Packed for the occasion

In the May 2013 issue, we printed letters written in response to a query from ITN subscriber Kathi Snouffer, who lamented, “Is there anyone else out there who CANNOT brag about going around the world for years taking only a day pack?” 

She explained that — with a husband standing 6'6", and wanting to be prepared for all weather conditions and social situations but not wanting to launder clothes on the road — they pack what they need and always check a bag when flying. A number of like-minded travelers wrote in, many expounding on the importance and perks of dressing appropriately while traveling. 

Other travelers, too, set a standard for their appearance and continue to meet that without having to check luggage. We printed some of their comments and pointers in the June issue.

Subscribers continued to write in on the subject, however, many listing the specific types of clothing they take in order to pack light yet remain stylish. Here are several of their tips and comments.

I read with interest the excellent “Packed for the Occasion” letters in the May ’13 issue. Some very good points were raised, but, as an avid and sometimes overzealous “one-bagger,” I feel the need to defend the honor of my tribe.

Eight of the ten travelers wrote about how poorly many people dress while traveling and how that is disrespectful to the people who are native to the places being visited. I agree with that idea wholeheartedly, but I disagree with any implication that dressing shabbily is the domain of one-bag travelers. 

I know many who travel extensively with only one carry-on bag but still mange to dress nicely. Conversely, I have seen a significant number of people schlepping around in obnoxious T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops while towing two or three bags. How a person dresses while traveling is an attitudinal issue rather than a packing issue.

Like many of the nice folks who wrote in support of Kathi Snouffer’s comments, I dress up to travel. Dress slacks, dress shirt, tie and blazer will not only make the chances of an airline seating class upgrade more likely, it can smooth the way through security and Immigration. Once at my destination, this combination of clothes will work in all but the most formal of settings. 

After packing — all within a single bag — a pair of outdoor pants with zip-off legs plus a polo shirt, an extra pair of underwear (thermal, if conditions demand), a medium-weight raincoat, a hat and a pair of medium-weight hiking boots, then all but the most extreme weather conditions can be handled. (I admit that while traveling to and from my destination, I do cheat and wear my size-12 hiking shoes with my dress cloths, packing my loafers away.) 

Granted, this does result in wearing very similar outfits day after day, and I do have to spend 20 to 30 minutes a night doing laundry and ironing (I iron more to dry the clothes than to press them), but I leave wherever I am staying with clean and neat clothing. 

I have helped more fellow travelers than I can count carry their 50-pound bags up stairs or onto buses. 

Dann Halverson
Houston, TX

We totally agree that when you are dressed nicely, it is more respectful to the locals in the countries you are visiting, but we believe that this can be done with a minimum of nice clothes.

We travel by car with another couple, and it has become necessary to pack very carefully, since we need to fit all of our luggage into the trunk of the car. We have a packing list on our computer that we check carefully then revise and update as we purchase new items.

We each pack three bottoms in basic colors plus easy-care mix-and-match tops. I add a jewelry packet and two or three scarves. 

My husband takes polo shirts and one dress shirt. He also packs a suede-like shirt with a finished bottom that serves as a jacket when we want to dress for an occasion. 

We each take one pair of walking shoes and one pair of dress shoes. Add one rain jacket each, a pair of gloves, if needed, and a bathing suit and we are ready to go.

We have purchased mesh bags that compress our clothing and keep it neatly folded and fresh. 

We usually stay two or three nights in one venue, so, with about eight pairs of underwear and socks, we are able wash our clothes a few times during our 3-week voyages. We hang the wet clothes on a small, folding, umbrella-like dryer that we purchased for a few dollars. 

All our clothing plus small bottles of toiletries fit into two small leather duffel bags. We have one carry-on and one camera/tech bag. I wear a fanny pack during the day and have a small crocheted handbag for evening. 

We are senior citizens and, since we need to lift and move our luggage often, we are thrilled that it is light and manageable. We will never travel heavy again.

Irma Gurman, Smithtown, NY

I never take jeans. As someone else mentioned, they’re heavier to pack than pants of other materials. 

And I always have an outfit that can be dressed up with a pretty scarf and is perfectly appropriate for special occasions, nice restaurants and the captain’s cocktail parties aboard a cruise ship. 

I’m one of those who try always to travel with carry-on only, but packing lightly does not have to mean being a slob.

