Carry on baggage only. problems?

[CAROLINE4]

Hi all
we are a family of 6 ages 5 upwards and are doing our first indirect trip to Florida. I am a conservative packer and usually only take 2 large suitcases and a carry on. As all the children can now pull their own cases i would like to try and go over Christmas with carry ons only. i take 5 bottoms and 7 tops per person so i can cover all weathers. i'm thinking trainers and jeans/ jackets can be worn to travel in and 1 pair of sandals for over there if weather premits. i will buy all of our toiletries from publix. (we stay in a villa)

my question is, what do you see the problems being to this? Has anyone attempted this before? Can you give me some tips?

thanks

Caroline x

 

[Dimplenose]

I've only travelled to Europe with carry-ons and did save time.

However, I have travelled indirect to WDW and by the time we got through immigration at first US airport our bags were ready to pick up so we wouldn't have made a time saving there. To be honest it was nice not to have luggage with us while we queued or on the internal flight which was full of mainly US customers who had already filled the luggage bins with their carry-ons by the time we borded.

 

[Elise79]

I don't pack a lot and DH & I have travelled hand luggage only however I think in your situation I'd rather check a case or 2 in so you have less actual pieces of luggage to worry about.

My biggest problem is that I tend to come home with extra to what we took and taking a case which may not be fully packed on the way out gives me extra space to bring stuff back!

 

[Shazzie B]

I'd rather check a couple of bags too, trying to keep 4 children together all pulling their own luggage through an airport sounds stressful to me (no disrespect meant ). Dealing with two children and a stressed husband was enough for me Luggage delivery to the conveyor belts always seems a lot quicker to me in the USA, probably because you have to wait for immigration anyway.

 

[BadPinkTink]

agree with PP I sometimes travel Europe with hand luggage only but I would never travel to USA with hand luggage only. I always buy of souvenirs and clothes and my case always weighs alot more coming home than going to USA. Travelling to USA I am the opposite, I try to have as little carry one and a much in checked bag as possible. All that travelling, navigating airports, the flights etc, I prefer to have less with me.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

Just be wary of the weather over Christmas, you may need more thick clothes than you think which will soon fill your case up. I was in Orlando Christmas 2010 and - admittedly we were unlucky as it was their coldest Christmas for 40 years! - but we hadn't taken enough winter clothes so had to go out and buy jumpers and hats, etc. You'd then need the space to bring them home.

 

[MandM3]

I second Pooh's-Honey-Pot. We were there for the first two weeks of December 2003 and it was sooo cold. I wore a fleece, hat, scarf, coat and gloves to MVMCP and was glad I had them. Even when the sun shone during the day, we were cold in just T-shirts.

 

[scoobydooby]

It was really cold the ChristmS week we went, so much so we had to buy heavy fleeces, hats and gloves. So I think just carry on would be a challenge. You need two pairs of trainers each in case you get wet as well. Personally I pack a lot but take very little in terms if carry on as I find it more of a nuisance on the flight. My kids needed lots of carry on stuff to keep them busy on the flight when they were little so wouldn't have managed your plan. Also DD also brings a massive plush home every trip which is always all her carry on luggage for the return trip!!!

 

[CAROLINE4]

Thanks all! this has been a great help! so i'm thinking ditch all the carryons and check luggage!

 

[Minniesgal]

Although you can take a case each as a carry on each case is weight limited and it is usually very low. It can be as low as 6kg. It doesn't take much in a carry on to get to 6kg.

I fly regularly back from Australia and always have a nightmare with carry on as I can hardly take anything before my case hits the weight limit

 

[saintrob]

I'd definitely take luggage for a Christmas trip. We go each Christmas and pack for all weathers. I take our summer clothes, winter gear plus clothes in case of wet weather! We've experienced all of the different seasons in the space of a week.

 

[Kath2003]

We've been most years with hand baggage only. Even in chilly weather, you'll need warm clothes in the UK, so we just wear then to fly over in. We've never had any problem traveling without checked luggage, have made connecting flights we otherwise would have missed on a couple of occasions, and love being out of the airport instantly on arrival. We do check a bag on the way back, usually. We don't have kids though. Back packs are much more practical to move around with than wheeled carry-on luggage, and lighter too. We take a small bag with essentials for the flight and valuables to keep with us under the seat on the flight. Buy a book at the airport, read it and donate it at the other end...!