 Durant
& Cheryl Imboden'sEurope for Visitors europeforvisitors.com |
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Packing for Europe
ABOVE: Travelers and luggage in Montparnasse Station, Paris. Packing and luggage receive more attention than they deserve. Many travelers agonize over which baggage to buy, what clothes to pack, and whether to fold trousers over jackets or vice versa. Yet the only really important thing to remember is Imboden's First Law of Packing:
Having said that, I'll ignore my own advice and discuss the three basic philosophies of packing: 1. Less is more.At its extreme, this philosophy is exemplified by the reader of an Arthur Frommer travel guide whose only bag was a lightweight tote. Her summer travel wardrobe consisted of nylon underwear, a black synthetic top and skirt, and (as I recall) a black sweater for chilly evenings. Every night, she stripped off her clothes and washed everything in the sink of her hotel room. By morning, her wash-and-wear clothing was dry (or so she hoped), and Ms. Basic Black was ready for another day of sightseeing or travel. The one-outfit-for-all-occasions approach won't work for everyone, and I suspect that it might get tiresome after a few mornings of slipping into damp or mildewed undies. A more realistic approach is to use a carry-on bag or backpack of standard under-the-seat dimensions, perhaps with a small travel bag for a camera, guidebook, maps, etc. This works best if you're a budget traveler in summer and don't need many clothes. 2. More is better.Years ago, a British acquaintance told me how his grandmother always traveled to the Continent with a maid, a steamer trunk, and a rubber toilet-seat cover. And when I was a boy, my mother always traveled with a Samsonite cosmetics case to round out our family's collection of Pullman bags and two-suiters. Today, the "more is better" crowd is likely to pass up the steamer trunk and toilet-seat cover, but it isn't unusual to see well-heeled tourists arrive at the airport with expensive suitcases, garment bags, and golf-club cases. Rick Steves and Arthur Frommer might frown at such conspicuous excess, but let's face it: How often does a budget travel writer have to face the Savoy's receptionist or the headwaiter at Maxim? And if you're on a golfing tour of Scotland, doesn't it make sense to bring your own golf clubs? There is one obvious downside to the take-it-all philosophy: It can be a nuisance to deal with porters at every turn, and there's an airline formula that says (suitcase) x (number) = (increased likelihood of loss). If you decide to travel heavy, spend a little extra on baggage insurance. |
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