Recently, many flight service providers (especially on budget airlines) have stopped including the price of check-in baggage in the airfare, resulting in additional luggage fees. One way of avoiding these is by embracing the travel light approach, that is, traveling with only a carry-on. This offers major benefits, such as skipping the baggage claim lines, saving on baggage fees, and avoiding the horror stories of lost bags at the airport.
Plan a capsule wardrobe
One of the best tips for fitting all of one’s stuff into a carry-on is to create a versatile capsule wardrobe full of pieces that can be mixed and matched to create new outfits. For this, it may be worthwhile to pack neutral pieces or basics that can easily be paired with each other. It’s also essential to pick clothes that can be layered comfortably, especially for chilly evenings (check the weather of the destination). Plan these outfits based on the scheduled activities for each day for more clarity regarding dressing.
Repeat outfits
It’s perfectly okay to repeat clothes on a vacation. Truth is, most people won’t even notice when one wears the same pair of jeans or pants between washes.
Wash laundry
This is particularly important for those planning a long vacation or trip. Put those dirty clothes for a wash at a laundry facility nearby, use the washing machine at the Airbnb, or wash the clothes by hand to ensure clean, fresh clothing throughout the trip.
Roll the clothes while packing
While folding is a neat way of stacking clothes in a suitcase, it can take up more space. Rolling the clothes is a better, more space-saving solution to tucking all of one’s belongings into a carry-on. It also offers other benefits such as a lesser risk of creasing, and the possibility of stacking items vertically, thus helping travelers maximize the space available to them.
Use packing cubes
To improve organization within the bag, make use of packing cubes. Check out the compression or vacuum-sealed varieties to get the most use out of them. This is a particularly useful trick when traveling with bulky winterwear like sweaters and jackets.
As a bonus, these cubes can also be used to separate clean and dirty clothes throughout the trip, avoiding any cross-contamination or unpleasant odors from one’s luggage.
Minimize toiletries
The TSA has stringent rules when it comes to toiletries that are allowed in a carry-on. This can be summarized as 3-1-1.
- Every container must be 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less.
- All the containers must fit into a clear plastic bag that is 1 quart in size.
- Every passenger is limited to only one such bag.
Failure to abide by these rules may result in troubles at the airport (which may even result in travelers having to throw away some of their products!). To avoid this, ensure to pack travel-size toiletries only up to the allowed limit in the carry-on. If possible, move to a solid shampoo and conditioner or perfume bar, as this will also reduce the risk of spillage.
In some cases, it may also be a better idea to buy the necessary items at one’s destination. Use the 10-$10 packing strategy here—that is, if the item can be purchased or acquired within 10 minutes and under $10, there’s no need to carry it! This can be helpful for items such as sunscreen, shaving cream, shampoo, and moisturizer, among others.
Be selective when packing shoes and cosmetics
Shoes and cosmetics can become quite bulky to carry, making it difficult to embrace the minimal travel strategy.
When traveling, one must limit themselves to just three pairs of shoes (for a two-week trip). If possible, whittle it down to even less, or opt for thin, lightweight sandals that don’t take up too much space. Just like clothes, look for versatile options for shoes as well, so they suit most occasions and activities. It is also a good idea to wear one’s bulkiest or heaviest shoes on the plane to make more space for other items in the carry-on.
Take a similar approach with cosmetics as well. Instead of packing three different eyeshadow palettes, pick a travel-size one that includes most of the colors. Additionally, look for versatile items such as a lip and cheek tint to further cut down on items to pack.
Share with a co-traveler
This tip is for those traveling with friends, partners, or family. Sharing basic items such as electronics (adapters, chargers, etc.) and toiletries will help individuals reduce their packing load and save space for other items.
Get the right bag
Make sure that the bag one picks meets all the requirements for a carry-on to avoid running into trouble at the airport. According to current regulations for most airlines, the best carry-on luggage size is 22 inches (height) x 14 inches (width) x 9 inches (depth). They may also have weight requirements that individuals will have to check with the airline authorities beforehand.
This is also a good time to check if individuals are entitled to a “personal item,” that is, one additional item per passenger (along with a carry-on). This could be a smaller handbag or a backpack that comfortably fits under the seat and can double as a day bag during one’s trip. Please note that every airline will have different size regulations for personal items, that one must adhere to diligently to avoid paying additional fees or penalties.