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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Packing For Tour

I feel like I'm getting good at this packing thing, and I've learned a lot since that first tour a couple years ago when WAKE was just a baby.

I'm heading out in the morning for the third and final leg of my GONE tour. This time I'll be gone 12 days. And I've decided to attempt carry-on only.

Why?

1. Because I'm slightly crazy. Also because I managed it quite nicely for five days (Becca Fitzpatrick managed for six, so of course now I must beat her record)...and if I can do five days, I can do twelve, as long as I have a chance to stop at a drug store somewhere in there to restock on hair product (because it *is* all about the hair, isn't it?) and a hotel that does overnight laundry. Which I will have, because Simon & Schuster takes good care of me.

2. Because I don't like waiting to check bags, and I don't like waiting for my luggage. And I don't like fretting if the luggage doesn't arrive. With seven flights in snowy places, the chance of my bag being lost feels big.

3. Because I have a great carry-on that has wheels that swivel all directions, making a huge difference in maneuvering through the airport/bathrooms/airplane aisle. Huge HUGE difference. I mean it. I would not do carry-on without spinner luggage. (And no, I didn't pay $400 for it. It was 60% off when I bought it. Worth every penny)

4. Because I want new underwear. See, I don't think it's wise to send your undies out for hotel laundry. At $3-4 a pop to wash, it just doesn't seem worth it when you can buy new for that price. And you don't want to carry them with you for 12 days - yuck. So you just pack up all of your old grungy underwear that you've been meaning to get rid of, and throw it away every day. Surprise, housekeeping! And then when you get home, treat yourself to some new ones. :)

5. Because checking a bag means $20 with most airlines, and I'd rather spend it on laundry services, because they even iron stuff, if you can believe that. Crazy, I know.

6. Because I really only have 6 or 7 tops I love anyway, so why pack a bunch of clothes that I tell myself I'll wear when I know I really won't? When I'm on tour, I really just want to be comfortable and in my favorite clothes.


So...now that I've made the decision, I admit I'm a little nervous about it, but I think it's going to be okay. And I think I'll even have a teensy bit of room to spare.




So what's in the bag? I had to pack for cold and warm weather, as I'll be visiting St. Louis, Atlanta, Florida, Cincinnati, and Toronto.

Absolutely everything matches with everything else. My own personal Garanimals. Thin fabrics do well when rolled and they fit into those little gaps nicely. You won't mind if I'm a little wrinkly, will you?
Here's the list!

--13 pairs of undies* (an extra for emergencies, of course)
--10 pairs of socks* (that's all I own...so I may have to wear a couple pairs twice...)
--5 long sleeve tops
--2 short sleeve tops
--2 jackets*
--1 sweater*
--5 camis*
--3 pairs of jeans*
--1 pair of shoes* (Saucony walking shoes, well broken-in)
--1 pair cheapo flat slippers stolen from London Hotel NYC
--1 belt
--1 jammie shirt
--1 pair yoga pants
--1 "dry" toiletries bag
--computer cord
--phone charger

(*)indicates I'll be wearing one of these on the plane, so they will not be in the bag.

The quart-sized bag of liquids goes in my over-the-shoulder bag, which also holds:

--itinerary (prepared by my awesome publicist Nicole)
--Macbook air in a padded envelope (it's okay to laugh)
--purse
--phone
--a copy of GONE
--e-reader
--book signing pens
--sunflower seeds and an individual cup of peanut butter
--one small med bottle containing: ibuprofen, Tylenol PM (key for getting to sleep on time when wired from evening signing and having to get up early for school event), Excedrin (for after those double school events), antihistamine, immodium, and zantac. Yes, we travel prepared for everything, and when you eat 36 meals in a row on the road, you must be prepared.


So...I think I'm ready!

19 comments:

Tiffany Neal said...

Okay. You seriously had me ROTFL with the whole underwear thing. That is the most fabulous thing I've ever heard.

*Not to mention the 13 undies - extras for emergencies*

Heehee!! :)

Maggie Desmond-O'Brien said...

Haha! This just made my day! I hope the tour's great and productive and not too tiring. :-D I wish you were coming to Minnesota!

Liam said...

Epicness bloggified. Awesome. Although I totally envy the MacBook Air. I just want a MacBook, but an Air would be awesome.
Sorry. I totally went off on a tangent there.

Joelle said...

My friend is also a light packer. He says, "They got stores there, ya know." I believe I could do this too. My husband always travels like this too. Have fun!

Anonymous said...

Haha Wow. What a post. I'm a light packer..IMO. But I've never been able to master the carry on bag. Good for you! I wish you were coming to Louisiana!

Anonymous said...

Did a month in Italy with one carry-on and a small backpack. Nowadays with contact solutions, meds, specific haircare needs and a pissy TSA, I'm penalized to check a bag. And take care, I've heard sometimes the hotel sends your undies back to you C.O.D.

Reverie said...

I am thoroughly impressed! Having seen my friend Kami pack for tour I imagine she'll have a thing or two to learn from you!

Looking forward to meeting you in Atlanta!

Callie Forester said...

And here I was worried about packing for a two day trip to Decatur. Lol. I'm traveling with kids though, so it's different. Even though my guys are eleven and thirteen, I still have to make sure they have everything they need and I have everything I need. I'm sure you know how that goes! Good luck with your trip. See you Wednesday! :)

storyqueen said...

Hey, I did Ireland for 10 days in the winter with only a carry on. It CAN be done.

(Put your pens in a baggie in case one leaks....)

Good luck and have fun!

Shelley

Amanda said...

I did the same thing with underwear when I went to Europe this past summer! It was a 2 1/2 week long trip, and all of my belongings were carry on! It was definitely hard to pack, but I made it work. Plus we were all over the place, so having one bag made it easier.

I must mention LUSH products. If you don't already use them, they have great solid shampoos, conditioners, and soaps. I personally only like liquid soaps, so I made that be in my quart bag, but they do have great body soaps too!

Toots said...

What do you read on the plane? And where is your knitting?

Lisa McMann said...

Ahhh, Toots -- good catch. I edited to add my e-reader, which I don't love, but it works extremely well for traveling.

Carrie said...

Howdie Ms. McMann!!! My hats are off and I'm bowing very low to you!!! I started GONE yesterday morning around oh 11 am while watching the Olympics at the same time and I couldn't tell you what happened on the Olympics yesterday because I never looked up from the book until I turned the last page around 4 pm or so. I LOVED it! I loved the entire trilolgy and although very sad to see the trilogy over... I think you closed it incredibly well. It will stick with me for a long time. BRAVO!! Phenomenal!

Shelli (srjohannes) said...

Hey lisa - look forward to seeing you in atlanta tomorrow!~

Jennay and Luke the Pup said...

Wow...you are very brave to use carry on for that many days. I wish I can do that (I always bring way too many outfits when I travel b/c I always buy more when I travel...LOL). And your whole underwear thing...hilarious!!!

HAPPY traveling and signing!!!

Brooke Reviews said...

I can't believe you fit all that in a carry on. You are much braver than I! It was great seeing you at the book signing tonight! Hope the rest of your tour goes smoothly :)

Puffy said...

I wash my undies in the hotel bathroom, sometimes in the sink, and sometimes in the shower. I know someone who went to Italy, with all her old clothes and left them all there as she bought new ones.

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