly wore everything all at once including coats it was cold and windy on the west coast. Driving ..be sure to read the instructions carefully, Buses and trucks have the right of way. There are lots of brick or stone walls. If something falls off the car. Get out to retrieve it and put it in the truck. You may be charged for lost items like rear view mirrors. All trains go to Dublin and there is no one in stations to help you. You buy tickets from a machine.
They do not celebrate St. Pats day and never wear green. It is difficult to go north and south on the West coast. You are better going back to Dublin and starting over. The circles in the west and south are one way and often do not allow cars. They asked what they could do to make the trip more tourist friendly. I suggested they get easier ways to go north and south in the West without going back to Dublin and put people in train stations to advise and sell tickets.
My sister took a tour and had an easier time of it. They do not think much of the English and still consider them enemies. They were starved and not even allowed to fish for food.
I hope you have a good time. Peet fires are real and pubs fill up fast. We ate lots of Irish stew and Shepherd’s pie (mutton and potatoes.).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

@Avicenna, phew, I still think you are a packing wizard but if you would bring 4 pairs of footwear, I feel slightly better. I think it's FAB to be able to do it all in a carry on. I seem incapable of it, alas...or not *incapable,* I guess -- just not flexible enough in terms of what I want to wear.

@pirouette, I am so glad you weighed in. I felt a little silly advising on weather in a place I have never visited, but I find it tough to believe that a sundress as I understand it (sleeveless, light cotton or linen) would be adequate.

Fun fact: when I graduated high school, I travelled with my then boyfriend from London through much of souther Wales -- on bikes! In June.

I had one pannier for all my clothing -- we were gone for around 10 days. And...like the silly Canadian that I was, I thought it would be SUMMER.

Hahahahahahaha!! I FROZE. Yes, I had a rain jacket and a Shetland sweater and yes I layered. But I was clueless when I packed and wow, what a trip.

Maybe this explains why I am fond of the checked bag nowadays....

SarahD8

Veteran

Thank you all for this very helpful discussion! Like Suz I am fascinated by the different takes and approaches!

A couple of musings--

Sal, interesting that you would eliminate the two mid-weight toppers (sweatshirt and 3/4 sleeve cardi). I was anticipating those being the *most* worn items in that category. I wonder if I could eliminate one of the heavier sweaters (Breton pullover or Aran cardi), although they are not really interchangeable...hmm...

avicennia that is a tight capsule indeed! As mentioned in my original post, I want to avoid the need for sink washing and I don't think I could keep the list that short without getting stinky. If we end up planning fewer lodging transfers than I'm currently anticipating, I will rethink.

Runcarla oh good point about the tie on the hat! I think you are saying that I am short on tops? And interesting that you would avoid open-toed shoes entirely. I need to think if my footwear capsule would support that strategy (my most comfortable booties, for example, are distinctly wintry -- i.e., my black patent stompy boots).

Suz, our trip is planned for mid-August (so, yes, I am thinking WAY ahead!). And my sweater is this one (mine is size M and I probably could have done fine with a S too), the style seems to pop up fairly frequently on Ebay although I am not sure about shipping to Canada.

And, I think I am with you -- I want to pack efficiently but I also want to feel like myself! Re the shoes -- yeah, I kept trying to figure out how to shed one pair. Without the Tevas I have nothing suitable for beachcombing. Without the walking sandals I lack a polished option. Without the canvas tennies my only closed-toe shoes are the hiking shoes. I guess like avicennia shoes are my weakness! But overall you are right that it all depends on what proportion of the time we will spend on trail vs in town, and I'm not sure of that yet, so it might be necessary to keep a provisional list and try to refine/pare down when our itinerary is more set.

Roberta ok I will listen to you and Sal and throw in a bathing suit! Actually I can use my bathing suit bottoms for the quick-dry shorts, and just add a tankini top. Worked for our hike to Crater Lake a couple years ago...

pirouette thanks for weighing in as a local! I may indeed send you a message with a couple of queries. I will make sure I'm well stocked for rain gear. Re: the sundresses that you and Suz mentioned -- my midi/midaxi dress + cardi formula served me pretty well for past trips to London and Scotland, but it sounds like Ireland's climate might be cooler than those more easterly locations. I will look closely at the weather before I go!

RobinF I've done carryon only for multiple trips in the past, but never with such varied activities. So we'll see...

Joy thanks, these are good tips!

Suntiger

Seems like a lot of shoes and toppers to me, and both are bulky items. You may want to look at Athleta, they have a lot of crossover pieces- technical fabric but look like regular clothes. I know it's a ways out, but see what the average weather conditions are that time of year. You may not need toppers, closed shoes, or long sleeves at all!

Sal

Veteran

Sarah - I wasn't sure of the weights of the various toppers so maybe I picked the wrong combo:) I am usually happy to keep repeating jackets and pullovers as they don't get dirty unlike the walking tees!!

On my Australian trip last year I took four pairs of shoes - hiking, sneakers, birks and flat sandals. I would have struggled without any of them. To the USA I took also four - black smart casual sneakers, running sneakers, dressy flats and pickleball shoes (I could have left out the last but did play five hours of pickleball).

And to be honest once you have four pairs of shoes you are checking in anyway so an extra topper doesn't matter!!

Sisi

Veteran

Woo-hoo, sounds like an exciting trip!
No one better than Pirouette can give you advice, but as someone who runs cold and knows how Northern European Summers can be freezing (Suz, you made me laugh, I hear you!) I dare to suggest to replace a light top with one more warm sweater (or is the Aran cardi warm enough?) and to take the whole set of warm beanie-scarf-gloves. I know, I know, I sound exaggerated but I hate feeling cold.

SarahD8

Veteran

Suntiger I will be watching the weather report closely for sure!

Sal yes, I suspect it's hard to minimize footwear for those multi-purpose trips. And you're right about "checking a bag anyway, so why not" -- extra bonus, more room for souvenirs!

Sisi, oh, a beanie -scarf-gloves complement is a good idea, especially as they are relatively compact. Maybe I should throw in a Heattech camisole or two.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Not sure if anyone else has mentioned it, but make sure your hat has a chin strap (preferably that can be tucked away once you're off the trails) - you can't predict the winds!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How fun!! Bet it will be a fab trip

My advice is to not underpack! You will regret packing too few things.

Yes to some type of raincoat with a hood. Layered separates instead of dresses unless it’s unseasonably warm.

Joy

Veteran

Buy an umbrella there and abandon it at a store holder or the airport for someone else. I take pair of shoes and usually only wear two. Be sure your wear flats, the same ones nice enough to hoody to eat in, hike,and go anywhere

Joy

Veteran

Beaches are rocky, not soft. Forget sandles. You will too cold ln them. Bring socks instead. You can buy there.

Bijou

Veteran

Congratulations - that is sooo exciting!

My advice is when considering what footwear to take, make sure that you have at least one pair of shoes that will be comfortable to walk long distances in as it is likely that you will be wearing these shoes the most. I wear these light-coloured sneakers with summer dresses and for a trip like this, they would be the first item I would pack.

View Info

Joy

Veteran

My best shoes for Ireland were metallic silver flats with which had seen lots of wear. Good luck with your choices.

LaPed

Veteran

Oh my gosh, so much fun!! I haven’t been anywhere in the British Isles in a looong time, and never in the summer, but my impression is that on a primarily coastal Ireland trip, I (pretty cold intolerant) would spend the whole time in long pants and lightweight toppers. Might bring one dress just in case of hotter weather, but my impression is lots of rain and temps in the 60s. Seattle spring? I also get the impression you can get away with dressing pretty casually, if you yourself feel comfortable doing so.

Make sure you save room in your luggage for some amazing knitwear and/or tweeds! Great souvenir potential.

SarahD8

Veteran

Zaeobi yes, good tip, will make sure my hat has a tie!

Angie this is very good advice, you're right, making sure I have what I need is more important than keeping my travel capsule as lean as possible.

Joy, all good suggestions to consider, thanks!

Bijou, I agree, this trip is really going to need to start with the footwear. Those are nice sneaks, looks like they can go anywhere!

LaPed it looks like average August temps in Galway are about 6 degrees below those of Seattle. Current weather here and there is about the same this week! But you're right, right on the water it will be cooler. Our itinerary is evolving towards more trail and less town activities, so I'll need to pack accordingly...

BlueJay

Veteran

I don't have any advice or wisdom to impart, but I am reading this thread with interest as I will go to Ireland one day, as my DH's father was from Dublin (and his mother was from Belfast). I really dislike packing. Too many decisions! I hope you have a great trip!