Travel: Effectively Using Your Personal Item

The next step to an excellent packing job is effectively using your one allowed personal item.  Now this admittedly takes longer to master for some reason.  Not only does it have to be reasonable in size, no larger than a briefcase or backpack, it also needs to be something that you can easily carry and lift, easier said than done for someone of my size.

I have found that the best item to use is a backpack.  While it certainly lacks professionalism it is without a doubt the easiest to carry and can fit more stuff than other options. 

Here is my backpack for Europe

Contents:

MacBook Pro w/Cover
iPad
iPod
Travel Documents/Reservation Copies
Book
Notebook
Snacks
1 Pair of Jeans
1 Pair of Gloves
Messenger Bag
Sunglasses
Passport Cover
Coin Purse
Various small electronics
Business Cards
Umbrella
Noise-cancelling Headphones
Eye mask

It is possible to fit quite a lot into a backpack.  To top it off, I have a travel pillow that attaches to the outside of the backpack.  I will be able to move easily with this backpack will having all the most important pieces with me.

I find it always a good idea to have copies of all your reservations for hotels, trains, flights, etc on hand.  You never know when something is going to get lost.  I always prepay for these things to making it even more important to have copy.  Plus you definitely don't want to check these things in case your luggage gets lost. 

You'll obviously want a purse for the trip but when traveling in Europe, I find the messenger bag or cross-body bag as a safer option.  It makes much harder for someone to rip it off your shoulder.  To get around the one personal item rule, pack your purse inside your backpack.  I have done this with all different size purses just fine. 

When going on long flights like to Europe, I like to keep a pair of jeans in my backpack for easy access in the event I want to change.  Plus, in the event you can't carry on your big luggage and it ends up getting lost (this happened to Brianne on our last Europe trip...they made us check our carry-ons because they "ran out" of bin space and then lost her bag), you want to have something you can change into other than wearing sweats around.

I think that covers my packing advice for now....hope you find this helpful!