We have the original Mediterranean climate

That means 2 seasons:

Rainy winter with what would be considered “springtime” temps in Europe or North America (coolest nightime temps 5-7C / 45-50F).

Bone-dry summer with very high daytime temps. Depending on where you are it can either remain hot/humid at night (Dead Sea, Galilee, Eilat) or cool off dramatically (Jerusalem, Golan Heights).

My guess is Egypt is similar, if hotter – possibly areas near the Nile/ocean/mountains cool off at night.

My two cents on bag type: I’d much rather have a small hiking backpack than a wheeled carryon if I will be travelling a lot on my trip. I spent a week in Europe this way, and had a much easier time than my friend who brought a wheeled suitcase. Imagine dealing with a wheeled bag on cobblestone streets, staircases in/out of the subway, getting on/off the train… And my hands are still free for ticket booths and taking pictures!

I recently came back from a trip to Taiwan and the customs agent asked me (pointing to my roll on) “Is that all of your luggage for a two week trip?”

Me, “I haven’t checked a bag in 7 years.”

“Smart man.” he said as he stamped my passport.

My husband and I are heading to Egypt and Israel in August for work (we’re both journalists).

Can ask about what sort of outfits you packed? Did you find you had to cover up a lot? Any tips would be appreciated!

PS – JD, why does Paris airport get it’s full name but not Sydney? It’s Kingsford-Smith.

I never thought it would be med supplies, I might try that.

I completely agree with you on babywearing though-wonderful way to keep baby happy and mom’s (or dad’s) hands free!

One of my “pack smart” ideas is to leave the jeans at home and wear other pants. I find jeans cumbersome, hard to dry, and not appropriate in all situations. I prefer some wrinkle-resistant black pants that are easy to wash in the sink.

(1) bought disposable lenses ($1 per lens per day) and put them in the Ziploc bag with my other liquids

(2) my peroxide solution comes with a new soaking cup every time I buy it; I save those up for trips and fill them with the peroxide solution, one for each night, and put them in the Ziploc bag

(3) this might not always work, but there is supposed to be an exception to the 3-ounce liquids rule for ‘medical’ supplies; I have been allowed through security with a full-sized bottle of peroxide solution and/or a full-sized bottle of saline solution this way all three times I’ve tried it (though I have to admit it’s scary to try it with a $12 bottle of peroxide solution in case it doesn’t work)

For trips longer than a few weeks, though, I usually just plan to use my glasses, or break down and check a bag to put the contacts bottles in.

(The other thing I do is keep using my contacts for about 18 months instead of one year. Then after a couple of years I can use my insurance coverage to get new glasses!)

First, hang your outfits on hangers (if you are going to be anywhere with a closet or doorhandles, it is easier – but for truly casual trips, feel free to skip the hangers). Pick up by all the hangers at once and lay flat.

Then, take anything not hung – spare pair of shoes, pj’s, underwear/socks, scarf, *not* your toiletries – and place in a folded pile on your hanging clothes, a bit to the side of the bottom of the hangers (so that when you start to roll, the hangers rest on top of the pile).

Lift by the hangers and on place the hangers – and the clothes they are holding – on top of the pile. Then fold the lower portion of the hanging items around the pile from the other side. Unless you have some really long items, your hanging items may not go much further than 1-1/2 times around your folded pile, but will make a surprisingly stable bundle.

drop the whole bundle into your luggage of choice. Place toiletries kit to the side of bundle.

For me, this works for business or pleasure. In addition to what I am wearing, 1 or 2 alternate bottom halves (pants/shorts/skirts) and 1 or 2 alternate tops (ideally that can be layered & worn at once) is plenty for a week. My fave bag is a cotton carry-on slightly bigger than a briefcase, I can even fit my favorite pillow in when packing this way! And it fits under the seat in front of me.

At night, I put whatever I’m not wearing the next day on my hangers & lay out (or use host hangers) for what I am going to wear, makes packing up a 90 second activity in the morning.

My girlfriend and I will combine bags at times, this helps cut down on baggage costs.

If we bring dress wear and casual clothes, I may bring my folding bag to put all of the nice clothes in, and exchange my casual clothes for the other person to pack!

A particular 15 hr plane trip that I took with two 10 month old babies is pretty much etched forever in my memory………Worst. Plane. Trip. Ever!

For example, if you are going to be bumming around Europe, you do **not** want to “roll your clothing” to get the maximum amount into your backpack. Instead you want to make sure everything fits easily into your backpack because you will be unpacking and repacking your stuff almost every day and you will also probably acquire a few souveniers so you should leave lots of room for those. On the other hand, if you are just taking 1 plane ride cross-country and then you are going to stay in one place for several weeks, packing your suitcase as efficiently as possible might make sense. But not for me because I always end up buying cool stuff I want to take back with me.

In terms of what to take my rules are: 1) no jeans (too bulky, they take forever to dry if you try to wash them in your hotel room, and they’re too casual to wear almost everywhere especially at religious shrines in foreign countries), 2) no running shoes (too bulky, they also take forever to dry, and they really make you look like a tourist), and 3) no pajamas (sleep in t shirt/shorts/leggings that you can also wear as regular clothing if you want to. Instead, I bring accessories: a large colorful cotton or rayon scarf to use as a shawl, belt, or cover-up, and 3 pairs of shoes at least–usually a pair of sports sandals or flip-flops, a pair of light tennies like Keds, and some comfortable but nice looking black high heels. Because (for women) you can really change the look/formality level of your clothes depending on the shoes you are wearing, and if you bring accessories you can keep your clothing simple/identical from day to day and then change things up and look pulled together with a bright scarf (either one you bring along or buy from a street vendor).

I have the UGLIEST glasses! They are crooked, slightly broken, and are barely even close to my prescription. Why do I keep these stupid things? Because my insurance will pay for contacts or glasses, not both.

When I wear my glasses, I *feel* gross, and I don’t look that great either. If I were on a business trip, I’d check a bag if my only other option was to wear my glasses!