I’m guilty. Guilty of getting sucked into the “carry on” only hype. And I get it. Going carry on only for your vacations does make sense. You save on luggage fees. You don’t have to arrive super early to check your baggage. You don’t have to worry about losing your luggage. And maybe the best perk, when you arrive at your destination you can just breeze out of the airport without a care in the world. But what if you LIKE your stuff. What if you can’t simply can’t decide what you want to wear next Tuesday for dinner or Thursday when you really don’t know what the weather will be like. What if you have a bit of a shoe problem and don’t want to leave any of your faves behind. My friends, I’m about to buck the norm here, disagree with every other trendy travel expert out there and blow your mind. I’m going to tell you to forget everything you’ve been told about how to pack and instead tell you to embrace your inner hoarder and PACK ALL THE THINGS! Okay, maybe not all the things – but LOTS MORE THINGS. Here we go I’m about to blow your mind….
Do you feel giddy? A weight being lifted off your shoulders? That’s freedom, my friends. The freedom of stress free packing! Now you don’t have to fit your entire life in a duffle. I mean, that concept is just ridiculous, right? But when you embrace “packing all the things you suddenly have the freedom to pack seven maxi dresses, shoes to go with all those dresses plus matching sweaters and jackets to boot! Can’t decide between 2 cover-ups. You don’t have to! Bring them both. You’ve been planning and dreaming about this trip for weeks, months, maybe years? Why ruin it by stressing about how you’re going to get everything you need for your trip into one teeny tiny bag. The solution. Don’t.
When you forget the carry-on only concept you get to:
- Pack just about as many outfit choices as you would like to.
- Embrace the concept of an extra pair of shoes.
- Pack full-size sunscreen and after-sun to protect the pretty. (um have you seen how much sunscreen costs at resorts?)
- Forget having to buy travel size shampoos/and conditioners and hope and pray the hotel has decent enough stuff for you to use when those run out. (I mean really, how long do those travel size shampoos last? When you have as much hair as I do, maybe 2 washes if you’re lucky)
- Suddenly the flat iron doesn’t have to be left behind because you have room!
- Bonus. You now have room to shop and bring home souvenirs.
So what’s the down side?
- You will have to pay for your luggage and that kind of sucks.
- You will have to wait for your luggage to come off that plane – BUT this gives you time to pee – so there’s that
So if you decide to buck the new norm of carry-on only trend, a few words of advice.
- Don’t go super crazy. Still plan out that wardrobe carefully and pack what you think you will wear, then edit out a few pieces.
- If travelling with a partner, spouse or family member consider the 50/50 rule. Half your wardrobe in his suitcase. Half in your own. Then if the worst happens you only lose half of your favourite things.
- Still take a carry on! Just a smaller one. This carry on should have all your important documents, your medications, any valuables that would break your heart to lose and in my opinion one bathing suit and one change of clothes.
Deep breath, enjoy your trip – and the freedom to pack all the things.
Happy travels!
I try to pack things that I can use for different outfits, so I don’t haul too much stuff.
We usually only take a check in bag and our diaper bag jammed with snacks since taking a carry on is too much with a toddler, a baby, and a stroller lol. We don’t have enough arms for a carry on right now lol.
Very useful tips! A little planning goes a long way in ensuring you have a great vacation. It’s nice to be able to bring along everything you need.
I always overpack usually with shoes ie a couple comfortable walking shoes, pool flip flops, dressy sandals and dressy heels (I even sometimes bring my own slippers)
when I pack, I always take more than I need. Thats just me. Also when I roll my clothes they stay neat and I can fit more in a bags that I couldn’t have otherwise. Learned that tip a few years ago and it works!!. I love all your ideas. 🙂
Thanks for the tips. they are helpful.
Always pack one good outfit that will work for a wedding or god forbid a funeral. When I packed my bags for the east coast I added my very special black silk bead vest & a white blouse which I had no intention of bringing, I was trying to pack light ahem…this time. The cost of travel is high as are the bags. 120 one way to NS for 2 carryons and a suitcase. The day afer I arrived my former brother in law suddenly passed away I was glad I had that! I also was invited to see my brother & his band mates do their thing. If ever in NS check out RUCKUS a tribute band where it is often standing room only and all ages & jobs show up. Unchained melody OMG!! Definitely pack some great jeans too.
Definitely make good use of the allocated luggage limit. I think that people often underestimate how much they will bring back on a trip.
This is a very helpful post about packing I always overpack.
not that i travel often but i seriously had the thought of leaving something that could be important behind!
I can’t pack economically at all, when I travel to Europe my suitcase is mainly full of gifts for my grandchildren. I never have too much with me for myself, a change of clothes and perhaps a book, my medication and that’s about it.
for some reason, i always bring a lot of toiletries and only end up using half of what i need. i usually bring sample sized items too. it depends how long i’ll be away, i’d say if it’s up to a week then i’ll tend to only bring a carry on, but for longer trips then i will check in a larger bag. if i’m in a shopping destination, bringing a larger bag is convenient as it has space for things i might buy.
I usually over pack. Next trip we don’t have luggage restrictions – cruise with no flights needed. Problem is getting 4 of us in vehicle with luggage for 15 days and also storing it all in one little cabin on the cruise.
After taking my niece on a two night trip, I told her she will have to pack more carefully for our next trip. She packed a large luggage bag for two nights.
Thank you for the great advice sounds great I like the idea of stress and hassle free packing
I am a notorious over-packer, but you just NEVER know! My last holiday I was randomly invited to be the date for a wedding. I was glad to have packed a fancier outfit that I wouldn’t have worn otherwise but totally came in handy lol 🙂 The extra $25 is not a huge deal to me to just have room for even souvenirs!