Packing !

Feel the force young Jedi, feel the force...

I clearly have a lot to learn before I become a Jedi, for now I shall be a Padawan learner! |:)

You can be master Jedi bretty )

Bretty, I'm shocked :0 that you've not researched the movies, not checked the sequence of meals (dine, graze, etc.)!
I love being organised weeks (months?) in advance - already have paperwork in folders not just for next month's flights, but for September and October.
I'm very in favour of some packing cubes I got from Lakeland which nicely corral all those cables/chargers/download leads, etc. Even use them in the study at home.
I found a website by a guy who firmly maintains that you can manage for any length of trip on one bag (ONE!!!) and carry-on at that. I'm still recovering from the shock.

Feel the force young Jedi, feel the force...

I clearly have a lot to learn before I become a Jedi, for now I shall be a Padawan learner! |:)

You can be master Jedi bretty )

Roflmao!

Bretty, I'm shocked :0 that you've not researched the movies, not checked the sequence of meals (dine, graze, etc.)!
I love being organised weeks (months?) in advance - already have paperwork in folders not just for next month's flights, but for September and October.
I'm very in favour of some packing cubes I got from Lakeland which nicely corral all those cables/chargers/download leads, etc. Even use them in the study at home.
I found a website by a guy who firmly maintains that you can manage for any length of trip on one bag (ONE!!!) and carry-on at that. I'm still recovering from the shock.

Lol, I've seen youtube videos of people claiming that. One packed a month's worth of stuff in a carry on. Of course it relies on being able to wash and re-use clothes and having what's called a capsule wardrobe where all items work together in multiple combinations.

I used to pack literally loads of stuff and always came back with unworn gear. Same happened last year on my 2 week Canadian trip, but then we washed smalls in the hotel room and did laundry at the second hotel half way through our trip. Come to think of it did the same the year before so not only did we not use some clothes we packed, but we reused some that were laundered, and of course, as you do, bought a couple of things to wear. So I'm not doing it anymore!

I'm packing for a 2 week trip, and my plan is to take about 8 days worth of clothes plus my jimjams and a change of clothes for the flight and I'll do laundry half way through the trip. Simples. I'll be using an overnight bag in a couple of places and making use of Japan's luggage forwarding service so that will be perfect. It also means that in a medium sized case I'll have plenty of space for souvenirs, I hope (I'm a compulsive shopper so I don't know), lol.

Ok- strange one here but I have never flown long haul! Only within Europe with EJ- and only for a short break. In sept me and the OH will be going on honeymoon for my first ever flight on VS, so maybe might be a bit crazy but I have already started lists and getting ready to buy things. I'm short of taking over the spare room but from august the office is mine!
I have seen the " bundling" method video and that seems to work- anyone got any other favorites? Complete novice willing to learn!

Hi strattusflyer, first, congrats on your upcoming nuptials. Where are you going on honeymoon for your first long haul flight?

I've never used the bundling method but it looks effective. I prefer to roll things, and now using packing cubes it's easier. I've just discovered another rolling method I like as it makes shirts quite compact, and that's the burrito roll method (search on YouTube).

Lists are good to keep you organised. I don't bother so much these days as I'm quite regimented, although I have been known to type a list with tick boxes that looks all official like

Enjoy the planning!

Ok- strange one here but I have never flown long haul! Only within Europe with EJ- and only for a short break. In sept me and the OH will be going on honeymoon for my first ever flight on VS, so maybe might be a bit crazy but I have already started lists and getting ready to buy things. I'm short of taking over the spare room but from august the office is mine!
I have seen the " bundling" method video and that seems to work- anyone got any other favorites? Complete novice willing to learn!

