Well first off, I bought a set of empty travel size bottles and we transfer stuff to those that is too large like DD's soap, my husband's shampoo, etc. I use aveda so they sell my stuff in travel size, thankfully.
Well first off, I bought a set of empty travel size bottles and we transfer stuff to those that is too large like DD's soap, my husband's shampoo, etc. I use aveda so they sell my stuff in travel size, thankfully.
Yeah, that's a good point. I suppose I could transfer my wave spray to a tiny spray bottle and DH's bumble and bumble cream to a tiny tub thing for starters. (ETA but when we are gone for 3 weeks though like we are now, I worry about having enough with travel sizes with certain things--not the spray though.)
And fenway, that's a good point about packing a bag that I keep things in once we are at our destination. Then I could use that one bag to carry everything up to shower in, and then back down again. We could return our LLBean bag...if we could find it! It was MIA before this trip!
I think 2 travel size bottles (of the same product) would probably still be smaller than some regular sized bottles. Fwiw, I *always* worry I may run out with the travel sizes, but I never have. For 3 weeks though my husband might, he's not a very conservative user of anything!
We use one of the LL Carryall for shorter trips and to put the things we wouldn't want out in a ziploc bag. We have travel size bottles for shampoo and conditioner and facial cleanser, and travel size toothpaste for us (we usually bring 2-3 of them) and hair gel and spray and shaving cream. But we are also pretty low maintenance so we don't have a ton of products or if we are away on a shorter trip we go without some things.
How much stuff are you bringing to need such giant containers for toiletries? Mine fit into one quart-sized ziplock bag and I use refillable containers of the same products I use at home. My makeup is all in one small bag that I can put into my purse or backpack. A hairbrush should easily fit into a purse (I don't use one) and it's hard to imagine a place that doesn't already come equipped with a hairdryer, so why reinvent that wheel when it's not necessary? Unless you're going to a real third-world location, toiletries are generally very easy to replace if you run low.
I always pack the minimum if we are flying and use travel sizes but I hate to check bags. Driving I'm a bit more indulgent on the size of the bottle and will pack our full size shampoo if necessary. I always worry about running out in the travel sizes but like Laura, it has never happened. I also use the refillable travel size bottles to use for products I cannot find in travel size.
I'm not talking about packing a carry-on-size bag for just myself on, say, an overnight to Vegas with my husband, folks. I'm talking about a 3-week trip (via plane) that includes a romantic getaway, a memorial service, a family reunion, and a 'college friends reunion' for me. I never need to pack a hair dryer, I never even mentioned a hair dryer. I do not carry a personal purse or backpack when we travel. I have three kids and don't have the luxury of packing whatever I want for myself in my travel carry-ons for most of my travels. I carry a bag with the bare minimum for us all, which has to include everything from a sippy cup to toddler underwear. Everything goes in the checked bags.
Not that it should matter at all, but things do add up space-wise even when we buy some things at our destination and pack travel sizes. My round straightening brush, extra jewelry and makeup that I don't always travel with but want for these occasions, nail polish for toenail touch ups, eyeglasses, vitamins for myself and DH for 21 days, his mouth guard, and things that, quite frankly, aren't anyone's business at all!
I am going to see what Rick Steves makes. We have his packing cubes and love them, and all his stuff is lightweight.
I can understand wanting to pack a good amount for a 3 week trip. It seems like you make this trip annually, so I'd consider what you need to travel with vs what you can duplicate and leave at MILs for use year after year. I'd also consider if there is anything you could purchase for the bathroom or your bedroom that would give you a place for storage without having to worry about concealing it. That being said, if I had to stay 3 weeks at my MILs house, anything I bought now would be lost by next year and she's already busting at the seams so it wouldn't be possible. But maybe something to think about.
I can't offer any advice on a travel pack though as I'm lucky that DH and I are both very low product for anything in our life LOL. However, now that you are buying 5 tickets when you fly, that does mean 10 checked bags So I would consider something like this: http://popgloss.com/carry-on/2144c1a...d&pageoffset=0
ETA: Pic too big but i can't resize. Just have to click on the link.
Last edited by boilermaker; 06-28-2012 at 08:02 PM.
Whoa, that image is huge and seems to be making it tough for me to see this thread all in one screen??
Yes, you all have brought up a good point about asking MIL to buy a tote bin or something of some sort
that we could keep under the sink and then also carry upstairs and back down when we go up to shower.
As for the luggage, we actually have thus far gotten away with packing just 3 suitcases (during summer.)
Thankfully the kids' clothes pack up pretty small (as do mine!) and we can do laundry whenever.
We actually try to pack pretty streamlined even though we fly Southwest so there is no charge and despite
the fact that it apparently it seems to many here that we are obsessive over-packers.
Haha this thread cracks me up. Fwiw I consider myself super low maintenance (ahem, with products) and I'm still always surprised at how much space they take up. Now with DD's stuff too, I can see how it would get out of control quickly. We have a half bath attached to our room at my ILs so I shower in the other bathroom but get ready in "our" bathroom. I was going to say I wouldn't care about my stuff being "seen" but I remember I was mortified when someone was using "our" bath and I couldn't remember if I put stuff away so I can see the annoyance. I'm not sure what a good solution is. I guess a drawer or something. Fortunately we never stay at my ILs for 3 weeks!
Reply With QuoteOriginally Posted by laura
So I would consider something like this:
