WHAT WE PACK in 2024 as Full-Time Travelers | Carry-On Luggage Only!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- Ep.81 We've learned A LOT in the last year of traveling full-time around the world. We share what we carry now, what we stopped carrying, and tips to make packing easier. We have no home base, so what we show you is everything we own. Our gear serves us in all but extreme cold weather, which we try to avoid whenever possible!
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Chapters:
00:00 - Start
00:38 - Briggs & Riley ZDX 22" Domestic Spinner Carry-On Luggage
00:56 - Kevin's Briggs & Riley Suitcase
06:36 - Kevin's Packing Cubes
11:59 - Judy's Suitcase
17:14 - Judy's Packing Cubes
20:41 - 5 Quick Packing Tips
21:16 - Backpack Disclaimer
21:43 - Judy's Backpack
25:02 - Liquids Bags
26:31 - Judy's Toiletry Bag
28:02 - Kevin's Backpack
33:53 - Final Thoughts
Finding Gina Marie is where we share our lives as full-time travelers and the connections we make along the way.
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📹 VIDEO EQUIPMENT
* Primary Camera: Sony FX30
* B-Roll Camera: iPhone 14 Pro
* Editing: Final Cut Pro X on a 16" M1 Max MacBook Pro
* Key Light: ZHIYUN MOLUS X100 Bi-Color 100W COB Video Light
* Diffuser: ZHIYUN Quick Release Mini Softbox
* Vocal Microphone: Sony ECM-B10
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Check out our Gear Guide: findingginamarie.com/gear. And go to findingGinaMarie.com/join to join our free travel forum and learn more about our Gelato Levels!
Excellent video! Thank you for your time!
Thank you so much for watching and for leaving us this kind comment! We appreciate it! -Judy
Great video! Thank you for making this video
Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to leave us this comment. It means a lot to us! And I love Monet! -Judy
I am kind of obsessed with organization and minimalism when traveling, but you guys got it down! Great tips and products!
Thank you so much for watching, Linda and for encouraging us with this comment! -Judy
Thank you both for sharing this video! Think my husband & I have made up our minds about the travel 🧳 case 😊
We honestly think you will love it. We have been so pleased with ours! Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Glad you had such an amazing time. I love your travels and genuine approach a joy to watch next to usual insta types!❤ suggestion for water bottle is the collapsible kind.
Thanks for the water bottle suggestion and for your very kind comments. They really are so encouraging to us. I wonder how hard those are to clean inside. If you have used one and have any experience with how well the accordion function stays clean inside, I'd love to hear more. -Judy
Loved it.❤. Marie
Thank you so much for watching, Marie, and for this sweet comment! -Judy
So happy TH-cam recommended your channel. Immediately subscribed. We will be traveling soon and we haven’t been on an airplane since 1998. I’m a little nervous on what to take and what not, but I believe you make it easier.
Hi Dee, thank you so much for watching and subscribing and leaving us this comment! We hope you have an amazing trip. As far as packing, you need so much less than you think you do. People are not looking or judging you-most are too concerned with themselves! And most places will have whatever you need if you forget something. We have several articles on our website as well, including this one, "19 Tips to Lighten Your Carry-on Bag"-findingginamarie.com/articles/19-tips-to-lighten-up-your-carry-on-bag
Feel free to reach out if we can help in any way to make your trip feel more successful and enjoyable! -Judy
Judy, I got the renpho scale after I saw you had one. I LOVE it! It’s wonderful when you use it with the app to keep tracking of everything. The renpho app even allows me to easy track of all my measurements. So Packable!
I am so glad to hear this! I took some heat for traveling with a scale versus just trusting how my clothes are fitting, but it's something we are glad to have with us. It's wonderful to know that you are having a similar experience! Thanks so much for sharing! -Judy
I recommend the Owala water bottle. Leak proof with lock, but easy push open. It also has a really cool "sip straw" or regular drink option!
Thanks for this suggestion! I ordered a Grayl Ultrapress filtered water bottle, but they've had trouble delivering it to Thailand. I may have to pivot and try the Owala if they end up giving up and sending it back to Amazon. -Judy
love this organization!
Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to drop us this note! You can check out our gear list here if you're interested. Let us know if you have questions about anything! -Judy
findingginamarie.com/gear
Great video as usual :)
Found your channel a couple of days ago, when searching for some tips for cruises in Nile. I can't let go with your videos now! Btw, hope you return to Porto, Portugal soon enough, and have more time to enjoy it! As well as Spain, a marvelous country.
Thank you so much for watching! We have an entire series from our month in Egypt, so I'll link it below in case you missed them. We did a ton of tours in Egypt, but our BEST GUIDE BY FAR was Mahmoud Nour. If you aren't already fully booked, we highly recommend you contact him (he's the guide that was on our Nile cruise). He speaks excellent English, is passionate, super knowledgeable, and really made our trip memorable. Here’s his info: 💥 MAHMOUD NOUR | Call: +20 102 6979554 * Email: Mahmoudnour2055@gmail.com * (let him know we recommended you to him-we make no money by referring him, but he was amazing and we know you won’t be disappointed.
We would like to return to Porto and Portugal. Our heads weren't in the right place for various reasons when we were there and we'd love to give the country more attention. And we do have Spain on our itinerary for 2024. We are very excited to experience it! Thank you so much for watching and for following along with us! -Judy
Thanks for making this video. I use the 2 wheel Briggs and Riley but I like the pockets of the 4 wheel suitcase better. I need that scale!
Thanks for watching, Erin! We are super happy with everything about our bags! I have a link in our growing gear list, which is linked here: findingginamarie.com/gear. It’s fairly inexpensive!
This was a SUPER video! Thank you sooooooo much. After your recommendation of merino wool I finally broke down and purchased one item that is a blend with smart wool to see if my skin could handle it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could. I’m now going to be building our merino wool travel wardrobes from your recommendations. I doubt I’ll ever carry the amount of tech with me, but it was very interesting to see what you actually do take. The better the cameras on phones get the less and less I’m relying on my mirrorless DSLR except for when I’m traveling specifically for photography reasons. Safe travels to you!!
Thank you so much for watching and for this comment, Rebecca! I'd love to hear about how well your wool holds up. I watched a TH-cam couple who said to stop wearing wool and that their clothes all had holes in them, so I've no idea what they were doing to have that happen. It could be how they washed them or it wasn't a durable blend of wool or something else. All I know is that I rotate my summer dresses-and mostly two of the sleeveless ones for the last several months and they still are in perfect condition.
