Honest question about carry-ons.......

[lisadr]

After reading so many thread and posts about carry on luggage i have to ask-

1)How do you travel with only carry-ons?

2) What are you packing?

3) Do you have children or are you a single traveler?

4)How long are you going for?

I am truly mystified about this.I cannot imagine packing for my family in nothing but carry-ons. But if it's possible I would love to learn how .

TIA

 

[maccagerl]

After reading so many thread and posts about carry on luggage i have to ask-

1)How do you travel with only carry-ons?

2) What are you packing?

3) Do you have children or are you a single traveler?

4)How long are you going for?

I am truly mystified about this.I cannot imagine packing for my family in nothing but carry-ons. But if it's possible I would love to learn how .

TIA

I learned to pack light after my first trip to Europe. I packed so much stuff and was so miserable hauling it all around that I ended up shipping over 1/2 of it back home by boat ( cheapest way to ship) , and it finally arrived around 3 months after I got home from my trip!
On the same trip, my friend's luggage got lost by the airline, and never did catch up to her until she got home!
Needless to say, I learned very fast to pack light and carry on whenever possible!

My tips:
1) If you're going away for 7 days, it's not necessary to pack a separate outfit for each of those days. Maybe jeans and a pair of casual dress pants, a pair of shorts, several shirts that you can layer (t's, long sleeve, light sweater, heavy sweatshirt), underwear, sneakers , sandals, and casual dress shoes. Bathing suit and flip flops. PJ's. NO heavy bathrobes, towels, shoes, slippers.

2) I don't pack toiletries that I can easily buy or that are provided in the hotel. I use the hotel hair dryer.

3)Roll your clothes instead of folding them

4) If you go through your clothes, then use the laundry facilities and wash them!

 

[CarolA]

I am single and generally travel for a week at a time. I have done a much longer trip to Europe with the carryon.

For a week I generally wear one suit and take one. Everything has to cooridinate with the one pair of shoes. Three or four tops, undies, nightgown, running shoes, one workout outfit... and that's about it. If I go out at night I wear the work clothes.

I either do hand laundry or have things cleaned. Depends....

My make up and personal items are all in small sizes.

Try this site for more details.

www.onebag.com

I pack for the "best" and deal with the worst when it happens. I figure I am NOT going to the ends of the earth and whereever I go will have what I need. If they don't then, do I really need it, those folks live without whatever I think is so important!

 

[lisadr]

Hey Maccagerl- I do most of what you said. I do pack interchangeable outfits and do wash them while there. I roll and wear crocs and flip flops. The only thing I don't do it but toiletries at Disney-I'd go broke . Plus they usually don't have what I need or use.

I do well when I am going somewhere like Europe. After my first trip where I mistakenly though I was going to the rain forest and would not be able to find shampoo -I learned quickly to buy stuff there. Including clothes! That actually made the trip sooooo much more fun . But for Disney I just can't seem to swing it???

 

[bavaria]

You prioritize and bring what is necessary, not what might be wanted. You buy local, do laundry, wash things in the sink every night, wear the same clothes.

I just packed my 25 inch bag for a one month work trip, with a few days of pleasure, going to somewhere very cold and very hot all in one trip. My work necessities take up most of my suitcase, leaving little space for clothing, etc.

Two suits, 4 tops, jeans, sweater, polo shirt, 2 tshirts, 2 cardigans. Wearing work shoes and packing walking shoes. Fabrics are silk, cashmere, and good quality jersey knits, except for the suits which are light weight wool. The jeans are lightweight dark trouser jeans, not the heavy work style jeans popular in America.

That is obviously larger than a carry on but the premise is the same.

I can do 2-3 weeks in a 21 inch carryon style rollaboard: usually 2 skirts, 2 cardigans, 2 tops, 2 tshirts, trouser jeans, 1 sweater, 1 change of shoes. I pack one small and one tote size Longchamp le Pliage lightweight foldable handbags. My toiletries are samples from the freebie thread, along with l'Occitane samples for face products as I prefer my usual brand.

