Have you ever went traveling and quickly found out you brought way too many things? Things you didn’t need and now you had to carry them around daily? This Tuesday Travel Tip covers why carry on luggage is a great option for light travel, and plenty of tips on how to do it well!
Travel Tip Tuesday #18 is written by Dani from the Diapers In Paradise blog – more details at the bottom of the post.
So, why travel carry-on only?
The first time I traveled internationally, I brought everything I could possibly think of. Everything. I literally brought a ball-gown style prom dress! Was I going to prom? No. Did I misunderstand the phrase “formal attire encouraged”? Yes. Clearly.
Fast forward a few years (and a lot of life experience) to my honeymoon: Eight countries. Seven weeks. One backpack.
Nowadays, even with a toddler and a baby, I still prefer to travel carry-on only. I’ve loved all the amazing benefits of traveling with just a cabin bag, and I’ve definitely learned some tips to make it easier.
Benefits of traveling carry-on only – here are 15 points on how to travel carry on only and not regret it!
1. Flying carry-on only saves you money.
It’s no secret that airlines like to squeeze their passengers for every penny, and baggage fees are an easy way for them to do it. While some airlines allow one free checked bag, many charge $50-100 or even more per bag. And if the bag is overweight? That amount could be significantly higher.
Cabin bags are usually free (although some budget airlines are even starting to charge for those!) and most airlines allow two: a carry-on bag that fits overhead, and a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.
And if you’re flying with a baby or toddler? Strollers and car seats are almost always free to check.
2. There is no risk of the airlines losing your bags.
Lost luggage is a shockingly common occurrence. Imagine getting to your destination and having nothing – not even a change of underwear! Or something much more important, like your medication. It happens every day, and while the majority of people get their luggage back within a few weeks, it’s a massive (and often costly) inconvenience.
If you don’t check your bags, the airline can’t lose them or damage them. Your carry-on stays right where you put it.
3. It opens up your itinerary.
I like to move around a lot when I travel. I generally stay in one place for 2-4 nights, and then move to somewhere different – even if it’s somewhere different in the same town. It allows me to see a different perspective of a place.
You just can’t do that with a bunch of luggage. It takes a lot of work to pack, unpack, and transport all those bags. I don’t want to go through that several times in one trip.
But if I’m just loading one backpack and hopping in a taxi? Suddenly it becomes possible to explore way further off the beaten path.
4. You can experience more by stashing your bag.
It seems like flight times and hotel check-in times never line up. We often arrive to a destination early, and have hours before our check-in. And while hotels will allow you to stash your bags, I’ve had many instances where we’ve gone straight from the airport to our first attraction. Sometimes it’s more convenient because it is on the way, and sometimes we’re just excited to get going.
A lot of places will have lockers where you can store a bag or two. But a full set of luggage? Probably not.
5. Focus more on the adventure, less on your outfit.
Look, I’m not saying that you should never dress to impress when you travel. But if you plan ahead for the outfits that you know you’ll love to wear, you can spend more time doing, and less time trying to pick the exact right outfit for the day.
Only have one pair of shoes? Easy decision. Didn’t bring all of your hair care products? Guess you can’t spend your time worrying about the perfect ‘do. The less stuff you have, the fewer options you need to decide between, meaning less time to get ready.
How to make the most of traveling carry-on only
6. Buy an excellent carry-on bag.
This is huge! Traveling well with a carry-on means you need to make the most of your space, and that starts with having the right bag. Whether you prefer a roller or a backpack, make sure that the bag you choose fits within the limits for most airlines. 22” x 14” x 9” (including wheels and handles) is fairly standard across the industry. Please note that there are a few budget airlines that have much smaller-than-average carry-on limits.
Do your research before you buy a bag. If you’re going to live out of that thing for an extended period of time, make sure it will live up to your needs!
7. Plan ahead for laundry.
Traveling carry-on only for more than a week means that you will need to do laundry at some point. I generally plan to do laundry about every 5 days – I can easily fit 5 days’ worth of clothes in my bag. That means I either need to plan a day with a few hours to hang around a laundromat (research locations and wifi capability ahead of time!) or stay somewhere with a washing machine in the unit. This is one of many reasons that I prefer to stay in AirBnBs when traveling as a family.
