I have heard these crazy stories, legends really, of people taking these fabulous, glamours trips to Europe, with only their carry-on. WHAT?!?!?!?!? Is this possible?
After some extensive research and some trial and error practice packing, I think I may have found some tricks to help. These will *hopefully* allow us all to pack ONLY in our carry-ons. These could be a real game changer.
Before you pack, make sure you have the right bag. Different airlines have different policies regarding size and weight. Talk to your travel agent, they can help you find out what the specifications are for different carriers.
Let’s talk clothing. This is the most important thing to bring ( I guess other than a camera, haha). Through my research I have come across this rule a few times: shirts are worn for two days, and pants are worn for three. I wouldn’t say in a row, but this allows you to pack less. Also, if you are like me, you layer… I always have two tank tops or t-shirts on. I don’t know why, but I do. This gives me a couple of extra clothing/looks for the time we are gone.
Also, wear your heaviest outfit on the plane. This keeps the weight of the carry-on down.
Another great rule of thumb: take a wardrobe that is mainly black and white with some denim and splashes of colour. This leaves you with a neutral look that can easily be added to, if you happen to find a nice scarf or great piece of jewellery on your journey. Plus, the more dark you have, the better off you are for hiding any dirt, etc.
For your shoes, no more than three pairs. Trust me I know what a lot of you are saying right now. I am a shoe freak! I am seriously a girl who owns enough shoes to wear 2 or three different pairs a day, but you only need three, that is if you want everything to fit in your carry-on. These three will change depending on the weather at your destination, but you want a pair of sandals, a pair of comfy, walking shoes, and a pair of heels/dressy shoes. As with your clothing, wear your heaviest shoes on the plane.
A super awesome trick, something to help you plan your wardrobe. Use the note app on your phone or tablet, and write down your planned outfits for every day. Keeping it on your phone will allow you to have it at your destination. The other reason this is an awesome idea? This will help you to visualize (yes, lay your clothes out) your entire wardrobe and make changes as necessary.
IMPORTANT: make sure that all of your clothing, well at least most of it, does not need to be ironed.
If need be, and you don’t mind spending the extra money, do your research before you leave. Does the hotel/resort offer laundry service? Is there laundromats close by? What are the charges? This gives you the opportunity to wash your clothing, whether you want too or need too.
So, now we come to the part where we all wish we were Tetris Masters growing up. You won’t need to be a Tetris Master, I swear, but you will have to now a little bit to fit it all together and in your carry-on.
Well, here it is again, roll your clothes. Everywhere I look there it is. I did play around with this and it is perfect to fit everything I need into one bag. A little secret, I am using this for Girl Guide camp, and teaching it to all of my girls. I am not sure why I never thought of this, we roll all of our bedding, pj’s and stuffy (if wanted) into what we call a bed roll, specifically for the small use of space that it takes. So, why did I never think of rolling my clothes? I will be using it now!
An alternative, that I found, to rolling clothes, is layering. I am not going to try to explain this one, you will be completely lost. But, here is the video link – click here . Watch it, they do a very good job at packing their carry-on, plus the carry-on is pretty awesome. No, they do not sponsor me, I just like their video.
When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, unless you feel you absolutely need to, please leave it at home. The hotel/resort you are staying at will most likely have shampoo/conditioner available in the room. Or, you can spend a couple of bucks and purchase some while you are in destination.
I was able to find some different advice, this all comes from flight attendants:
* Use two luggage tags. I mentioned this in an earlier blog. This is so smart! If your outside tag is ripped off and lost, your luggage will still find it’s way home because you have a second one inside.
* Download any books, music, movies, etc to your phone or tablet the night before you leave. Airport WiFi is not always reliable and may not be great for downloading while you wait to board your flight.
* Roll your clothing. See, even the experts are saying this is the way to go!
* Wear at least three layers of clothing on the plane. You want to be ready for any temperature changes.
Hopefully, this will help everyone find a greater way to travel. A quick note before I leave you today… Some carriers are now charging for carry-ons, and it actually may be cheaper to pay for a checked bag. So, be sure to talk to your travel agent and see what your carrier’s policies are.
Travelling with Nichole 