The great hand luggage only challenge!!!

[kylemcd]

Re: The great hand-luggage-only challenge!!!

A great resource for travelling light is One Bag. I highly recommend it.

 

[leahm]

For toiletries, I have amassed quite a collection of sample size sachets from magazines etc, they are flat which is great for packing, and they are less likely to leak than small bottles.

For many many different uses, bring a sarong, it can be in-room wear, a beach blanket/towel, etc, and dries quickly. Yes, real men do wear sarongs!

LeahM

 

[jasonja3]

What is this "beach" you speak of?

Who do you work for that allows such things?

 

[simongr]

That is one issue I am having - appropriate attire for travel between pool and room. I have yet to be able to go for a swim and I am not sure what to wear to get there. is it appropriate to use the hotel robe?

 

[jasonja3]

is it appropriate to use the hotel robe?

Only the VERY rare occasion I make it to a hotel pool, I have just used the robe, I do feel like a knob, but hey what can you do? The slippers definitely don't go past the room door though!!

 

[serfty]

... is it appropriate to use the hotel robe?

SHould not be a problem; I've done it many times.

I get stranger looks at the plastic bag containing mobile phone, room key etc. that I'm often carrying to the pool.

 

[simongr]

Well a robed simongr it is tomorrow morning - given you guys wouldnt let me bring my running shoes - I need to do some exercise

In retrospect now I know if I am not travelling through LHR I could actually bulk up my garment bag a little more and reduce the rollaboard - so could have brought running shoes.

The big mistake has been the laptop bag. I have a very nice soft leather bag at home that I use day to day. I also have a small bag I bought in London when my bags were lost. I however brought with me a triangular bag I got at a conference in March and it has been a nightmare - the small bag would have fitted - very annoying mistake to make

 

[rhjames]

That is one issue I am having - appropriate attire for travel between pool and room. I have yet to be able to go for a swim and I am not sure what to wear to get there. is it appropriate to use the hotel robe?

I usually go in my swimmers with a towel around me (depending on the hotel). Never had a problem. If it's an up market hotel, I put on a T shirt and smile.

 

[Shano]

I have been in a few hotels where guests have walked down to the pool in just their speedos and a pair of thongs (and no, it wasn't me).... not a very good look at all.......

 

[Shano]

My issue to date has not been boredom with range of clothes that I packed, but trying to stay clean.

Last night we ate at an Italian restaurant. As we went straight from the office I did not have a chance to get changed. Unfortunately eating spaghetti with a tomato based sauce in a pair of chinos was a bit of a mistake.....

Best tip from this thread has been the shaving oil, courtesy of simongr. I am now a convert

Was planning on writing my maiden trip report too.... will try and get something together.

 

[serfty]

... Last night we ate at an Italian restaurant. As we went straight from the office I did not have a chance to get changed. Unfortunately eating spaghetti with a tomato based sauce in a pair of chinos was a bit of a mistake...... ...

There's a reason linen napkins on Qantas flights have a buttonhole and CX give you miniature pegs.

When using carryon, the lap is NOT the place for your serviette, tuck in into your collar my man ...

My first bad experience was with a $2.50 Laksa at Suntec in Singapore (if you know your Laksa's you'll understand) white shirt, large greasy orange stain - never came out.

 

[JohnK]

There's a reason linen napkins on Qantas flights have a buttonhole and CX give you miniature pegs.

Is that what you are supposed to do with them? I have seen these miniature pegs on CX and AY and never understood their purpose and was always too embarassed to ask. I now have a nice collection of miniature pegs at home....

 

[rhjames]

There's a reason linen napkins on Qantas flights have a buttonhole and CX give you miniature pegs.

I've noticed most people don't use them (or even know about the buttonhole). After the first time I had soup on a plane, I soon found the buttonhole, and have used it ever since.

The menu is definitely a consideration when travelling light. Too bad none of us thought to mention it earlier in this thread.

 

[NM]

AA also has the button hole in the napkins. I often look around and am the only one with it buttoned to my shirt. I may look strange but at least I remain clean .

