Traveling with Carry-On Luggage
Pack Everything Needed for Weeks Away with these Simple Tips!
Oct 2, 2008
Limiting luggage to carry-on saves money and makes maneuvering through airports and security check-in lines easier. Carry-ons eliminate waits at baggage carousels and let travelers switch flights quickly. Learn to travel successfully with carry-on luggage and never check baggage again!
Avoid Last-Minute Packing
Lay out belongings a week in advance with a basic color scheme of black, gray, tan, brown or navy – dark shades for cool climates, lighter for warm. Every item must go with everything else. Use solid colors for bottoms; tops can be solid or patterned, then make sure every top goes with every other bottom. Ditto for shoes and accessories. Review periodically. Is there something you can substitute that’s lighter in weight, easier to wash, or matches better?
Take the Right Two Bags
Airlines allow one carry-on bag that will fit below the seat or in the overhead compartment. Normally, the regulations require it to be no larger than 22” tall, 14” wide and 9” deep for a total of 45.” The other permitted carry-on is a personal bag. Don’t waste that extra bag on a purse or computer case. Take an expandable briefcase, small backpack or over-the-shoulder bag. The allowance is 36” in total dimension; a shoulder case could be 17” x 12” x 7.” Place a purse or computer (protected by a thin padded case) inside that bag and room remains for extras like reading material, camera or a sweater.
Avoid Extremes
Take middle-of-the-road styles that work for day or evening. For a resort, no short shorts. Bermudas or capris have more versatility beyond the beach. A sweater goes more places than a sweatshirt. Chinos go anywhere jeans can but can be dressed up for most restaurants.
One-shot outfits are a waste. For women, avoid cocktail dresses with matching heels. Take a skirt that can be dressed up and fancy earrings. For men, a wrinkle-free sports coat can be worn onto the plane and used for warmth and dinner out.
Think Washable and Fast Drying
Jeans are heavy, take up lots of space, and they take forever to dry. No-iron chinos are better. Choose thinner weaves in shirts and slacks. When washed, hang and smooth out so they dry as wrinkle-free as possible.
Take Long Underwear – Even in Summer
Many trips leave you up in the air about the weather. Take a sweater but also take a thin, thermal underwear top. Layering it under normal shirts or the sweater provides extra warmth. Add a windbreaker for even more warmth and comfort in all but extremely cold weather. If you are going to a cold climate, wear your heavy coat onto the plane. It doesn’t count as luggage.
The Waste Basket is a Friend
Undies you’ve been meaning to replace? A shirt with a small pull? Slacks that are starting to wear out? Take them to wear early in the trip. Then toss ‘em toward the end to make space in your carry-on for purchases. Take a small paperback that you can ditch and limit the heavy tour books. If you need information for part of the trip, copy it; when you’ve left the area, toss the pages.
Avoid Extra Liquids
Most airlines allow only small bottles of liquids in 3 oz. containers, to fit in a quart-size plastic bag. Those small bottles can be enough for weeks if you take a combined shampoo/conditioner product. Hotels often provide small toiletries anyway or buy toiletries at the destination.
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