Packing With Only A Carry-On

I never check luggage. Even when I’m on the road for six plus weeks, I only travel with a carry-on bag and a small backpack, along with my 7-in-1 wallet. Checking luggage has no upside. It’s expensive and time consuming. I like to jump off the plane and hit the ground running. No waiting at the carousel for luggage. Here’s how I do it:

On the plane, I wear my heaviest items, including my bulkiest outer wear and shoes/boots. Aside from a dress, on the plane I wear black leggings, a merino wool hoodie, and a merino wool or fleece sweater/jacket, and a down vest that doubles as a pillow.

I choose clothing that in neutral or earth tones, often black, tan or grey -- so there's a lot of mix and matching -- with tees, tanks and a scarf providing bright accent colors.

Almost all the clothes I pack do not wrinkle and are made of wickable fabrics, which means they don't absorb moisture easily so you stay dry as you race about town, but they also dry relatively quickly when you wash them. (I hand wash my underwear, pants, shorts, dresses and shirts and they dry in no time.)

When packing my bag, I roll all the clothing. 

Here’s what I pack in my carry-on:

2 dresses

1 pair of pants (that convert to shorts)

2 t-shirts

2 long sleeve shirts

1 tank top

1 buff (that doubles as a scarf/hat)

1 rain jacket

1 pair of Mary Janes or sandals

3 pair of socks (Merino wool)

3 pairs of underwear (Merino wool)

Here’s what I pack in my small backpack:

iPhone plus bluetooth keyboard

First-aid kit

Vitamin supplements
Sunscreen

Toiletries in travel sizes that fit in the TSA-recommended bag

Charging cords and international plug

Earplugs and eye mask

My 7-in-1 Wallet contains:
credit cards
drivers license
passport
lip balm
toothpicks
money
cell phone
business cards

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Packing Light With Carry-On Luggage Only

Flying is a hassle as it is without having to deal with lost, damaged or stolen luggage. That's why I only travel with a carry-on. Even when I'm on an almost two-month trip, I have no need for a voluminous piece of luggage. How do I manage this?

1- I choose clothing that in neutral or earth tones, often black, tan or grey -- so there's a lot of mix and matching -- with tees, tanks and a scarf providing bright accent colors. I'm particularly fond of Ex Offcio clothing.

2- Almost all the clothes I pack do not wrinkle and are made of wickable fabrics, which means they don't absorb moisture easily so you stay dry as you race about town, but they also dry relatively quickly when you wash them. (I hand wash my underwear, pants, shorts, dresses and shirts and they dry in no time.)

3- I wear my bulkiest, heaviest clothing on the plane, including a Merino wool sweater, insulated vest -- it doubles as a pillow or lumbar support, long-sleeve shirt, a jacket (if it's necessary at my destination) and leggings. (I never ever travel with jeans. They're heavy, bulky and when wet, take forever to dry.)

4- No matter how many weeks I'm traveling, I never pack more than a total of three dresses, one or two skirts, one pair of leggings, one pair of pants that convert to shorts, two tee shirts, two long sleeve shirts, one rain jacket, a hoody, three pairs of Merino wool socks, and three pairs of Merino wool underwear. (I love the clothing items Smartwool sells.) I choose items that are made of thin fabrics (such as Merino wool) and roll small.

5- I pack a sarong that serves multi functions, as a beach blanket, cover-up, or shawl when I need to visit a church or other religious sight.

6- I only travel with two pairs of shoes: I wear the heaviest on the plane and then I pack a pair of Mary Janes, such as these by Astral Designs.

7- Instead of a typical hat or cap, I pack a multi-purpose buff, such as those made by Buff USA. Again, it's all about multi-purpose uses. A buff can be used as a bandana, hat, balaclava, neck gator, headband, or hair band.

8- All my toiletries are travel-size, and that includes shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and toothpaste.

