A 3-week business trip without checking luggage?
Nov 16, 2013, 11:58 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,289
On this kind of trip, where you're in a different city every day much of the time, definitely do not check luggage. Waiting for it at the airports will consume a lot of your time, and if your bag gets lost it will probably never catch up to you.
I like the idea of shipping clean clothes to yourself. Plan shipments for each week-- if you have enough appropriate clothes to do so-- and you'll reduce the number of times you need to do laundry or dry cleaning to about 1/week.
For those times when you DO need to do laundry or dry cleaning, does your publisher have anyone who can support you? An assistant of some sort who can run things down to the cleaner and pick them up for you?
I don't know how religious you are about doing workouts but you might considering dropping your workout shoes, workout pants, workout jackets, etc. to save space. With such a busy travel schedule are you really going to have time to hit the gym that often? When I'm in a new city every day it takes effort just to carve out 15 minutes for stretches in my hotel room. And I don't need to dress up for that....
I like the idea of shipping clean clothes to yourself. Plan shipments for each week-- if you have enough appropriate clothes to do so-- and you'll reduce the number of times you need to do laundry or dry cleaning to about 1/week.
For those times when you DO need to do laundry or dry cleaning, does your publisher have anyone who can support you? An assistant of some sort who can run things down to the cleaner and pick them up for you?
I don't know how religious you are about doing workouts but you might considering dropping your workout shoes, workout pants, workout jackets, etc. to save space. With such a busy travel schedule are you really going to have time to hit the gym that often? When I'm in a new city every day it takes effort just to carve out 15 minutes for stretches in my hotel room. And I don't need to dress up for that....
Nov 17, 2013, 1:28 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: UA-GS, Hyatt-Defiantly Diamond, Marriott-Platinum, SPG-Platinum
Posts: 499
A 3-week business trip without checking luggage?
Think "Garanimals." Everything modular and matchable. One pair of shoes! They take up so much space, even if you stuff them with socks.
Your dry cleaner can return your shirts to you folded and when you get to your hotel, hang tomorrow's shirt in a steamy bathroom. Will relax the wrinkles. Also, I HIGHLY recommend Brooks Brothers' wrinkle-resistant shirts. They are fantastic.
Your dry cleaner can return your shirts to you folded and when you get to your hotel, hang tomorrow's shirt in a steamy bathroom. Will relax the wrinkles. Also, I HIGHLY recommend Brooks Brothers' wrinkle-resistant shirts. They are fantastic.
Nov 17, 2013, 4:17 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,499
I'll share one more secret to beat the luggage gorillas on a long trip:
Buy, wear, pitch cheap underwear, t-shirts, socks.
If you document correctly, Uncle Sam will subsidize the expense via your 1040 schedule A.
Hey OP: when and where will you be visiting Chicagoland? Mini-DO?
Buy, wear, pitch cheap underwear, t-shirts, socks.
If you document correctly, Uncle Sam will subsidize the expense via your 1040 schedule A.
Hey OP: when and where will you be visiting Chicagoland? Mini-DO?
Nov 17, 2013, 9:55 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,824
Thanks everyone, this is really helpful (especially the travel ninja thread).
I do have a great Briggs & Riley 15.4" expandable briefcase. I pub my laptop in there along with toiletries, cables, chargers, etc.
Question: what do you all recommend for packing dress shirts? I've never been able to keep them from wrinkling in the folding compartment. The last few trips I've asked my local cleaners to fold and box them, and I just put the box directly into the carry-on. But that's for overnight or two night trips, and it's not space efficient so it won't work for this.
I do have a great Briggs & Riley 15.4" expandable briefcase. I pub my laptop in there along with toiletries, cables, chargers, etc.
Question: what do you all recommend for packing dress shirts? I've never been able to keep them from wrinkling in the folding compartment. The last few trips I've asked my local cleaners to fold and box them, and I just put the box directly into the carry-on. But that's for overnight or two night trips, and it's not space efficient so it won't work for this.
Nov 17, 2013, 11:45 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 45
I would suggest taking a classic navy or black blazer with white and light blue dress shirts and several ties...the ties will provide the appearance of variety of outfits. Avoid cotton shirts...go for wrinkle-resistant clothing. Instead of taking a winter jacket, take an overcoat instead...overcoat may may be used as substitute for blazer in a pinch.
Dec 7, 2013, 2:53 pm
#21
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 159
I can't even remember the last hotel I stayed in that had a coin operated laundry. And while my company will pay for me to check a bag, it will not pay dry cleaning. Which can run to 14-19 Euro for one shirt and double that for overnight. So if you do intend to one bag it, make sure that you know what the hotel fees are for laundering / dry cleaning and be prepared to pay for it or be sure that your company or business expenses will cover it.
Dec 7, 2013, 4:14 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: QF CL
Posts: 689
The FedEx idea is interesting but presumably means you'd also have to FedEx other (dirty?) clothes back home as well while en route - otherwise you would quickly exceed your available packing capacity! Query whether all those courier charges would exceed the cost of carefully planned hotel laundry charges. Personally I'd avoid the hassle of couriers and look at the other suggestions, which should eliminate the need to be shipping clothes round.
Best of luck for the tour!
Best of luck for the tour!