If you look at any packing list, you’ll find several items that make traveling easier, but don’t take up much space. This blog post outlines a couple that I use.
Clothesline – If you are going to wash out underwear and other lightweight clothing during your trip, it helps to have some place to dry them. Lots of camping catalogs have small clotheslines and some people just use a piece of parachute cord. 
I treated myself to a Sea to Summit Clothesline that is a tiny, yet ingenious product. It’s essentially two strings threaded through a series of beads. After you affix the clothesline to something using the built-in hooks, you thread a small part of your garment between the two strings and slide the beads close together to hold the item. Use in the bathroom, on the hostel bunk bed, or balcony (or anywhere else) to hang up your quick dry clothes and travel towels. When you are done, the clothesline stuffs into its tiny pouch. Combined with Dr. Bonner’s soap, this is an easy way to reduce the amount of clothing and underwear you need to bring on your trip.
Lightweight polyester bags – Lightweight polyester or nylon bags like the one pictured take virtually no space but can be very useful. I use a medium sized one to use when picking up snacks or daily groceries for hostel meals. I use a larger one when staying in hostels. Before I go to bed, I put the clothes for the next day in the bag and when showering in the morning, I hang the bag on the door knob or door hook. There’s rarely a dry space for clothes in a hostel bathroom. Using the bag helps me keep everything dry and together so I don’t lose anything.
Hostel and Airplane bag – I use a lightweight stuff sack or a 
lightweight packing cube with a handle. On the airplane, I use it to keep my cellphone, charger, ear plugs, lip balm, tissues, eye mask, ear phones, mini-flashlight, pen, snack, e-reader, etc. either next to me in the seat, under the seat in front of me, or in the seat back pocket. It is all within easy reach, and I don’t have to worry about losing any of it. If I am staying in a hostel, I keep the items I want to have in my bunk in the same bag. If I need a tissue or ear plugs, I don’t have to get up and disturb anyone by unlocking my locker to get these items. Many hostel bunks have an outlet for charging electronics so it’s easy to read on the phone and charge at the same time. Just remember to turn off all the sound and vibration on your phone – whether it’s with you or in your locker before you go to sleep.
ScotteVest – I was able to pick up one of these multi-pocket travel vests on a deep discount for an old model and it can be a great help when 
you are tight for space and want to ‘wear’ what is essentially the airplane bag mentioned above. I wear it under a jacket or hoodie to try not to advertise that I am circumventing the carry-on weight limit for budget airlines or highlight that I am a tourist when I’m at the destination. However, used thoughtfully, these and similar vests keep your items secure and allow you to go hands and bag free when you want to. If I am travelling in minimalist mode, I either have to commit to wearing the vest whenever I change locations or leave it home because there isn’t room for it in my minimalist bag. Another nice advantage is that I can use the vest instead of a money belt. When the vest is zipped, articles in their own zipped pockets on the inside of the vest are reasonably well protected from pickpockets, but the vest allows for easy access to them. It also becomes a light layer for cooler weather.
Earplugs – Don’t leave home without them! I use two types. The first is Airplanes or generic version. These are for people who have trouble with their ears when flying and for me, they work beautifully. I no longer have severe ear pain and temporary hearing loss after flying. I wear them from take off until the plane reaches top cruising altitude and put them back in when the plane begins its decent. For short flights, I just leave them in. I have headphones with holes in the ear pads so I can watch a movie when they are in. I also use Hearos regular ear plugs. They are a must for hostels, but even nice hotels can be noisy. I can wear them a couple of times, but after that they get sticky from ear wax and don’t mold as well to your ear. I bring a few pairs for each trip.
Small Backpack – If you are traveling light – i.e. U.S. traditional carryon – adding a small backpack (such as this one by PacSafe) or folding travel backpack (mine is by Neatpack) either in the bag or as your 
personal item gives you a place to put your jacket, cell phone, snack, and travel information while you sightsee. If you are traveling minimalist with only one bag, just empty out the bag and use it for your day pack. If everything you have is in a packing cube or stuff sack, your things will still stay organized.
Each person’s packing list is a little different. Mine continues to evolve and changes slightly depending upon the circumstances. Try different items and you will find what works best for you.