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Gear Review: Lightweight + Organic Cotton Tunic

When I pack for a trip, I want clothes that are lightweight, perform well and look good. Anything to do with sustainability would be a bonus. So I’m happy to have just discovered Aventura Clothing

http://www.aventuraclothing.com/. Their ethic is revolves around using cotton that’s organically farmed and doing as much as possible to reduce their carbon footprint. I recently tried their Newberry shirt, a comfortable flannel fabric that’s actually a tunic, and one that pairs well with a pair of leggings. (It’s 100% organic cotton.) This works well as a practical outfit on the plane. If it gets too warm, you can roll up  the sleeves, fastening them with the buttoned tabs. And, though many women may wear their male partner’s flannel shirt around the house, this tunic has a feminine silhouette, complete with decorative buttons on the back.

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Packing Light for Winter Travels

Visiting Greenland in the fall with only a carry-on weekender tote bag for five days of travel seems impossible. But not for someone like me who never checks luggage. I simply wore  my heaviest clothing -- including boots -- on the plane. (I removed these as soon as I was seated; rolling them into an ultra-light tote bag that I then used as a pillow. Below are some of the heaviest items, including a wool hoodie, two jackets -- one fleece and one insulated -- and the snow boots that have cleats. I also wore black leggings, a Merino wool sleeveless dress and a Merino wool long-sleeved shirt. In my bag I packed one pair of winter pants, two tee shirts, a rain jacket, several pair of wool socks, two pair of Ex-Officio underwear, three wool skirts, and two Merino wool long-sleeved shirts. Aside from the clothing, I packed my first-aid kit, a zip-lock with liquids (shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, deodorant). My small personal bag -- a tiny backpack -- contained my iPad, camera, notebook, and all of the personal in-flight items I recently blogged about here. When my flight landed, I was the only passenger who didn't have to wait at the carousel for my luggage.

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Personal In-Flight Items - What to Pack

Whenever I fly, I'm observing the behavior of the passengers around me. It's often surprising to see how many get up -- often when the seatbelt sign is on because of turbulence -- to open the overhead bin and rifle around in their large bags for some item they need. Many times, because of their disorganized packing, the item is no where to be found. Opening the overhead bins during turbulence puts them and the people around them at risk for injury, should something fall out. I keep everything I need for the flight in a small backpack under my seat. These items can deal with most anything that will occur on the flight, whether it's the noisy passengers or stomach upset, chapped lips or motion sickness. Here are the essential in-flight items I pack:

• Ricola natural herb lozenges for a dry or sore throat
• Tummydrops  for motion sickness
• Bonine also for motion sickness
• chewable Rolaids or Tums
• Aleve for a headache
• EarPeace earplugs
• Bucky eye mask
• dental supplies: floss, foldable toothbrush, Stim-U-Dents (a special toothpick that softens in your mouth so it won't injure gums), mini toothpaste tube
• Charmin wet wipes
• Purell hand wipes
• dark chocolate
• lip balm
• Altoids mints

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Where To Safely Carry That Passport

I just returned from a bicycle trip to South Korea where the guide was -- hmm, how should I say this diplomatically -- less than competent. So, imagine everyone’s surprise when we’re about to board a ferry to an island within South Korea and we’re all required to show our passport in order to get our tickets. Sounds odd, for sure, because we’re not crossing a border. And no other form of identification would suffice: it had to be the passport for foreign visitors. Now, I know we’re often told to never travel with the passport once we’ve reached your destination, but I always have my passport safely zipped away in the 7-in-1 micro bag that I designed, the atta-Bag.  (This video shows some of it's features.) I carry it with me because numerous times, whether I’m trying to exchange money, check into a hotel, get a ticket for an event, and so forth, I’m asked for my passport. So in this South Korean situation, I was the only one in the group who had the passport on their person. The others packed the passports away in their luggage -- a common storage place for passports, it turns out -- in the bowels of the car ferry. They now had to race onto the ferry’s cargo hold, and retrieve the passport, and race back onto land as the gang plank was rising. They all almost missed the ferry, and the officials had to hold the ferry for them. Not good all around, except for me who carries all my valuable safely in my micro travel bag that’s so minimal most people don’t even realize I’m carrying it.


Because many people are making summer plans now, I'm offering a 20% discount on my micro travel bag until the end of May. Just use the discount code SpringTravel.

