The Travel Goods Show is coming up, which means I'm all packed and ready to go. It's a bit tricky to pack for, because I tend to come back with much more than I left with (samples and whatnot), and I don't like to check a bag unless I absolutely have to.
There seems to be a rule that every other year they send you home with a full-size wheeled carry-on. This is an off year, so I'm bringing a wheelie bag that unzips to become full-size, plus a personal size carry-on that I stuffed inside and will use on the plane. This way, when I come back, I'll have a full bag to stuff with goodies, and all my clothes and toiletries will fit in the smaller one.
I'll only be in New Orleans for two full days and half of a Saturday, so I don't need much, but I will be meeting with travel industry peeps for two days and might need to dress nicely for at least one dinner. I'm packing the following:
- 4 tops
- 1 dress
- 1 pair of lightweight black pants
- a pair of sandals
- 1 rain jacket
- 1 pair of joggers to wear for bed (which I will pair with the tee I'm wearing on the plane)
- necessary undergarments
Travelon World Travel Essentials 3-in-1 Crossbody Conair travel-sized flat iron |
On the plane I'll be wearing a pair of black denim jeggings, a gray tee, and a lightweight jacket. I'm wearing my Arcopedico Vegas Mary Janes, since they are closed-toe and heavier than my sandals. I picked black as a neutral, so everything I take will go together. (I'll take photos of each outfit while on my trip.)
Lewis N Clark compression packing cube |
The key to packing light is choosing a small mix-and-match wardrobe. Black is good for pants, because unless something terrible happens, you can wear them multiple days in a row without washing. My lightweight pants are Columbia and moisture-wicking, plus don't appear to hold odor. They are quick drying, so if I do need to wash them, they will be ready to wear the next morning from just hanging them up.
I also am making use of two packing cubes: one for my clothing, and one for my undergarments that actually can be used as a purse when I arrive. Since I won't have to share my bag with anyone, I'm going old school and was able to get everything I needed for toiletries in a simple zippered bag (which has a waterproof lining).
They all fit perfectly into the back of the bag, then my personal size bag easily scrunches on top, and it has my Airplane Pockets, charging cords, snacks, rain jacket, Barrier Method scarf, and my iPad. My small purse will be able to fit inside too. As always, I'll be bringing a reusable water bottle.
Hopefully, this helps you pack a bit lighter. I'll follow up with some more in-depth photos, so you can see how each outfit comes together, what toiletries I decided were absolutely necessary, and if I can recommend this wheelie bag at all. LOL! I, honestly, bought it for just this purpose. I can already tell you the Timbuk2 bag that's a personal item size is definitely a winner.
What are your favorite items to help you pack light?
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