Also, we have used our iPhones A LOT. We typically use our Sony FX30 when we are sitting down to record in our Airbnbs, etc., BUT as our channel is growing, we have been using the professional camera more. Kevin had to get his head around not having it in his sling and just keeping it handy and taking it with us on our walkabouts and tours, even though it's some extra weight. Now instead of Kevin carrying the sling and having to fiddle with unpacking the camera each time we want to use it (and me carrying nothing), I've started carrying my small PacSafe 10L backpack around so some of the accessories we might need are handy. We leave our sling behind in those situations so the camera is instantly ready to go. It's been fun, but we still use our phones quite a bit, too. They're iPhone 15 Pros and since they are always with us, it's easy to default to them. Safe travels right back at you! -Judy
Very useful travel tips. Really enjoyed this one as my wife and I plan to go to Colombia, So. America in the next month or two for an extended stay. Merino wool shirts? Yes, and all the other gear you suggest sound like it's time for us to upgrade our gear. Please keep the videos coming and enjoy your travels!
Hi Daniel, thank you so much for watching! We have plans to visit South America this fall. Do you have specific towns you plan to visit? And we can't speak for any other wool besides Wool&Prince and Wool&, only because people complain about certain types of wool, but we can only talk about we we know and have used firsthand. If you're traveling for a month or two, you certainly can pack less than we do! -Judy
Your information is very helpful. I bought a Wool& dress last year for a Rhine River cruise. I could wear it during the day for sight seeing and could dress it up for dinner with a scarf or jewelry. Also their leggings are great for cold weather. I wore them under my jeans and was very comfortable.
Thank you so much for watching and for this validation of our love for Wool&! I know I am probably packing too many clothes right now, but I have been obsessed with what I have and all the great properties of their particular ratio/blend of Merino wool. I'm so glad you have enjoyed their clothing as well! -Judy
Vegetable peeler and dish towel. Very much the way I think. I'm planning a trip to Italy this spring and will leave the jeans at home and add some merino tops thanks to this video.
Hi Eva, glad to have you as a soul sister! We can only speak to the durability of Wool& merino wool, but we've been so happy with it, we hope you will as well. Where will you be in Italy? We'll be in Orvieto in May and then a whirlwind tour with our daughter for 16 days. Later in the year we'll be visiting my grandfather's birthplace of Summonte for a week before heading to Sardinia for a month. I'll include a link to the places we've visited in Italy while we've been full-time travelers. We traveled there a few times before being full-time travelers. Thank you so much for watching! -Judy
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
@@FindingGinaMarie Hello. I'll land in Turin, see Genova in part because your video made it so appealing, then head south to see Pompeii. I plan to take in Naples and Ischia. I'll be in Italy the last week of April through the first week of May.
Hi Eva, Sounds like a fabulous trip! We'll be back in Italy in mid May. We loved all of the places you are visiting (although we haven't visited Ischia yet) and hope you have an amazing time. We have videos from Naples/Pompeii, but it was our first video as full-time travelers, so it's a bit different from our current format. We have a video from Turin as well, which took our breath away! We hope you love Genoa as much as we did, and we'd love to hear about your experience from Ischia and Genoa when you return. -Judy
🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html
You guys are amazing
Thank you so much for watching; we really appreciate it! -Judy
Water Bottle: I HIGHLY recommend S'well. Doesn't leak, easy to clean (usually just rinse it out since it's stainless steel then wash every week or two). Only thing I've used for over 10 years now, most of what I drink I put in one, even at home. I have several sizes. I just can't rave enough about them, sleek and stylish and much easier to fit in a side pocket of backpack than the bulky ones.
On a trip, I had leftover box wine so I filled up all my empty S'well bottles and packed in my checked bag. 3 flights, 1 where plane caught fire so cargo area got VERY very hot, we had to lift our feet the floor was so hot and we turned around, obvs. and switched planes. Got home very late, luggage sat for 2 days because I was exhausted and yet busy, but when I finally unpacked, not only did none of the FIVE bottles leak a single drop, but they were all still COLD! Some of my makeup melted though. lol Truly best bottles there are.
What a great story. Wine would have been a mess had it leaked! I bought a Grayl Ultrapress here in Thailand (which also filters water), but it's a bit bulky for how little water it holds 16.9 oz. I found an Earthwell bottle that has a nice drink spout that I prefer a little bit over S'well. Maybe they have a version beyond just the screw cap that I haven't seen. Earthwell is made in China, so I somewhat am reluctant to recommend it, but it's been working well so far and holds 20 oz. It's still not the biggest gulp in the world, though. Thank you so much for the recommendation! -Judy
That's the funny thing, I didn't give it a 2nd thought because I knew they wouldn't leak. I was just impressed they were still so cold after that fire business! I don't tend to drink water in mine that often unless it has Mio drops in it because I'm not really a plain water person (oddly bugs my stomach), but I have my V8 Splash in it, tea or hot cocoa, lemonade, wine, even soda (so it stays cold) though you have to leave a good inch at the top if you put soda in it or it'll fitz at ya when you remove the lid. They DO now have sport tops and a variety of lid types these days! They have 9, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 32, 40, 60, and 64 oz, and every kind of lid including ones with straws, couple types of sport caps, the coffee lid type, etc. I just use the regular screw one because I tend to just grab and toss in my purse and I'm kinda trained now to just unscrew, drink, and rescrew so if I knock it over, it's always sealed tight. lol I don't like having to clean straws and sport tops, esp since it's not just water I use them for.
Amazon has some similar ones I've gotten, one called Simply Simily (17 oz) and others (12 oz, and 34oz) I got from Simply Green Solutions. They're cheaper than S'well, but the most similar I've found-except not the stunning designs, just plain colors. I think I had 1 of each (a 17oz Simply Simily and a 12 oz Simply Green and the 34 oz plus 3 or 4 from S'well) with me on that trip too and they didn't leak either. I wouldn't usually travel with so many but due to logistics I had to take the train there and fly back so FULL day of travel (8am til midnight) there and I wanted to have juice, tea, and all the drinks I needed for a whole day (incl a wine cooler ready for when I arrived-lol) and for the next morning since I wouldn't be getting to the store till the next afternoon. So, I had a lot of bottles with me, thankfully so didn't have to waste the wine. haha I usually only travel with a small one and a 17oz one or 2 17oz ones.@@FindingGinaMarie
Thanks so much for this additional information. I'm not a fan of a screw top and can't be trusted not to spill if I leave a cap off. Their other lids are great to know about. Thank you! We try to do carry-on only, but I think it's great that you are set with every drink imaginable upon arrival! -Judy
lol, as I said, for that particular trip, I had to take all I needed for the whole day and night on the way there. lol I normally wouldn't do that. I was meeting my disabled friend at the airport (which is why I ended up on a train as there were no flights near his time of arrival) and knew I just couldn't conveniently get what I needed (there was nothing avail on the train). So it just worked out that way for that trip. lol@@FindingGinaMarie
@imscanon There is no shame in your game at all. It sounds like you were well prepared, which is an enviable quality! ♥️ -Judy
We got rid of our travel umbrella and purchased instead packable rain jackets. Also we purchased waterproof rain covers for our backpacks. There are times you may need to walk in the rain with your backpack and luggage like to/from train station or to/from cabs/buses. I highly recommend it especially for the your backpack that holds all your camera and electronics. They are relatively inexpensive and super light weight when not in use. Also consider collapsible water bottles.
Hi Albert, We don't love how clammy, claustrophobic and hot rain jackets can feel. Have you had a better experience with a particular brand than what we've tried? So far we've done okay without rain covers for our backpacks and luggage, but we can see that they would be helpful. We've been fortunate not to have traveled during monsoon season, but our luck may not hold out. The rain we've encountered hasn't been enough to permeate our bags, thankfully. Thanks for all these great suggestions! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie , we have tried the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. They are very breathable and the armpit zipper openings help tremendously. We have used them in and out steady rain for a few hours and we never got overheated. And they pack really small. They also double as a light jacket in cooler climates.
Thanks so much for sharing this information! It looks like these are able to be shipped to Thailand, which is where we are currently. They seem like they'd be a good addition to our kit, even though we try to avoid monsoon season in the places that have it. I'm sure they'd come in handy for the average rainstorm as well. Love how well ventilated they are! -Judy
This is great! I'm very happy to have the rec for the Anker power bank. I'd been thinking of buying one and dithering over models, but knowing this handles a MacBook and is okay with the airports seals the deal.
I’m so glad our recommendation helped. My 16” M1 Max MBP does make that power bank work hard, but no other battery was able to charge it. Let us know if you have questions! Cheers. - Kevin
Great timing. I'm not a full-timer, but am planning a 3-week sojourn in Europe this summer. My packing challenge will be that one week is business, the other two with family. I'll have to make some hard choices about what to carry. BTW, I agree completely with your endorsements of the B&R ZDX (which I purchased through your site), Wool and (Prince), and Anker. All are stellar.
Hi Mark, Thanks so much for watching and for making those purchases that help support our channel! I'm glad also of your endorsement of Wool&Prince. Kevin came to the part later than me, but he absolutely loves them! As far as a three-week trip, for the two weeks with family, wool really is your friend in being able to pack less. You can really get away with rotating two shirts and two pairs of shorts in summer, a bathing suit, and a week of underwear. For as much as Kevin carries, he primarily is rotating two short with two shirts. The biggest weight will be a second pair of shoes. Ideally you have the shoes you need for business and then you wear a pair of super comfy sandals or a pair of sneakers if you aren't a sandals guy. For the work piece, do you need more than three dress shirts if they're wool? And two pairs of dress pants? -Judy
Nice suggestions. Yes, I’m thinking I might be able to get by with one pair of dress pants, one “office casual,” and one casual, plus maybe a pair of shorts. I do think that three dress shirts will be plenty, especially if they’re wool. Many thanks for inspiring and sustaining these conversations!
So glad we could help. We would love to hear your experience after your trip, Mark. -Judy
Because weight isn’t a concern it looks like you have a great set up. We love the idea of a kitchen kit for airbnbs and I’m going to go make one now. Except for weather extremes, we pack so that everything fit in our rolling carry ons, which means my underseat bag can tuck away inside the luggage. This means fewer electronics, far fewer clothes, but also finding multiple uses for anything we might schlep along. We’re in our sixties and believe in traveling light means traveling far. Happy travels!
Thanks so much for watching! Not sure if you are full-time travelers, but if we weren't and if we didn't have a TH-cam channel, we would be packing much less. Kevin's entire backpack is electronics gear. Our wool blanket is a frivolous extra, but we've gotten so much use out of it that I wouldn't travel without it. As far as clothes. in the summer I pretty much rotate between two or three dresses, but I have clothes in case we need to bike or be in a temple. And some clothes I could get rid of, except I do like having a little more variety when I'm going to wear only these clothes for the majority of the year. We agree that we'd be even happier if we could lighten our load a bit more, but we're okay with what we've got at this point. And bravo to you because we are 100% in favor of doing with less! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie, my dream would be to hire a "luggage handler." 🙂
No, it's not so frivolous; my back is not in the best shape.
@@michaels3003 I can understand the need. We can definitely feel the weight of our backpacks after a full day of travel. We realized that it wouldn't be practical for us to only travel with backpacks because rolling is so much easier on our backs. But as I mentioned above, there are ways to make it much lighter if you are only traveling for a few weeks or a month or two. There are places that will "handle" your luggage for you, but you are at the mercy of some things not going sideways or delays. In fact, Japan has a luggage service called "Takuhaibin" that seems to do what you are wanting. www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html -Judy
Quicktip: I put my water bottles in the pockets before I load the backpack. This prevents it from puffing out the sides then I can't get the bottle in. Once the pack is loaded, I have no issues getting the bottle in/out as the things in the pack have settled elsewhere.
I do this when I remember, but that's not every time. Fortunately, my bags have always been able to accommodate my water bottle, even when the backpack is full. My previous water bottle was tall and slim, though, so the new bottle I bought here in Thailand may require it to be loading first. Great suggestion! -Judy
Thank you so much for this thorough video -- I really appreciate it! Very well-done and informative -- and a lovely website! In need of a suitcase for my first trip (two-week holiday!), and prefer having a carry-on (scared a checked one would get lost 🥺). I thought that particular Briggs and Riley suitcase looked small on their website, but seeing how well you guys pack, I think I can manage! This is the best video I've seen going over the suitcase I am looking at, and I also learned a lot more about traveling/packing from you guys -- I can make a better choice, now. Thank you 😊.
If you guys have ever used United Airlines and done this, did you ever have an issue when bringing on the suitcase in this video as your carry-on, and your backpack as a personal item to go under the seat? Specifically, I like Kevin's 20L backpack overall, but also curious about Judy's experience with her backpack. I'm thinking of doing this, but both backpack's dimensions are a bit larger than the maximum allowed personal item size, and I'm not sure how strict United actually is about that.
