A Single Mom And Child Packing List For An Extended Trip
Wonder how one mom prepped for a slow travel?
We did.
Welcome guest blogger Marilia Di Cesare. We are so excited to have the opportunity to meet so many amazing families on the road, many of which, we connect with online. Sometimes we even come across a few amazing single moms out in the word, doing what we are doing. Any we always create an instant bond with them. In the case fo Marilia, we were thrilled to meet a mom equally passionate about travel and about providing her daughter with the best “world schooling” possible. See why we connected?
So, we wondered how she planned, prepped and packed for this part of her journey, so so we asked her. We noticed there were slight differences between packing for a daughter than a son, other than that, our packing lists are virtually the same (minus the guitar).
A Single Mom & Child Packing List For An Extended Trip
By Guest blogger Marilia Di Cesare of TrippingMom.com
Way back on my travel planning stages, I decided I’d join the light travelers. I was planning on a seven-month trip to Costa Rica with my 3-year old and started to check on RTW travelers´ backpack sizes. I saw that some light travelers have 35 liters backpacks, so I figured that adding another 15 litters for Luísa´s stuff would suit us well and decided to buy a 50 liters. I also have a little backpack for electronics, carry on stuff and a guitar.
Ultimately, one should bring clothes that dry up easily, that match each other and bring some money to buy what´s not worth carrying with you. My packing strategy was very simple: I simply chose my favorite clothes that I use more regularly and fit in my backpack pretty much all I could (the backpack was the limit).
One good thing is that we are going from tropical town to tropical town, we don´t need to worry about warm clothes. We haven´t used our warm clothes at all (not even under AC, as a matter of fact). It feels like leaving them all behind, but like a careful mom, I have to be prepared in case the worse happens – meaning we face any temperature under 19°C.
I thought I would travel very little, around three towns and choose where to just stay. I ended up traveling a lot more, jumping from couch, to bus, to hostel and so on. It was quite uncomfortable to travel with all of this (as light as it might seem it´s still heavy to walk around), but bringing less also means washing clothes much more often.
After one month and a half traveling, we stopped at a town where I´ll spend some good 3-6 months (or more, who knows?) and it feels good to have the luxury to wash clothes once a week.
Hoping that this can help other single-traveler moms out there, here is goes:
My clothes
1) shirts 11
2) skirts 6
3) shorts 2
4) underwear 8
5) jeans 1
6) belt 1
7) sweaters 2
8 ) nightgown 2
9) sarongues 3
10) hat 1
11) sandals 1
12) sneakers 1
13) bikinis 7
14) rash guard
15) socks 3
Luísa´s clothes
16) shirts 11
17) dresses 4
18) shorts 9
19) skirts 2
20) long pajamas 3
21) short pajamas 2
22) long pants 3
23) sweater
24) coat
25) underwear 12
26) bikinis 5
27) socks 5
28) hat
29) sneakers
30) sandals 3
31) backpack
32) hand towels 2
Eletronics (or my toys)33) net book |
Uncategorized items50) swim cap |
Luísa´s toys41) little stuffed animals 3 |
Toiletries60) 2 hotel little bottles of shampoo |
Marilia Di Cesare of TrippingMom.com
Marília is a Brazilian surfer-single mom of a three-year old. She blogs at Tripping Mom about traveling with children, our values system, how to find a relevant education and ways to keep sanity (or forget about it) around a kid. She´s currently living in Costa Rica where her daughter is learning two new languages (Spanish and English).
About the Author:
Guest Blogger – who has written 27 posts on Raising Miro on the Road of Life - Travel Podcast.
[...] I´m guest posting at Raising Miro with my packing list, check it out and let me know in the comments if you´d change any items (can´t add anything, [...]
Inspiring list
. Though I am surprised everything fits in those 2 backpacks. Thanks for sharing.
[Reply]
ilainie Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Thank you for commenting! I too, was surprised everything fit in those two packs.
[Reply]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lainie Liberti, Sarah. Sarah said: Great tips on travelling light with kids (or without) from @mariliasurf http://tinyurl.com/4uz5g9z [...]
Totally stunned you could pack that much in those backpacks! Wowzers!
[Reply]
WOW! Someone sent me this list and I’m stunned. I would never call that traveling light and can’t imagine carrying that heavy of a load or what one would need 11 shirts etc for. Wow. nnWe’ve been traveling for 5 years non-stop as a family & this year we’ve got 18 plus stops completely around the world and we each just carry a small day pack each. ( Smaller than her smallest pack). And that includes 3 full sized laptops, toys for kiddo and homeschool supplies plus everything we need for a year of living as a family ( in several climates). We never check in luggage and that helps us stay speedy too and not worry about losing anything. nnI can not imagine traveling with that much …let alone with a three year old child. Maru00edlia is darling, but I think after she is on the road awhile, she will learn to pack much lighter. The lighter one packs the easier it is to get around…we zip through planes, airports, buses, trains, cargo ships etc …we’ve learned the great value of less is more. Minimalism works best for full time travel imho but of course, everyone must find what ever works best for them. nn”It was quite uncomfortable to travel with all of this ” Indeed!
