NOT checking a bag and still bringing toiletries "Budget Friendly" style?

[AKL_Megs]

Trying to figure out budget-wise options for NOT checking a bag while flying, and still bringing along toiletries!

I've thought about buying those $1 sample-size shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, shower gel... but at $1 a pop, and between DH and me over the span of a week, we would need at least two of everything. That's $8 with JUST the things mentioned. We still need lotion, shave cream, hairspray... you get my drift. We could just as well pay to check a bag!

Of course, we could always purchase empty 3oz. bottles, but they are even $1 a pop, and with MY shampoo and conditioner, DH's shampoo, BOTH of our shower gels, hairspray, lotion, we would be spending $7 on the bottles, and would still need toothpaste and shaving cream! That's $11 right there!

I'm sure there are other things I am forgetting as well.

We ARE going to have a rental car, so we COULD buy things at full-size and leave them, but that is SO wasteful! Who would do that!

So... what do YOU do?

 

[brewcrew]

Are you staying at a hotel? They usually provide soap and shampoo. Throw your hair spray in your checked bag.

 

[loveadobie]

Hi,

We have a real hard time with traveling without checking at least one bag. There are 3 of us traveling together. We each have a carry on, and checked just one bag for the 3 of us.

Extra shoes, and any dress clothes, plus larger toiletries usually go in this checked bag.

We've been going on cruises (DCL next spring) so hubby needs a sport coat, with daughter and I needing dresses. We do not want to pack that all in a carry on.

 

[MomToOne]

DollarTree sometimes has packages with several empty travel-size bottles for $1. If you look at the empty travel-size bottles as an investment you will use over several trips, then they aren't a bad deal.

Ask your dentist for travel size toothpaste - they usually have lots.

Sign up for samples on websites like the WalMart sample page well in advance of your trip. I'll never have to buy travel size antipersperant again!

 

[Gigi22]

Maybe it is just us, but we have found we use much less in toiletries during a week's vacation that I thought. DH and I use the hotel's shampoo, conditioner and shower gel--so none of that gets packed. We travel with an electric toothbrush that requires very little toothpaste, between us both we use about 1 sample-sized toothpaste per week--from our dentist. What we really have problems with is sunscreen and bug spray--we need at least two 3 oz. containers of sunscreen to start with, and we buy more as needed. I pack towelettes of wipe-on bug spray, also hand sanitizer towelettes. We pack a sample size shave cream for DH (I use hair conditioner to shave my legs in the shower), and an unscented sample-sized deodorant. It is a bit like camping!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We always have 1 bag to check, except once when I traveled solo.

But it's easy for us to go small. DH only uses only small travel size of shaving cream for a week, we use the shampoos/conditioners provided by the hotel. Hair conditioner works great for leg shaving.

I pack 2 small travel size hair sprays which is enough for 1 week. Face moisturizer goes into a small travel size container that I bought years ago. It's really tiny. We use 2 travel size toothpaste for the 4 of us for 1 week. If we need more, the hotels sell it.

I also bring 1 small travel size container of curel hand cream. I like that better than what is supplied by hotels.

Deoderant is the toughie. That's the thing that always ends up in the checked bag. You can buy travel sizes if you need it.

Sunscreen - I do bring 2 small lotion travel sizes because DD and I use those on our face and in our hair parts. We buy 1 or 2 bottles at the resort of the spray on kind. We only buy what we will use though.

 

[debbiedana]

We don't check luggage. If it doesn't fit in the carry on, it doesn't go with.

Maybe it's the brands I buy, but I get trial sizes of all kids of stuff, especially shampoo, conditioner, hairspray. Deodorant and shower gel lasts a couple trips. I have tons of toothpaste from my dentist.

I rarely have to buy more than a couple things every trip.

I buy a couple of small tubes of sunscreen to bring with, and I just pay the extra $4 (than I could have bought at home) and buy spray sunscreen at the resort.

Beats $25 each way for checking a suitcase.

 

[Alesia]

Don't bother buying the empty bottles. If they are not clearly marked (by the manufacturer) with their size, the TSA agents aren't supposed to let them through.

 

[sissy_42]

We don't check luggage. If it doesn't fit in the carry on, it doesn't go with.

Maybe it's the brands I buy, but I get trial sizes of all kids of stuff, especially shampoo, conditioner, hairspray. Deodorant and shower gel lasts a couple trips. I have tons of toothpaste from my dentist.

I rarely have to buy more than a couple things every trip.

I buy a couple of small tubes of sunscreen to bring with, and I just pay the extra $4 (than I could have bought at home) and buy spray sunscreen at the resort.

Beats $25 each way for checking a suitcase.