Thank you so much for watching and for the compliment! We have been really happy with our Briggs & Riley suitcases. We do stuff ours pretty full! United especially has never been an issue with these suitcases. They perfectly conform to size restrictions. Our biggest issue is on discount airlines because of weight, not because of size. Both of our backpacks also fit under the seat. Viet Jet was the only airline that ever weighed our backpacks, and fortunately it was not an issue (and it was only on one of our flights). Generally speaking if you are wearing it, no one is going to give you an issue. Mine is actually slightly longer than Kevin's, but it still fits under my seat, and we both have ours loaded with a water bottle and an umbrella and it still doesn't make either of them too wide. A link to our gear guide is here: GEAR LIST: findingGinaMarie.com/gear
Also, this video you just watched is most accurate about what we are carrying, how we pack, etc., but you can watch our original packing video when our suitcases were new because Kevin goes into a little more depth about some of the Briggs & Riley features. There's a table of contents in the description if you want to skip around. We are happy to answer any questions at all about what and how we pack and travel! -Judy
🎥 How we pack (2023 version): th-cam.com/video/JT_tUoub4f0/w-d-xo.html
I used to have B & R but I now like hard shell because it’s less bedbug friendly 😅. Easier to clean.
Hi Kathleen, Briggs & Riley also has hard-sided luggage. However, everything we've seen from other brands is that hard-sided luggage (Away, Monos, etc.) tends to scuff easier and look dirty. We've been very fortunate not to encounter bedbugs, but I would suspect they could get into the lining of the bag as easily as on top of it. I'd almost want to burn the entire lot, clothes and all-if we encountered them! Thanks so much for watching -Judy
Full disclosure, I have never used this but I like the idea. Larq water bottle for if you are going to areas where you are unsure if the water is safe to drink, it uses UV to clean the water. Something to look into. Love the updated packing video!!
Thanks so much for the suggestion, Nicole! The Larq bottle looks very interesting. It doesn't ship to Cambodia (or our next stop Thailand), but I will keep it on my radar. It looks like it will come in handy, especially for places where tap water isn't safe to drink. We're so glad to hear you liked the video; thanks for watching! -Judy
I would need Consumer Reports to test it first. Cannot imagine that a weak UV light can do much or anything. The UV wavelength also matters (needs to be shorter, not longer). Deep-UV light sources are not cheap.
@@michaels3003 We actually bought and are returning a Grayl Ultrapress bottle, which removes versus cleans but leaves behind the dead waste. (amzn.to/3UJfQSv) The bottle is great, but it's a bit bulkier and smaller than what I need. The advantage is that it does actually filter out the junk. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie , interesting. The reviews are great. "Bad water" can cause serious health issues for some people. A young child of my former dentist got very sick during a trip to a central Asian country.
@@michaels3003 Yes, we agree about how important it is to protect your gut health. We're currently in Thailand where our Airbnb provides bottled water in glass bottles that are cleaned and sterilized and then refilled, which is so much better than plastic bottles. This surprisingly has cost us nothing! In Cambodia the hosts had double or triple filtered water and the filter was changed regularly. It is making things so much easier than we thought they'd be. -Judy
COLLEEN and KEVIN - Tell me MORE about your walking shoes! Especially those rubber sole types. Are those SACONY & HOKA? I can't seem to find the right type for walking. Flat-types are very tiring for long walks! ♥
Yes, Saucony! They are linked in our gear guide, which is found here: findingginamarie.com/gear. -Kevin
Thank you for another great video. How much do your backpacks and suitcases weigh?
Hi Tam, thanks so much for watching.
Judy's suitcase: 15.7 pounds; backpack: 8.25 pounds
Kevin's suitcase: 15.45 pounds; sling: 2.4 pounds; backpack: 11.2 pounds (inclusive of sling)
We can move things around a bit to lighten our suitcases and put more weight in our backpacks, which typically are considered a personal item and typically aren't weighed, but we only have to do that for super budget airlines.
Also, we could carry less, but as full-time travelers without a home base or anywhere to swap clothes during alternate seasons, we'd rather not limit our variety that much. -Judy
Thank you for your detailed reply. How are you liking the merino wool clothing in the heat of Southeast Asia?
@tam6912 it has worked out SO well. Both my clothes and Kevin’s are so breathable, and not having to wash them after every wear (even in the heat) is very liberating. I absolutely love mine, and I’m actually shocked at how much Kevin is enjoying his as well. Thanks for asking! -Judy
I have the same suitcase, do you ever have issues with it rolling over carpet like in hotels? Great Videos! safe travels
Thanks so much for watching! We feel like we can control these suitcases pretty well and stay in one direction. We do think carpet is a little more effort, but that's been our experience with every type of rolling luggage we've ever owned. For us, there are so many pros than cons that we don't see this as an issue. Thank you for your kind words. Safe travels to you as well! -Judy
♥♥♥♥!!!!!! Very important and practical suggestions!
Thank you so much for watching, Enrique!
Great video! I wasn't able to find your compact foldable iPhone/watch charger. Would please post a link? Thank you!
Thank you! Apple stopped making that charger when they announced the new iPhone 15 that uses USB-C instead of Lightning as a charging port.
Anker announced this recently. It’s not as small, but it does more than my now discontinued Apple charger. I’m still trying to decide if I’ll replace mine. I hope this helps: www.anker.com/products/a2557-maggo-qi2-wireless-charging-station-magsafe-compatible - Kevin
Use different colour cubes it's easy to recognize what it has inside.
That's true, Ian, but I like the color burgundy. I have different sizes for each of my kit. Small for underthings, mid for jacket, bathing suit, medium for winter clothes, and large for summer clothes. Kevin uses compression cubes that have mesh, which allows you to see through them. But your way certainly can work if you prefer it. Thanks for sharing and for watching! -Judy
What is the brand of the wool blanket?? I couldn't make out what you said and if there was a link to it, I am missing it. Thanks!
Thanks for asking. We are still putting links on our gear page, but we just added it in Accessories (findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-lr73ixu9). In the meantime, here's our link to the Astoria Throw from Wool&. shrsl.com/4dfdy. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Thanks for this very helpful video content. 😊♥️✈️🧳🌞
Thank you so much for watching, Heather! Happy to answer any of your questions if you have any! -Judy
Great comprehensive video. You mentioned liquids and flying through Edinburgh. We’re flying Boston to Edinburgh with a layover in Dublin via Aer Lingus. They have a pretty strict size and weight limit for both carryon and personal item. Any advice for a personal item that would work? I love Judy’s Peak Design backpack but I think it’s way too big for Aer Lingus.
Hi Emily, I've never had a problem with my backpack being weighed or measured, but it does appear to be bigger than the personal item allowance. I've only been carrying this bag since October. The first 11 months of our travels I was using a PacSafe 17L bag, which has smaller dimensions and should work. The security features of PacSafe are outstanding (straps can't be cut, multiple zipper lock mechanisms, and an ability to lock it to a stationary object). I was still able to pack a lot into the bag and it still looked very stylish.