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Avoiding Traveler's Tummy

When I travel, I’m obsessed with a lot of things, most notably -- especially given my background in the health and life sciences -- avoiding traveler’s diarrhea. Before my recent trip to India, I informally polled my friends and colleagues and was surprised to find out that way over 90% of them fell victim to this travel ailment that, at the least, will lay you up for a few days and, at the worst, will end your well-planned trip. Even my physician friends have become ill, after being seduced by tempting ice cream flavors or a delectable chutney. I was determined that this would not be my fate. (I have a very quirky/sensitive digestive system, and have to be especially conscientious.) 

I’m happy to report that I just returned from a delightful two week trip in Southern India sans any sort of gastrointestinal infection.

I’m sharing my tips -- regarding behaviors, and products -- to avoid (or treat) Traveler’s Belly. And, yes, I know that some of you may claim I’m not being very adventurous with my overly zealous pro-hygienic efforts when I'm on the road. But in my Indian travels, I enjoyed a wide array of foods without a day of illness to interrupt even a moment of my many nature-based adventures.

• Pepto-Bismol -- I take two chewable tabs before each meal and at bedtime every day of the trip and the day after I return. The only notable side effect is that it blackens your tongue (and poop). You have to take it as per this protocol otherwise don’t bother.

• Imodium -- This is taken only if I develop diarrhea and am forced to ride buses, trains or planes, where rushing to the bathroom isn’t an easy option.

• Zithromax (Z-Pak) or Azithromycin -- My physician who specializes in travel medicine wrote a prescription for this antibiotic. It’s only used should things get “messy,” aka symptoms that include fever, nausea, vomiting, severe cramping, or blood in the stool.

• Purell wipes, alcohol swabs and liquid alcohol-based hand sanitizer -- the Purell wipes and alcohol swabs come in handy when any surface (such as the airline tray table), utensils, bottles or cans, for example, appear suspicious in terms of hygiene. And, of course, I used the hand sanitizer liberally after touching any surface and before touching my hands to food or my mouth.

• bamboo reusable utensils and a collapsible mug, such as the Sea to Summit X-Mug -- These come in handy should I decide to eat at a place -- such as a street vendor (something I wouldn’t do anyway) where the utensils and dishware may not be properly washed.

• Peanut butter squeeze packs -- This is my emergency high protein food in the off chance that I’m completely uncomfortable with my food choices. (This didn’t happen in India but it did happen one day when I was traveling by bus in Laos last summer.)

• SteriPEN and the LifeStraw water bottle -- Both of these devices allow me to drink potentially microbiologically-contaminated water. The SteriPEN uses ultraviolet light to purify the water that may be infected with bacteria, viruses or protozoa, while the LifeStraw is a water bottle that uses a central core filter to virtually eradicate bacteria and protozoa.

And as to the behavioral don’ts when traveling to avoid gastrointestinal illnesses:

1. No ice, that includes iced coffee, fruit smoothies, and ice cream
2. No raw fruits unless you peeled them yourself, and that includes chutneys or raw fruit that may be garnishing a cooked dish
3. No undercooked meats or fish of any sort
4. No cold food, and that includes salads
5. No fruit juices that may be diluted with tap water
6. No buffets unless the food is piping hot
7. Don’t use tap water to brush your teeth
8. Don’t eat foods where you see flies alighting or you notice the food is not protected from flies
9. I know some people can and do eat street food. I can’t, so it’s on the No-No list.
10. If you’re not accustomed to eating spicy food, now’s not the time to start, especially eating it for each meal of the day. Not everyone’s stomach can tolerate a spicy breakfast if you’re used to something rather bland.
11. Carefully examine the seal on water bottles; if it's not sealed don't drink it.

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Packing Tips for the Plane

    With economy seating getting tighter and tighter, there's even more reason to have all your necessities -- especially on long flights -- in a small shoulder or tote bag that easily fits under your seat. I recently blogged that I've managed to go even lighter than ever before in terms of my never-check-luggage packing, carrying a backpack that itself fits under my seat, beside my wee shoulder bag. No climbing over your seatmates during the flight to access your overhead luggage. (On my recent flight from Amsterdam, the person in front of me got up no less than 15 times during the 7 hour flight to get into his overhead luggage, in the process causing pieces of luggage to barely miss hitting a fellow passenger in the head!)

