Packing for the England and France trip!

[im4kycats]

Hi everyone! We are 85 days from our first ABD and very excited. I am reading everything I can find, including the ABD site. The ABD site says one bag per person plus a carry-on. Can anyone say how strict that is? We have two pre-trip days and two post-trip days and I am very concerned about one bag each! What do you do about anything you might purchase in the way of souvenirs?

Any input is appreciated!

 

[sayhello]

OK, I see that there are 2 of you (you & your son) traveling together. If both of you had 2 bags plus a carryon, then that might be a problem. But if you had one extra bag between the 2 of you, that *probably* wouldn't be a problem. Especially if they aren't huge bags. The main issue and the reason they restrict it is because, frequently, the bags travel under the bus with you, and if it were a full trip and everyone had multiple bags, they would run out of space.

I guess that's my roundabout way of saying I haven't seen them be *really* strict about the number of bags (but I do Adults Only trips that are never totally full). But it would definitely be a hardship if you abused it.

Hope that makes sense.

(Oh, and you are also allowed a "personal item" like a backpack or something, that you can bring on the bus with you, like on the airlines).

Sayhello

 

[im4kycats]

Thanks, Sayhello! Three bags between the two of us is what I am hoping for. For some reason, dirty clothes always seem to take up more space than clean ones! Is there laundry service available at any point during our trip? That would probably help more than anything!

 

[sayhello]

I can't help you with the laundry question because the itinerary has changed a bit since I took it in 2011 (we didn't do Stonehenge/Windsor & the Foxhills Hotel), plus it's a different hotel in London. I usually don't pay much attention to that, anyways, since I hate to do laundry at home, and hate it even more on vacation!

I'm sure someone who has taken the trip more recently will chime in, or you can definitely ask ABD that question.

Sayhello

 

[im4kycats]

I went on the hotel sites and Landmark and L'Hotel du Collectionneur offer laundry service. Might be worth the cost to go home with mostly clean clothes! LOL

Thanks for your quick help, Sayhello!

 

[Woodview]

Remember Check the Weight of each Bag & the Weight of the Carry On

This is FOR your Flight part of vacation.

They are Strict on weight & the seize of carry on bag.

 

[im4kycats]

Thanks for the reminder, Woodview! I found the carry-on weight restrictions the hard way a few years ago! LOL

 

[kristilew]

With summer clothes, you ought to be ok with just one big bag each for that length of time, plus a carry on. Remember that ABD will give you a duffel on the first day, and that is great for dirty clothes, or just not packing so tightly while on your adventure. We usually use that, and then repack to fit in our original bags to fly home. I've found a 28 inch wheeled upright will hold two weeks of clothes and personal items with room to spare - even when I've been lugging winter weight clothes. DH finds that he hits the 50 lb weight limit when he packs his 26 inch upright full. Man clothes and shoes are heavier even than flat irons and make up, I guess!

It's ok to re-wear pants and sweaters, and tee shirts can be rolled to take up very little room. You know the old saying - set out everything you think you'll need, then take half the clothes and twice the money! No one is judgey on an ABD if you end up in the same clothing on different days, and there is no need to take special clothing for evening/dinners. The whole thing is very casual. (The one thing I do think is worth the weight is a second pair of good walking shoes.
With all the walking you do on these trips, it is good to be able to switch back and forth between two good support options.)

If you buy large souvenirs, the guides can help you arrange to ship them home. Or, you can always stuff the duffel with clothes and pack the souvenirs in your suitcase.

 

[morgan98]

OP, I spend about two weeks in Europe twice a year and pack one 25 inch suitcase and one personal item, such as a tote, etc. The key in my opinion is compressing clothing into 2.5 gallon bags and using packing cubes. I am the type that has to have clothing choices when I travel and I like to bring my own brand of shampoo, hair spray, etc. I also compress all of my clothing into a large white garbage bag and never have a problem.

It is also important, I think, to really think about the clothes you are packing to make sure that you are going to realistically wear them. For example, don't pack dresses for dinner if you never change to go to dinner at home, etc.

 

[im4kycats]

Thanks, everyone! I am a notorious (and, really, unapologetic) over-packer! I adore packing cubes, though. They are priceless when moving through several locations. I suspect I will end up making my son suffer and using some of his space. I do not tend to buy a lot of souvenirs, but I do like to buy a few nice local items to take home.

I'm sure I will be fine - travel is not new to me, just the ABD experience.