Here's a link to the details of our gear page: findingginamarie.com/gear#portfolio-lr34vkdk.
Please save yourself trouble and don't overpack your liquids! Of the 17 countries we've visited since we've been full-time travelers, Edinburgh, Scotland was by far the most strict of them all! Let us know what you decide to carry and also all about your trip. We loved Dublin (we traveled there before we traveled full time-Kevin is Irish!). -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Thanks for the speedy response. I’ll check out the PAC Safe bag on your site. May I enquire if you have a particular airline you prefer for overseas travel or are their several variables driving your choices?
@@elmrkm We have no brand loyalty anymore when it comes to airlines. We tend to book through Kayak and eDreams when it makes sense to do so. If you mean when we're traveling between countries while we're international, our drivers are cost, the number of layovers and number of hours. We try not to book more than one layover because the cost of seat assignments can rack up if we want to sit together (and the cost of a checked bag on an airline that weighs bags also adds up). I wouldn't say there's any airline I wouldn't travel on if everything else is okay. We have the luxury of time in most cases, so delays don't kill us the way it might if we were on vacation where every day and moment count. If we're traveling from the US to someplace (or vice versa more likely), we prefer Delta and try to avoid American Airlines. We have a lot of miles accumulated on United, but Delta tends to have better service and food. I hope this helps! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie It does!
Judy, is there a link to your smaller Pacsafe convertible backpack for day excursions? Thanks!
Yes! Thank you for watching. I’m out, but I will post it in our gear list and also here in the next two hours. Our gear list took longer than we thought it would to upload. I’m using the bag as we speak! -Judy
Hi Tanya, The link for my 10L PacSafe backpack is now on our gear page. Here's a link: amzn.to/3Hbh1lU. I also put my old 17L PacSafe backpack on the gear page as well. I was heartbroken to have to give it up, but I really wanted the extra 3L, which was critical for me after Kevin's surgery when I needed to carry more of the load when he was recovering from hernia surgery. We'll be steadily adding items over the next few days, but don't hesitate to ask if there's anything else you are interested in that's not found on our gear page (findingGinaMarie.com/gear).
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you, Judy!
My question is about prescription meds. Did you bring several months worth, or is there a way to refill internationally? Thank you. Love your channel!
Hi Tami, Thank you so much for watching and for your great question! We are very, very fortunate to not need to be taking any prescription drugs. Kevin takes over the counter Claritin, but we stock up when we can and request the generic version or something comparable in countries that don't have it available. We hope you will find this article helpful from our website: findingginamarie.com/articles/dealing-with-prescriptions-as-full-time-travelers. You do need to be careful about what you're carrying because some countries like Japan have a lot of restrictions around what you can bring into the country.
Thank you so much for your kind words. They truly mean so much to us! -Judy
So, you have a Merino wool shirt which you have washed; how long will it take to dry?
Hi Juan, if we wash clothes in the morning, we can put them away at night and they are dry. In some places they dry even faster. It may take overnight if we are in a very humid/damp place, but that's rare. And for the few clothes that we have that are not wool, they take appreciatively longer than what we have that's wool. They'd dry faster if they were outside in the breeze, but most of the time we have to dry our clothes indoors. Thanks for watching, and don't hesitate to ask any other questions about our gear. -Judy
Do you end up paying more for your cases to airlines? Do you think can get away with a minimum 30l weightless bpack and a 25l personal item daypack. I m unsure as need to take many meds and winter summer items and shoes? I m determined to carry on only. Still looking for s mini hair curler/straightener in one . Next time will go hostel route as on v tight budget. Biggest thing is can never get things dry overnight in them.
We prefer to have rolling suitcases so we aren't bearing the weight of everything on our backs. You'd be traveling much lighter than us to have a 30L backpack and a 25L personal item case, but it's *completely doable.* Kevin gets by with three shirts for summer, three shirts for winter and two pairs each of shorts and long pants. I carry and wear more because I like more variety. Kevin carries more, but really he mostly rotates those few things. If you wear sturdy walking shoes, you really only need a pair of sandals as an alternate shoe. Here's a link to a 9 oz flat iron/curler that is dual voltage that you might like: amzn.to/3H9j1v3. Wool is an investment, but it dries incredibly fast. The big thing to remember is that you don't have to plan for every contingency. Someone suggested that we should have an eyeglass repair kit, which is small, but even small things eventually take up space if you have enough of them.
How did you come to Wool& for merino? A lot of options out there, many at a similar price point, and hard to really compare across brands.
Great question, Tim. What stood out to us are their 100-day challenges where you can earn a free dress or men’s shirt by wearing them 100 days in a row. We haven’t taken part in those challenges, but because the wool is holding up so well to 100 days of continuous use and validates the antimicrobial and smell-free properties they claim to have, which is a pretty big endorsement. We can both agree that we swap between two dresses or dresses shirts over a multiple weeks without any issues. Your mileage may vary, but we only started affiliating with them after having months and months of first-hand proof. Thanks for watching, and feel free to ask any additional questions. Follow their care guidance and use mild detergents. We don’t wash any of these every single week (because we don’t need to). I’m a messy eater, so I do need to spot clean, and everything has always cleaned up perfectly.
@@FindingGinaMarie great info...how do you spot clean...club soda? Guessing that a Tide pen is out. Question now is what pieces to buy starting with our Spain trip in April. Someday I might opt for a collared shirt like Kevin, but thinking a couple of polos and a t-shirt. Sticking with ExOfficio underwear for now.
Biggest challenge continues to be sizing as I am working to lose another 25-30# which might put me in a L vs XL. Have you found any issues with the fit from Wool&? I tried a piece from Unbound and it was too snug compared to what I expected.
Hi Tim, We actually spot clean with a very mild hand soap without moisturizers or other ingredients or we use a half of a Lab Company laundry strip in a small amount of water in a clean sink. Kevin's not a polo shirt guy, but I think those are a great idea along with a t-shirt. We recommend looking at reviews for fit because some styles can be tighter in the shoulders. Wool&Prince goes up to XXL. Polos and t-shirts will be a bit more forgiving than a stiffer shirt that has less stretch. Kevin weighs around 172 and wears a Men's Large, which is his usual size.
Wool&Prince has colors in three types of fabric and weights, so take a close look at what you're choosing and the weather you'll be wearing them in. Kevin's shirts aren't 100% wool, but they are 78/22 for reference. There also is a pique that is 78/22, but it's a heavier weight.