[Reply]
soultravelers3 Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
I wrote this quickly late last night as a spontaneous reaction, but do realize that everyone has a different style and packing for one destination for 6 months is different than many countries. I want to make it clear that this is not a criticism of Marilla at all …she is amazing, beautiful inside and out and was generous to share her packing style and what works for her. My point in posting was to try to help others PLANNING travel because when I see people loaded down like this I want to help because I’ve BTDT and know an easier way.. IMHO light laundry on the road in warm climates is MUCH easier than lugging heavy loads around on one’s back. Live in one bathing suit and one sarong, wash clothes with feet when taking a shower…even a 3 year old will enjoy that.
[Reply]
Marilia Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 4:10 am
I agree with all thatu00b4s been said. Iu00b4d definitely advise anyone to bring way less than I did. I thought Iu00b4d arrive somewhere for 6 months fast and instead I dragged all that load around for many more stops. We sure donu00b4t use it all and half would have been enough. On the other hand, doing laundry once a week itu00b4s quite sweet
nnI also had planned on Luu00edsa to carry her own backpack with toys, but we started off at 4.30am and after deciding it wasnu00b4t worth starting the day with such a hassle, I simply brought it all myself. I admit that it was just me indulging and not using the learning opportunity, like in many other occasionsu2026 nnIu00b4m thankful we finally stopped, and itu00b4s been really cool.n
[Reply]
soultravelers3 Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 5:06 am
So happy Marilla that you took this in the spirit given. I woke up this morning worried that I might have hurt your feelings and that was not my intention. I think you and all the single moms who travel are amazingly brave! As a former clothes horse I understand wanting more things and as a mom I understand wanting to avoid a kid hassle.
One is always tweaking it due to experience. 
nn Do they have washing machines where you are? In our rentals in Spain and Asia we have washing machines so it’s very easy to just throw tiny loads in at breakfast and hang to dry. I just do it once or twice a week. We even lucked out with washers and dryers in NYC , santa cruz, bora bora, Hawaii so only did hand laundry during our week in Sydney even during our faster RTW travel ( and we could have used washing machines there but found it easier/cheaper to do it in our hostel in the shower. ) Glad to hear you are having a great time! Good to rest a bit after travels and immerse more deeply. Enjoy!
Marilia Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 2:58 pm
Until now I handwashed half of the time. Iu00b4m still about to move to a new house and I can probably use the washing machine of my neighbor-mama fellow.nnI feel bad when I have little clothes to fill up a washing machine though…nnIu00b4m happy we are about to u00a8immerse more deeplyu00a8, make some steady friends and enjoy it all.
soultravelers3 Reply:
March 1st, 2011 at 5:06 am
So happy Marilla that you took this in the spirit given. I woke up this morning worried that I might have hurt your feelings and that was not my intention. I think you and all the single moms who travel are amazingly brave! As a former clothes horse I understand wanting more things and as a mom I understand wanting to avoid a kid hassle.
One is always tweaking it due to experience. 
nn Do they have washing machines where you are? In our rentals in Spain and Asia we have washing machines so it’s very easy to just throw tiny loads in at breakfast and hang to dry. I just do it once or twice a week. We even lucked out with washers and dryers in NYC , santa cruz, bora bora, Hawaii so only did hand laundry during our week in Sydney even during our faster RTW travel ( and we could have used washing machines there but found it easier/cheaper to do it in our hostel in the shower. ) Glad to hear you are having a great time! Good to rest a bit after travels and immerse more deeply. Enjoy!
Also, I think her daughter should carry her own roller ( and perhaps tiny backpack/purse if needed for toys) carry on for her things. We’ve always done that with our child and she enjoys it and makes it easier for all. kids need to walk and carry their stuff and they can do that well starting at 2.
[Reply]
[...] I´m sure everyone makes the mistake to over packing in their first trip, or maybe in the first ones. Now that I´m a bit experienced in this I know we can´t go very wrong. Here´s what I consider essential for my 4-year old to bring along (and here´s our full packing list): [...]
[...] also fear my backpack. Even though it´s much lighter than in this first packing list. This one is different, I´ll bring a tent, an inflatable mattress (a sheet, extra sarongs for [...]
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Miro & Lainie (mother 46 and 13 year old son) share their adventures from the Road of Life, discussing issues of humanity, global citizenship, unschooling, slow travel, family travel, volunteering, travel inspiration & living in the moment as they explore the big beautiful planet, they call home.
Three and half years, 12 countries and many personal changes later, Lainie & Miro continue to slow travel around the globe, living an inspired possession-free-lifestyle, volunteering and learning naturally. They are following their interests on the road, as the planet has been transformed into their classroom. Often you will hear Lainie say “we are blessed to be accidental unschoolers” and has become and an advocate for “life learning” at any age. Lainie & Miro describe their greatest accomplishment as the ability to participate in the world without fear.Connect with Us!
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