Carryon Luggage Tips-:)

[MommyBell08]

My family and I are going to the world in March. Hoping to avoid the added luggage fees, we are planning to carry-on only. We will be there 8 days 7 nights. Have you done this and do you have any tips? Thanks! Oh and anyone have a great carry-on luggage they love that helps pack it all in?

 

[WDWisTheBest]

My family and I are going to the world in March. Hoping to avoid the added luggage fees, we are planning to carry-on only. We will be there 8 days 7 nights. Have you done this and do you have any tips? Thanks! Oh and anyone have a great carry-on luggage they love that helps pack it all in?

You may want to consider sending luggage ahead. 8 days and 7 nights is a long time for only carry on luggage clothing. But, you can do it.

Also, it depends on the airline and your seats in the airplane. Any possibility of using Southwest Airlines?

 

[JaymeC]

I'll second doing SW if possible. I could do that with one checked bag, but not with 0. Will you have access to a washer/dryer there? How old are the people going along? I could conceivably fit 3-4 days worth of clothes into a bookbag, but it'd be a tight fit and each person would have to carry their own. There also wouldn't be extra room for any souvenirs, snacks, etc.

 

[ragtopday]

The nice thing about carry on only is you don't have to worry about the weight of your bag. This means you can use packmates or space bags to squish your clothes down smaller. I would make extensive use of those. Also, plan on doing laundry, and if possible, bring along some shipping labels for FedEx, UPS or USPS to ship anything non-essential home. You know how stuff always takes up more room on the way back, even without souvenirs!

Good luck - it definitely can be done!

 

[Marionnette]

My family and I are going to the world in March. Hoping to avoid the added luggage fees, we are planning to carry-on only. We will be there 8 days 7 nights. Have you done this and do you have any tips? Thanks! Oh and anyone have a great carry-on luggage they love that helps pack it all in?

To be honest I probably would not attempt it with a two year old. I would expect that you would need diapers, wipes, multiple clothing changes, bibs and all the other accoutrement's of toddlerhood. But if you are willing to do laundry during vacation then I suggest ordering a few single load laundry detergent packets from minimus.biz. Add a couple of dryer sheets and a stain pen. Coordinate outfits so that you can mix and match tops and bottoms. Take clothes pins so that you can rinse items out and hang on the shower clothesline. Ship diapers and wipes down or have a grocery service deliver them. Tell everyone that they get two pairs of shoes - the ones that they wear on the plane and a pair of sandles in their luggage. Plan to use the resort soap and shampoo. Get travel size deodorants, shaving cream and toothpaste. To make the most of luggage space use travel space bags to compress clothing. I have a couple of great carry on size wheeled bags from atlantic luggage. I can really get alot packed into them. One actually has a small valet built into it so that I can put some items that would normally go into a garment bag in it. I can fit enough clothes to last 3 days for two people into just one bag. I dont know if they still make it or anything similar to it. Take a look at the ebags.com website to see what kind of wheeled carry ons they have.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I always bring an umbrella stroller so I bought the JLChildress padded stroller bag. It is really roomy and I stuff a few things inside it besides the stroller! It doesn't count as a carry on or checked luggage. Heavy shoes, sand buckets (our cruise), fleece coats...

BTW- I was there last year the first week in March for 9 nights. The weather was so unpredictable that I brought everything from swimsuits to fleece (and we used both.) I never could have brought that much as carry on only. ...And we had a washer/dryer in our timeshare.

I have now started flying JetBlue since you get one free bag plus they have the TV's.

 

[eliza61]

My family and I are going to the world in March. Hoping to avoid the added luggage fees, we are planning to carry-on only. We will be there 8 days 7 nights. Have you done this and do you have any tips? Thanks! Oh and anyone have a great carry-on luggage they love that helps pack it all in?

Personally mom, I would probably budget in 1 checked bag.

1) The trouble with people and carryon and I travel about 45-50 times a year is that you tend to try and stuff it to the gills.
2) you have a toddler so are you going to be carrying a stroller? so now you have 2 over stuff carryons, a toddler and am I correct in that you are pregnant? that's a load.
3) don't forget that whatever you carry on now has to go through security. shoes off, load every thing on the conveyor, hope every thing goes through without setting off an alarm and the gather every thing at the end.
4) Like some one else said March's weather can be any thing? it's not like summer when you know it will be hot so shorts, shorts, and more shorts. You will need sweaters/jackets, etc.
If I don't fly SW, I budget in 35 bucks for the extra bag. I love breezing through security with a simple large handbag. My dh carries a bookbag that has any medicine, books, ipods, cells etc in it.

 

[SDSorority]

We've done carryons.... here are my tips

1- wear the biggest pair of shoes on the plane, but be sure to pack a 2nd pair in your suitcase. IT IS WORTH IT.

2- plan on doing laundry at the resort. We used the laundry facilities at ASMU for the very first time last trip and it was FINE! We packed half as many clothes as we normally would have just so we COULD use the laundry (and have room for souvies!)

3- stuff underwear and socks into the little spaces in between where the roller handle is stored in the suitcase. This makes for a nice flat packing surface.

4- Remember that you can take a carry on suitcase AND a personal bag.