Congratulations! You must be so excited - wedding, first long-haul and honeymoon in St Lucia.
Packing - I use what may be a version of the bundling method, all tops/shirts folded/halved to make a cube, each pair of trousers put waistband first into suitcase, legs draped over other side, next pair of trousers is same idea but opposite side of suitcase, "cube" put in centre, trouser legs folded one at a time over the cube. Smaller items then fit round the sides of the suitcase.
I always pack way too much, come back with unworn clothes but still always find the one item I really needed was left in the wardrobe.
For the first time, I made notes after our last trip to the States, what worked, what didn't.
I love the anticipation, the planning, the lists, but that's as a leisure flyer. Business flyers will be rolling their eyes - I imagine for them the exciting thing is a few weeks without a flight.

That's brilliant. It's two weeks but we are flying PE -never know might get a sneaky upgrade lol (hint hint VS) so we have two cases each. What that means is I have half of one and the wife wil have 3 1/2 mainly for shoes. I haven't done any planning for the wedding and so have taken over the honeymoon with military precision!

Ah jedi bretty
I've been so looking forward to this bit lol
Love the organisation part. The build up is as much part of the holiday for me too.
Good plan on the station maps btw as yes Tokyo station is huge.
I still have trouble at shinjuku. The toei line? I just couldn't find it lol so took a different train to a different area lol.
Re: choices of either stylish or practical for your rain coat!! Bretty bretty my dear boy this is Japan, you got only one choice lol STYLISH. and shoes? I would say one really good comfortable pair of walking shoes is a must and a nice pair for dinner. Buying shoes in Japan can be tricky if you are a size 10 and over.
lol
apologies (can't remember who mentioned it up thread) but yes I agree, in flight movies etc. Got to start checking out the trailers lol
Ah so excited for you bretty.

We're off in 2 weeks time for a week long golf break in Europe no long haul for us this year.

I've not even thought about packing clothes yet but I am stressing about my golf clubs and have packed and repacked by golf bag about a hundred times.

Docs are all ready and we are checked in. Managed seq 00 and 01 for outbound flight

I've not heard of packing cubes until this thread. Might give it a try if anyone can recommend which are worth having.

I've not heard of packing cubes until this thread. Might give it a try if anyone can recommend which are worth having.

Marshy the ebags ones seem to be popular, available on amazon, usually in packs of three in differng sizes, or a mixed pack. I have small, medium, and slim, don't need the large bags. They've been brilliant.

Ah jedi bretty
I've been so looking forward to this bit lol
Love the organisation part. The build up is as much part of the holiday for me too.
Good plan on the station maps btw as yes Tokyo station is huge.
I still have trouble at shinjuku. The toei line? I just couldn't find it lol so took a different train to a different area lol.
Re: choices of either stylish or practical for your rain coat!! Bretty bretty my dear boy this is Japan, you got only one choice lol STYLISH. and shoes? I would say one really good comfortable pair of walking shoes is a must and a nice pair for dinner. Buying shoes in Japan can be tricky if you are a size 10 and over.
lol
apologies (can't remember who mentioned it up thread) but yes I agree, in flight movies etc. Got to start checking out the trailers lol
Ah so excited for you bretty.

I was hoping to avoid good walking shoes, but maybe not. We'll be walking a lot and I have some proper walking / hiking shoes, not particularly stylish but functional! Was hoping to avoid those. Otherwise it's boat shoes and some nice suede trainer style jobbies from Dune. I might actually have some trainers somewhere in the wardrobe (I'm like a male Imelda Marcos lol), I just never wear them. Do you think the proper walking shoes are what I need?

I'm not so bothered about what movies are on IFE. I can watch anything,even if I've seen it before.

I've not heard of packing cubes until this thread. Might give it a try if anyone can recommend which are worth having.

The ones I use for chargers and cables are from Lakeland, called "packing squares". Link below unless it contravenes forum policy.

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/22862/3-Packing-Squares

Thanks whiterose, I was a bit concerned they would be too small one of the reviews says they aren't big enough for knickers! Have found some on Amazon but would rather have some that someone on here recommends…..