8. Bring a capsule wardrobe.
If you haven’t heard of a capsule wardrobe, it’s basically the idea that all of your clothes should work together, so you can mix-and-match to make more outfits from less clothing. In other words, don’t bring those bright red pants that you can really only wear with the black tank top… choose versatile pieces that all work together. That way, you won’t be wearing the exact same few outfits in every picture.
This is especially true for bulky items like coats and shoes. Try not to bring more than one coat and two pairs of shoes.
9. Replace items as you go.
If you’re traveling out of a carry-on for an extended time, you may need to replace items. On our seven-week trip, we went full-throttle the whole time, and it showed in our clothes. Combined, we broke three pairs of shoes. Some of our shirts became completely thread bare. We ended up having to replace most of our wardrobe at some point during the trip. We bought new items that we loved and were happy to bring home with us!
10. Wear your bulkiest shoes for the flight.
Shoes take up the most space in your bag. Even though you can do some things to help mitigate that (like packing toiletries in a plastic bag inside of your shoes), there’s no getting around the precious space they use up. Wear the bulkiest pair for the flight and any time that you’re transferring your bag. It makes a big difference!
11. Get some packing cubes.
Packing cubes are great. Not only do they help keep you organized – color code them for different family members – but they also help save space. They will compress your clothes and make it significantly easier to pack.
12. Utilize the personal item allowance.
Most airlines allow one carry-on bag plus one personal item. The requirements for this item vary, but generally, if you can shove it under the seat in front of you, it’s allowed.
Use this space! Bring a tote bag as your personal item, and you’ve just gained a lot of extra packing room. When we traveled for 3 weeks starting when I was 34 weeks pregnant, I dedicated my entire backpack to bringing my giant pregnancy pillow, because I could not sleep without it. Did we check a bag? Nope. I fit all of my clothes and toiletries into a small drawstring bag for my personal item. It’s doable.
13. Don’t buy a bunch of souvenirs.
You know what all your friends back home probably don’t need? A snow globe that says “Viva Mexico”.
There is nothing wrong with buying some nice items to remember your trip by, but be thoughtful about what you buy. I would much rather have a pair of hand-crafted earrings or a scarf dyed by a local artisan than a tourist mug that was mass-produced in China. Think about souvenirs that are meaningful, local, and take up minimal space.
And if you fall in love with something that doesn’t fit in your carry-on? That’s okay! You can always ship it home.
14. Know and follow the 100mL rule.
One consideration when traveling carry-on only is the 100mL (or 3.4 oz) liquids and gels restriction. You must ensure that any liquids or gels that you bring are less than 3.4 oz, and are all gathered together in a clear, quart-sized bag. There are lots of reusable travel kits out there that fit these guidelines, so you can bring just the amount that you need of your favorite products.
There are also great eco-friendly options like shampoo bars and toothpaste tablets that will reduce the amount of stuff you bring.
Please note that medically necessary items (including medicine, breastmilk, baby foods, and more) are exempt from this rule.
15. Adopt a relaxed attitude.
When you travel with less, there might be times that you don’t have the exact thing that you need. And that’s okay! Part of the adventure of travel is letting go of the day to day, and living a different life. Try to relax, release control, and focus on the important things. I promise you that when you look back on your travels, you won’t remember whether you had the perfect shoes for every outfit.
About Diapers in Paradise Travel Blog
Dani is the pink-haired, tattooed mama behind Diapers in Paradise, a travel blog dedicated exclusively to travel with babies and toddlers. With destination guides that focus on the things that parents of young children really need to know – Do the taxis allow car seats? What is the culture around breastfeeding? – and a library of baby travel tips, Dani aims to show parents that it is still possible (and fun!) to travel after you have a baby.
About The Travel Tip Tuesday
Travel Tip Tuesday is a weekly series that hears from real travelers, their experiences and tips for traveling the planet. You can find a huge range of travel tips in the link above.
Think you have an idea for the next Travel Tip Tuesday post? Shoot me an email and we can work out how you can contribute to the travel series.
Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
