What to pack in carry-on bag

[Liv's Mommy]

Ok, I know that I should have an extra change of clothes, jammies, bathing suits, sunscreen, etc. Do I need to put stuff like make-up, hairspray, deodorant, shampoo in my carry-on or in checked luggage? If it needs to go in checked do I put my regular size bottles in the suitcase and travel sizes in carry-on? As you can tell I do not ever fly! It is stressing me out what I can and can't bring and all the other rules of flying!!

If anyone could help I would appreciate it!
Thanks!

 

[njmom47]

http://www.tsa.gov/311/

That link should have all the answers for you!

Hope it helps.

I just flew to Florida in March and that is the info I used.

 

[goofy4tink]

I 'assume' that my checked bags are going to be delayed. Now, that hasn't happened but it's a good thing to plan on. So.....I put anything I may need for the first day of my stay, if my checked bags were to be delayed.
This would mean...
change of clothes..at least underwear
bathing suit if headed to a place where I could swim
toiltetires...toothbrush/paste, hairbrush, makeup, small shampoo/conditioner, and deod.
After those things, it's mostly things to entertain myself at the airport or in the air.

 

[Liv's Mommy]

Thanks! I will just go ahead and put make-up, deodorant, toothpaste and stuff like that in the carry-on as well.

 

[Taja]

Thanks! I will just go ahead and put make-up, deodorant, toothpaste and stuff like that in the carry-on as well.

Just be sure to follow the TSA's 3-1-1 rules and you'll be good to go!

 

[Liv's Mommy]

Will do! Thanks!!

 

[JenSop]

I like my carry-on to be a true backup in case my luggage gets lost.

Here's what I normally pack in my carry on:

-311 Bag:
-travel size shampoo & conditioner (I like to bring my own)
-travel hairspray
-travel size sunscreen for my face (the good stuff)
-lip glosses
-mascara

-Just in general:

-deodorant (if it's a solid, it doesn't need to be in the 311 bag)
-bathing suit
-two daily outfits
-one dress
-extra undergarments
-flip flops
-medications (allergy meds, vitamins, ibuprofen, first aid, etc.)
-camera and batteries
-cell phone chargers
-hair accessories
-rest of my make-up in make-up bag (most of my make-up is on the pricey side, and I don't want to risk losing it - it ALL goes in my carry-on)

The nice thing about usually traveling in the summer, is that summer clothes take up hardly any room. I usually end up with extra room to put a few more items in there as well.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Thanks! I will just go ahead and put make-up, deodorant, toothpaste and stuff like that in the carry-on as well.

If your carry-on is starting to feel bulky, go ahead and ditch these in your checked luggage. If something bad happens and your checked luggage doesn't arrive for 24 hours, most resort hotels will give you these essentials or provide them at minimal cost.

 

[Liv's Mommy]

JenSop, so do you also have bigger bottles of that stuff in your checked bag?

GrtWtNorth, thanks! That is good to know! I am thinking with all that stuff in my carry-on that there wouldn't be much room for anything else. Maybe I am wrong though.

 

[JenSop]

JenSop, so do you also have bigger bottles of that stuff in your checked bag?

.

We bring the big bottles of sunscreen in the checked bag, and I'll bring a back-up travel size shampoo and conditioner, and a big body lotion. (Tahiti Sweetie Body Lotion from Bath and Body Works is the absolute BEST thing for sunburn that I've ever come across! So it comes with just in case we get burned.)

That's all you really need. (DH just uses all the toiletries that are provided in the room, but I bring a special shampoo and cond. for color-treated hair - that's why I like my own.) We use the hotel's soap, body wash, etc.

You know your make-up. If it's dept. store stuff, I wouldn't put it in the checked bag! I didn't spend $20 on my mascara to have it get lost!

I know my list may look long, but it's not a lot of big stuff - chargers, band aids, and medicines don't take up a lot of room. And like I said, I go in summer; and my clothes are small and don't take up much room either. It's not a tight fit and is well within the size limits of carry-on luggage! And if my checked bag ever got lost, I'd have everything I need (I'd just have to do some laundry.)

The thing I would not pack in my carry-on? Pajamas. Seriously, worst case scenario, you just sleep in your undies! I wouldn't waste valuable carry on space on them!

And I need my deodorant in carry on. Trust me, it's for the good of all my fellow passengers....

 

[GoofyNewfie]

Maybe I missed it, but you didn't say if you're using DME. If so, you need whatever you're going to need for the first few hours once you arrive because your bags will take a while to show up. Or did they stop how this works? Been a couple years for me.

Anyways, first time we went, I had forgot (or didn't know). We went in full-on winter weather gear because it was snowy/freeezing in Canada. We had to hide in our air conditioned room for hours until our luggage arrived. My 6 year old DS was beside himself.

 

[Missytara]

JenSop, so do you also have bigger bottles of that stuff in your checked bag?

GrtWtNorth, thanks! That is good to know! I am thinking with all that stuff in my carry-on that there wouldn't be much room for anything else. Maybe I am wrong though.

I pack the travel size for everything and throw out the containers as I use them up.

 

[Missytara]

Maybe I missed it, but you didn't say if you're using DME. If so, you need whatever you're going to need for the first few hours once you arrive because your bags will take a while to show up. Or did they stop how this works? Been a couple years for me.

Anyways, first time we went, I had forgot (or didn't know). We went in full-on winter weather gear because it was snowy/freeezing in Canada. We had to hide in our air conditioned room for hours until our luggage arrived. My 6 year old DS was beside himself.

As many of the PP's stated, you should actually plan on taking one day's worth of items at least, in case the airline or ME loses or misplaces your luggage and it doesn't get to you until the next day (or never).

 

[DisneyJonesGirl]

Great advice everybody!