I was hoping to avoid good walking shoes, but maybe not. We'll be walking a lot and I have some proper walking / hiking shoes, not particularly stylish but functional! Was hoping to avoid those. Otherwise it's boat shoes and some nice suede trainer style jobbies from Dune. I might actually have some trainers somewhere in the wardrobe (I'm like a male Imelda Marcos lol), I just never wear them. Do you think the proper walking shoes are what I need?

I'm not so bothered about what movies are on IFE. I can watch anything,even if I've seen it before.

lol lol the male Imelda Marcus
Well I can only give my nickels worth of free advice and that was that after having really painful feet from too much walking on out last visit my missus got me a pair of sketchers which have a memory foam sole and have to say they were amazing
I know that they may not be quite fashionista material but wow so comfortable!
But as soon as it was time to go out for dinner then got out the nice pair
On the packing note we are off for a weekend on LR and only started packing today
feels different somehow
long haul is a different ball game
do others think that?

Thanks whiterose, I was a bit concerned they would be too small one of the reviews says they aren't big enough for knickers! Have found some on Amazon but would rather have some that someone on here recommends…..

I suppose it depends on the size of the knickers :w
All are 3.5cm deep, then 16 x 10, 18 x 13, 21 x 14 (all cms)

Thanks whiterose, I was a bit concerned they would be too small one of the reviews says they aren't big enough for knickers! Have found some on Amazon but would rather have some that someone on here recommends…..

I suppose it depends on the size of the knickers :w
All are 3.5cm deep, then 16 x 10, 18 x 13, 21 x 14 (all cms)

More Bridget Jones than Bardot.

Have found some on Amazon. Thanks for the help. ):

I was hoping to avoid good walking shoes, but maybe not. We'll be walking a lot and I have some proper walking / hiking shoes, not particularly stylish but functional! Was hoping to avoid those. Otherwise it's boat shoes and some nice suede trainer style jobbies from Dune. I might actually have some trainers somewhere in the wardrobe (I'm like a male Imelda Marcos lol), I just never wear them. Do you think the proper walking shoes are what I need?

I'm not so bothered about what movies are on IFE. I can watch anything,even if I've seen it before.

lol lol the male Imelda Marcus
Well I can only give my nickels worth of free advice and that was that after having really painful feet from too much walking on out last visit my missus got me a pair of sketchers which have a memory foam sole and have to say they were amazing
I know that they may not be quite fashionista material but wow so comfortable!
But as soon as it was time to go out for dinner then got out the nice pair
On the packing note we are off for a weekend on LR and only started packing today
feels different somehow
long haul is a different ball game
do others think that?

I like Skechers, have 3 pairs although one pair not a good fit so OH has inherited them.

Enjoy your weekend trip, no not quite the same as long haul, but good fun nonetheless.

Thanks whiterose, I was a bit concerned they would be too small one of the reviews says they aren't big enough for knickers! Have found some on Amazon but would rather have some that someone on here recommends…..

I suppose it depends on the size of the knickers :w
All are 3.5cm deep, then 16 x 10, 18 x 13, 21 x 14 (all cms)

More Bridget Jones than Bardot.

Have found some on Amazon. Thanks for the help. ):

They seem very similar to the ebags ones marshy, they might look small but you can get a lot in. The medium ebag cube I use is apprx 35cm x 25cm x 7.5cm and I can in get a week of clothes - shirts / tops, pair of trousers or jeans and a pullover, with undies in a separate small pack. All nice and compact and reasonably wrinkle free.

I also just shove the whole thing in the drawer at my hotel so I'm not unpacking and re-packing everything and just take out what I want.

A week's clothes in 35 x 25 x 7.5? Good grief, where am I going wrong? I'm awed, Bretty.

A week's clothes in 35 x 25 x 7.5? Good grief, where am I going wrong? I'm awed, Bretty.

Yep, I tend to wear polo shirts and can get 7 rolled shirts, a pullover and some trousers in a packing cube that size.