I never leave home without 2 changes of underwear and my passport in my purse; you can travel with just 3 pairs and 2 pairs of socks and wash out what you need every night.

 

[iggbees]

just like maccagerl, i learned to pack light when i found that every time that i went on vacation i always overpacked and it was way to heavy to haul around. we've learned that although laundry might seem silly on vacation, it sure helps us with packing light! i bring a little more than a half a week's of clothing and we do laundry half way through the week. i will also make sure that i plan for the weather (i've learned that bringing a pair of jeans is a waste of space when you are in 70º weather). i only take the toiletries that i can't get at the hotel in the room, especially if i'm staying deluxe, they basically give you everything (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, etc.) even at pop the shampoo/conditioner smells awesome and you can't beat h2o products. that being said, i don't have any kids so it's much easier for me to travel light. i'm betting that i'll be asking this same question some day of how do people pack so light when they have kids. haha.

 

[lisadr]

I am single and generally travel for a week at a time. I have done a much longer trip to Europe with the carryon.

For a week I generally wear one suit and take one. Everything has to cooridinate with the one pair of shoes. Three or four tops, undies, nightgown, running shoes, one workout outfit... and that's about it. If I go out at night I wear the work clothes.

I either do hand laundry or have things cleaned. Depends....

My make up and personal items are all in small sizes.

Try this site for more details.

www.onebag.com

I pack for the "best" and deal with the worst when it happens. I figure I am NOT going to the ends of the earth and whereever I go will have what I need. If they don't then, do I really need it, those folks live without whatever I think is so important!

You know I think right now a lot of my extra stuff comes from my DD(7). There are some things that I will buy when I am there-but other things it just bothers me to pay theme park prices for-ie. light sticks. I know I could do it it if it was just me and the hubby-but with her there's so many things to not forget . I know a lot of people will chastise me for bringing stuff like lightsticks and pins to trade-but to buy them at Disney just seems ...wasteful? We bring our ponchos, and water bottles and lots of other stuff and it adds up to no carry on only for us .

Oh well-maybe when she's older. I don't know if carry on travel with kids is possible.

 

[lisadr]

You guys have really intrigued me. I am not going anywhere soon-but I am going to pull out my 25 inch carry on and give this a try. Dh will be easy-he'd go with his drawers in a grocery bag . And I am pretty basic-it's just the little one.

But now I have one more question-if I got on with 3 carry-ons wouldn't I be voted the plane PIA? Or am I not allowed 3??It's one carry on per person right?

I have to say, call me what you will, but I love checking my bags and having them show up at the resort when I go to Disney. I hate lugging!

 

[bavaria]

25 inches is checked baggage - very few US carriers allow 25 inches for a carry on. Most limit to 21 or 22 inches.

 

[lisadr]

You prioritize and bring what is necessary, not what might be wanted. You buy local, do laundry, wash things in the sink every night, wear the same clothes.

I just packed my 25 inch bag for a one month work trip, with a few days of pleasure, going to somewhere very cold and very hot all in one trip. My work necessities take up most of my suitcase, leaving little space for clothing, etc.

Two suits, 4 tops, jeans, sweater, polo shirt, 2 tshirts, 2 cardigans. Wearing work shoes and packing walking shoes. Fabrics are silk, cashmere, and good quality jersey knits, except for the suits which are light weight wool. The jeans are lightweight dark trouser jeans, not the heavy work style jeans popular in America.

That is obviously larger than a carry on but the premise is the same.

I can do 2-3 weeks in a 21 inch carryon style rollaboard: usually 2 skirts, 2 cardigans, 2 tops, 2 tshirts, trouser jeans, 1 sweater, 1 change of shoes. I pack one small and one tote size Longchamp le Pliage lightweight foldable handbags. My toiletries are samples from the freebie thread, along with l'Occitane samples for face products as I prefer my usual brand.

