Tips for carry on only?

[englishteacha]

For those of you who have flown using just carry on luggage, what tips do you have? We're staying at a condo with laundry facilities, so I thought it might be feasible to take just carry ons this trip.

I know we'd have to purchase sunblock (I use the spray kind) and my husband's spray antiperspirant, but everything else liquid we bring is in travel sized containers. It seems a lot cheaper to buy those 2 things when we get there than to check a bag just because we bring them from home. Thoughts?

 

[kuayoung]

By having a washer and dryer accessible, this is definitely the way to go and the new Purex laundry 3 in 1 makes that even easier without having to buy the smallest size when you get there. I travel for business a lot and rarely if ever check bags!

The one negative is that you have to deal with bin space and lugging it with you everywhere you go. If you have a connection and kids that like to runaway from you, I am not sure the checking wouldn't be worth it.

 

[englishteacha]

We're flying non stop, and no kids.

 

[DVCGeek]

Sounds like you have the liquids issue handled; sunscreen was the only issue DW & I had for our 3 night trip back in Oct. and it was easily purchased @ Disney, though pricey (we used ME and didn't have a car).

My parents regularly do 3-4 night trips w/ carry-on only. So depending on what you need to bring with you you'll probably be fine!

One other thought- many foods & snacks are considered liquids/gels/pastes (such as peanut butter), but you probably already know that. Besides, since you are stopping for other items already I doubt you'd plan to pack something like that anyway...

 

[cerberus]

We travel frequently to the Caribbean and swear by carry-ons only when we do not take the kids. You will be surprised how much "liquid" you can pack in those 3oz containers. We have never had to purchase anything once we get to our destination. We usually take 4 or 5 - 3oz bottles of sunscreen, 1 - 3oz bottle of heavy duty bug spray because the higher concentration seems to last long and you do not need to use as much. Then the rest is just all the stuff I need for my curly hair, any liquid makeup and a small toothpaste.

Set out all the things you need and see if it will fit in 2 quart bags, you may be surprised…I sure was!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Wear your bulkiest shoes/clothes. Pack light and do laundry. Buy sunscreen etc when you get there. Use the room towels at the pool if no pool towels.

Take old t-shirts/shorts for the for pjs and toss before trip home.

We did this with a family of 5 and realized we used to pack too much and life was easier with less stuff.

 

[disneyag]

Here's a great website for ya:

www.onebag.com

 

[irisesareblue]

It is so great not to have my checked luggage lost nor have to wait at a baggage carousel and being the first person from the flight in the ground transportation lines is wonderful.... I often do my outbound flights carry on only.

I roll all my clothing and then put the rolled items in ziploc freezer bags - I push all the air out of the ziplocs, then zip em, which helps save space in the carry on. (as well, this saves my grandma-like underwear being on display if they decide to open the bag at security). The bags also help because I can then separate dirty clothing into ziplocs of their own for the trip home. I always try to bring along a small expandable bag in the carryon so I can use it for purchases.....and to be used as the carryon on the way home

I second the PP who said that you can fit a lot of liquids into the Ziplocs. Amazing!

I try to color coordinate everything that I am going to wear (IE I'm going for a week - I'm bringing 2 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of black capris (one pair sweat-shirt material, the other a dressier fabric), and 7 or 8 tops in different colors. I am also bringing a black hoodie and a black sweater that will go with all. I also will pack a little black dress (just in case). I throw in my undies, socks, sneakers and a pair of croc sandals and I'm set. I try not to pack any excess because I've found I just don't wear it. I almost always "accidentally on purpose" forget an extra sweater at home so I "have" to buy a new sweatshirt or hoodie when I'm there.

 

[happymommy]

We always only bring carry-ons. My kids each have their own rolling suitcase, and they fit overhead. They also have a backpack each for things like games and such.

We wear one pair of sneakers, then just bring one pair of sandals each. Also, I do a stop at a grocery store for liquids (like a big bottle of shampoo for us to share for the week, and drinks for the room).

I find it's much less stressful for me to not have to wait for the luggage carousel, and our bags don't get as dirty as they would if we checked them.

I started bringing only carry-ons with my kids about 4 years ago. It is just easier for me. Also, I buy a small bottle of laundry soap at the store when I arrive - bring dryer sheets though!

 

[peemagg]

I use travel space bags and those packing envelopes. Between those two things I can pack everything I need quite small.

I really like those envelopes, because if you pack them right they can also double as a suitcase for weekend trips (other than flying). They are also great for if security has to rummage through things. They just pick it up and put it back in. I also use the packing cubes for underwear and socks. Keeps everything organized and clean.

If I am going away for 7 days I only bring enough pants, shirts, socks and undies for 3 maybe 4 days and wash twice during the trip. Once about half way and again the day before we leave so I have clean clothes to pack up to go home (no laundry when I get home). For my next trip I will pack 3 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of pants, 4 shirts that coordinate with everything, extra pair of shoes, and my toiletries. I also pack chargers and such that I need in that bag. I carry a back pack as my personal item for everything else.

 

[-Hope-]

Carry-on saved us from a SEVEN hour delay the last time dh and flew without the kids. Switching flights was no big deal without a checked bag.

