Packing for a trip ; Ladies Bags and Make up

What bag should you take on a trip? I know many seasoned travellers recommend you take one large carry on pack and nothing else, to ease travelling along the way, but i don’t do that as I know that I will not be walking much with my bag.

Don’t get me wrong, I do pack light, but I prefer to have a bag I can wheel behind me as I have a bad back, and one that i can add a few souvenirs to on my trip too (usually books or cards). OK, occasionally you have to go up and down stairs at train stations, Metro stations and the like, but these are few and far between, and if your bag is light then it isn’t such a big deal. If your bag is heavy then I suggest you ask for help with the stairs.

I don’t mind waiting for my bag to come off the luggage carousel either, as long as I am not going to be doing it too often.. if I have a lot of short side trips by air then I plan on leaving my big bag in left luggage and take my day pack with me on the trips.

In addition to my wheely bag I take a day backpack in which I have my (large) squashy handbag, inside which I have my small pouchy handbag. Once through the security checks I take both of these bags out of the backpack allowing me space for duty free items in it, and the ability to get at my passport or money without having to take my backpack off all the time.

My best large squashy handbag is so roomy it can hold a lot of things. It also has a lot of pockets with zips, for separating everything neatly.My small pouchy bag is leather and has two small pockets. It can be a good evening bag, or a good bag for cycling, or shopping. I wear it slung across my body and over my shoulder so it can’t be stolen easily, and it holds my camera, my phone, some money and a credit card, and my lipstick.

My large squashy handbag has all my liquids, my travel documents, my jewellery, my iPod, contact lenses, some medicines, reading material, and a shawl in case the plane is cold, plus a selection of crayons and paper and a few clothes for my children if I’m travelling with them. I never open my backpack again except to put duty free in it until I get off the plane.

I also don’t agree with the seasoned travellers who suggest that women travellers do not need to take make up with them on holiday. This is the first thing I would pack after some basic clothing. I pare down my make up and split it into two piles; one for items I need on arrival in my carry on bag, some of which have to be split separately into my liquids bag (mascara and lipstick), and the second pile for items going in my makeup bag in the hold.

I buy travel sized cosmetic creams and skincare products in duty free when they are available, to use when flying as they can go in my day pack. I buy all other toiletries at my destination and leave them there when I leave. It costs a little more but it saves space and weight in your hold bag.

My favourite ‘look good’ make up products to take with me when travelling are;

Glow Minerals foundation and blusher.. guaranteed to really cover any blemishes with a sweep of a brush, and to give you great looking skin in 30 seconds.

Mascara; I need this to define my eyes.

Lips; Lip gloss in any shade to give your lips some shine

I also include a couple of eyeliners, and a set of eyeshadow in neutralish shades, plus at least one striking nail varnish colour for nights out or pretty toes on the beach.

And finally, a very small bottle of perfume.. nothing better to make you feel fresher when on a plane for several hours.

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