    What bag did I choose as a tiny tote? My new favorite bag is manufactured by Timbuk2. It's durable and water resistant. In fact, I comfortably carried it across my body on my recent Brittany walk. It has a number of internal pockets to help organize things.

What kinds of items make it into my Timbuk2? The list below takes care of most all needs that come up during a flight, from stomach upset (that's where the peppermint and chewable antacids come into play); headache (Aleve); motion sickness (Bonine works more efficiently than Dramamine); dry lips (Limoncello lip butter); bathroom issues (Charmin wet wipes); dry or sore throat (Ricola natural herb lozenges); noise and light issues (Ear Peace ear plugs and an eye mask); unclean hands or surfaces (hand sanitizer); chocoholic cravings (Godiva dark  chocolate pearls that come in a little tin); and dental needs (floss, mini toothpaste and foldable toothbrush, and Stim-U Dents, a special toothpick that softens so as not to injure your gums, or a disposable brush that combines paste and toothpick all in one.)

My In-Flight Necessities:

Altoids - peppermint

Antacid - chewable tablets like Rolaids or Tums

Aleve

Bonine - meclizine hydrochloride - chewable

Godiva - dark chocolate pearls

Limoncello lip butter

Charmin wipes

Ricola natural herb throat lozenges

Eye mask

Ear Peace - ear plugs

Hand sanitizer

toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, Stim-U Dents

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Gear Review: A Transformative Garment - The Versalette

What if I told you (women) that you could pack one piece of fabric (tube-shaped) that could replace 20 items in your luggage?  Oh, and what if I sweetened up the deal by saying that everything about it would be  sustainable? Pretty fantastical, huh? But that's what the Versalette does. Because of an ingenious design that depends on buttons and draw strings, my little charcoal toned fabric acts as a scarf (actually two types of scarves), hood, short skirt, long skirt, strapless dress, halter dress, tunic (several types), a poncho (more here, too), a shawl and even a little purse.

Check out the LookBook and then review this video which shows how it can easily convert from one garment to the next. You can see how others are wearing the Versalette on their tumblr page.

And this is how I wore the Versalette:

Anyone who's met me knows I've very skinny. But, the Versalette can flatter any woman, no matter her shape. In fact, when my Versalette arrived in the mail in a little biodegradable pouch, it came with visual instructions for different body shapes. (I'm considered the Pencil and, as you can see above, I wore it as a short skirt, halter dress with the drawstrings pulled, and a strapless dress with black leggings.) At first, I was worried that my body might float in this tube-shaped garment. But, if you accent it with a flattering belt, scarf, or jacket, even if you are a fellow Pencil, you'll find looks that work well for you. In addition, it's key to really cinch the drawstrings properly (as per the directions) and then tuck in the bow.  Because there are wooden buttons, you have to follow the directions as to when you need to open the button holes and use the arm openings, and when to keep them unbuttoned. The garment also comes with two open pockets, which is handy for keeping a notebook and pen when you're traveling.

It might take some people a bit of time to read and re-read the instructions, follow along with the video and try out the different looks before you're able to make quick transformations and before you feel comfortable with those looks that work best for your body shape.

As far as the sustainability goes, I'm so happy that the creators, Shannon Whitehead and Kristin Glenn, decided that everything should be Made in the U.S.A. The fabric is made in North Carolina of recycled plastic bottles and recycled cotton scraps; the buttons are produced in Brooklyn, the drawstrings are dyed in Raleigh, North Carolina, and even the labels are embroidered in Austin, Texas.

Whenever I'm at the airport and I see people weighed down by their luggage, it makes me sad. There just is no need to carry so many articles of clothing. In fact, I'd bet that you didn't really wear all those clothes you brought on your last trip. Now, with the Versalette, you have no reason to pack several shirts, several skirts, several scarves. Just pack one (or two) of these. (They come in different colors, including sage, cherry and indigo, depending on what's in stock. (It costs $80.)

