Deciding which pairs of shoes to take along on vacation and which to leave behind can be a real dilemma. Since shoes take up a lot of packing space, a traveler is often limited to two or three pairs, at the very most.
What kind of shoes to bring on a trip depends on the destination. But there are three basic types of shoes that are essential for the average two-week trip, overseas vacation or cruise.
Comfortable Shoes for Sightseeing
No matter what the destination, a trip involves lots of walking. That means a pair of comfortable shoes are a must. These can either be tennis shoes, walking shoes, or comfortable casuals. A mistake many travelers make is packing one pair of each. Try to limit yourself to one comfortable pair.
It is not important to buy brand new comfortable shoes for a vacation. Sometimes the tried and true pair that a person has been wearing is the best choice. If buying a new pair of casual shoes for vacation, don’t assume just because they are marketed as comfort shoes that they will actually be comfortable on your feet. Everyone’s feet are different and the proof is in the wearing. Wear the shoes around the house and out to the mall a few times to make sure they don’t cause blisters or other problems.
Some tried and true brands of athletic and walking shoes are Merrell, Easy Spirit, Sketchers and Natural Sport, which have a nice Dr. Scholl’s gel insole.
Sandals for City Touring
In addition to a pair of walking shoes, most travelers also bring along a pair of comfortable sandals. An attractive pair of sandals is a little dressier than tennis shoes and just right for city touring.
Clark makes a good line of sandals that are popular vacation choices. Naot sandals are fairly expensive, but a popular choice with travelers. Earth Spirits, which are available at Walmart are also comfortable sandals. If it is winter or you are traveling to a colder destination where sandals would not be a good choice, substitute a nice pair of leather loafers or flats.
Dressy Shoes for Dinner and Evenings
For most bus trips and cruises, the atmosphere is very casual and a pair of nice sandals can double as dress shoes. But many women may want to tuck in a pair of nice dress shoes, as well.
If a traveler likes the feel of flats, a pair of ballet flats are dressy and don’t take up much room. Some are even designed to fold up to save space. Dressy shoes should also be comfortable. If you aren’t used to wearing high heels, a vacation is not the place to start.
Vacation Shoe Checklist for a Two-Week Trip, Overseas Vacation or Cruise
Below is a vacation shoe checklist:
- one pair tennis shoes, walking shoes, or comfortable casuals for walking
- one pair of sandals or nice casual shoes for city touring
- one pair of dress shoes or sandals for evening
- 4-6 pairs of socks that match the comfortable shoes
- 2 pairs of pantyhose or other hosiery for evening wear
Be careful extra shoes don’t start sneaking into your bag. The wise traveler limits themselves to three pairs of shoes. If an extra pair does get slipped in, be sure it is an extra pair of comfortable shoes, as that is what a traveler will be wearing most of the time.
Readers may also enjoy the vacation and packing articles Where to Buy Comfortable Vacation Shoes, How to Pack Clothes for Summer Vacation , and Packing Right for an Alaskan Cruise.
