Packing Light

Yep, that is us leaving with everything we own! During our previous travels, we checked two bags and each carried a backpack (including the kids). Now that it is just Erich and I, we have scaled back. I know that some people are going to think this is crazy because, "What if you need something else?" Well, to be honest, everything is purchaseable and people all over the world have the same kinds of needs. We approach packing more from a MacGuyver approach (find a way to use what you have) vs. a boy scout approach (be prepared). By doing this, we can take advantage of really cheap flights (it cost us $24 total for both of us to fly from Vienna to Tirana) and we never lose our luggage or worry about long delays at the airport. Plus, we follow warm weather so we aren't packing heavy winter stuff.

And we get asked pretty often: "What are we packing?" So in case it helps anyone, here is our list:

Clothing:

• 1 hat - Erich gets sunburned easily and likes to shade his face and the back of his neck, I don't like hats and won't wear one
• 1 swimsuit each - mine is a two piece so I have something to wear on laundry day if needed.
• 1 pair of shoes each that we are wearing - mine is a pair of black river sandals that look normalish but I can wear them into lakes, beaches, whatever and they slip off easily when needed
• 1 bra
• 1 fleece jacket each
• 1 nightgown
• 1 winter hat each - fingers crossed that we don't need this!
• 1 scarf - Syarra got me a beautiful one in Bosnia that is really great for visiting mosques but will also work as a light blanket
• 4ish Bottoms - I have two shorts and two pants, all with good pockets; Erich has one of each and a pair that zips off to convert. So jealous of some of the things that are just more available to men. We always wear our thickest pair on travel days as they take up the most space.
• 4 shirts each - including the one we are wearing and Erich has one that is long sleeve but the rest are short sleeve.
• 5 pairs of socks each - Worth buying the quick dry ones!
• 6 underwear each
• packing cubes
• 2 face masks - just in case 

Toiletries:

• deodorant - yes, you can get this anywhere, but I like my brand. Be sure it is a solid, not gel or spray to make TSA happy.
• lip balm - this is harder to find and more expensive that you would guess in other places
• hair brush/comb
• nail file
• clippers
• tweezers
• Tums - Our stomachs aren't always fans of eating new foods even if our taste buds are!
• toothbrush each
  
• floss - hard to find in some places
• eyeglass cleaning cloth
• razors - choose a main brand like Gillette Mach 3 which is worldwide
• feminine supplies - for tampon users, lots of countries just don't offer the same choices and even pads are a different quality
• laundry sheets - We have used several and our favorite is TruEarth. It works great in cold water, cleans well, is lightly scented, and always dissolves fully.
• small bottle of pain relievers - we have a mix of Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve but every country has pharmacies (who almost always speak English) if you are truly sick. Ask for advice, some countries have better stuff than we do, like Sudafed!
• small bottle of allergy meds - I really missed these in Paris one spring and now include that along with a few Benadryl tablets in case of unexpected issues.

 

Liquids Bag:

• small shampoo - shampoo is easy to get and certain brands like Head and Shoulders and Pantene are everywhere, but it is nice to have the one you prefer occasionally
• small lotion - really nice to have on long airplane trips where you feel dehydrated, plus you need to be cautious in places like Thailand where they put bleach in their lotions to lighten you skin. Eek!
  
• hydrocortisone
• travel toothpaste - We use this sparingly until we can purchase a full size - but lots of places don't sell travel size
• antibiotic Ointment - We love Melagel in case you know a melaleuca vendor.
• face lotion with sunscreen
• MIO - water enhancer that we can't find anywhere else yet but helps me stay better hydrated than just drinking plain water.

 

Equipment/extras:

• flashlight
• 2 mini umbrellas
• Passport carrier
• jewelry - I don't carry much but it is nice to dress up a bit sometimes
• playing cards/backgammon/Between Two Cities
• D&D Dice/maps/paper
• 1 pillow - Erich really sleeps better on his but may have to give it up if an airline challenges him on it.
• knife sharpener - you would be amazed at how often airbnbs come with dull knives! We are grateful to a cousin for getting us one as a gift since we can't pack sharp instruments!
• Eddie Bauer 20L stowaway backpack- this goes grocery shopping with us and carries water on hikes. It isn't the most comfortable, but invaluable
• small whiteboard
• Pen/Sharpie/dry-erase markers
• two power adapters - these cover just about every country in the world!
• Extension cord - outlets aren't always where you want them to be
• headphones - Erich carries a set with built in microphone, I like my Beats. In addition, we each have wireless earbuds and I have a wired pair for airplanes.
• Ipad
• Macbook Pro
• 2 cell phones - make sure they are unlocked if you want to buy sim cards in country or check if they take esims (ours don't!)
• Lenovo Thinkpad
• Wacom tablet
• associated power cords
• two mice with extra batteries and mouse pad
• Flashdrives
• video cable - TVs can be used as an extra monitor when needed

Most of what we carry isn't brand specific but in a few cases, I have links to things we really like and we would earn a commission if you choose to purchase through it.

Hope this helps! What else do you consider necessary?