Saturday, March 17, 2018

How to Pack for a Week in Iceland in Winter

HOW TO PACK FOR A WEEK IN ICELAND IN WINTER--ON A BUDGET AIRLINE!

Minimalism is the key to any kind of travel, but what made it especially challenging was our skinny baggage allowance on WOW Airlines—no more than 22 lbs. in a bag measuring 17x13x10 (including handle and wheels!). Here are a few tips to help cope with such restrictions:

1. Wear your heaviest and bulkiest items. This will include your hat/cap, gloves, scarf and warmest pair of socks.
2. Choose jackets/coats with huge pockets to stash your phone, camera, comb, make-up, sunglasses, wallet, even I-Pad, as the items you are wearing are never removed or weighed as you go through check-in lines (you will remove them at security, of course, but by then, you will have been cleared for boarding). Once you are on the aircraft, the pockets can also accommodate your hat/cap and gloves.
3. Choose clothing items in neutral colors—when I travel, I usually go with a black/brown/grey/navy blue color palate OR a brown/beige/olive green one. This way you mix and match with impunity and it is never obvious that you are wearing the same few items.
4.  Carry all toiletry needs in small, plastic travel containers. Keep these in a Ziploc bag on the top of your carry-on. At security, it will be easy to remove the toiletry bag and place in tray to go through scanners. 
5. Carry all medication needs in small containers. I actually counted the number of vitamin/calcium pills I would need for 8 days.
6. Photocopy pages from your favorite travel guidebook (mine is always Lonely Planet) and carry those with you.  Discard them as you use them through your itinerary.
7. Organize your packing by placing similarly-grouped items in one bag each (Eg. Toiletries, Electronic Chargers, Medication, Underwear, Snacks, Tea/Coffee). This prevents a multiplicity of loose items through which you have to search.  

PACKING LIST:
         CLOTHING:
1.     One knee-length black waterproof down coat
2.     One thigh-length hooded navy blue down jacket (with huge pockets) 
3.     One pair black leggings
4.     One pair navy blue leggings
5.     One pair waterproof trousers
6.     One red cashmere turtleneck top
7.     One black cashmere turtleneck top
8.     One grey cashmere long V-necked cardigan
9.     One grey fleece zip-up
10.  One pair nude pantyhose
11.  One pair grey thick opaque pantyhose
12.  One pair grey cashmere socks
13.  One pair thick warm wool socks
14.  One merino wool thermal undergarment (top)
15.  One merino wool thermal long under pants (bottom)
16.  Three sets of underwear (bras and panties)
17.  Eight panty liners
18.  One long cashmere scarf (I chose a brightly striped one to bring some color to my photos)
19.  One wool beanie cap
20.  One baseball cap
21.  One pair of black mittens with separate thin interior liners
22.  One pair leather gloves with digital sensitivity at fingertips
23.  One pair of Merrel waterproof hiking boots
24.  One pair of flip-flops
25.  One pair silk PJs
26.  One swimsuit

TOILETRIES (IN TRAVEL SIZES):
1. Toothpaste and Toothbrush
2. Dental Floss
3. Face Cream (Day)
4. Face Cream (Night)
5. Face Wash
6. Shampoo
7. Deodorant
8. Body Lotion
9. Lip gloss
10.  Lipstick
11.  Perfume
12.  Soap
13.  Nail Polish
14.  Nail Polish Remover
15.  Nail Clipper
16.  Emery Board
17.  Comb
18.  One small pocket mirror
19.  One scrunchie
20.  One shower cap
21. Razor

ELECTRONICS:
1. I-Pad
2. I-Pad charger
3. I-Pad keyboard
4. I-Pad keyboard charger
5. I-Phone
6. I-Phone charger 
7. Camera (I use a Canon SX600 HS)
8. Camera charger
9. Adapter (I had one, but 2 would be ideal)
      
MEDICATION (IN TRAVEL SIZES):
1.     All prescription medications
2.     Vitamins, fiber and other supplements
3.     Allergy medication 
4.     Headache, diarrhea, cold/fever, nausea, constipation medication

                   MISCELLANEOUS:
1.     One carry-on bag (dimensions will depend on airline allowance)
2.     One light string bag that doubles as a backpack during sightseeing (I used this to stash camera, phone, cap, gloves, comb, wallet, sunglasses, lip gloss, water bottle, etc.)
3.     Passport
4.     Sunglasses
5.     One small Post-It Note Pad
6.     One pen
7.     One pair of binoculars
8.     One packet (containing three) hand warmers
9.     One travel towel
10.  One rain poncho
11.  One file folder with tourist literature and copies of documents (passport, air ticket, hotel accommodation confirmations, etc.) 
12.  One TSA-approved combination lock for your bag (or a locker if you are staying in hostels)
13.  Snacks (I carried granola bars and packets of unsalted nuts)
14.  Decaff Tea and Decaff coffee (travel size sachets)
15.  Coffee Creamer (in small Ziploc bag)
16.  Artificial Sweetener (I use Stevia)
17.  Eye Mask
18.  Ear Plugs
19.  Food for the flight (I carried wraps from Trader Joe’s)
20.  One insulated bottle (for hot coffee/tea or soup on the go)
21.  A few sandwich-size and freezer-size Ziploc bags
22.  Paperback Book/Reading Material for aircraft and hotel rooms
23.  Headlamp with batteries
24.  Sewing Kit

1 comment:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Rochelle - that is one serious list!! Great to have it written up - cheers Hilary