3
Pro tip: A hostel manager in Lisbon told me my packing list was all wrong
I used to pack a full checked bag for a week in Europe, thinking I needed options... she looked at my stuff and said 'You brought three jackets but no quick-dry towel? You're paying for laundry you don't need.' She was right. I spent 40 euros on laundry my first two days. Now I pack one jacket, a micro towel, and two pairs of pants that dry overnight. My bag is a 40 liter carry-on, even for a month. Has anyone else had a packing habit totally changed by a simple tip?
4 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In4 Comments
the_harper2mo ago
My friend did the same thing with shoes. She packed like four pairs for a weekend trip, and a hostel worker just laughed and asked if she was planning to run a marathon. She only wore one pair the whole time.
4
the_wesley2mo agoMost Upvoted
You know, @the_harper, that hostel worker had a point. It's funny how we all do that, pack for every possible situation that never happens. Your friend with the shoes is all of us, trying to plan for a fancy dinner or a sudden hike that was never on the schedule. We end up carrying all that extra weight just to feel ready, and then wear the same comfy pair every day. It's a lesson I keep learning and then forgetting the next time I zip up a suitcase.
6
max_torres445d ago
Haven't we all done something like that though? I got a buddy who brought a full sized suitcase for a 3 day thing in the mountains. He had like 5 jackets in there because he couldn't decide if it was gonna be cold or just a little chilly. Ended up wearing the same hoodie the whole time and his suitcase weighed more than him. The whole trip he was complaining about having to lug it around the airport and up stairs. I swear, every time I pack now I think of him and try to keep it simple, but I still end up tossing in that extra pair of shoes or a sweater just in case.
7
Wait, is a 40 liter bag really a carry-on for most airlines? I thought the limit was usually smaller. That hostel manager's advice is solid though, @the_harper. It's all about picking stuff that does more than one job and actually dries fast. I still see people pack a bunch of jeans, which are the worst for that.
3