How to Pack Light and Have a Large Travel Wardrobe

I know that packing light is a challenge for a lot of ladies. I used to want to take my whole closet, too, but then I went to Europe and had to carry all my crap around town with swollen, angry feet, up and down subway stairs. I could barely pick up my bag and some nice guy helped me drag it up the steps at one point. I had to wait at the baggage carousel for two bags when we arrived and I basically felt like a slave to my luggage. Over the years, I've steadily whittled down my travel wardrobe to just the essential pieces and one fun piece that can be versatile. Today I want to show you how I packed for my upcoming trip back to London and Paris. I have packed three pairs of pants, five tops, two tanks for layering, a scarf and some fun jewelry. This is in addition to the outfit I'll be wearing on the plane. 

Because we are traveling in the fall, the weather can be unpredictable, so instead of a pair of sandals that can work as walking shoes and dressy shoes, I broke my own rule and am taking a pair of heels. Shooties that are comfy, will keep my feet warm and also look great going to the theater, afternoon tea and other dress up activities. (You can click on all these pictures to see them bigger.) I am also taking my favorite boots that are rollable (similar to these), so they take up way less space in my bag. they are waterproof, snowproof, warm and keep my feet happy.

This first outfit is my plane outfit. It consists of a stretchy Hudson Jeans (mine are from the discontinued travel collection, but these are similar), a pair of ballet flats with enough support that I can walk all day in them a breezy tank and a warm cardigan. I'll be packing a second pair of jeans in a lighter wash for a more casual look. Since the look will be similar, I decided a second picture was overkill. (My second pair are James Jeans Skinny "Jeggings".) I am also packing a pair of black James Jeans skinny jeans because they are comfy, but can also be dressed up, and a pair of black ponte pants with faux leather and zipper detailing for dressing up. Leather is really big right now, but really unaffordable. Faux does the trick, plus it breathes and is animal-friendly. You could also go with fancy leggings, but for colder weather, I chose something more substantial with the same look. See how my striped shirt can go with all my pants, and I can layer it with another tank and accessorize it.

Now, onto the tops I'm packing: I found this fun pink faux wrap top at Lucy on sale. It has strategic ruching and is thin enough for warmer days, but can also be layered with a tank and cardigan if needed. I like that it can be casual with jeans or dressed up with some nice pants and shoes. I'll probably even throw on some fun jewels.

You can't travel in the cool weather without packing a sweater of some kind. I am not a fan of big bulky sweaters and they don't pack well at all. I also learned my lesson from last time I packed heavy sweaters that they are not good for unpredictable weather. If it becomes unseasonably warm, they are basically useless. This is why layering is a great travel concept and it helps to think in those terms when packing. This Splendid sweater from Piperlime is sold out, but you can find a similar one here on Saks. It has a nice stretch, so the sleeves can be pushed up. It also looks great with a tank underneath and isn't too bulky to wear with a coat. I like the pop of color, as it can also be casual or dressy.

I love this drapey top from Lucy. It's sold out now, as I buy much of their items when they are on sale, but you can find similar ones other places. It has a bit of a cowl neckline, long sleeves and is lightweight. Again, this works in cooler weather, but also when the temps creep up unexpectedly. It also makes it easy to layer with a cardigan. Plus, with the black, if I spill anything on myself, it'll be tough to notice. Ha!

It's true. I have a lot of black in my travel wardrobe, but you can mix it up with other colors. I like some darker colors, because they can be pretty versatile and dressed up with some jewelry. This twist top was my choice to go with my black jeans and and ballet flats, as we will be going to Disneyland Paris' Halloween party and instead of packing a whole costume I will only wear once, I picked up some easily packable accessories in order to go as a cat burglar. Easy enough, right? of course, it also works with boots and dress up pants for a night on the town.

Generally, my bonus item of choice dressing up would be an actual dress of some sort. I am really trying to pare down my wardrobe though and knew I would only wear a dress once, maybe twice, so it would take up space in my carry-on that I needed. Besides, I already have those booties taking up valuable room, so instead of a dress and tights, I opted for a fun peplum top with some sparkle that would go with all the pants in my bag. While this isn't available from the shop I bought it from anymore, you can get something just as cute and versatile from Piperlime. 

I only added my Travelon expandable bag to the top after these clothes were in the way I wanted them

Our toiletry bag fit on top of the shoes and we were good to go

In case you think I brought another suitcase, here is a pic of our luggage at the airport

So, as you can see, with 6 tops and 4 bottoms, I can pretty much make 24 outfits (or 12-18 different looks), which is way more than I need for a 2-week vacation. Both rental apartments I'm staying in have a washer/dryer, and I'll be picking up a few things along the way, too, so I'm not going to be hurting for variety or clean clothes. The pic above shows our bags with both mine and Eric's clothes in two carry-on bags. One is for clothes and toiletries and the other is for the spillover stuff, like shoes and electronics. This is how we have traveled for a while now. We share a big carry-on and small carry-on and never check anything. Guys are so much easier to pack for, since they take few items and wear 99% of them. That said, you may see a future post on what I packed or him and how he mixed and matched the items.

Infographic: Is it Britain or the UK?

Do you get confused when people refer to the United Kingdom, Britain and London? They aren't all the same thing, though London is part of both Britain and the UK. There are different flags and Ireland is two different countries, one of which isn't in the UK and one is? Huh? Well, if you wonder why I don't just say I'm headed to Europe when I'm going to London and Paris, it's because England is not part of Europe. In fact, I'll have to learn two exchange rates, because the first part of my trip uses Great Britain Pounds (GBP = £) and the other part uses Euros (€). If you're planning a trip to the UK or Europe, you might want to brush up on the exchange rates before you go - don't exchange your money ahead of time though, because you'll end up paying more than you should. Actually, one of the best places to change dollars to pounds or euros is the post office at your destination. More ways to save after this informative graphic!