Utilize your personal bag as well. Dh and I both carry a backpack as our personal bag that we are allowed in addition to the carry-on. I put a small cotton shoulder bag in my suitcase to carry around once I arrive so I'm not stuck with only a bulky backpack for a purse. Make sure all of your clothes mix and match and that you only need one pair of shoes (unless you're doing a nicer meal then you may need dress shoes as well). If you must pack extra shoes put things inside them. Roll all of your clothes instead of folding. On our last trip I brought headbands and hairties so I didn't need to bring lots of extra things to deal with my naturally curly hair. Wear your jacket even if you don't need it when you leave home to save space in your bag. Carefully check the condo listing- some that we've stayed at provide laundry detergent, soap, and dish soap but others haven't.

Have fun!

 

[englishteacha]

We have one small rolling carryon, and I'm hoping to find another cheap somewhere. DH and I always fight over the one we have, anyway! (It's great for weekend trips) Can you really bring a backpack as a personal item? I thought if you had a full sized carryon that your personal item could only be something small.

I'm psyched as I just got a coupon for the Purex laundry sheets, so I'll toss a few of those in my bag rather than my baggies of powdered detergent (I always fear they'll search my stuff when the white powder shows up!). I figure 4-5 outfits and I'll do wash once or twice. I love having a washer in the condo! DH will balk at packing light (He packs more than I do!) but since I'm the one doing the laundry, he can deal with it!

 

[poohbear8]

I didn't think it could be done, but I managed to do carry-ons for my last trip with DD (12). We wore jeans, a hoodie sweatshirt and sneakers so there was less bulk to pack.

We each had a backpack and one backpack on wheels that opened wide. I put everything into ziplock bags. It was easier to pack and to see what needed to be fit in. We also packed a tote bag for the trip home, which held the supersize Mr. Potato head filled with pieces.

I found some travel size Tide and did handwash some undies and socks. Fabreeze was a good to have also. I usually like the spray sunscreen, but packed some lotion in a 3 ounce bottle and it was fine. We only needed it on our legs and arms since we didn't hit the pool.

The only issue I ran into with carry-on was the glow sticks I wanted to take. I found that the Dollar Tree tubes I bought fit into a priority mail VHS box which I happened to still have. I mailed a box of them down for about $4.50. Costly, but I decided it was easier than trying to find a place to buy them when we got there. (we had a car)

I'll be doing carry on for the next trip also. Worse case....I do some laundry at night.

 

[peemagg]

No one said anything about us not being able to have one. We place the backpack under the seat not up above, so we are not taking anymore space overhead then we are supposed to.

This past trip we actually had another duffle bag due to the medical supplies that I needed. So in total between the 2 of us we had 5 bags that we carried on.

 

[-Hope-]

Can you really bring a backpack as a personal item?

I've never had a problem doing this. It is considered no different than a purse or briefcase.

 

[katied]

I take a backpack as my personal item on almost all work trips. My computer bag is a backpack, and I just plan my trip without a purse. Some backpacks are smaller than some of the purses out there, anyway.

I think if you tried to take a very large backpack with you, they might say something, but I've never had an issue with my work backpack and a small rolling bag. It would be too much for me to juggle if I had DS on the trip with me though.

 

[happymommy]

Yes, the personal item can be a backpack. My DS brings his laptop in the backpack as his personal item. Ugh, it seems a pain to me, but he loves the darn thing.

I love the time you save! While everyone is waiting for their luggage, you can be off getting into your rental car or on your way in the cab or towncar (or ME if you use that, I hated it the one time we did).

I have also shipped down a box of snacks as well. Yes, you pay for the shipping, but to me the time saved is priceless.

Will you have a rental car? If so, then definitely buying the liquids is easy. I buy full size shampoo that we all share, and sunblock if it's summer. Plus snacks and things for the room.

I have also used a small duffel as my personal item. A couple of times I've been asked to just stick my little purse inside it (some flight attendants nicely ask me to do that, I think it's to stick to the rules). As long as it fits under the seat in front of you, it should be okay.

All in all, I find it's much easier to keep my stuff with me!

 

[hsmamato2]

I xposted over on transportation board- we're carrying duffels- but I have gummy vitamins for my kids,and oil/gel vitamins for me, how should I pack these? right now they're all organized into nice pillboxes,wondering if I should put them in my qt size baggie.....

 

[heart4dis]

Shoes are the biggest hassle to pack, so I try to stick with the pair I'm wearing and in a pinch only one more (wearing the bulkiest pair--but there is a tradeoff because I like to wear slip-ons at the airport for the security screen). All my clothing pieces can be worn interchangeably and with the shoes. I plan for layers (tank, T-shirt or light sweater, then jacket/hoodie/cardigan). Anything that can be purchased at the destination I leave out. That includes snacks, travel sized toiletries, etc. And I also plan on purchasing a T-shirt or sweatshirt at the destination for a souvenir and extra clothing. I always pack an extra tote bag to use on the return trip.

 

[disneyfan2]

How do the new flying regulations affect this? I know they are discouraging carry on's all together. I wonder how long this will be in effect?