Gia's Italian Kitchen's Podcast

Episode 3.25 - Traveling abroad…or want to? What should you pack?

• Gia's Italian Kitchen • Season 3 • Episode 25

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0:00 | 17:49

We recently went to Italy and I thought it would be helpful to brainstorm with you on what to PACK!  

I review in detail the clothes I brought, the suitcase, what I put in my carryon, etc....for a seamless overseas travel experience! 

Questions?   Email me kelley@giasitaliankitchen.biz 

In the coming weeks, I will post VIDEOS of our travels through the Amalfi Coast and Sicily for your enjoyment…maybe you will plan a trip in the future!

All of my links are here…please follow, share, comment, like: https://linktr.ee/giasitaliankitchen


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Speaker 1

so what to pack when traveling overseas , of course , specifically Italy . I mean , I've got all my standard stuff , the you know pajamas , and I've got shorts and light pants for pjs and then a light cover-up . Um , obviously depends on what time of year you're going , but if you're going in the spring , summer and fall , I feel like for Europe that I need

Seasonal Packing for European Travel

Speaker 1

multiple seasons , even just if I'm going at , like , june or July or May , um , because it's beautiful during the day , it should be upper 70s . If you're in May or September , those are my really my two favorite times to go . But if you go in the summer , um , yeah , hotter than crapola and humid , so , but then in the evenings it does cool down sometimes , um , not always . So like you want some , maybe one pair of pants , light pants , a light top , especially if you're gonna go to a restaurant , maybe a light sweater or a light um cover up or something shawl or little little zip up and I don't know that . But then , like , your suitcase can't be more than well . If you're doing a domestic airlines it's 50 . But once you get over there , if you're flying to and from within Europe , usually those are 40 pound limits . Within Europe , usually those are 40 pound limits . So I got a pack for the 40 pound limit so that my suitcase follows me , right , okay .

Speaker 1

So then I've got a couple nice outfits for going out to dinner . So I'm doing a sundress for one with a little cover up , and so I'm doing a sundress for one with a little cover up and super cute fancy shorts with a nice top . But then you've got like shoes . So you can't bring 10 pairs of shoes Well , at least I can't , because I'm bringing the one checked bag and one carry on . So you need shoes that are going to go with multiple outfits . Man , the shoes are a whole different deal , because you need shoes for walking . If you're going to go for a run or any sort of exercise , like they have to be running shoes , so I'm probably going to wear those because those are going to be the biggest shoes . Then you want shoes for the pool or the beach , which are not going to be the same shoes that I would go out to dinner with . So I need some dinner shoes . And then I need some casual sandals for kind of walking that aren't going to give me blisters but , uh , are still cute and they don't look like uh , you know , utility shoes . So , yeah , I'm probably going to have at

Shoes and Swimwear Strategy

Speaker 1

least four or five pairs of shoes , and it's just going to have to be that . But the sandals should be light , right , they're tiny and if I wear my running shoes then that takes that weight off , okay .

Speaker 1

So then pool or beach we've got at least two swimsuits , right , because a lot of places over there do not have dryers . They have washing machines but they do not have dryers . So you're hang drying a lot if you're going to wash stuff , or if it gets wet because you're in the pool , or if you're at the beach and sandy , you got to rinse it off , et cetera . And if it's really humid , from experience , even hanging stuff overnight , it does not dry sometimes if it's super humid . So , definitely , I would bring two bathing suits , two cover-ups , so that you have that time gap . But if you want a wetsuit , I guess who cares Because it's hot out , so I guess who cares ?

Speaker 1

Okay , so then some cash outfits um , some shorts , some cute tops got a new one here . Did some shopping um , just a little bit to try not to be excessive . Um , yeah , but like cute walking shorts , but very comfortable walking shorts . Some light shirts um , for walking around the town doing the tours , but again like a cover-up , because if you're going into museums or churches , restaurants , a lot of times , you know , once you sit down and you stop moving , then I get cold . So then you want that cover up in your day pack . So , okay , so I think I have enough outfits . So then like a few pairs of shorts and then multiple shirts , because you can wash the shorts if they get sweaty . The shirts are flimsy and they don't weigh anything , so I'm trying to do multiple shirts with the same pairs of shorts or capris . I love capris and you got to mix and match , right , so you don't bring an outfit for every day .