Same here. My stuff lasts more than one trip, and if I run out I use the hotels shampoo etc. Things like hair spray definitely last me awhile as I don't bother to do much with my hair most days I am on vacation. Only when going to a nice dinner. If I'm at Disney or a similar place I see no point in doing my hair for it to just end up a mess in an hour or two. And if you do buy the empty bottles that is a one time expense. Just wash them out when you get home and save them for next time.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I got hooked on Lush products because I travel so much. Solid shampoo, solid conditioner (which I use as shaving cream), solid body butter (lotion).

Plus I smell great and my skin and hair look good.

 

[sissy_42]

I got hooked on Lush products because I travel so much. Solid shampoo, solid conditioner (which I use as shaving cream), solid body butter (lotion).

Plus I smell great and my skin and hair look good.

Ok, I went to the website and that looks like something I would like to try, but how long does it last? at $8-14 for just a few ounces it better last a while!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Ok, I went to the website and that looks like something I would like to try, but how long does it last? at $8-14 for just a few ounces it better last a while!

I think they last a while! It makes it so easy to travel - you never have to worry about leaking.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

What abt shipping a box ahead? You could fit a bunch of things in a flat rate box.

I have bought the solid shampoo & conditioner on etsy.com - LOVE them.

 

[richmond282]

You could always look for some coupons that don't exclude trial size products (read the fine print). It's a great way to get travel size items for free or close to free.

 

[christinec68]

We ARE going to have a rental car, so we COULD buy things at full-size and leave them, but that is SO wasteful! Who would do that!

So... what do YOU do?

We have done this a couple of times for items we can get inexpensively like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc ($2 or usually less) or for something like sunscreen that can be used up in a week. We sometimes shower twice a day so there really is not that much waste.

We have trial sized deodorants that last for several trips, the same for shaving cream. You can get refillable travel bottles - I use that for hair gel, moisturizer, body lotion, etc. I bring dove facial cloths to wash my face so I don't need to bring special face soap.

Toothpaste can go either way. The travel sizes only last for 2 days for 2 people tops which is fine for a short trip but I would buy a regular tube locally for a week long trip to avoid checking.

 

[cglaura]

What abt shipping a box ahead? You could fit a bunch of things in a flat rate box.

I have bought the solid shampoo & conditioner on etsy.com - LOVE them.

This was going to be my suggestion as well. We shipped our snacks, breakfast stuff, etc down last trip, with a styro cooler inside (put everything in the styro cooler, then cooler in box). We used the cooler w/ ice from ASMu for water and juice.

It was about 13x13x13 and I think 7lbs? But it was only $11 to ship. Then, you can use the box to ship back your souvies if you need to.

 

[madge]

this is the first trip where we're flying and not checking bags. there are 5 of us and if we can't get it packed in 5 clear ziploc bags (for the liquids) and whatever carryons we're allotted, then something's not right. LOL.

I have considered packing a box & shipping it ahead. I've done that several times and it works well.

 

[Mary2e]

I can't recall any hotel I've been in that doesn't provide shampoo/conditioner, and soap. Some have even started giving a small tube of toothpaste, as well as body lotion. They will all give you more if you run out.

I have the small refillable jars for my face soap, which doubles as my husband's shaving cream. My face cream is less than 3 oz per jar. I save the little tubes of toothpaste my dentist gives me and carry 2 or 3 or them for a week if I know the hotel doesn't provide it.

There's very little I can't do without for a week. My hair won't fall out if I don't use my regular shampoo, and so far, my husband's face looks just fine from using my face soap.

I'm traveling a whole lot lighter and packing is much easier when I finally realized that I didn't need most of the toiletries I was bringing with me.

 

[MagiKitty]

I agree with shipping ahead, which is what I did for my upcoming trip visiting friends. I have processed and colored hair, so I need a particular shampoo. I sent my personal toiletries and my hostess gift ahead. I used a flat rate box and mailed it ahead of time. Depending on the size of the box, it only cost me $5. (and I sent half full bottles, so I could finish it there and recycle rather than bring it home)

I've also mailed back souvies. One year I bought an enormous snowglobe and it was only the day before we left that I realized I didn't want to check it in and I couldn't carry it on. There's a UPS store in that little shopping area near Celebration, so I mailed it ahead (and also got gas for the rental car since we were leaving early in the am). It worked out well.

 

[drcmk]

For our last weeklong vacation, we traveled without checking luggage. We packed a few travel size liquids (a days' worth of sunscreen, handgel, a few tiny toothpastes, our deodorants are less than 3 oz). Then we made our first stop a grocery store where we bought family size versions of shampoo, suncreen and hairspray. Buying those things seems wasteful, but ends up being cheaper than buying lots of travel sizes or fees for checking bags. As a bonus you don't have to worry about losing your luggage or waiting for it to be unloaded. I'll never check luggage again.