Since I am busy packing for my 10 day trip to Italy – 5 days at a remote luxury beach resort in Calabria and 5 days on our friend’s boat off the coast of western Sicily I thought I would pass on some solid facts and some deeply held convictions about how and what to pack. First, be aware that I am a gold medal champion at packing as a result of many years of grueling business travel and far-flung holiday travel. Rule number one is carry- on bags only – no matter how long you are gone. This is obviously easier in the summer months when coats and boots aren’t involved but it can always be done. You already know and I promise you, you are not going to wear half of the things you pack if you have a bigger suitcase that you need to check. Trust me that bag will get lost in transit or take 45 minutes to arrive on the baggage carousel or keep you from being able to change your flight in the event of delay. Do you want to be enjoying your holiday or waiting for/wondering where your bags are?
Solution: Tiger and the Monkey Resort Wear – any of it.
All of our pieces are designed to be worn from day into evening, keep you comfortable and stylish and are washable (even in the hotel sink if necessary). If you’re parked in one destination you easily send them out to be laundered or dry cleaned if you prefer. Three or 4 kaftans, a shirt dress or 2, a couple of bambulas and a couple of T-shirts will comfortably fit into a carry-on bag, along with 2 pairs of shoes/sandals, a pair of flip flops, all your toiletries, lingerie, lots of bathing suits and several light pareos. You should be able to accomplish this packing in a quarter of the time it takes you to pack all the extra stuff you would put in your bigger suitcase that you won’t wear/use.
For this trip, I have managed to pack three kaftans (Milena, Diane and Dayna) one shirt dress (Lulu), 1 bambula (Sasha) plus Emma which I will wear on the plane, the Liory white gauze pant, 2 T-shirts and 5 pareos (one of each of our color schemes) for me to wear and 8 kaftans (Ruthie, Milena, Gabriella and Regina in 2 different sizes) and 2 T-shirts each for my friends on the boat to wear. I also have 6 bathing suits, a bucket hat, my swimming flippers and pull buoy, 2 pairs of sandals, 1 pair of flip flops, all of my toiletries (put ‘em in small containers), my makeup bag (you don’t need 7 shades of lipstick), my computer, my ipad, bandaids (always have bandaids), cortisone cream (always have cortisone cream) a few face masks and my vitamins. I personally don’t travel with jewelry because I lose everything.
For the plane ride I’m wearing 25 year old jeans, a Tiger and the Monkey T-shirt, white Puma sneakers and the Emma bambula. Should be a good trip. I’ve chosen the Milena and Dayna for their luxurious versatility – Depending on my mood and the “vibe” that day whichever one I choose I will wear during the day without the feathers and with feathers at cocktail hour. The Diane is coming with me for its infinite comfort and playfulness and the Sasha to wear on the beach over my lime green bathing suit. Depending on the weather, I may also choose to wear the Sasha into town with my Liory pants and T&M T-shirt. As you can see, I have plenty of choice and when I leave to come back home my suitcase will be even lighter from leaving the clothes I have brought for my friends. Thank you Tiger and the Monkey!!
Update: My packing strategy proved to be the right choice again.
I was delayed for 3 hours in the airport in the USA and missed my connecting flight to Calabria. If I had checked bags I would have had a to catch the next flights without my bags travelling without me. I’m delighted Tiger and the Monkey is with me.