Personally, when I had any doubt, I looked closely at the measurements and I have typically gone with the larger size without regrets. I don't want to be too snug or uncomfortable because then I won't want to wear my clothes. I did end up getting a few things tailored when we were in Serbia because I needed a larger size but then my underarms had gaps. The price was super inexpensive and I'm happy with the adjustments. When you get to those lower sizes, treat yourself to a new shirt or two in a smaller size in order to celebrate, but be comfortable in the meantime. Feel free to ask any additional questions you may have! -Judy
I'm trying to decide whether to bet the 21" vs the 22" carry-on. Have you had any trouble with the 22" on international flights? Thank you for the great info!!
Hi Kim, thank you so much for watching! We would have loved to squeeze everything into a 21" suitcase because less is always more. However, we are very glad for the extra inch! The size has never been an issue. The challenge comes in when flying very budget airlines that require you to weigh suitcases. We are well over the 7 or 8kg that some of them require. In nearly every circumstance, though, if they don't specifically require weighing, our 22" has never been an issue. And we have been SO impressed by how well they are holding up to our extreme use! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie thank you so much! May I ask another question? In looking for an underseat bag, I'm tempted to go with the matching bag in ocean because I'm kind of obsessed with matching gear. 😄 Will I be sorry to not have a backpack or cross body? It does have a strap.
Hi Kim, Personally, I prefer a backpack for a few reasons, including that I don't like to constantly have to pull the bag back on my shoulder and I don't want it to add any side bulk or feel like I have to keep shifting it out of my way when it's not on my luggage handle. Sometimes when I'm on cobblestones, etc., it's easier on my wrist to only have to navigate my rolling luggage without the weight of my underseat bag on top of it. But if you aren't packing that bag very heavily or a shoulder strap works for you, then by all means, go for it. It's very pretty! -Judy
Hello, have you guys tried the Briggs Riley Torq 22” .
Hard to choose between the Torq and the ZDX
Thanks!
We haven’t tried the Torq, but in looking at the reviews on the Briggs and Riley website, people are complaining about how narrow it is, how much interior space the laptop pocket takes from the interior space (1/4), if the interior is over full the laptop pocket won’t close. A big benefit is that it’s lighter than the ZDX, but I prefer having a more forgiving piece of luggage to adapt to the various circumstances I might need it for.
I don’t love that. It’s so narrow either plus that door/pocket is going to cost you extra space even if you don’t use it. There are times where I wish we packed less or had purchased the 21 inch in order to force us to have less room, but there have been more times than I can count that I have been grateful for that extra one inch. I don’t think you’re getting a fair trade off with that bag. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie wow thanks for the details reply. You are right that laptop would take space from the interior even if I leave it empty.
I was considering it more for the half pound saving.
But the ZDX is the better value.
Thanks!!
@theflyerpr40d So glad we could help. We admit that the lighter weight intrigued us originally, too! -Judy
Just checking out your kitsch rice shampoo bar on your website. Do you replenish these with any kind of delivery? Just wondering with some items you purchased back here in the USA what have you been able to find again elsewhere that you like? Also, you mentioned no home base just like we won't have, too expensive & too much hassle. Down the road, when it comes time to renew drivers licenses are you just using a relative's address for backup?
Hi Carolann, I'm about to reorder my Kitsch rice shampoo for delivery to our Airbnb in South Korea. Sometimes there are shipping costs, but for the most part it's worth it to get the products we need. We don't do any sort of recurring orders because we don't always know where we'll be and some things don't ship to every country or are prohibitive. For instance, I need to replenish Rogaine, but it doesn't ship to anywhere we'll be before it runs out. Fortunately, there's a version called Regaine (exactly the same but branded differently in certain countries-still the same formulation and from the same company) here in Taiwan. If we think we'll need something that's not worth buying abroad because of shipping, we'll buy extra when we're in the US or have it shipped to a family member who we know we'll be meeting up with. Our daughter brought us some supplies in Japan and she'll be bringing us a few things to Italy when we see her in June. If we had to, we could pick up some of these items on the road, but they would be more expensive due to Amazon delivery charges. We have always purchased most of our items from Amazon even before traveling, so there are a lot of things we can get from Amazon UK, Germany, etc. It's certainly been trickier in Southeast Asia, but not impossible.
Our drivers' licenses were both renewed just before we left San Francisco, so we have some time before we need to deal with it. Unfortunately, there's no absolute answer because it depends on what state your license is from, and each state has its own rules. But there's a possibility that eventually we will shift ours to an address of one of our children. For now, there are reasons we'd prefer to keep our address in California. I hope this helps! -Judy
I understand, thank you for all this information. All things that I'm thinking way ahead about but thought I'd ask. I can't wait to try the solid rice shampoo & conditioner! So glad I found those on your website. Thank you for that gear list. My husband was already looking at some items Kevin has on there as well. You & your husband put so
much time into these sites. Your time is greatly appreciated.
How wonderful that you will get to visit with your daughter soon in Italy! 🇮🇹 🎉😊
@@owlscoffeecats I hope you love the shampoo/conditioner and would love to know how it works for you. The first type of bar soaps we originally started traveling with were ones we did not enjoy, but I have really liked Kitsch rice shampoo and conditioner. It takes a little bit to get used to using bar shampoo/conditioner, but I use my own even when Airbnbs provide liquids for us. It really is a pleasure for us to provide these resources for you, and your questions have helped us to beef up our blog content-we have more posts coming soon. Our daughter has never visited Italy and she wants to experience as much as possible, so we worry a little that it will be a very, very busy two weeks and we'll be exhausted when she leaves! -Judy
Judy, do you use liquid foundation & under eye concealer? If so how do you avoid carrying the full size bottles? Or, do you have a travel hack for this?
Hi Maria, I use Laura Geller powder foundation (amzn.to/3wrefGY). It's not too drying or oily. I have oily skin, so I try to avoid liquid foundation because it seems like it's easier to sweat off! And I don't use under-eye concealer at all. But I'd try to avoid liquids whenever possible because they do add up. I've occasionally had an issue with lipsticks, which I leave in their own small zippered case but take out when I have to remove liquids. Almost never have I had an issue with them wanting them to be in the zippered plastic baggie, but I'm prepared to toss some expensive lipsticks if necessary. I've had a few occasions where I've had one or two tubes in my backpack and been called out for them. 🤦♀️🙄 -Judy
@FindingGinaMarie thanks for getting back to me-- I appreciate it!
@@mariabarnes9197 Very happy to answer any questions you may have! -Judy
Are the zippers theft proof? I noticed the locks, but learned that they're usless if someone pops open the zippers with a pen.