 

[trip]

Will you be using a car seat and stroller for the 2 year old? Plus you being pregnant, I think I would budget to check at least one bag.

 

[crispychicky]

Here are some useful sites for packing ideas:

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/06/business/businessspecial/20100506-pack-ss.html

http://www.academichic.com/2009/05/30/unpacking-methodologies-rolling-vs-bundle/#more-3987

http://www.onebag.com

You may want to mail some items too.

 

[gillenkl]

Plan on dressing in layers: 8 pairs of underwear, 5 or 6 pairs of socks (wear your largest shoes), 8 tshirts, 8 pairs of shorts. Depending on your flight you really won't be that uncomfortable.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The nice thing about carry on only is you don't have to worry about the weight of your bag.

I would absolutely be concerned about the weight of each bag. Be sure you can lift each bag a foot or two over your head unassisted and hold it there long enough to place it in the overhead compartment, and take it out again without hitting anyone (including yourself).

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Check out this site:
http://www.scottevest.com/v3_store/New_Travel_Vest.shtml
If you do alot of travelling, it might be worth your while to invest in 1 or 2 items. If you don't, you might as well check 1 bag, as it will probably be cheaper. Or you can send your things via mail like pp's have suggested.
There are sales everyday and you can find coupons online.'Have a great trip!

 

[alwaysmom]

We've done 7 nights/8 days in the past with just carry on's. Me, DH, 2 - DS's. We each have our own carry-on plus backpack. Did bring those little Tide packets for room washing and did plan laundry time one afternoon while the kids swam. I packed 4 days worth (short outfits) & 2 pr. jeans with shirts. No dressy clothes, casual only. 1 extra pair of shoes, plenty under clothes, night clothes, 1 bathing suit/cover up and a hoodie/jacket. Some clothes we're rolled, some in those space bags. When kids were younger I would put complete outfits in gallon zip bags, just grab a bag and go . Boys used the hotels soaps/shampoo etc. Everything else was trial size.

Got my luggage at JCPenney. The Protocol Duo 2-pc set. DH & I each get a duffle, it fits a ton and no problem putting in the carry-on bin on the plane.

 

[AF_Judy]

A few tips not mentioned by PPs that have worked for me when I travel with just a carry-on and personal item:

- Take ONLY what is necessary; lay out everything you think you need and start trying to fit everything in your suitcase. You might need to leave some stuff behind but that's the price you have to pay for not checking luggage.
- If you are taking a sweater/jacket (especially since you are going in March when the weather is unpredictable), wear it on the plane. This will save a ton of space in your bags and you can always use it as a pillow/blanket if you don't want to wear it while traveling.
- It might be helpful to take an extra duffel bag with you that you can check on the return flight if you don't have enough space in your bags coming home (souvenirs?). I bought one at Wal-Mart for $10 and it comes folded in a square so it doesn't take up too much room.
- "Personal item" can be a backpack or big purse. If you usually carry a small purse (like I do), put the smaller one inside something larger so it doesn't count as one of your two carry-on items.

 

[disneycruising]

We are a family of 6...which makes for a lot of luggage. We usually fly twice a years with all the kids.

I would suggest starting out with 'a plan' to only do carry-ons. But, know that you can always check a bag or two if needed.

We took the kids to Hawaii this summer for a month. We had each person carry their own "carry on" with 5 complete outfits, swimsuits & pajamas. Plus everyone had a personal bag with their entertainment items. We then "checked" 2 large suitcase--with bathroom items, snorkel gear & an extra duffle bag.

Also, it helps to have a plan for when you get on the plane. My DH always deals with the suitcases while I deal with the kids.

 

[robinb]

To be honest I probably would not attempt it with a two year old. I would expect that you would need diapers, wipes, multiple clothing changes, bibs and all the other accoutrement's of toddlerhood.

Not to mention that the OP will be 7 months pregnant. I am all for carry-on bags for most people but considering your circumstances ... traveling in later pregnancy with a toddler ... I would recommend that you pay to check your bags.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

Mail a box with wipes diapers and formula type foodstuffs, should cost you less than a checked bag. Bring carryons with packing cubes or spacebags, and if you are paying for a kid make sure they have their carryon. Stroller is gatechecked, and carseat is free.
BOB

 

[trip]

Mail a box with wipes diapers and formula type foodstuffs, should cost you less than a checked bag. Bring carryons with packing cubes or spacebags, and if you are paying for a kid make sure they have their carryon. Stroller is gatechecked, and carseat is free.
BOB

I hope they don't have to change planes. I'm picturing pregnant mom pushing toddler in stroller, while dad totes the car seat along with 3 stuffed carryons and personal bags.

 

[Mimiof7]

Hi!
I love space bags--I can pack sooooo much! I have used them for years.
Also, I use some clothes that are still liked, but want to clear out of closet,drawers. I pack in the Disney bag (yes, this is a yearround task I willing do... then toss at Disney once used. No laundry and I have room to bring back souveniers!
Otherwise, I am conservative about what I bring. Will anybody will know that I wore the same dinner dress to two different restaurants. I pack for vaca, not home.
Once we are there, no one ever complains.
I hope this helps a little.