Packing for a long business trip
I squinted at myself in the mirror. The jacket was perfect but something was off about the outfit. It was definitely appropriate for the office without being over the top. But it didn’t feel comfortable. I sighed and pulled it off my body and back onto bed which already had clothes strewn all over it. It was 1am and I needed to get into bed so I was ready for a long jaunt of travel starting the next day. I decided on the swingy wool coat, and started organizing the discards off my bed so I could finish packing and get to bed.
The challenge of packing for a three week business trip
I’d barely unpacked from my latest trip to Berlin when I heard that I’d need to go back in just a few weeks. Then I found out I’d be in Berlin for nearly a month, leaving right after the holidays. While I travel frequently and am used to quick turn-arounds between trips, going home, even for a brief time helps keep me grounded. I’ve taken long trips before but it was fun travel. This time it was a long trip that was going to be nearly all business, with little time for rambling about finding new cafes and exploring the city. It would be all work.
Packing for his trip would be challenging times five:
nearly a month away
working long hours in a variety of situations
during winter (can you say sweaters and layers upon layers?)
packing only in a carry-on
leaving a little bit of space for goodies acquired while traveling
I know, I know. I could have eased some of my pain by packing in a bigger suitcase or taking two suitcases. I stayed true to my trusty carry-on because the last time I tried using a checked bag, it led to $160 taxi bill and me almost missing my wedding. (It’s a whole story that I’ll probably write about sometime). I also don’t own a bigger suitcase and I can’t stand having to drag two suitcases around with me. I like to travel light. There was no debate about whether I’d check a bag — I never even considered it. Besides, I like bringing less, it cuts down on the daily dressing decisions, leaving me energy for more important ones like where to eat and what to see.
Packing wasn’t the only thing I was worried about. I manage several chronic illnesses and this was going to high stress. How was I going to stay healthy? That’s for another post. I mention it because it’s a barometer of my stress going into this trip. I pretty much barricaded myself in my apartment frantically rifling through my clothes, otherwise I was down internet rabbit holes featuring wintry garb. Between trying on outfits, shopping on the internet and talking (it was probably more like complaining) with a co-worker, I probably spent 20-30 hours packing. This also includes packing wellness goodies which I’ll talk about in another post. Although it was a tremendous amount of time, it was worth the effort because it allowed me to focus on the work while I was traveling rather than worrying about my clothes.
How I packed for a 3 week business trip in a carry on
The strategy
My sister once gave me the advice to pack with color palette in mind. Another friend always packed with outfits in mind. Before this trip I sort of followed this advice but I always had a few items that went unworn. I had either packed too much or brought something that didn’t really go with anything else in my suitcase. The other weird thing I’d do was to pack something I never wore at home but figured I would on my trip to some fabulous dinner. Most of the time I’m running from place to place and I don’t have time to change. I’d bring that cute but slightly tedious jumpsuit back home unworn. Why do I do this to myself? Am I the only one? During my last trip to Berlin I brought a fabulous dress thinking I’d wear it to dinner but it was cold and time was tight so it went from suitcase to closet to suitcase without wearing it. I was determined not to do that on this trip.
While I wanted to look pulled together for this trip, just as important was comfort. Yes, from the damp Berlin air, but equally as important was my health. I have several chronic illnesses that are largely in check at home but can flair while I’m traveling if I’m not careful. One of those illnesses includes a severe sensitivity to fabrics. While I stick mostly to cotton and cashmere while I’m home, while I’m traveling it’s a must. I also prioritize cozy items that comfort me when the stress levels get elevated. For each trip I make sure to have at least one cozy sweater, thick comfy socks, and a scarf I can turn into a blanket on the plane and at my hotel. These add bulk but are well worth it. Most of the time I try to wear these on the plane to minimize the impact of them on my suitcase
The packing list
I knew I would have to wash clothes while I was away. While I normally pack enough underwear and t-shirts for the entire trip this time it would be pretty tricky. There was just no way around it. Luckily, I was staying at a full service apartment complex that offered laundry in-house. This ended up being the easy part of packing. For things I knew I’d launder, I packed 10 pairs of underwear, four tanks (I love to wear them under sweaters), three short-sleeve shirts, three long-sleeve shirts, five pairs of lightweight socks, one nightgown, one pair of thick, and cozy socks for the hotel
The rest of the clothes and accessories:
six mid-weight cashmere sweaters (like these from Madwell)
two silk tops for nicer events
one boiled wool jacket (to be worn like a blazer over sweaters on frigid days)
two pairs of trousers and a pair of jeans
a cozy pair of lightweight sweats for lounging
one pair of yoga pants
one workout tank
a cozy hat
a lightweight, waterproof backpack
a pair of sneakers
suede ankle boots
To conserve space, I wore all my bulky stuff on the plane: a thick pair of wool trousers, a thicker sweater, my heavy motorcycle boots, a woolly scarf and my puffer coat. I also tucked a pair of slippers into my smaller carry on bag for walking around while flying because airplane bathrooms…eww.