Traveling solo often involves eating meals in restaurants by yourself. Many women (and men for that matter) feel awkward about going to a restaurant alone. I’ve found that many restaurants are quite solo friendly, especially if you follow a few simple suggestions.
well. The pace is slower and the servers are often more able to accommodate your request for a single table near the window or the patio. Keep in mind that lunch is a better value in most areas. As you stake out places to eat, ask about when the menu changes from lunch to dinner or about any early evening specials. Also, if you are trying to order in a different language and/or have questions about various dishes, the servers have more time to interact with you when you come at a less busy time.
meal if you are sitting by yourself. Bring a book, some tourist brochures, word or number puzzles, or simply surf the net or read on your phone. Many restaurants have wi-fi available. Some people use their computer on the table. If you choose to do this, make sure you’ve chosen a seating option that gives you enough room to do this without encroaching on your neighbor at the bar or counter.
Shampoo and Conditioner – A disclaimer first – my hair is very short and easily washed. If you have longer hair you may need to find alternative products. Shampoo and conditioner come in various small bars. The key to using them is to keep the bars as dry as possible by letting them air out between uses. I cut off a piece or two big enough to last me for the specific trip and store these pieces in a metal or plastic small container. When possible I keep the lid off after use until these items fully dry. By using small pieces at a time, I don’t waste the product if the bar gets too moist and turns into goo. These bars tend to be expensive and this method allows me to get multiple trips out of a bar. I put the pieces of shampoo, conditioner, and soap in one small container to take into the shower.
For shampoo, I’ve tried Liggett’s Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo and Lush Lullaby Solid Shampoo. The Liggetts is more of a basic shampoo at fraction of the price of the Lush product. For conditioner, I’ve used the Bee Beauty Silky Hair Conditioner Bar. The Liggetts bar left my hair squeaky clean, 
but a bit stiff. Adding conditioner, I found that I had to use the Bee Beauty conditioner very sparingly or my hair would get sticky. It may be better suited to longer hair where you just swipe a little on the ends. My favorite is the Lush Lullaby shampoo, which is a gentle shampoo and leaves my hair soft enough to eliminate the conditioner. One product instead of two makes this minimalist traveler happy.
Moisturizer –The skin on my face is very dry and sensitive. I need to use moisturizer twice a day to keep the dryness at bay. Trying to find a solid alternative to moisturizing lotion proved to be a challenge. Honey House Naturals puts out a Bee Bar Hand and Body Lotion Bar, which uses the warmth of the hands to soften the bar sufficiently to get a film of lotion on the hands for 
application. Looking for something more face specific and finding little for adults, I turned to baby products. Babyorganics puts out an organic lip and face balm in a stick that works reasonably well for travel purposes.
sunscreen solid the size of a deodorant stick, but I wanted something smaller. These sticks are good for limited coverage for everyday activities, but probably insufficient if you are going to the beach or pool. If this is the case, it is easy to buy sun block on site. Because my nose easily turns into a beacon, I also use Badger Zinc Oxide Sunscreen All Season Face Stick. This product has a bit of a whitening effect, so I only use it when I’m in strong sun.
Toothpaste – I definitely prefer regular toothpaste, but for a couple of weeks, can deal with an alternative product. Eco-Dent makes a Baking Soda Toothpowder that has enough mint flavor to cover the baking soda taste. Some people make their own toothpaste dots. The 
Other items – Badger makes an After-Bug Balm in a stick which helps with itch relief. Purell comes in individually wrapped travel wipes. Stall Mates makes individual wrapped
flushable wipes. Olay and other brands make facial cleanser-infused dry towelettes that you moisten and use like a washcloth. Amazon and other vendors sell boxes of individual packets of antibiotic and cortisone gel (such as those in first aid kits), but I am not sure how TSA feels about these. I’m experimenting with taking a cotton swab and covering one end with antibiotic ointment and wrapping it tightly with foil. I haven’t needed to use them yet, so time will tell.
Sometimes traveling is about the destination, but it can also include learning how to view experiences through a different lens – even when you are not far from home. People who are considering traveling by themselves often have two major fears 1) the possibility that something bad will happen and 2) that they will be lonely and miserable. The first one is a topic for another time, but I’ve learned that with a simple shift in mindset, I can go a long way in mitigating the second one.
I live in Connecticut where we have miles and miles of ‘Rails to Trails’ bike/walking/running trails (see
I’ve told people that one of keys to traveling solo is to learn to participate with others – in a sort of community – for even brief periods of time wherever you travel. It’s hard to be lonely when you’re part of a community. These quasi-communities pop up when you’re on a tour with others, eating dinner at a communal table, or sitting in the common area in a hostel or hotel. They are not meant to be permanent – just people sharing the same time, place, and experience.