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Radio Show: Why I Love Sardinia + More

When I travel slowly, whether its peddling on old farm roads in northern Spain or walking on cliff top paths mostly used by fishermen in Portugal's Alentejo region, I have the time to sense minute changes in the landscape.  The different species of wildflowers or nesting birds. The changes in geologic formations. The shifting sands along the dunes where the sands mingle with wild roses or lavender. I truly believe that this mode of travel is the way to connect with the land and its people.

I bring this up because Anthony Capozzoli recently interviewed me for his show: How To Tour Italy.  We discussed how I chose to bicycle the entire West Coast of Sardinia, an more unexpected way to traverse this country where many vacations seek the overdeveloped East Coast.

Listen to the spot and you'll also find out:

1. how I went from scientist to travel writer
2. my favorite dish in Sardinia
3. how I manage to never check luggage
4. my top security tip when staying at a hotel
5. how to find hidden treasures in your own backyard

Listen to internet radio with How to Tour Italy on Blog Talk Radio

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Awesome Urban Travel Bag - Mountainsmith + Discount

I call myself an itinerant writer because, unlike many independent journalists, I don't work out of my home nor do I write in an office. I much prefer a more natural environment, preferably sitting outside on the waterfront in lower Manhattan or in one of the city's many hidden green spaces or, if it's inclement, in a cafe or atrium bathed in natural light. As a result of my wanderings, I carry around a load of stuff including my laptop, extra batteries, power cord, portable printer (I don't always carry this, though), iPod, an e-reader, files, books, notebooks, and more. It can really weight me down. So when Mountainsmith -- a company whose products I have long used and have blogged about extensively -- asked me to test out one of their urban backpacks, the Cruiser, I jumped at the opportunity. Here's what I found:

The pack easily fits my laptop (max size is 15") in a protective neoprene sleeve in one of the two main zippered compartments. This rest of this main compartment is further divided so that I slipped my bulky files and large notebooks including legal pads in one part and in the other section I placed my batteries, power cord, e-reader and printer. The middle zippered compartment -- where I keep my books, magazines and tape recorder -- contains several small pockets for my pens, cell phone, iPod, camera as well as a fleece-lined sunglass case and a mini zippered pocket where I put my business card case. On the front of the pack is a diagonal zippered compartment where I put things I need to grab immediately, such as my house keys, sunscreen, tiny first aid kit, and small memo pad.

Because I'm only 5'2" I'm thrilled that the Cruiser fits my compact torso. Most times a heavy-loaded pack will hang down to my butt making it very uncomfortable to tote a heavy load. That's not the case with the Cruiser which has very comfy foam shoulder straps, a sternum strap which also helps distribute the load, and foam backpanels that provides some pretty good airflow on my back. In fact, I've been testing out this pack for the past month in New York City where the temperatures have been sweltering and I found the pack as comfortable as possible under these conditions. This weekend I walked three miles briskly both on Saturday and Sunday carrying a full load in the humid temperatures and my back wasn't a sweaty mess as might've happened with backpacks that press against your torso. Nor did I suffer any back strain as often happens with a pack that doesn't carry a heavy load well.

The Cruiser has two water bottle pockets on each side and I use one to store a little umbrella because the weather this summer in NYC included unexpected thunderstorms almost daily. Another nice feature is a little rubber haul handle on the top of the pack which I use regularly when yanking my bag off the floor of buses and subways, instead of pulling on the shoulder straps as I normally would. And below the diagonal zipper is another rubber loop where I could attach my keys if I needed to.

The only thing I'm not thrilled about is that the pack is a little too snug to additionally pack clothes and toiletries for my multi-day trips. (I tried it out on a four-day trip to Cedar Key, Florida but I had to severely trim what I brought along in order to fit everything.) Though the pack has two compression straps that keep everything snug, I opened them all the way but still couldn't fit the slim number of clothes I needed for the trip in addition to my work gear. So my recommendation is that the Cruiser is perfect for the urban road warrior. It looks and feel good, and fits everything you need if you want your backpack to double as your desk.

And, if you are interested in purchasing this bag or any other cool Mountainsmith gear, they generously are offering my readers 20% on all purchases from today until August 6 if you use this discount code: JTTA20 on the Mountainsmith website. My Mountainsmith backpack and fanny pack have long been the only bags I travel with and the reason I never check luggage, even when I'm on a 6+ week journey.

