TIME LEFT TO PREPARE FOR CHINA TRAVEL & PARENTHOOD:
7 days and counting...
I'm off to run more errands today. I've got about 5 or 6 stops and am heading into "The City" for all of these errands (that's what we folks who live outside Kansas City call it; and actually I'll be mostly in Independence, MO but we just chunk all the larger outlying cities into the phrase "The City").
You really wanted to know all that, didn't you? :)
BTW, let me just say-- This packing thing is a super challenge. I really think we need to take a third suitcase. However, my dear, sweet, precious hubby informed me this morning, "No more suitcases!!" My eyebrows went up on that, so we very congenially decided to call United to see what they think... More on this later. ;-)
Later gaters--
13 comments:
Oooo, the packing challenge, I remember it fondly!! We did do it with two suitcases...it really can be done!
Carrie
Carrie,
I have Heard it can be done in 2 suicases...!
Never having been a mommy before, I don't want to leave anything out my sweetie might need, you know?
What would be your advice on "take it" and "don't take it"? From medicines, to sippy cups, little plastic snack storage cups, bibs, diapers, Cheerios, etc., etc. I just know what to do! ;-)
Help!!
Jen,
I tried to cram everything for the 4 of us (2 adults & a 4 year old on the way over plus a 2 year old on the way back). I was able to get everything into those 2 suitcases, but I didn't have any room left. We ended up buying 2 more suitcases in China (they really are very inexpensive) for all the things we bought on our trip.
Next time, I'll pack less into each suitcase and deal with more pieces of luggage. Plus there was always a porter around to help with the bags so the only time we had to handle our own luggage was during our extra stop at Hong Kong Disney.
I'll email you my packing list. For what it's worth, you really can get everything you need in China!
Four people and only 2 bags? Wow! Well that gives me encouragement that we can do it!
And your packing list will be much appreciated. :)
Thanks loads!
Jen
Jen -
If it can be done in 2 suitcases, you let me know how!! That would be GREAT!! Although, I've heard they have very inexpensive laundry service in Hefei (and Guangzhou)....so that would definately cut down on the amount of clothes to pack!!
Good luck -
Erin DeNicolo
Hi Jen. What I did was pack everything for hubby and me in one large suitcase, actually one of the duffel bag types. We took 3 to 4 days worth of clothes and used the laundry services. The second large suitcase was for the new baby and I had it stuffed!! It was right at the weight limit. I had everything - bottles, snacks, toys, diapers, cute outfits for every day, meds, wipes, blankets...as we used up things more room was available to pack items bought in China. Of course we each had a carry on bag for camera, snacks, meds, a change of clothes (just in case!) and the all important paperwork.
Carrie
...forgot to mention that expandable luggage is great!! For our second trip we did have three suitcases, but our 4yr old traveled with us. I still packed one solo bag for new baby, which was expandable by up to 4 inches - great for packing China shopping finds!
Carrie,
Listen to you, you packin' queen! You are a brave soul to pack only 3-4 days of outfits and then use the laundry service. I'll THINK about it... :)
We're also taking laundry soap and a clothes line for the room. I sometimes do small loads in the sink at home, so that won't be anything new.
I also like the expanding luggage thing. Both of ours do, but not quite 4 inches. Wow!
I know China has a 44 lb. limit on luggage. Don't know if that's per person or per bag. We are working so hard to fit everything in 2 (plus carry-ons). Just hope we don't go over that limit-- ;-)
Erin,
I'm still thinking on the laundry service thing. For some reason, I'm a bit nervous about items getting lost or shrunk. I just feel better doing it myself. But in the end, if the zippers won't zip on Tuesday night, we'll have to ditch some clothes and plan on the laundry folks-- We'll see...
I'm back for one more thing...I took laundry soap also, and used it for undies and socks, which was great. But...the further south you go in China the more humid it is. In Beijing our socks were dry in hours, but in Guangzhou it took days, with Hefei being somewhere in between! This is the time of year we traveled and it was a bit humid in Hefei and very humid in Guangzhou, with Beijing very dry (don't forget eye drops if you use them).
Carrie
It's me again...I'm having a great time helping out! The weight thingy...China allows one bag per paid ticket not to exceed 44 lbs per bag. If you travel with a group all luggage may be weighed together. This happened to us, with 9 families traveling, some had four to five bags and some (like us) had just two. The overage was paid by our guide who then divided it between the 9 of us. Not really fair as we knew we were not over the limits. But what are you to do?
Carrie
Carrie,
I'm so glad! Your information has been very helpful. :)
So if I understand correctly, they will still let us on the plane if our luggage is over weight, but we'll just have to pay extra?
(just wish we had a good way to weigh our bags ahead of time)
Yes, you get to stay on the plane. And sometimes no one even cares that your luggage is over weight!!
The bathroom scale works good, of course, it can be hard to read the numbers with a huge bag on it! Somehow I did it!
Carrie
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