Traveling to London? It can be crazy expensive, but not when you plan ahead and find cheap and free activities to do in between those more expensive ones. Here are my tips for saving in London and Lonely Planet offers this free Kindle book on free museums and other experiences in Britain (so more than just London). You don't need a Kindle to read it, just the app on your phone, tablet or computer. Get up-to-the-minute information by downloading some fancy and useful apps for your trip.

Take a trip to Ireland and save big time in Dublin, though it's not part of the UK, it's still an amazing destination and can be really budget-friendly. Or make your way to Scotland and spend wee amounts of money with these tips for traveling Edinburgh on the cheap.

Want to live it up in France? Well, there are ways to make that inexpensive too, or at least more affordable. Want to know how? See my tips on Paris for (frugal) lovers.

And now you know the difference between British Isles, Great Britain and the United Kingdom! Have you been to any countries in the UK? Or will you be planning one soon?

Staying In Shape On the Road

When you're out and about flitting from tourist attraction to subway station to lunch, it's hard to keep on track with your diet and exercise regimen. Even though you're out walking all day, and it may seem like you're getting a lot of exercise in, you're also probably eating a lot of high-calorie and fatty foods that pretty much negate all the good you're doing with the walking, hiking and stair-climbing. I hate to exercise, but I like to walk. Too bad I forget that most of the year and only remember it when I'm back on vacation and slightly out of shape. Okay, mostly out of shape. I try to keep focused at home though and have been doing weights and fun things like boxing, sprints with the dog (because neither of us is going to run more than a block at a time) and jump rope. 

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So, when I go on vacation and have long days, I feel like I've already done my body good and then go out and eat something followed by chocolate cake or sticky toffee pudding. If my pants still fit by the time the trip is over, I consider that a triumph, but I know I could do more. A lot more. Here are just some of the ways you can easily exercise on your trips that you can either do while getting ready or add into your routine throughout the day. Maybe get up 20 minutes early and hit up the hotel gym or swimming pool before you take your shower in the morning and get ready to leave for the day. The best part about most of these suggestions is that they are totally free and don't require you to pack anything extra in your bag that's probably already too full. (Take some stuff out!)

Easy exercises for your hotel room:

• Push-ups - Get some variety going by using a chair for semi-traditional ones like the ones below (you don't need a yoga mat. You can just push the chair up against the wall or door) or for a harder workout, try it this way.

• Chair crunches - I love the fact that if you have a chair, you pretty much have a low-impact gym. Sit on the edge and pull legs up or do the bicycle or other ab exercises like these. 
• Work your triceps - These also use a chair, though you can use anything flat and sturdy. At home, I use my coffee table, but you can also use a park bench. 
• Planks - Work your core!
• Squats - Work your butt. You can do these outside, too, but people might give you funny looks.
• Lunges - Work your legs. These look pretty weird in public, too.
• Calf raises - Do these anywhere, like brushing your teeth, watching the news or waiting in line to get into the Louvre.
• Yoga - if you have room to stretch out and are a regular yoga practitioner, then find a spot on the floor and have at it. 
• Pilates - See above. If you can do any of your moves without equipment, this is the time to bust those out.
• Jumping jacks are good if you are on the ground floor. If you aren't, maybe take these outside.
• Arm curls - You can do these just about everywhere. Buy a couple of water bottles and use them as make-shift weights. If these aren't doing the trick and you don't have anything heavier around that could work, check out these traveling dumbbells called AquaBells that you fill with water for your workouts. 
  
• Resist! Pack a resistance band (or set) in your carry-on and do more strenuous workouts in the time you have available. There are also these fancy loop bands you can use to strengthen your legs/thighs 

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Ways to use what the hotel or resort has on-hand to get a workout:

• Hotel gym - If your lodging has a gym, it probably won't be very extensive, but there's bound to be a stair-stepper or elliptical in there for you to jump on. 
• No gym? Use the stairs. Walk or run up the stairs to your room and you'll start to feel the burn. Generally, the stairwell is pretty private, so you also won't be disturbing others if you are up early or late doing this.
• Go for a swim - If you're lucky and traveling in the warmer months, you can totally do laps outside. If not so lucky, your lodging might be used to it and have one of those fancy indoor pools.
• Go for a run - Not close to a park or afraid to go out running in unfamiliar terrain? Strap on your running shoes and do laps around the hotel. Chances are they are surrounded by a parking lot and/or sidewalks that make it easy to get your strides in.

Daily Burn App

If you're like me and need some inspiration to get going and stay on track, then check out Red Tricycle's post for 10 apps for busy parents for healthy eating and quick exercising. I figure busy parents are pretty similar to travelers, except they probably get less sleep. I just downloaded and started using MyFitnessPal. We'll see how that goes.

You can also jump on your laptop and look for exercise vids on YouTube (like I did for you above). There are tons out there to choose from. If you have favorites, bookmark them for when you are traveling and don't have time to waste searching. Maybe one of those with a big guy yelling at you to power through, so you don't give up in 5 minutes and declare walking to breakfast good enough. If you want some tips on eating healthy on vacation, check out my post on vegetarian dining, which will show you how to incorporate veggies into your diet.

What are your tips for staying in shape while traveling? Do you have a favorite exercise to do that can be done anywhere?