How to pack
As travel guru Rick Steves says, you'll never meet a traveller who, after five trips, brags, "Every trip I pack heavier." The measure of a good traveller is how light she travels. You can't travel heavy and happy.
Furthermore, too much luggage marks you as a typical tourist. Con artists figure you're helpless. Moving around becomes a major operation. With one bag you're mobile and in control, and you look like a traveller.
Limit yourself to 20 pounds in a carry-on size bag. A 9" x 22" x 14" bag should be your self-imposed limit. You'll walk with your luggage more than you think you will. Before leaving home, give yourself a test. Pack up completely, go into your hometown, and practice being a tourist for an hour. Fully loaded, you should enjoy window shopping and walking pretty much non stop for an hour. If you can't, stagger home and thin things out.
Spread out everything you think you might need on the living room floor. Think in terms of what you can do without - not what will be handy on your trip. When in doubt, leave it out. A backpack or rolling suitcase are both good options. Avoid bringing any kind of bag that you can't put on your back or roll behind you. Dragging a suitcase is a drag.
• Here's what Carolyn puts in her rolling suitcase:
Two pairs of pants (one kind of dressy), four turtlenecks (one kind of dressy), one sweater, four pairs of Smartwool socks, 5 pairs of underwear, one extra bra, one pair of flannel pyjamas, a second pair of waterproof walking shoes, a small toiletry kit (containing small samples of shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, dental floss, hand cream, and a toothbrush), a hat and gloves, silk long underwear (top and bottom), and a couple brightly colored scarves that go with the colors of everything else.
• Here's what she will wear to the airport:
a pair of pants, a turtleneck, a fleece jacket, walking shoes, a rain coat, and a wristwatch with an alarm built in.
• Here's what goes into Carolyn's carry-on backpack:
a Nalgene water bottle, one good book for reading on the plane, a journal to write in, an eye mask for airplane sleeping, aspirin, travel umbrella, a 7" x 9" x 2" shoulder purse for carrying personal identification etc. when the daypack is too much, a small address book, some energy bars for snacks, migraine medication, reading glasses, sunglasses, course reading pack, and guidebook.
Final useful reminders:
- Don't bring anything that easily wrinkles. An iron is unlikely to be readily available.
- Layering is the best way to ensure comfort. You'll be spending time outside, and in drafty buildings, and indoor temperatures are cooler than in the U.S.
- Pack light, pack light, pack light!
What to Take
- A travel alarm.
- Guide book of your choice.
- Rain jacket or coat.
- A small umbrella.
- A daypack.
- A neck safe to hide valuables and your passport when you don't need it.
- Your passport and one photocopy of the front page of your passport. Keep the copy in a separate place than you keep your passport.
- Money! Check with your bank to see if your ATM card will work in Ireland. Also make sure to call your credit card company to let them know you will be using the card outside the U.S. and for what dates (otherwise after your first use of it the company might assume your card was stolen and cancel your account). Bring $300-400 in cash (Carolyn brings $100 in twenties, and the rest in fifties.)
- Your eyeglasses and extra contacts. Contact solutions are widely available in Ireland. It can be helpful to bring a copy of your lens prescription just in case.
- Water bottle (one 32 oz. Nalgene bottle is a good size).
- Journal and pen.
- Wristwatch.
- Liquid soap to wash out washables in bathroom sink (use a small plastic bottle for this, and encase it in a zip-lock baggy to ensure no spills).
- Sunglasses (yes, sometimes the sun shines in Ireland in January).
- Waterproof shoes, well broken in. You will be doing a LOT of walking and there will be a LOT of rain. It is a good idea to bring two pairs of shoes to give your feet a break. Make sure both are waterproof and comfortable for all-day use. (Carolyn wears a pair of waterproof light hikers and also brings a second pair of light waterproof shoes. Steve uses galoshes over his shoes. Elizabeth wears waterproof Merrell's and Dansko clogs.)
- Wool or fleece sweater. (Indoor temperatures are cooler than Americans are used to.) A dark color is best for layering and dressing up, and never looks dirty, but bring what you can.
- Silk or wool long underwear if you're easily chilled (the weather will be cold and damp).
- Fleece or wool hat and gloves.
- Any medications or prescriptions you need to take regularly.
- A camera and film. (Note: film should be packed in your carry on bag because the x-ray machine used for checked baggage will damage film.)
- Two pairs of pants. Again, dark colors tend to look dressier and don't show the dirt.
- Three or four tops. Turtlenecks are good and can be layered under a sweater or fleece.
- A more dressy outfit (optional). Make sure it's wrinkle resistant.
- Pyjamas. (Bathrooms may be down the hall! Flannel pyjamas are nice & cozy at night. Indoor temperatures will be less than you are used to. Steve often brings sweatpants to wear as pyjamas.)
- Underwear. Bring 5 sets and plan to wash things out in your room. Micofiber dries quickest.
- Socks - 3 or 4 pairs. Plan to wear a pair of socks two or three days in a row unless you have a major case of foot sweats. Wool socks are good if you're easily chilled. Cotton socks will just absorb moisture and your feet will be cold a lot.
- Toiletries kit (toothbrush/paste, shampoo, comb/brush, deodorant, hand lotion). Make sure any liquid items are in squeeze bottles in zip-lock baggies since pressure changes in flight cause even good bottles to leak. It's very convenient to have a toiletries kit that can hang on a hook.
- Hairdryer, only if it is essential. Make sure it is a small, lightweight model with a built-in voltage converter and the appropriate plug adapter for European outlets.
- During the service project at Glencree we might be getting dirty so make sure you bring some kind of work clothes. This project will occur toward the end of our trip, so you may want to simply use clothes you've worn earlier in the trip and clean them when you get home.
