There's No Place Like Oz

Recently I packed more for a 1-week trip to London and for 1 week at the beach than I did to start my year-long adventure in Australia. How is this possible?!

1) On shorter trips, I tend to pack more “just in case” items and articles of clothing. Perhaps on longer trips I know I have no choice but to keep it simple!
2) I carried the same amount of luggage to London as I did Australia but I managed to fit more in — my packing skills went from very good to GREAT.

Just an hour ago a friend who will be crossing the Atlantic to visit me later this week asked for a few packing tips. In addition to my favorite tip (rolling clothing really does save SO much more room than folding), I shared what usually makes the cut of going into my 3 bags — a Good2Go travel checklist, if you will.

My 3 bags — a suitcase just an inch or two bigger than carry-on allows, a small backpack, and a purse (which is actually a D-SLR camera bag)

What’s in my purse?
D-SLR (Nikon D3000); wallet with driver’s license, two credit cards, cash; prescription sunglasses; chapstick; iPhone; a few other random bits

What’s in my backpack?
On travel days, it carries: a sandwich and piece of fruit for the flight; a water bottle I buy at the airport; travel documents such as my passport, flight intinerary, boarding passes, confirmation details for hostel; laptop (netbook); cords and chargers for laptop, electric toothbrush, iPod, iPhone, and camera; adapter for plugging in electronics overseas; mini umbrella; pair of underwear and maybe a thin, lightweight outfit in case my checked bag is lost.

What’s in my suitcase?
This varies with each trip and I’m getting better at cramming more inside O:-)

Travel towel (the thin, lightweight, dries-in-minutes kind)
Tempurpedic travel pillow (a necessity with my back + neck issues)
Flip flops for the hostel showers
Feminine products (I just can’t see myself switching to the cup, but hats off to you ladies who travel with one!)
A travel-sized hair dryer
Underwear (7-10 pairs for a week — I only wash once a week, like a clean pair every day, and like to have extra…I just can’t go with less)
Bras (2-3 depending on trip)
PJs (usually one bottom and two lightweight shirts)
Socks (4-5 pair)
Bottoms — usually 3 and they vary based on weather (to kick off winter in Oz, I packed a pair of decent black pants, 1 pair of jeans, and a pair of khakis) — I wear one of these on the plane so it’s not actually in my bag
Tops — 4-5 short sleeved shirts, 1-2 3/4 length shirts, 1-2 long sleeved shirts

I somehow also manage to squeeze in a toiletry bag:

Inside you’d find my electric toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body spray, hand lotion, facial soap, moisturizer, fingernail clippers, tweezers, razor, razor blades, shaving cream, Q-tips, foundation. I know I’m missing another item or two.

Most travelers’ bags look fairly similar but it’s always fun to see the few items that differentiate us. To my friend who now needs to pack to cross the pond — GOOD LUCK and see you in a few days.

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Featured image via creative commons.