Recap Post 3: Packing

Packing for the Land Tour and the Princess Cruise

As you will read, we covered a lot of territory in our 2 hour Irish Coffee and Tea last month. I hope you too will treat yourself to tea or coffee and read on!

LUGGAGE

Everyone has their own preferences, but I follow many of the professional travel reviews and consumers reports to see what’s new and improved in the travel equipment and accessories.

Personally, I like ballistic nylon luggage with self-healing zippers and sturdy 4 wheel carry-on and checked luggage. You can buy cheap luggage and use it once or twice, or you can find sale or special prices (Tuesday Morning, TJ Maax, Bealls Outlet, etc) on ballistic nylon or nobby polyester.  If you can stab the suitcase with a fork and Not puncture it, you have a good bag.  Do not try this in a store!

I use 3 pieces:  either a 23-24” 4 wheel bag or a 28” 4 wheel bag.

1.      I will be using the larger bag on this trip as my one checked piece of luggage, since I’ll be on both the land tour and the cruise.  Make sure whichever bag you use, do not exceed 50 pounds.  Even if you are business class, our tour driver will handle one bag for you if it does not exceed 50 pounds.   With 4 wheels you push it alongside you on a hard surface, or pull it on carpet or cobblestones. Donate the 2 wheeled luggage and save your shoulders with 4 wheels. Examine the wheels, they need to be sturdy. Expect to pay $89+ for the 24” size.

2.       My second bag will be my underseater Travelon.  I love this bag (find at Amazon here https://amzn.to/2S6M1MM ). There is an outside padded pocket for your tablet, several inside pockets, a side expandable bottle holder, with a strap on the back to slide over your wheeled luggage handle so it rides on top.  Once you check your large bag, this bag has its own expandable handle for ease in getting to the gate.  Bealls

Outlet had these in stock this past week in several colors.

3.       My third bag is a carry-on tote. I place a slim purse in here along with anything else I want to get my hands on during the flight.  Snacks, documents, earbuds (don’t count on the airline having enough or ones that work).  A wrap to stay warm, and if in economy snap on a neck pillow to the outside.  I usually have a plastic insulated mug for extra ice and for use on the ship.  My clutch is large enough for a phone, lip-gloss, and room key.  A crossbody strap is good for touring, but a clutch is perfect for the ship. Or, keep it simple with just a lanyard for your key.  Place a fold-up bag in the tote to use as a day bag on shore excursions. 

What goes inside?

Packing cubes are the newest trend in staying organized. But I’ve used the JUMBO Hefty ziplock bags for years and I am sticking with this. 

I tend to place one pair of slacks or jeans with 2 tops in a bag, along with underwear.  Once the items are inside, I partially close the bag and press my weight to extract excess air.  Later on you can use one or more of the bags for dirty clothes to separate from clean clothes (although remember the ship has self-service laundry rooms). 

BEFORE I place these bags in my suitcase, I line the inside with a dry cleaners bag, a Dillards or Macys dress bag.  Double protection. No more wet clothes if you bag is left outside in the rain on the tarmac. If DHS has to open your bags, no more panties hanging out when they zip it up again!

Be sure to carry your coat, or any bulky sweater on to the plane, even it is warm when you leave home.  Don't waste your luggage space. See the average temps in Ireland on the June Blog post. I’ve posted what the weather was this past May.  Hopefully our temps will follow suit.

              Include: waterproof shoes or boots

·       DSW has a very good selection right now.  Many on sale. 

Include: Rain parka, wind-breaker, or trench coat. Compact umbrella or poncho.

·       In Ireland they like to brag they can see all 4 seasons in one day!

On the LAND Tour:

·       Jeans are perfectly acceptable on the land tour, not so much on the ship.

o   Men can wear Docker-type pants or black/tan/gray jeans rather than blue jeans on the ship.

o   Women can wear resort wear for every day. Sweater/pants, top/pants.

o   Shorts and Jeans are never allowed in the Dining Room.

·       Athletic shoes should be dark or neutral in color, never white.

o   Refrain from open toe shoes for safety reasons.  You don’t want to get a bloody toe from cobblestones, changes in elevations, or steps.  And in a crowd, your toes are more protected if someone steps on you.

o   You may wish to bring a ballerina slipper, dock shoes (I like Sperry Topsiders or Easy Spirit Traveltime shoes), or flip-flops for going to the pool, stopping in

the buffet early in morning, or going to the spa.

o   Dr. Oz says if you can bend the shoe in half, the sole is not safe enough for travel.  You don't want a tack or small nail to create a trip to urgent care.

Whatever shoes you bring make sure they are broken in. New shoes will always hurt on cobblestone streets. Add Dr. Scholls insoles for cushioning. Use the "princess sizing" by buying travel shoes 1/2 to 1 size larger than normal.

·       Bring lightweight gloves, ear protection/scarf/headband, sunglasses, and hat.

·       We have 2 dressy nights on land and 2 on the ship: on the Oriental Express Carriage Train, 1^st night in Galway and on the final night at Fitzpatrick castle. Cocktail dress or dressy top & pants for women, sport coat or suit for men.  These same clothes may do double duty for formal nights on the ship (2 of them).

·       You may bring your tote bag inside the bus.  The driver will portage ONE bag from outside your hotel room door each morning we depart.  He will collect these while we are eating breakfast.  You will bring any other bags to the bus to be placed in the storage under the bus.

o   Remember we will be rotating seats on the bus each day. If you are on Row 1 the first day, you will be on Row 4 the next day and Row 7 the next, etc.

I use a separate jewelry bag for FASHION jewelry only.  I don’t even take my wedding band.  Don’t bring anything you are not prepared to lose.  I could tell you horror stories of forgotten, lost or pilfered valuables.

As I mentioned above, have your own earbuds or headset for watching a movie or listening to music on the plane.  You may wish squishy foam ear plugs to lessen sounds.  If you have the room, you may find over the ear headphones give you even better sound blockage.  Then add a sleep mask to eliminate light.