Janie1229

I love and use many of these suggestions in order to travel with only a carry-on. One aspect that makes it easier is to minimize how many shoes you bring, especially if you are like me and have bigger feet! (size 9 or 9.5). I will wear my heaviest/bulkiest shoes, usually sneakers, and pack two more pairs - usually a pair of comfortable walking shoes that are also cute and I can wear with dresses if I want, and a pair of sandals if traveling in warmer climates. I LOVE bringing 1-2 small battery tea lights for the room/bathroom at night. I have two LL Bean small lights that have different selections for strength and color which are great in the evening. Reversible dresses! Such a fantastic idea!! Wish I could find more. Most of the ones I do find are boring, with solid black on one side and a black pattern on the other. I have a beautiful cap sleeve knee length dress from Chicos that is an orange/coral flower design on one side, and a leopard brown/black print on the other. I love it and wish I had more like this. WHBM sometimes have a few, and Chico's once in a great while, but not often. With that one dress, I can dress differently 4 nights, by reversing the dress and changing the scarf/jewelry accessories. I have not yet traveled to cooler climates where you'd need warmer clothing, but I think you can do it, by following Travel Fashion Girl suggestions for layering and purchasing clothing such as merino wool, that are not bulky but still provide warmth.

I recently found Travel Fashion Girls on FB too! Lots of wonderful ideas, suggestions and tips for all things travel and fashion. I am a big advocate of travel with just a carry-on and tote, although I've never tried it going to Europe. I understand some flights have stricter guidelines for what is allowed for size/weight in a carry on. I've found great ideas on this Facebook group! My only negative is that I can get lost for hours reading the posts....

Thanks for the responses. I did not realize the water levels fluctuated so much. I've been wanting to do one of the Rhine cruises but don't want to be put on a bus either! Lots to think about.

I've never been on a river cruise, but would love to do a Rhine River or Danube next year. However, I am hearing about a lot of issues right now with the water levels being so low that they either have to stop the cruise, and then bus people around? or they have moved people to a smaller boat part-way through the cruise. This latter part is what happened to a friend of mine on an Avalon cruise last month. Does anyone know whether this will continue, or will water levels rise again?

Another couple of places to look for pretty midi-to-maxi length dresses are Soft Surroundings and Chicos. I have a couple of dresses from Chicos that are from their "travel" collection and do not wrinkle and made of lightweight fabric. In my opinion not all maxi dresses are created equal in terms of being able to "elevate" them to a dressier look. Maybe it's the quality of the dress, and/or the material and style. I have some maxi dresses that are best kept for daytime casual wear, but others that really look beautiful and dressy with some accessories.

I agree. Try the patch or medication at home before going on a trip. My husband and I wear the Scopolamine patch on all our dive trips and usually on cruises. Neither of us have issues with the patch but I understand that some people do. I also take Dramamine on trips with me now. Sometimes I do both. Sometimes I just take Dramamine at night and skip the patch. But I always have at least one of these options. Also, be sure to take whatever you use the NIGHT BEFORE you go on a cruise/trip. I made a big mistake of not putting on my patch the night before we left for Miami to go on a sailing dive liveaboard. As soon as we landed in Miami and got to the boat, we took off for the crossing to Bimini. It was a rough crossing and putting the patch on when we got to the boat WAS A BAD IDEA AND TOO LATE! I was horribly sick for several hours and it ruined the trip for me as I never really recovered. On the crossing back to Miami, I wore the patch and also took a Dramamine the night before. No issue.

I don't care as much these days what people think, but I still love to dress up for myself! and my husband 🙂 It is amazing what a beautiful scarf/wrap and jewelry can do to a more casual maxi dress!!

I have a ton of more structured/formal cocktail dresses and evening dresses. Some I have never worn! I am slowly purging them. It's hard because they are really beautiful, but I have to be honest that I don't know when I'd ever wear any of them again. My use for them would be on a cruise or other trip. But because these dresses are usually a thicker material, structured, etc., they do not pack as easily as a maxi dress and end up staying home in my closet. True formal dresses are just not the workhorses of a maxi dress which can be worn during the day and in more casual situations. Add a pretty scarf/wrap, an elegant headband, fascinator or jewelry, and it will elevate the casual maxi dress to a more formal look!

Most of the dresses I bring on cruises or other travel are long maxi dresses! I love them. The favorites in my closet are flowy and so comfortable and cool. Can be dressed up or down with accessories. I love a good maxi!!

I agree - a wrap can look a little dressy during the day and depending on activities, a short-sleeved or even lightweight long sleeved sweater can be perfect. I usually wear a lightweight jacket/sweater on the plane and pack a couple of wraps/scarves.

I have this exact Travelon purse as my everyday bag in a pretty navy color. I love it and will not wear anything other than a cross-body or "fanny" bag again - unless I am going just out to dinner or event in which I MIGHT take a small clutch.

I always bring a large scarf/wrap and usually more than one on any trip! I have several that go with many of my clothes I bring, and are work horses! They also help in making the same dress or outfit look different if you want to wear the same thing on multiple occasions - which I do. I would not scrimp on buying a cheap scarf but spend a little more money on a good quality wrap. A lightweight cashmere scarf will last a long time if taken care of and keeps you warm too.

@Mum2Mercury I agree with your thoughts on number of shoes and styles. I travel with pretty much that exact number and style. I also have plantar fasciitis and it is better but I am careful to wear good insoles and I always wear dressy shoes that are either wedge or platform, that seems to work for me.

