My Road To Happiness

I’m still working on writing about the other days I spent in Greece, but just to be helpful and to keep the content coming, here’s some things I learned on my trip that might help you.

DO – pack only 1 carry-on bag and a back pack or large (but manageable) tote. If you’re traveling alone, and not checking into the Four Seasons, you need to remember that it’s all up to you. You will be hauling all that luggage to hell and back.

I knew this. I’m not a novice to traveling efficiently or alone. In fact I spend about 3 days a month on the road for work. Yet somehow, I convinced myself that I had to travel like Mariah Carey on this trip. I paid the price.

I went to Greece with a large rolling duffle packed to the gills and a large, unwieldy (albeit good looking) tote bag.

I thought I’d be using my apartment in Rhodes as “base camp” and driving all over the Island on day trips. I’d even brought my trusty expandable duffle for the trip home when I would need more space. It’s about the size of a hardback book when folded up and expands to an enormous size when unzipped.

If you’ve read about the trip you’d know I bugged out of the duggout about 3 days in.

Anyway, let’s just say that all the moving around I did and hauling through airports and schlepping up the cobble stone streets of Lindos has to be the reason I lost all that weight. So, technically there’s a up side. However it was NOT comfortable and I needed a massage to undo the damage.

Here’s all you need to bring for a 1 week trip to the Greek islands: I have linked to the items I brought that worked and I recommend for you – or to give you a better idea of what I mean

• 2 swim suits (it takes a while for them to dry so you need a spare)
• 2 t shirts (one tank, one with sleeves)
• 2 pairs of sunglasses you won’t mind losing
• 2 pairs of shorts (one dress, one sport)
• 1 skirt that can be dressy or casual and match both the t shirts
• 1 dress (a light cotton or knit and in a neutral color)
• 2-3 brightly colored cotton, summer scarves (to dress up the skirt or dress)
• 1 sweater/jacket for cool early morning walks and cooler nights
• 1 pair of good, comfortable (NOT NEW) sneakers/trainers
• 1 pair of good low profile sandals
• 1 pair of fancier sandals for your skirt and dress (NOT high heeled)
• 1 bottle of noncomedogenic sunscreen (SPF 50 or higher) for your face
• 1 spray bottle of water proof sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) for your body
• 1 beach towel (unless you know your hotel provides them)
• 1 product for your hair to protect it from intense sun and salt water
• Bobby pins/Pony tail holders
• Head scarf or bandanna
• Crusher hat
• 3 pairs of socks
• Travel packets of laundry soap
• Your usual beauty routine stuff (all travel sizes please!)
• Solarcaine, band aids and other routine health care items
• FOOT POWDER – I make special note of this b/c I didn’t bring it with me and paid the price
• 4 pair underpants
• 2 bras (1 sport, 1 dressy)

That’s it. I still recommend bringing one of those amazing expandable duffles. That way if you buy something breakable (like pottery, bottles of Olive Oil, etc.) they can go into the carry-on and all your soft clothing and shoes can be checked and travel home in the duffle.

Remember that anything you think should be on this list can be purchased over there if you really can’t do without it. You’ll wash / rinse out your unmentionables and your socks so you won’t need one for each day.

Your Phone. PLEASE if you’re traveling on your own (and even if you’re not) get a working cell phone for the trip. You can a) set up a plan with your provider if your phone is already capable of working overseas. It’s really not that expensive. b) You can ask your provider to make your world phone workable overseas and then buy a sim card when you’re there that has a set # of minutes at a set rate. It’s a pre-paid card so you can control expenses. c) you can rent cell phones on the island of Rhodes, at least so I suppose you can do it elsewhere.

I used my phone to call the tour company when I was waiting at the Athens airport and there was no one to meet me. If I had no way to call them, I would have been uncomfortable waiting. I’d have wondered, “Did I go to the right meeting place?” “Did they get the wrong day?” I would have been worried.

When I was stranded with too much luggage at the port of Rhodes, I was able to call the car rental company and have them deliver the car to my location – A life saver!

The phone came in handy to write about and post about my trip. It was a great way to stay connected and pass the time at night when I was about to tuck in and didn’t have television to put me to sleep.

Your satchel or back pack should fit under your seat comfortably and allow you easy access to your electronics, tickets, passport on outside zippered pockets and a big interior compartment. Finally, it should be a safe place for your jewelry, which you will never check. Ever.

If you have to make a financial choice (one thing of another) I recommend you spend your money on a good hotel. Book the best class hotel you can and come home with experiences not trinkets. My vacation totally turned around after I got myself out of sparse, albeit, clean 1 room studios with no amenities or television.

Over the years I’ve heard a lot of people say, “Oh, I don’t care what my hotel room is like. I won’t be spending any time there anyway.” I believe those people have never stayed at a truly beautiful hotel. If you are going on vacation to truly get away and relax, you want to have a room that you enjoy. A place you’re in no hurry to leave and is a pleasure to return to.

So, that’s about it. Bring a book and your iPod, for sure. But whatever you do, if it doesn’t fit in your carry-on, either pitch it or pitch something that is already IN the bag to bring that. You won’t regret it.

Tags: Greece, JJill, Lindos, packing, Rhodes, solo travel, sunscreen