That day, I said nothing more than a bunch of ‘Good Mornings’ and one exuberant ‘You Go Girl,’ but yet, I was truly part of the community of people on the bike trail that morning. It’s all a matter of perspective. When you are traveling solo or doing activities by yourself, you can perceive that you are all alone in a group of strangers or as an alternative, you are part of a group (a community) of people doing the same thing as you are.
beach community – genius!).
My first roommates were women (aged 25-35) from Great Britain, Belgium, and Finland. The second night, the woman from Great Britain remained and we were joined by two college aged women from South Korea. For the most part, people did not hang out in their rooms, but either were out and about, or spent the evening in the common lounge. There was no shortage of people to talk with in the lounge and I soon realized that likely 25% of the people there were not what I would consider traditional users of hostels.
There were families (a private family room was cheaper than many hotels and provided access to the communal kitchen), others my age, one gentleman in his 80’s with another family member, and everything in between. People were sharing meals, information about things to do, and insights about life in their country and community. The second night I had a 3-hour conversation with my roommate from Great Britain and it was fascinating to hear her take on our recent presidential election, government sponsored health care, the EU, as well as some of the other places she had traveled on a shoestring.
Fortunately, I had read enough blogs to heed some suggestions on how to be a courteous roommate. Among them are 1) keep a flashlight in your bed so you can get into your locker without turning on the light, 2) lay out your clothes for the next day along with your toiletries so you can shower and get ready quietly in the bathroom, 3) keep the items in your locker organized so you don’t need to rummage, and 4) make sure your flip flops are handy because even though the bathroom was spotless, you want some protection for your feet.
Travel Towels – If you are staying somewhere where towels are not provided or need a towel for the beach, lightweight travel towels are great. They take up little room, are super absorbent, and dry fast.
that the roll-up bottles are not as study as the rigid ones and need to be replaced periodically. I always carry a small amount of toilet paper and a Stall Mates towelette in a snack size plastic page along with a couple of bandaids and safety pins. These items take up little space and are nice to have when you need them. A small roll of duct tape can help with a quick temporary repair. I always carry a spork in my day pack so I can pick up meals and snacks at the grocery or convenience store and have something to eat them with. Finally take a couple of small combination locks – certainly a necessity in a hostel (for lockers) but also useful for securing your bag or backpack in troublesome areas.
Backpack Suitcase – I chose the 
Day Pack – In addition, I travel with a day pack either in my bag or if needed, carried as a front pack when using the backpack option on the larger bag. I use this bag for my Surface 3, kindle, small purse, snacks and other carryon items when traveling and as a day pack when sightseeing. I have a Pac-Safe 100 that I have had for several years and use regularly on my daily walks and other times at home. It is designed for travel and although smaller than a typical day pack, holds a couple of water bottles, a jacket, small camera, wallet, cell phone, snacks and 
other items. An alternative backpack to consider is the Neatpack foldup travel backpack. It is inexpensive and designed to fold up small enough to be carried in the regular luggage and used on site.
Super Lightweight Pack – For those superlight trips where size and weight is limited, I use the 
in various sizes and shapes. With good planning, you can configure a selection of packing cubes and sacks of various sizes to hold all your items and fit snugly within your bag. Everything goes in a cube or sack, so if I need something, I just grab that cube/sack without rummaging through the entire bag. Especially when you are staying at a hostel or moving from hotel to hotel, using a packing cube and stuff sack system (and keeping items in their respective spots when not in use) makes packing up a breeze and reduces the chances of leaving items behind.
Toiletry bag – I’ve found a small hanging toiletry bag works best. Often in hostels, there is no place besides the floor to put your bag (yuck) and when hanging, the bag provides easy access to all the contents. I use the Neatpack Small Toiletry Bag, but there are many similar options available.
Toiletries – Decant your daily liquid toiletries into small leak-proof bottles contained by a plastic bag for 3-1-1 compliance. After a few bad experiences with leaky inexpensive bottles, I now use only Neoprene bottles (the 1 oz size is perfect) or the smaller Go Toob squeeze containers. For some trips, I use only solid toiletries, thus eliminating the 3-1-1 bag and the risk of leaks. More on solids in a later blog.