Can’t imagine just one bag. We travel with two grandkids. Next trip is going to be for two weeks and we will be playing golf, spending time by the pool swimming and snow skiing. Everybody has their own golf clubs and ski boots because of feet issues. I’m just thankful that we at least rent skis, rather than schlepping those, too. When we did this last year I came back wishing we all played tennis instead.
I pack at the last minute. You can almost always get anything you forget at the other end of the line - frequently cheaper than here, if you shop where the locals do.
Get the little travel sizes at store for shaving cream, toothpaste, drugs (Advil & Imodium, for example).
Hubby and I always take a carry-on bag to stow and I have a great light backpack that fits underneath the seat which also has a nice backpack purse for the day trips. (You won’t need that, haa!) We have found that doing a load or two of laundry/or sending it to be done is by far better than schlepping it around. Coming home if we have purchased a lot we expand the carry-on and check it.
We pack the night before. Just make sure dry cleaning and laundry is ready to go a day or two before you go so everything is clean. We are like someone before, if we forget something we just buy it and the most it has been is a sweatshirt.
Oh, sometimes I put the clothes I want to wear in the front of the closet. I take no more than 3 pair of shows and husband 2 pair...one of which we wear on the plane.
Safe and wonderful travels!
First thing is do not buy new shoes for the trip.Buy voltage adaptors for your electronics if going to foreign country.
Bring all the things that are comfortable that you usually wear.
Light jacket with hood, sweater, light gloves even a pull on hat. Cruising can get cold.
Roll up everything you pack in suitcase, seems to take less room.
Carryon bag: all your important stuff for getting through airport and security.
Including your computer, voltage adaptors, book, ear plugs, all medicine that you need.
Buy water in bottles after checking in. I save an empty bottle in case I need it later.
Have a wonderful trip. Hope you come back to us refreshed, we need you here.
I take my oldest socks and underwear that are ready for disposal and leave them behind. My old underwear is strewn across 5 continents.
I typically pack at the last minute so I often paraphrase Mark Twain with “I didn’t have time to pack a small bag so I packed a larger one.”
If I pack my 2 pair of underwear beforehand, what am I going to wear to work?
Here is what my wife and I do when traveling overseas. Note that we have learned not to overpack. So.. We each have two rolling duffel bags - one medium size and one large size. We pack the medium duffels and then pack the medium duffels INSIDE the large duffels. Thus, we depart with one bag each and have an entire large duffel to bring back things we acquire at our destination.
I can highly recommend the rolling duffels from Eddie Bauer.
In 1984 we went to Egypt for a two week visit. We took an empty suitcase with us for stuff we might buy to bring back with us. It was not empty for the return flight.
There is no such thing as ... "over-packing". (Feel better?)
Destination includes beijing?
One wonders, why?
.
Lay out all the clothes you think you will need in one pile.
Lay all the money you think you will need in another.
Take a quarter of the clothes and four times the money.
When you need it, you will really need it.
There is nothing like arriving in country after midnight on Saturday night with your luggage still in London and you have to speak at the Sunday morning service.
I will pack a few days ahead. The night before I take half of all the clothes and leave them. I travel a lot and it is rare I will need anything more than a small carryon bag. Anything forgotten I purchase when I get where I am going.
If you can fit me into your checked luggage, I would prefer to wait till the last minute. Sounds like a great trip!