I am also a fan of Skechers and Clarks shoes. Especially with Clarks you can find comfortable and cute with support. Have you looked at Vionic? They are also wonderfully supportive and have different styles. I have some high heel wedge/platform shoes and usually bring one pair on a trip/cruise that will go with all my dresses. I find that a wedge or platform is pretty comfortable, especially when I'm only wearing them for a few hours in the evening and not doing a ton of walking. I have Michael Kors wedge/platform sandals that are really pretty and comfortable. I cannot/will not wear the traditional high heel pump these days and do not own any.

I usually order a M but they were sold out in all sizes except S so I decided to give it a try b/c I loved the color. As I anticipated it was too small. I agree with not wanting anything too form fitting. I really prefer a flowy dress these days 🙂

@Mary229 I received my reversible dress from WHBM yesterday. It's very pretty but too small (size S) so I have to take it back. Unfortunately they are sold out in size M. Too bad as it would have been a wonderful addition to my reversible dress collection! I may order one of the black reversible dresses even though I have a ton of black dresses. I do like the idea of having a solid black on one side, and a pattern on the other. Just wish it was a pattern with different colors other than white/black to make it more different. It's amazing to me that there aren't more brands offering reversible dresses.

I will see if they will post here: https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product/Sleeveless-Reversible-Matte-Jersey-Dress/570324034?color=4173 The above is just one WHBM currently has on it's website, there are others too.

Oh Mary, no! They are super lightweight. I will either roll them or fold, but they don't wrinkle very much and don't take up any space. Check out White House Black Market's website and type "reversible dress" in the search. Right now they have several reversible. dresses. I wish I could find more like these. I know you can change up the look of the same dress with different scarves, jewelry, but it's fun to have that reversible option. If I see any other good reversible options from other sites, I'll let you know. Chico's will have them once in a blue moon, but not as often as WHBM.

@Mary229 I agree !! I bring different jewelry and a few scarves that are big enough to be worn as a light wrap, and mix and match with the different dresses. I have a few necklaces, but mostly I wear big earrings and a scarf. I've got two reversible dresses from Chicos and White House Black Market, so really 4 dresses in two! I have another one from WHBM I ordered and should be here today. I see a lot of reversible dresses with black on one side, and black pattern on the other, which is okay, but I'd rather have something more colorful. I have a variety of black dresses as it is. The one dress from Chicos is a leopard print on one side and tropical flowers on a coral background on the other. The WHBM dress is a solid dark raspberry color on one side and white flowers against a raspberry background on the other. The reversible dress I'm waiting on is a solid light blue on one side and red flowers with blue on the other. I am always looking for more reversible dresses!!

@Mary229I agree with you on luggage! That is an idea for our next trip: one checked bag of 25", one carry-on 21-22" and a couple of day/backpacks. that should be plenty,. For me, 4 pairs of shoes is more than adequate and I wear the heaviest/bulkiest. One pair for daily walking and/or working. out, one pair casual shoes/sandals, one pair of more dressy evening shoes and maybe a pair of water shoes which weigh nothing. I love dressing up, and while I don't wear an "evening dress" like you would see years and years ago on cruises, it's fun to put on a pretty dress in the evening 🙂 I could easily go on a two week tropical cruise with just a 22" carry-on and a small under-the-seat bag or backpack. Oh - I always bring something like Downey wrinkle release / fabric freshener spray. I will lightly spritz my clothes and helps a lot with not having to launder, at least for a few days. Especially the dresses I wear at night. I only wear them for a few hours and I"m not running around getting sweaty in them anyway!

I was just having a discussion with my husband the other day about traveling to Europe and whether we'd need a checked bag. He seems to think he could not do it in carry-on luggage only. I think we could! Silk underwear, lightweight merino wool, etc. can make all the difference and you can wear the bulkiest jacket/sweater on the plane. However, if my husband insisted on a checked bag, I would probably do the same. Our checked luggage is only 25" and I would not do anything bigger. Any bigger than a 25" luggage runs the risk of overpacking, and being more difficult to handle.

@SanteFe1 , thank you for the information on Luggage Forwarding (LF). I've never used it when my husband and I travel, and sadly we don't travel nearly enough - but hoping that will change in the next few years when we retire. I will look into this - is it a website you go to, called "Luggage Forwarding"? We are in good health, but as we get older, the less I want to lug my luggage around 🙂

Pontac, thank you so much. I am trying to decide between VRC and Avalon. Have you been on Avalon to compare the two?

I love Clark, Jambu and Skechers for comfortable supportive shoes. I have some Clarks that could transition from day to night unless I wear an evening gown and I rarely do that these days! To each their own, but I would never travel with just one pair of shoes. It's not a big deal for me to pack an extra pair (or two) in either a checked bag or even a 21-22" carry on bag. I always wear the heaviest/clunkiest shoes. Agree on buying multiple pairs when you find something you love! I wish I could find more of the Clark's yellow shoe I purchased 3 years ago at a Clark's outlet store. I've googled and searched but they are discontinued 😞

KKB, I totally agree with you on wearing hose. NOPE! I haven't worn traditional hose/stockings in a million years. However, in the wintertime I do wear tights with some dresses, usually a more casual dress. For dressy occasions I never wear hose or tights. More and more I'm buying long dresses, typically a bit on the casual side that can be dressed up or down.