Cynthia S. Thompson
Lebanon, NH

My husband, like Kathi Snouffer’s, is 6'6" and no lightweight, but we still managed to travel with one bag each (not counting a camera case and a shoulder bag). Add in the vests I sewed for us, each with a dozen VELCRO®-fastener pockets for money, passports, credit cards, duplicate prescription orders, etc., and we could live for weeks with a tidy minimum. 

Incidentally, the shoulder bag usually contained nothing but a comb, a brush and a pocket dictionary and/or travel guide, It was positioned to be the obvious bag for thieves to grab, but we never actually had it stolen.

We heartily agree that, as representatives of the US, American travelers should dress appropriately and even learn the basics of the overseas destination’s local language.

But let me back up to 1968, when I dragged a huge leather suitcase from the rail terminal in Copenhagen to the nearest hotel. Lesson learned! Each trip we took thereafter, I packed ever more lightly.

For our trip to Morocco in January 1996, we chose brown or khaki shirts and chino pants and each took a dressy jersey shirt for dinners. One bag each. 

In 1998 we rented a car and traveled for over four weeks through Slovenia, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Germany with one pack each. Yes, I rinsed the drip-dry stuff out at night.

Our backpacks generally included one or two changes of pants and shirt, two pairs of underpants, a light windbreaker, a small zip-lock bag of laundry powder and trial bottles of shampoo, deodorant, etc.

On at least four different occasions we traveled to Budapest, for which I packed a pair of black slacks with two black jersey tops and one black-and-tan cape for chilly weather. With the addition of some bright silk scarves, this saw me spiffily dressed enough to attend the national opera in the royalty boxes. 

This packing style prepared us for a stay in London as well as walking through fields in Italy.

On our final trip before my husband suffered a paralytic stroke, 18 years ago, we lived it up in Rhodes, with the only additional luggage being hubby’s CPAP and an electrical-current converter. Since then, although hubby is bed-bound, we continue to enjoy our Lifetime ITN subscription. 

Nancy England
Oak Ridge, TN 

The concept that one of the reasons for dressing well is to get perks, such as upgrades on flights, is interesting, but, in our opinion, it’s not a good excuse to lug a big suitcase. 

My wife and I are veterans of 18 trips to Central America, Europe and Asia ranging from a couple of weeks to a month. All of these have been accomplished while packing light — a carry-on bag and a small backpack each. Yet we, too, abhor tourists who look like they pulled their clothes out of the nearest dumpster! T-shirts with slogans on them and baseball caps worn backward are examples — young teens can be expected to dress this way but not mature travelers. 

We’ve observed locals being amused at travelers with big suitcases trying to figure out how to fit them in a small lift at a hotel or attempting to lug them up several flights of stairs at a small, family-run hotel or B&B. Our preference is to stay at these places, not the big luxury hotels full of other Americans. (We can spend time with Americans at home.)

We have learned that the secret to packing light yet dressing well is picking the right clothes. You select pants, shirts (or blouses), sweaters, etc., that can be mixed and matched. Ladies can do wonders with a few scarves to accessorize. Plan on layering if cooler temperatures are expected. 

Don’t take things that you just might need! If necessary, clothing can be bought in most places. You don’t have to take an abundance of “outfits.” 

Yes, we do wash clothing regularly. Those who refuse to do so are probably doomed to pack heavy.

We feel we are traveling to learn about the cultures we visit as well as to enjoy ourselves. These trips are not a fashion show. Yes, there are places that probably require patrons to be more dressed up than what we are prepared for. We have, however, felt appropriately dressed at many cultural events.

Russell Crum, Canton, MI

I am a great believer in using the right tools for the right job, so sometimes I travel with just carry-on bags (or smaller) and sometimes I need to check bags. 

If I am going on a single-purpose trip, to one European city, for instance, I can easily carry everything in a small bag. But if I will be gone a long time (one month or more) in different climates or will be hiking, I will need a larger bag. 

My hiking sticks, which are a must for energetic hikes, do collapse, but they have not been allowed on planes as carry-on. If need be, I wear my hiking boots onto the plane, but I prefer to pack them… and they take up a lot of space. 

When climates and hiking are not factors, the longer trips do not require more clothes; I pack the same clothes for five days as for five months, and I make use of the sink to do hand laundry. It takes only a few minutes, and the new fabrics (except for socks) dry overnight. The less I have, the easier and faster the packing and unpacking becomes.

For all trips, I pack travel clothes that are lightweight and easy to wash. I find the mail-order companies TravelSmith (800/770-3387), ExOfficio (800/644-7303) and Magellan’s (800/962-4943) to have great choices that not only meet my travel requirements but are attractive for all occasions. 

Some of the people who wrote in favor of checked bags seemed to think that looking good and taking a carry-on only are mutually exclusive. They are not.

Nili Olay, New York, NY

I read the rationales for taking checked luggage and certainly can understand them for someone  who is basketball-player size, but for us nonathletes, most can get by with a backpack and still not look like a slob. In fact, I’ve seen slobby travelers who did have lots of luggage. It’s not how much you take but what you take… and if you are willing to do a wash, evenings. 

Certainly, I pack differently if I’m going to a conference in the UK than if I’m going on a dig in Jordan. And I do wear stuff for several days running. Hopefully, it doesn’t look like I’ve slept in it. 

Regarding what to take, I pack lightweight jeans/khakis and cotton tops, rolled up in the carry-on. If it looks like there will be an upscale occasion, I have a dressy top and black pants that take little room. Plus a scarf; it always works. 

It just depends on what’s important to the traveler. It’s important to me to not have a lot of stuff. On the other hand, I ran into a woman who had to have everything clean, each and every day, even while slogging around Africa. It was necessary for her. 

To each his own.

Jo Rawlins Gilbert
Menlo Park, CA

You CAN travel light AND look good AND have appropriate clothing for different possibilities. It just takes planning.

I see many people wearing a different outfit every day (this would only be noticed by group members on a tour), which I don’t think is necessary. If you have a few pants, skirts, etc., and alternate them with a number of lightweight shirts, blouses, etc., you will look fine. Coordinate your colors so this works. 

There are so many nice clothes out there that are lightweight and wrinkle free that, often, I find myself packing more than I need in my carry-on.

I do have to admit that my husband and I will take a checked bag now and then if the trip is extra long or we’re going to differing climates, but one checked bag for the two of us is always enough. 

Traveling light doesn’t mean not taking a sweater, gloves, scarf, rain gear, etc.; we do consider the possible weather conditions and take the necessary items. We leave our usual raincoats at home and take lightweight ones. On the plane, just wear the heavy stuff, if possible, that is, your coat and, if taking several shoes, the larger or heavier pair.

Our tech stuff, meds, etc., go into the additional small backpacks that we carry and it works fine. And if you’re staying at a reasonably nice hotel, don’t bother packing shampoo and soap. 

I avoid extra jewelry. A pair of silver and gold earrings is enough. 

Some of the travelers’ letters made it sound like it’s all or nothing: either a jacket and tie or flip-flops and a dirty T-shirt. This is not what I have noticed in my travels. And I have noticed plenty of tourists from other countries coming to New York looking sloppy.

Kathy McIntosh
Stroudsburg, PA

My husband, James, and I have had a few particular experiences due to dressing well.

In Frankfurt, Germany, in 2001, we were in a very long line at the airport and a gentleman came up to us and said, “You will come with me.” 

We were sure something was wrong, but that was not the case. He took us to the first-class line. My husband always travels in a suit coat, and I had on a nice-looking pantsuit.

In Oxford, England, we wanted to see the church and saw everyone being turned away. However, as we went forward we were immediately admitted. It was Sunday and Jim was, of course, in his suit coat and I had on a dress and was even wearing my Tilly’s fold-up hat.

Other times, we were moved into first class even without our requesting it because we were dressed well. Remember, no jeans in first class!

Judy Thorson
Buffalo Grove, IL

Wow! ITN certainly unleashed a tiger with this discussion of how to pack and dress for foreign travel.

My husband and I developed our philosophy of how to deal with this issue in the early 1970s, based on several factors. 

At that time, we both wore suits to work five days a week, so it became a “religious conviction” for us that we would never take dress-up clothes on vacation. We traveled with backpacks, which gave us maximum mobility (wheeled suitcases hadn’t been invented yet). 