 

[aussiejohn]

Have found this thread most interesting. Whilst not having done business travel, I have travelled a lot on holidays, anything up to 6 weeks away and I always come home with unused items in my case. I know I always take too much stuff and suffer the consequences particularly in London for example, trying to negotiate stairs, escalators etc on the UndergrounD with a suitcase, backpack and laptop bag. As I get older, heavy bags - and more than one item - are not the go any longer. Also on 3 trips so far, QF has lost my bag so I have tired of that little game as well. I am off to Singapore and Malaysia in November for 9 days and this is going to be my first attempt at carry-on only. It will be easier as I really only need shorts, t-shirts, a shirt or two and will wear my jeans on the plane etc. My next trip is 5 weeks next May to UK, Egypt and India. That will be more of a challenge with various climates to consider. One of the things I notice that has not been mentioned here is the use of those "Space Bags". As well as the ones that you use a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out of, they also make smaller travel bags. You put your stuff in, seal the end and then roll it up to expel all the air. I have tried it once so far and it does make a difference. Takes up less space in your bag - and leaves room for bringing home a few gifts etc. Surprisingly it doesn't crease the clothes up much either. No good for a suit but would work ok for the casual clothes. Has anyone else made use of these bags?

 

[Shano]

There's a reason linen napkins on Qantas flights have a buttonhole and CX give you miniature pegs.

When using carryon, the lap is NOT the place for your serviette, tuck in into your collar my man ...

My first bad experience was with a $2.50 Laksa at Suntec in Singapore (if you know your Laksa's you'll understand) white shirt, large greasy orange stain - never came out.

Yes, Laksa's are tricky to eat and stay clean. My worst experience was a chilli crab "explosion" (crab claw...not pants....) in Johor Bahru resulting in both myself and the person next to me wearing a potent combination of crab meat, crab shell and chilli sauce......

 

[rhjames]

One of the things I notice that has not been mentioned here is the use of those "Space Bags". As well as the ones that you use a vacuum cleaner to suck the air out of, they also make smaller travel bags. You put your stuff in, seal the end and then roll it up to expel all the air. Has anyone else made use of these bags?

I haven't tried it yet because I don't travel with a vacuum cleaner, especially when it's hand luggage only. How do you find a vacuum cleaner when travelling?

 

[littl_flier]

I've just been catching up on this thread and there are some great suggestions- shaving oil Simongr.

Only the VERY rare occasion I make it to a hotel pool, I have just used the robe, I do feel like a knob, but hey what can you do? The slippers definitely don't go past the room door though!!

I have been in a few hotels where guests have walked down to the pool in just their speedos and a pair of thongs (and no, it wasn't me).... not a very good look at all.......

I usually go in my swimmers with a towel around me (depending on the hotel). Never had a problem. If it's an up market hotel, I put on a T shirt and smile.

I usually wear a t-shirt I've got and some light-wight running shorts (or my old light weight lifeguard shorts that are designed to swim in) I have with me. I have been known to wear a towel but never just speedos in a hotel- I don't wish to scare the pants of anyone.

I have a colleague I do project work with in Gove, NT. Its a remote mining and aboriginal community and for the 500m walk from our donger to the public pool each morning, he'd just wear his speedos. Needless to say, the rest of the boys walked 50 metres behind him whilst he received several toots and wolf whistles from passing locals. I guess it you have it Simongr, you may as well flaunt it.

 

[aussiejohn]

I haven't tried it yet because I don't travel with a vacuum cleaner, especially when it's hand luggage only. How do you find a vacuum cleaner when travelling?

Nope, I don't travel with a vacuum cleaner either
"Space Bags" make smaller bags for travel which don't require a vacuum cleaner. You stack the clothes in the bag, seal it and then roll it up tightly to expel the air. Not quite as good as the vac ones but still very effective. Reduces a big pile of clothes down to a small package. They're available at Big W, Kmart etc so have a look next time you're in there. Myer also had some smaller ones (35cmx50cm) in the travel goods department that would fit in a carry on rollaboard.
Actually the big ones would be ok if you were staying with friends or relatives who had a vac!

 

[simongr]

I guess you could always phone down to housekeeping