Speaker 1

Okay , so then I've got , so that'll go , all that'll go in my um checked bag and in my carry-on . I'm actually bringing two carry-ons , because most airlines you get , um , a carry-on and a personal item , so a purse . I'm bringing a backpack and a purse . Um , my purse is RFID , so I would highly recommend that , which basically is that which basically is gonna protect your wallet , your credit cards , from someone like coming and swiping your purse and stealing off those magnetic strips , so you don't get your credit card stolen without it even leaving your purse . So I have that I love this thing . It's um , what brand is it ?

Carry-On Essentials and RFID Protection

Speaker 1

I don't even remember what brand this is . I'll have to , I have to find a tag on this I can't find a tag and post it because it is really um , and post it because it is really a great travel brand with , like , a water bottle pocket . It's got three pockets on the outside , like a bunch of pockets on the inside , yeah , and a water bottle holder in the purse , and it's a cross body strap . So that is essential .

Speaker 1

Whatever you bring , no-transcript . Okay , then I , oh , I just found these . Then I have these space bags where you put your clothes in them and suck the air out of them so that you have more space in your suitcase . So those are kind of a double-edged sword because it's actually giving you more space , but then you still have to stay under the weight limit . So I'm going to try those again . I did use them last time for more bulky things where it's just air anyway , to give you the more space . But you may or may not use those .

Speaker 1

So , also in my purse , well , I guess , purse or carry-on , bring some essentials like bring a couple pairs of underwear , bring a toothbrush , bring your medications if they are not liquid , just in case that checked bag doesn't make it on day one with you to your destination . You have your essentials . So , like one little change of clothes , I would recommend You've got a pair of shoes , maybe an extra pair of socks , underwear , undergarments and definitely any medications that you are going to bring . I mean , I'm bringing , like some Benadryl and some Advil , just in case we have some allergic reactions or headaches . You're not stuck buying those at the airport or Again , if the bag doesn't make it . You've got those things as the just-in-case . I'm the just-in-case person , so I don't want to leave that stuff to chance .

Speaker 1

Okay , the other thing that is awesome instead of doing for seasick , carsick , planesick , instead of doing Dramamine or other nausea medication that might have other side effects , we found several years ago these things called C-bands , s-e-a C-band , and they're literally like little Jane Fonda wristbands that are kind of fabric-y but you put one on each hand , one on each wrist right , and there's a little pulse

Travel Accessories and Adapters

Speaker 1

dot and you put that , you know , in the appropriate place on your wrist and it literally helps your equilibrium so that you don't get car sick . It's so weird , but they really work . So I have a pair for each of our family members , because it may not maybe not in the airplane . The airplane's probably fine , but when you get there and you're driving around especially if you're going to well , really , I mean any country , europe , asia there's a lot of hills and if you're driving in a car or a bus , I don't know we get pretty seasick , carsick , whatever you want to call it . Now , the trains if you're taking trains , uh , for public transport , that's awesome , um , they're faster , they're super easy , um , and usually you don't get the seasickness that you would , um in a car or a bus , but we're bringing those for sure . Then , um , wall chargers so , depending on what your country you're going to , the power outlets are not the same . So , like your phone charger is not gonna plug into their wall , you need a European adapter so you can go onto Amazon or , I'm sure , many other sites and find the adapter appropriate to your country . But I would recommend probably at least two of those , or one per person , so that everyone has space to plug their devices in or whatever you're bringing , because none of our stuff works over there . And then , if you have a new iPhone , you need that adapter too , because your old plugs don't work in the new phones . So you got that too .