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Savvy Packing With Only A Purse

You probably all know by now that no matter how long I'm on the road, I don't check luggage. Everything, from my very complete first-aid kit to my high-performance clothes -- that can take me from the beach to the bar, from walking tours in Istanbul to biking trips in Norway -- goes in my carry-on bag from Mountainsmith. And my personal item is a Mountainsmith fanny pack that converts to a shoulder bag -- it contains my camera, notebook, tape recorder, reading material and so forth.

So you can imagine my surprise when I heard that, as of August 1, 2010, Spirit Airlines will be charging $45 for a carry-on bag. I was determined to never travel on Spirit. That lasted until I just was forced to buy a ticket on Spirit for an assignment in Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama. I was going to be traveling before August, so there was no chance of them hitting me with a carry-on bag charge. But I took this as the opportunity to do a test run: pack everything for a five-night trip in a purse. Yes, you read correctly: a purse.

In August, Spirit will allow you to bring a personal item that measures no bigger than 16"x14"x12" on board for free. To me, that could easily translate into a purse.

And already, there's been plenty of advice in the media on how to pack like a pro.

1. The New York Times provided a slide show showing a flight attendant rolling her clothes into a small carry-on bag. (In the accompanying article in the New York Times, other advice from flight crews included bringing a lot of black items and carefully deciding what you really need on a trip).

2. SmarterTravel recommended:
• wearing clothes with lots of pockets
• packing clothes that don't wrinkle
• forgoing lots of toiletries that you can get at your hotel anyway
• using compression bags

And there are travel writers and bloggers that I admire for, among other things, their savvy packing strategies, like Andrew Evans who recently traveled for 10 weeks by bus from Washington, DC to Antarctica. Here's what he packed.

But my goal was to only carry a purse. I dug out one from my closet that's simply constructed, contains several pockets, is made of almost indestructible material and measures 15"x14"5" so it would work with the Spirit Airlines personal item criteria. And, because, clearly I couldn't get five nights of clothing and accessories into just a purse, I would wear the rest of the clothes on board. It sounds comical, but I was able to do it so successfully that if you were sitting next to me, you'd never know that I was wearing seven tops (plus a vest) and two pairs of pants. Actually, it's not a whole lot different from the many layers of clothing women wore every day in the 18th century. Check out this slide show of how they did it.

Watch my slide show that documents what I packed, what I was wearing when I boarded the plane and the multitude of outfits I had for my five-night trip. (Actually, there were plenty more mix and match options than I provided in the slide show.)




I have to admit that carrying only a purse was quite freeing, because it forced me to be even more thrifty with what I brought, paring everything down to the bare essentials that would still allow me to look somewhat stylish.

Many of the items I packed were wickable, quick drying clothes that didn't wrinkle. Among the pieces of high-tech clothing that I especially depended on are manufactured by: Mountain Hardwear, ExOfficio, SmartWool and Icebreaker which I've blogged about many times before.

Everything I wore was in a neutral color, which makes it easier to mix and match. And the materials were all light-weight. I love the dresses I bought at a small New York City-based boutique called Pookie & Sebastian. No, the fabrics are not high-tech, nor were they made of merino wool, like the Icebreaker dress I adore and blogged about. But the dresses are light weight, they pack small, they don't wrinkle and they paired well with other high-tech items I brought along. Plus, they fit with my color scheme. And, because I love clothes that are convertable, e.g. pants that become shorts or long sleeve shirts that become short sleeve, I especially loved the black dress I packed that transformed into at least three different dresses as well as a blouse that I could wear with my tights.

Another item I can't live without is my XUBAZ, a scarf with hidden pockets -- another item that I've blogged about. It's light weight and works well whether it's warm or cool outside and, because it has pockets, it doubles as a hidden purse, of sorts. After all, who would steal a scarf?

Having a multitude of pockets in my clothes is key to carrying a lot of gear. And I had a total of 18 pockets in the clothing I wore on the plane: 8 pockets in my photo vest, 4 in my scarf, 1 in my Mountain Hardwear hoodie and 5 in my Mountain Hardwear pants. So, in case I wanted to remove some items from my purse and carry them on me, there was plenty of room.