Packing regrets & what I’ll do next time
No matter how long I’ve traveled, it seems like there’s often a miss or two on every trip. The packing for this list went surprisingly well especially considering the length of this trip. It might have been due to all the effort I put it or it might have been luck, who cares. I’m happy with the outcome. The list of things I’d do differently was significantly smaller than in the past, a big feat especially considering I was packing for a winter business trip. Here’s my post trip analysis of what I’d change for the next trip like this.
Bring a different coat
Deciding on which coat to bring took a surprising long time. I have a little bit of an obsession with coats, particularly statement jackets so there’s many choices. Adding to the complexity was the weather. Berlin is known for cold and rainy weather so a cute coat wasn’t a practical option. After trying on several cute coats I thought I made a good decision by bringing my puffer. It was not a good decision. It was too thin for the blustery, damp weather and didn’t have a hood. I lasted one day with that coat before I went to Uniqlo and bought a thicker, warmer puffer jacket with a hood. Luckily it was January so everything was on sale. This turned out to be the best choice. I knew it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase so I was a bit worried about what to do with it. While I considered donating it or shipping it back, in the end I gave it to a co-worker who was my size and happily took it home.
Bring less sweaters
I’m tempted to blame the cold, damp Berlin weather for this choice but this always happens. (When will I learn?) Not that I always bring too many sweaters, more that I bring too many of one thing. Sometimes it’s tanks, other times it’s been too many yoga pants (Note to self: one pair of yoga pants is enough). On this trip, I would have been fine with one less sweater. This would have given me more room in my bag to pick up a few unique pieces that I can’t find at home. I don’t tend to shop much while traveling, especially not for souvenirs but I do like to bring home a unique clothing item from each location. Many of things I bring home end up becoming favorites. Every time I put one of these items on, I’m transported back to that place and those memories. It’s like taking a tiny vacation without leaving home.
Bring a less bulky scarf
I had just bought a super cute fuzzy scarf that I was kind of obsessed with so it seemed like a no brainer to bring it. It was warm but bulky which meant it was hard to stuff into my bag or tie on to my bag when it was too warm for it in the airport. The other rub with this particular scarf was that it was hard to use it as a blanket. While I’m glad I tried something new, for the next trip I’m going to back to one of my old standbys — one that I know I can put in my bag or tie to the outside and use it as a blanket at the hotel.
One more thing I’d do differently. I brought my absolute favorite hat, this beauty from Shit That I Knit. It had scarcely left my head since I got it, so naturally I brought it. Big mistake. One afternoon, early in the trip, I went to lunch with a bunch of co-workers. Eager to find a seat in the crowded cafe, I slapped my hat down on the counter and grabbed some food. While I noshed, I kept smelling something candle like with a tinge of smoke but waved it away thinking it was in my mind. Second mistake. When we finished our food and collected our gear to head out the door, I discovered that I had accidentally put my hat right on top of candle. That smell? It was from the golf-ball sized hole that candle burned into my beloved hat. It was definitely one of the lows of my trip. Luckily the coat I’d purchased (see above) had a hood so the loss wasn’t too devastating and I didn’t have to buy a new hat. Still, lesson learned. Next time I might not bring my favorite hate or at least be mindful of where I put it!
So that’s how I pack for a long business trip. Tell me yours. I always love to hear fellow traveler’s tips