At that time, “ugly American” was a term often applied to our traveling citizens who flaunted their wealth in front of the residents of less wealthy countries, made obvious because they had too much luggage to get on or off trains by themselves. (By the way, I always travel without any jewelry, not even my wedding rings, when going to poorer countries.)

We wore hiking boots as our primary footwear. We did a lot of walking on many of our trips, plus we needed the support when carrying backpacks. In the many third-world countries we visited, the extra-thick sole was useful in navigating the filth in the streets, not to mention in the places that often passed for restrooms.

Of course, some things have changed since those days. We have switched to wheeled suitcases. We don’t hike as much, but if sturdy shoes are going to be needed at any point on the trip, we wear the hiking boots onto the airplane; otherwise, they take up too much space and add too much weight to the checked luggage. 

We have maintained our commitment to not packing dress-up clothes, however. When we have taken group trips that have a noncasual final dinner, we have politely declined to attend. Who wants to carry an extra set of clothes, including shoes, for one use on a trip?

We have adopted pants with zip-off legs, because they are so versatile, even though we hate how they look and feel. We can leave Colorado in a snowstorm and land in a tropical country without having to change clothes. These pants also serve well in places where the weather changes in the course of a day. Also, they are easy to clean.

We don’t feel we’ve been mistreated because of our manner of dress, and we have been upgraded on planes (back before it became a total point system). If a restaurant wants to turn us away, that’s their business; our money spends just fine somewhere else. 

Although it was a minor incident, I’ve never forgotten this. In 1973 we were returning from Peru and Colombia, trying to make a tight connection in Miami, an airport with a reputation for long delays because agents were looking for drug smugglers. 

We were well aware that we looked like “children of the ’60s,” carrying backpacks and appearing a bit rumpled after days of travel. 

The government inspector handed us our paperwork, smiled and very genuinely said, “Welcome home.”

Donna Pyle, Boulder, CO 

I found the comments by the “big packers” interesting because, over the years, I’ve discovered that less is better when it comes to packing for my trips. 

For the past several years, I’ve managed to travel with a small carry-on and a little backpack. I used to carry a rolling carry-on, but after having to check it once due to a weight limit for carry-ons (it weighed eight pounds empty), I now use a small duffel instead. The duffel also gives me more clothing space. I recently returned from a 3-week trip and fared well. 

I always appear neat and well groomed. I never wear T-shirts, denim or wrinkled clothing. My slacks and tops are plain and all work together; I don’t carry outfits but rely on layering to keep me comfortable in changing climate conditions. Everything I take is quick-drying and lightweight. I don’t mind rinsing out a few things by hand on long trips. 

I don’t want to appear to be a pretentious American tourist. I wear an inexpensive watch and earrings and take no other jewelry. Dressing up for fancy restaurants isn’t necessary because I prefer to eat where the local people eat.

I travel to foreign countries not to impress people but, rather, to learn about the countries and experience how the residents live from day to day.

I’m amazed by the amount of luggage I see hauled around by travelers in airports and wonder why they’re carrying so much stuff. Traveling is supposed to be relaxing and fun, and lugging huge suitcases around isn’t much fun. Lighten up and enjoy!

Rosemary McDaniel
Trenton, FL 

I read with great amusement the battle between the backpackers and the bag checkers. In my opinion, they both are softies, unable to unchain themselves from the baggage of baggage. 

I do not wish to brag, but I, myself, recently took an 8-week trip through the steamy climate of Southeast Asia carrying nothing but the clothes on my back.

My protocol was simple and easy to follow: every morning I would awake wearing the clothes I slept in, then, in the interest of cleanliness, I would lather myself with soapy suds, jump into the shower to rinse off and go on my way, relying upon the natural heat of the sun and my own bodily warmth to dry everything out.

While I did not often receive preferential seating at fancy restaurants nor get complimentary airline upgrades, I did experience an exhilarating sense of freedom. Moreover, ordinary people treated me with exceptional kindness, smiling broadly as I passed by and often crossing to the other side of the street so I could continue on my journey unfettered.*

Richard H. Seiden
Oakland, CA 

*Pressed for more details about his efficient, traveling-light strategy, Mr. Seiden wrote to ITN, “I respectfully decline to answer, pleading the Fifth Amendment as a protection against self-incrimination. I can only quote theater critic George S. Kaufman, who stated, ‘Satire is what closes on Saturday night’.”