Speaker 1

Um , let's see what else . Oh , and then another purse . So then I have a little purse once I get there for , like , going out to dinner . So just one cute little tiny purse so I don't have to bring my big RFID purse everywhere . Um , but on day trips , like I pretty much do , cause I bring my passport with me , I always keep it on my body because , um , you know , you don't know who might have access to your hotel room or Airbnb or whatever . Um , so I keep that in on my body . Um , and you know , any , your money , your valuables , I always take those with me and just leave them in my purse , my big purse .

Speaker 1

Um , then I would recommend a collapsible day pack so that if you are going to go to a beach , or um day pack so that if you are going to go to a beach or , you know , on a hike or a picnic or whatever , you don't have bags laying around your house like you would at home . So a little collapsible backpack or satchel or something like that , or beach bag that folds up , rolls up . You could use that for a variety of excursions when you want to go out and obviously you know you're not going to bring your suitcase , so what are you going to bring ? You need a little bag , so then you don't have to buy one over there , but maybe you want to just buy one over there because that's fun too . Man , I think that covers an awful lot of um , some of the tips for flying international .

Speaker 1

Um , what else on your device ? Your podcast , your audibles ? Download those now while you're on wifi , so that when you're in the airplane , if you don't want to purchase their wifi , you have access to things . Bring your earbuds . Make sure those are charged so that you have something to listen to or read . You know , if you've got the Kindle , download some books , so all of that is or movies ready to go when you're at the airport and on the airplane . Our flight is flight to Italy from Chicago . I think is eight hours there , maybe nine on the way back , so you might sleep , but probably not the whole time . So you want some electronics queued up ready to go If you are able to sleep or you're doing that overnight flight .

Speaker 1

The other thing that you're going to want to either pack or attach , like with one of those what are those called the clips , the claw clips that you can attach to your bag and hang a neck pillow . There's so many good neck pillows

Flight Comfort and Entertainment Tips

Speaker 1

out there . We probably have three different kinds . It really depends on what you're comfortable with , cause some of them like wrap around and your head has to go back or to the side , but there's some that , um gosh , it's almost like a , like a structured shelf that you can put in the front of your neck and just rest your chin on it . Um , that's actually . It's kind of goofy , but it's actually pretty comfortable , because then you're actually getting less of a crick in your neck when you wake up . So check those out .

Speaker 1

If you're in an overnight flight or , you know , just want to take a nap on the flight , those neck pillows make a huge difference in getting comfortable , especially if you're not in first class which we will not be and you're sitting up , you're not laying down like the folks in first class . But you'll want it to attach , I would think , because , yes , that there's like a clippy on it , so that you're not having to make space for it , because you can attach it and they let you bring that on . It doesn't count , like , as another thing if it's attached to your bag . Um , that's a lot , maybe some cards . What else on the airplane airport ? Some a card game or two ? Um , if you're sitting around , if your family our family loves to play cards , so if your family does , that's good to just throw in there . That's tiny , throw in your carry on . Um , even for the adults . Obviously , if you have kids , you're bringing a load of of stuff for them . Keep them occupied , but , um , the adults need something too , that maybe isn't a screen all the time , right ? So cards are a great way to pass the time , spend time with your family , get a little friendly competition . And yeah , I mean , I guess that's my packing . I think I'm doing pretty good . Hopefully these tips have helped and happy to answer any questions if I can help with any packing advice .

Speaker 1

Email kelly K-E-L-L-E-Y at geositaliankitchenbiz B-I-Z . Or put a comment . Put a comment in any of my social posts and I'll get that notification and get back to you . So all my socials geositaliankitchen , you know at something , whatever , but I'm on all of them Instagram , facebook , youtube You've got my website , gia's Italian Kitchenbiz . I do have a TikTok . I haven't posted there in a while . Linkedin is under my name , kelly Cole , and hopefully we'll see you again soon . Hope you enjoyed this

Closing Thoughts and Contact Info

Speaker 1

episode and safe travels .