Hi Violetann, We're familiar with puncture resistant zippers, but our bags do not have them. In general we keep a pretty close eye on our bags and are less concerned about that than having other points of failure like the wheels and telescoping handle. The features we love on our backpacks and Briggs & Riley suitcases are more important to us, so we aren't prioritizing that single feature over the other elements of our bags. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
Just saw your videos for the first time. Judy, what are the names of the products you use for your hair. Always looking for something for hair loss. You also mentioned a hair oil? TIA
Ugh, it really is a pain for women, isn't it? There's so much shame and self-consciousness about hair loss. I use Rogaine for women with 5% minoxidil. I also use Kitch Rice Protein Bar Shampoo & Conditioner and Virtue Labs Density Booster (www.virtuelabs.com/en/density-booster.html-I'm not sure I saw results, but I only went through one bottle of this) , and their Healing Oil, which adds much-needed moisture to my very dry hair. I've also been using some hair touchup when I'm between hair coloring or want to cover any thin spots. I have links here on our Gear page if you'd like to use them to support our channel. My haircare products are under Toiletries (findingginamarie.com/gear).
Thank you so much for watching. I wish you the best of luck! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie Thank you for your reply. I did check out your gear page and found the products. My hair is gray and never seen any fill in for thinning spots. I used the touch up when I colored my hair. I know hair loss/thinning is a side effect of one of my medications. My hair was growing really nice until I started it but it's one I need to take to prevent cancer.
@@teacher224 I have found that the Rogaine and Kitch shampoo have done the most for my hair. I mentioned that when we were leaving Edinburgh last May that I was forced to ditch my Rogaine going through security (I had too many liquids). I had been using it for so long I didn't realize how much it was helping. I am religious about using it and it's made a big difference. The root touchup powder I use does come in gray if that helps at all. So sorry you are dealing with the repercussions of cancer. It's an awful, awful disease. -Judy
Grey Hairline Powder: amzn.to/3xkR8yk
What size or those nomadic packing cubes? I have this suitcase and like the mesh.
Hi Brandon, We have links to all our gear in our Gear Guide linked below. These are the Nomadic mediums. Their dimensions are 7.76"L x 5"W x 11.5"H. Kevin has really enjoyed them and they are holding up perfectly. -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie thank you again!
Of course; any time! -Judy
Are your carryons within the weight limit allowed especially to Europe?
Thanks for watching! We've actually never had anyone weigh our bags in Europe. The dimensions fit, so unless you're on a super discounted airline, you shouldn't have any problems. VietJet has been the primary airline that we've encountered that has required that we weigh our suitcases. Our rolling suitcases weigh about 15kg apiece. -Judy
Fountain pens! Where is the ink bottle, or bottles?
Do you empty pens before take-off when flying?
Oh, the woes of my fountain pen collection. I have some very beautiful ones, including a few Visconti Homo Sapiens and Pelican 800s that our son in San Francisco is holding for me. The pens I have with me now are ones that use a cartridge converter. I have a couple of Visconti Van Gogh series fountain pens and a Montegrappa pen that I bought when we first started traveling. I try to keep them nibs up and so far they haven't leaked ! The last time we were back in the US I donated several very nice fountain pens and more than three dozen bottles of ink since we know that it will be a long while before we're anywhere close to ready to settle down. If you use or collect fountain pens, I'd love to know your favorites! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie leaving aside the Grail pen that is on everyone's list, I am a fan of big, Black pens, PenLux Grande, I am reconsidering the Pilot Metropolitan, and looking at the Eastie that came out last year. I am not a collector, unlike my fellow pen enthusiasts, I use my pens such as a All American Conklin (black, of course) but I have a couple of demo including an eye-dropper purchased at an affordable price off Amazon just for the experience of using an eye-dropper.
I am member of the Boston Pen Club which meets about 3-4 times a year organized by David Watts and Pier. Pier has his own occasional vlog.
Next time you are in Boston...
Hi Sheldon, I love this for you. My first fountain pen as an adult was a black Metropolitan! I had a clear Opus 88 Omar fountain pen, which was fun to use and the capacity was fabulous. But it had its share of burping problems! We'll look up your pen posse the next time we have occasion to be in Boston! -Judy
Im leaving March 25th for a several weeks trip to Japan, ive traveled to 51 countries and this trip im anxious and nervous, i think irlts because i had several back surgeries and im still healing, i walk slow and will be taking transportation whenever i need to. Is it easy getting help to lift my suitcase ? Are the Japanese hotels and train workers understanding to those who need help?
Hi Peyton, It will cost a bit more, but you'll be much happier with taxi services versus the train when you are transporting luggage. We were pretty much on our own with luggage on trains and buses-they really aren't set up with people to help you load or unload your items. The hotels we were in weren't super helpful proactively, but I'm sure if you asked for assistance, they would help you. Our experience was that in general Japanese people are very kind and helpful. Have a great trip, and if you need any inspiration, here's a link to our full series from our 40+ days in Japan. -Judy
Japan travel series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF0V4Brx4J0uWJdQENFZKWBT.html
Which fireproof waterproof pouch do you use?
Thanks so much for your patience! Getting these links uploaded has taken longer than we planned. Here's a direct link (amzn.to/48lYK13) and we now have it uploaded to our gear page if you need it later (findingGinaMarie.com/gear). We'll be adding the rest of our items to the list, but feel free to reach out if there's anything else that you want a link for. We'll get it to you pronto. Thanks so much for watching! -Judy
We were both chuckling watching this video as we made many similar changes with our gear. We have the same Anker batteries and power supplies and they have been a game changer for us, although in hindsight I (Chris) should have gone with a smaller battery pack. It’s always interesting to see what other full time travelers pack and consider essential.
Thanks for sharing.
Chris&Steph@388_Days
Hi Chris, I chose the 140W Anker battery because I wanted to be able use our key light remotely at 100%, which requires that much wattage. The 140W power strip was for that same reason and to run my M1 Max MBP without needing an Apple power supply. Cheers! - Kevin
how much does this weigh, are you within the 7kg limit for carry on with some airlines?
Thanks for watching! We are not within the 7kg limit, but fortunately, there's been only a small subset of airlines that are focused on the 7kg requirement. Most of the time, they are concerned by the dimensions of your luggage, and those haven't been any problem for us. Our rolling suitcases are around 15.5 kg apiece. When we're worried about being over the 15kg, we rearrange things into our backpacks. It's worth it for us to have a few luxuries as full-time travelers visiting countries through three/four seasons each year. Our biggest hassle is VietJet, which weighs every rolling suitcase. They've only weighed our backpacks once, but our backpacks have never been an issue. They fit under our seats without any issue.