I never leave home without 2 changes of underwear and my passport in my purse; you can travel with just 3 pairs and 2 pairs of socks and wash out what you need every night.

Bavaria-you are one UBER-efficient lady . You remind me of military. My step-father was and right up until the day he died he rolled all his clothes when he put them away-just couldn't stop doing it .

 

[lisadr]

25 inches is checked baggage - very few US carriers allow 25 inches for a carry on. Most limit to 21 or 22 inches.

Oh crud-this assignment just got harder -lol.

 

[crashbb]

But now I have one more question-if I got on with 3 carry-ons wouldn't I be voted the plane PIA? Or am I not allowed 3??It's one carry on per person right?

If YOU showed up with 3 carry ons you'd be in trouble. If you, your DH, and your DD showed up with a total of 3 carry ons, you'd be fine. It is one (plus personal item) per person with a seat/ticket (i.e. lap babies don't get a baggage allowance).

 

[lisadr]

If YOU showed up with 3 carry ons you'd be in trouble. If you, your DH, and your DD showed up with a total of 3 carry ons, you'd be fine. It is one (plus personal item) per person with a seat/ticket (i.e. lap babies don't get a baggage allowance).

LOL-gotcha! I am starting to think it's possible......

 

[bavaria]

Oh crud-this assignment just got harder -lol.

Remember - little people = little clothes. Unless you have a baby and are bringing diapers, etc little people stuff fits easily into a carryon. I have a colleague who is a size 2 and carries only a 21 inch suitcase for a month of work travel. We tease her but her clothes are so small that they fit much more easily.

Those of us who are quite tall and have big feet take up far more space in a suitcase than a smaller person.

Even if you have to take a few more spare clothes for your child, you should be able to manage in one carry on. If it is toys taking up the space, consider placing limits. We were allowed one small stuffed animal and the rest was a few books, crayons, etc. Even DVDs and electronics are small now.

 

[lisadr]

Those of us who are quite tall and have big feet take up far more space in a suitcase than a smaller person.


Ahem.....how did you know .My DD tells me I am related to Bigfoot ...*sigh* it's those magic moments I'm gonna miss.

 

[crashbb]

Those of us who are quite tall and have big feet take up far more space in a suitcase than a smaller person.


Ahem.....how did you know .My DD tells me I am related to Bigfoot ...*sigh* it's those magic moments I'm gonna miss.

My boyfriend refers to me, lovingly , as "The Hobbit" - I'm short with big feet. He seemed surprised that I didn't take it as a compliment

 

[bavaria]

I have been laughed out of GEOX stores from Salzburg to Rome to Manhattan... thankfully they do sell their largest women's size online.

 

[lisadr]

DH knows better. Well actually he just moves real fast.......

 

[crashbb]

The BF knows better too - now. I may not be able to reach high up, but the big feet can do some damage.

My feet aren't big enough to get laughed at in stores, but I do get a lot of "Your feet can't be that big; that can't be the right size." Right, I just thought I'd ask for a size 10 for the fun of it. Apparently women who are 5'1" shouldn't have size 9-10 feet - someone forgot to tell my feet though.

 

[lisadr]

The BF knows better too - now. I may not be able to reach high up, but the big feet can do some damage.

My feet aren't big enough to get laughed at in stores, but I do get a lot of "Your feet can't be that big; that can't be the right size." Right, I just thought I'd ask for a size 10 for the fun of it. Apparently women who are 5'1" shouldn't have size 9-10 feet - someone forgot to tell my feet though.

When I was in England I was excited to get myself a real pair of Dr. Martens. So I went to the store and asked for my size 10/11 (depending on the shoe) and the lovely gentleman said "Miss, we don't have womens' shoes in that size. Perhaps you'd like to look in the mens' section?"

Needless to say I never got my boots.