My itty bitty black purse that I packed with my clothes contained my notebook, pens, credit cards, money, and camera. (It has several deep zip compartments that fit all these items.)

The three zip lock bags you see in the slide show were divided this way: one contained liquids such as shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, first aid gels/liquids like cortisone cream and anti-itch ointments; one contained makeup (a luxury for me but I had room, so why not), and the third had vitamin supplements plus non-liquid first-aid supplies/toiletries, such as band-aids, blister pads, gauze, toothbrush, and dental floss.

Given that the spring weather in Atlanta and the surrounding areas would be cool at night and warmish during the day, I had layers that would work for almost anything: from hot days to even cold nights. (I carried a small, light weight Mountain Hardwear rain jacket draped over my arm in case of rain -- but this isn't pictured in the slide show.) And, because I'd be running around the cities during the day, visiting museums, parks and gardens and meeting public relations people, and going to nice restaurants and bars at night, I had clothes that worked for all these occasions.

As far as shoes, the only ones I had were the ones on my feet, by Keen and, again, ones I've blogged about before. (I wore them in black, of course.) They're comfortable for lots of walking during the day and they work well at night too.

In case you're wondering if I was hot on the plane wearing seven tops (plus a vest) and two pairs of pants, the answer is no. I'm always cold anyway unless the temperature is above 75 or so.

This was only a test run to see if I could easily get around the Spirit Airline carry-on charge. I don't ever intend to fly on Spirit again -- aside from carry-on fees, their new planes have seats that don't recline at all -- but at least I know that if I'm forced to travel for five nights, in a pinch, a purse makes a great carry-on bag for me.

Travel Tips

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More Travel Tips For Savvy Packing

Because I tend to travel frequently and sometimes for long stretches, I need to be super organized when I'm packing. And Eagle Creek is a company that sells a myriad of cool sacs, folders and kits that help me easily navigate through airport security, deal with wet bathing suits, organize all my documents and manage all my toiletries and small items so that nothing gets lost.

The items I'm most fond of include their Pac-It Sac (I use the small black one for documents), the Custom Travel Bottle Set (this is the way to deal with the "liquid issue" when flying), the Pac It Folder (perfect for keeping shirts from getting wrinkled) and the Compression Sac (there's no better way to cram a down jacket into your bag and still have plenty of room).

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:


EuropeUpClose.com Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a Fujifilm FinePix J28 10MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom.

continue reading "More Travel Tips For Savvy Packing"

Travel Tips3

I love wearing comfortable, functional clothing, especially if it can be worn both on the trail and at night. (It all helps with being a savvy packer.) That's why I love wearing the marino wool tops made by two companies: SmartWool and Icebreaker. I wear a black SmartWool long-sleeved crewneck and pair it with a black Icebreaker hoodie when I'm on the plane. But these two items work together or separately at night or during the day, winter and summer, when I'm walking, hiking, biking, skiing or going to bars and restaurants in the city when they're paired with a skirt, jeans or dress pants. The great thing about these merino wool products is that they wick away sweat so that you don't feel cold and clammy after a run. I've found both of them to be comfortable, breathable and never itchy. And, another interesting feature is that if I'm in the backcountry and can't do laundry, you could wear these for several days and not worry about any odor. When I travel to Iceland, these are my tops of choice but I also bring them to Spain in the summer.

Don't miss the Travel Bloggers'

Caravan & Giveaway!
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Today's stop:


CiaoBambino.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to win a Napa
Valley Getaway with a one-night stay at the Westin Verasa and a gourmet lunch for two aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train.

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More Travel Tips

I'm one of those women who's just not into a multitude of shoes, especially when I'm traveling. And, in order to travel for more than a month with only carry-on luggage, clearly shoes have to be kept to a minimum. Basically, except when I'm traveling in the winter, I only carry two pairs of shoes, and both of them are made by a company called Keen. The one I wear on the plane is a Newport model that's a a very rugged and functional sandal. And, once I land, I wear it for long walks and even light day hiking -- though I have also climbed a volcano wearing these sandals -- as well as for long multi-day bicycle trips, kayaking and for days at the beach. When I dress up at night, I wear their Madrid Mary Jane model that looks perfect with a dress or nice pants and it's comfortable for long walks, even on cobblestone paths on the way to hotels or restaurants.