We've had a couple of occasions with Egypt Air where they charged for a cabin bag and checked bags were free, so we did that for our rolling suitcases. -Judy
Locking a suitcase is a waste of time, a zip can be opened with the point of a pen and then use the zip pull to zip it up with the lock on.
Hi Ian, the lock on a suitcase serves a few purposes. It keeps the zipper from opening accidentally during handling, but it also provides a small barrier to entry from a housekeeper or a curiosity seeker because it takes an extra few moments. There are few effective barriers when someone really wants to break into your suitcase. I'm not worried about people with pens, and we don't keep valuables in our suitcases, so if someone wants a dress or my leggings, go for it. -Judy
Memobottle flat water bottle
These are fascinating, Carolyn! Maybe not as practical for the outside of our backpacks that require a round bottle, but absolutely brilliant for going in the front seat pocket of your airplane seat. I love this idea!
How did you find getting new glasses in Japan?
It was an interesting process. You get tested to verify your prescription, but there's no traditional eye exam like there is in the US. They don't perform any basic eye health tests. They only are sorting out your prescription. Our glasses took a week to be delivered, but some people can get glasses in an hour if their prescription is more straightforward. Kevin and I needed progressive lenses, which caused the delay. Also, glasses are cheaper than in the US. However, we were told our existing lenses were very high quality German lenses, so we had to pay more of a premium to get something similar that was still of a lesser quality than what we had from the US. However, I can tell absolutely no difference in my vision with my new glasses. (Our prescriptions didn't change, but the coatings were starting to come off from our old glasses, so we needed new glasses.) We paid around $300 for our glasses versus our US glasses that were closer to $1K apiece. Our new frames are a few levels more expensive than the lowest level and not by an expensive designer, but we were extremely happy with them. (Our old frames weren't designer, either.) We still would like to find an ophthalmologist during our travels so we can check the health of our eyes, but it wasn't something that Japan offered. Let me know if any of this isn't clear! -Judy
Thanks
@@cosser6522 Hapoy to answer any other questions if you have them! -Judy
@@FindingGinaMarie, the mark up on frames is incredible. My provider had to order Japanese-made eyeglass lenses, because standard polycarbonates made me feel see sick. Before Japanese companies entered the optics market (many decades ago), German products were considered to be the best.
@@michaels3003 You are right. It's how companies like Warby Parker became so successful. For some reason companies with little competition choose to gouge their customers because they can. We are extremely happy with our glasses, and don't feel like we made any compromises at all with our choices in Japan. German lenses might be better, but going a few levels up on the lenses has been perfectly fine. -Judy
I have a genuine question. When someone from the USA is asked overseas where are you from, why do everyone say the state or city rather than the country. I always hear people saying I am from Boston as opposed to I am from the USA. If someone asks me I would say I am from Germany as opposed to I am from Kassel.
I think it’s just assumed that you’re an American, America is super large, so people like to say where they’re actually from.
If I think the person asking is not American, I say American. If they are American I say the state. It is the United *States* of America and most Americans have strong attachment to their state, or city.
It's a great question and I'll echo what some other people have said here. The US is really large, so being from New York or San Francisco (or California) makes a big difference. Also, most of the time when Americans say their city it's typically a well-known city. They probably don't say they're from Cheektowaga or even Buffalo perhaps. But most people worldwide know places like New York, Houston, Boston, San Francisco or LA and it gives better context. This is especially true because so many television shows and movies are made in Hollywood and have a US city referenced, so those major cities are familiar to people. And people say those places because the detail actually resonates with foreigners. When we've said we were from Houston (when we were living there), we'd have people mention that they visited there or knew someone from Houston, etc. It becomes a conversation starter if the city is big enough or mainstream enough. And Kassel is probably not nearly as mainstream as if you lived in a major, well-known city in Germany, where you could say, "I'm from Munich, Germany" or "I'm from Munich" and people would instantly understand the reference. -Judy
As an American who lived in Germany, I totally understand that question and have pondered reasons why we’re that way. I think a lot of people assume it’s because we’re arrogant and while there are always going to be people like that in any country, I feel safe in saying that for the majority of Americans that genuinely isn’t the reason.
I think it’s because our country is just huge. Literally, some of our states are bigger than a lot of countries. When a country is as big as ours and was settled the way it was with different immigrants settling together in different parts of the country, bringing their cultures with them and creating a new unique culture it creates a lot of diversity that has given each state its own unique identity and culture in the same way European countries share a continent but each place has its own culture.
So yes, we’re all American but we can be vastly different depending on where we live.
The best analogy I can think of is that it’s like saying everyone in Northwestern Europe is from the UK. Technically, they mostly are, but if you ask they’re most likely going to say they’re British, Welsh, Scottish etc.
Similarly, an American from California is going to have a completely different culture, their accents will be very different, even their values and beliefs overall are often different than say an American from Alabama and they are both going to be very different in their own ways from people in New York.
I don’t know if that makes any sense, but I hope it helped somehow. 😂
@TElmgren Thanks for this additional explanation. We completely agree! -Judy
Only 15 lbs weight limit on Carry on to most airlines
Hi Pilar, There are very few airlines that actually weigh suitcases, unless they are very budget airlines like VietJet. We had no trouble with most other airlines. And we're able to shift items between our suitcases and our backpacks when necessary if we think it will be an issue. Thanks for watching. -Judy
Are a lot of countries still requiring masks and vaccines??
Hi Rebecca, great question! We're currently in Taiwan and we are surprised about how many people are wearing masks, including outdoors. Definitely we see people wearing them on public transportation. In fact, when we arrived here, we each got a free boxed COVID test to have on hand. There also were some people wearing masks in Vietnam and also Japan. I would say we saw the most people in Taiwan, then Japan, then Vietnam, and finally Chiang Mai. We really didn't see masks in much of Cambodia. Also, we recommend having some on hand in case of any sort of air pollution, wildfire, or natural disaster as part of your emergency items. They're light and don't take up a lot of room, but you never know the circumstances where you'll need one. We saw them less in Europe. Thanks for watching! -Judy
Not exactly minimalist ! A scale ??????!!!! Blanket ????? Dental kit ???? Seriously ????
Unapologetically yes. We are full-time travelers without any home base. We wouldn’t dream of packing these things if we were on a two week or even two-month trip. But when you’ve sold everything you own and this is your actual life, having a blanket when it gets cold and you’re sitting on the couch in an Airbnb in winter, have plaque on your teeth because you’re between dental appointments, or trying to manage your weight, these are things we’ve chosen to travel with. Of course, if you aren’t living, the way, we are, by all means don’t carry these things. -Judy
English is not your native language?????
Do not understand what full time travel means??????!!!!
I hope I got the number of ?s and !s right.