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Win Cool Travel Prizes!

Today's stop:



The TranquiloTraveler.com. Visit the blog and comment on today's post for a chance to
win a copy of Moon Belize accompanied by personal travel advice from the author about your trip.

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More Packing Tips

I've posted and guest posted quite a bit on my ultra-light packing tips making it possible for me never to check luggage when I'm flying. Whether I'm on the road a week or 7 weeks, everything goes in one Mountainsmith carry-on backpack and a Mountainsmith fanny pack. But, curiously, when I'm in my home turf, my ultra-light packing plans fall by the wayside. Unlike many writers, I don't work at home or in an office. I'm kinda the itinerant journalist, writing, researching and doing interviews in all manner of venues, from cafes and coffee shops to parks, gardens, libraries and other locales that allow for lots of natural light (a key criteria for me).

As a result, I carry around my laptop, and all my notes, notebooks, and research materials in a small but heavy backpack (not a Mountainsmith) and a large shoulder bag plus an addition portfolio (which might be a fed ex pouch) stuffed with more materials. The latter became quite problematic a few months ago when I inadvertently left it near an umbrella stand in a vegetarian restaurant while I ate lunch with friends. It turned out the manager thought it was a bomb -- no joke, that's what he said -- so he placed it outside next to the building's facade in a garbage can! (I was able to retrieve it.)
This all being said, it was time to check out some new baggage options for my jaunts around New York City. Enter Keen, the company that makes my favorite shoes that go on all my trips and are perfect for biking, light hiking, kayaking and walking around town. They sent me a messenger (sling) bag -- the Pearl -- to check out. Here's what I found:

This week, I tested this messenger-type bag because I had a lot of networking and workshop events, some all day and others at night, that required me to walk around a trade show floor and meet and greet a ton of people while collecting their business cards, giving them mine, taking notes of our meetings and then running to the next meeting or cocktail party where I had to transform into the non-itinerant journalist who would be sipping a glass of Chardonnay at, among other places, the Norwegian Consul General's residence here in Manhattan.

The Pearl was perfect. When I slung it across my back, I found a zipper compartment -- great for pens, business cards and small notebooks -- on the left side of the pack (on my back side) but easily accessible while it was still on my back. And, the location prohibited any subway thieves from infiltrating this pocket. Quite an accomplishment. In addition, I stuffed my cell phone into the mesh stretch pocket along the strap, making it also very easy to grab.

On the right back side of the pack was an additional small zipper that afforded access to the pack interior. Perfect for when I needed to remove my digital camera. Again, I didn't even have to remove the pack to accomplish this. The pack itself allowed me to stuff two additional sweaters, and plenty of notes and research materials. Yet, instead of looking overstuffed, the Pearl presented a very slim image. I could easily sit down to meet with clients and feel comfortable with the pack still slung across my back. It felt light as a feather (it weighs just over a pound) -- what a welcome change for me. And the day when I did need my laptop and some additional materials, interestingly the strap on the pack is so adjustable that I could sling it over my backpack and it all fit together perfectly!

The interior of the pack contains two additional mesh zippered pockets, one with a carabiner that was perfect for attaching my keys. (No more searching at the bottom of my overloaded bag for the missing keys.) Additionally, it's eco-friendly: the Pearl is made from recycled materials -- even the rubber is recycled.

I'm not saying this small bag takes the place of the load of luggage I normally tote around the city. But, on those days when I need to look trim for a frenzied set of day activities or for evening cocktail networking events, I'll look to the Pearl. It also makes for a fine overnight or weekend bag for that quick trip out of the city. I'm definitely bringing it as my only bag for the Thanksgiving holidays I'm going to spend with friends in Virginia.

I can't wait to wear it in the summer when I want a breathable bag on my back that won't lead to excess sweating as I run all over the city. The Pearl has a nice mesh and foam back side that looks like it'll be quite comfy in the sweltering August heat.

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