Inspirational!
I flew out Friday return Monday (really early both days) on a budget airline to Sanford last July. I wore my shoes (packed sandals), my jeans, t- shirt, long sleeve overshirt and drizzle/wind breaker.
My luggage was a little roller about half the size of my 20"-including-wheels carryon.
Besides my toiletries bag and cables/portable chargers, I had compression bags with jammies and under garments; two tanks, a t-shirt and a nice evening overshirt; two more pairs of slacks. My personal bag was a cotton duck tote about 12" x14" with some snacks. I did have outfits picked out but stuff could mix and match also.
That was more streamlined than I was really comfortable with, especially with it being so warm but wanted to check out the little roller bag and the budget airline.
The little roller bag is maybe better as an overnighter
I’m impressed you could pack all that in there!
How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Look, if you just need one checked luggage - and this makes or breaks your trip- do it. In the long run it’s just a little bit of money and a little bit of effort. I think it all depends on how we as a person likes to travel. I’m ok living light. Some people like all their things. It’s vacation. Sacrifice somewhere else, lol.
I agree. I don’t get the gang up on carry on only.
In 2015 I did a 7-night Alaskan running cruise with a night before in Anchorage and 2 nights after (one in Vancouver and one in Seattle) in carry-on only. RUNNING CRUISES where I had to have my running gear plus clothes for the ship. It helped that I have never been into the ballgown look, but still. It’s all about mix and match clothing. I put my face stuff into small bottles, got bar shampoo and conditioner from Lush (it’s not great, but it’s better than unknown brands - and it helps that I’m just a throw it in a pony-tail and go kinda girl with minimal if any make-up…not a “my hair must look perfect and I cannot leave the house without make-up on my face” kinda girl), and used the provided soap or body wash.
Granted, this was when there were 2 carryons and a personal item allowed, so I had a roller suitcase, a duffel bag, and my backpack. It would be much more challenging now that it’s 1 carry-on and 1 personal item.
Absolutely you can!!! I traveled to London and Paris with my 4 kids last June for 10 days and we each only packed a carry on sized suitcase.
In my experience (also an over-packer by nature) I will use whatever suitcase space I allow myself to bring. If I bring the “2 week suitcase” I’ll fill that sucker up. If I limit myself to a carry on, I’ll make it work.
Start with your shoes. They take us so much space. Limit yourself to 3 pair. Wear your bulkiest pair on the plane.
There’s also the ever popular 5-4-3-2-1 rule. For a week of travel you pack five tops, four bottoms, three shoes, two dresses, and an accessory set—consisting of a jewelry set, sunglasses, and a hat.
If you’re traveling in the summer, it’s hard to even get one set of clothes through a whole day. Plan ahead to do laundry mid-trip.
Oh something else I started doing recently is just checking one bag and carrying on the rest. This only really applies to groups but the kids and I designated one carryon size bag as our checked bag and used that for all of our toiletries and stuff we didn’t want to have to pack in a TSA carry on compliant manner.
Same, and I also typically use the hotel shampoo and conditioner too. I also don’t bring a hair dryer (again use the hotel one, or just let it air dry since it’s just going in a pony or will look crazy from the humidity anyway) or any styling tools like a curling iron or straightener. I also have small containers for face products and travel size toothpaste/deoderant/etc. I’m not one for ears or coordinating backpacks either so that saves room. Only a hat or two that can be packed flat and only take up minimal space. I also use packing cubes, though not compression ones. I find that I don’t necessarily get more in my suitcase than I would without them, but they keep my clothes from needing to be ironed because things aren’t shifting around as much.
Outside of WDW, we did a 2 week trip on the west coast last summer, and all of us only had carryons. We did laundry about halfway through.
It helps that we typically travel when it’s warm and don’t need bulky clothes. If I do need something warmer, I pack leggings and layers, still things that fold up small.
It’s efficiency for me. Efficiency of not lugging around more than I need and physically tiring myself out, and efficiency on my time. I’m not waiting at baggage claim when I could be enjoying my vacation. I keep my stuff with me and don’t worry about lost bags. It’s less stuff for me to forget or lose; this was especially important when my kids were little, and I was keeping track of EVERYone’s stuff. It’s also efficiency for me when I get home as there’s less laundry/less stuff to put away. These are all more important to me than access to everything I’d have at home.
But others may have different skin or hair care needs, or have different aesthetic priorities, and don’t mind checking bags, and that’s OK too! Do whatever works for you/your family.
Going to Europe for two weeks and did two weeks in a carry on and under seat bag (official sizes for European airlines whom are stricter)
Rewearing things, will wear jacket on plane and biggest shoes on plane (the only sneakers I’m packing). Will have washer/dryer in one hotel so will wash for sure at least once and will pay high hotel prices if I need to again.
I can do 5 days in a personal item and avoid paying for luggage all together.
I did 13 days in Italy in the summer with a carryon and personal item…and had two outfits I never wore.
Imagine the panic when I was tasked with packing for a 10 day cruise in one (checked) suitcase. The night before we left, I purchased a carryon and decided to pay whatever they were going to charge for additional luggage. It occurred to my husband that he should do the same, so the morning before we left for Ohare we purchased another carry-on sized suitcase. The gate agent let us throw all the bags in as checked luggage for $100.
Ohare is such a zoo and we didn’t realize how happy it made us to have .zero bags to cart around that crazy airport.
I used every stitch of clothing I took, and was even able to loan my MIL a rain jacket in Amsterdam. Best $100 ever spent! So, as you can tell - my addiction to overpacking is strong.
Anyone with exoerience using the Beis product of luggage/carry-on bags??
That’s impressive! I can eek out 3 or 4 days in a personal bag if I don’t have to pack extra shoes or bulky clothing. But it’s still challenging. It does help that DH and I can use the same toiletries. I have certain needs. He could care less, lol.
Even I would have a hard time with that. I would need a checked and carry on or personal bag. Maybe not all 3 though.
I did a 11 days trip in September with a carry on xD compressing packing cubes, about 12 shirts, 5 shorts/pants, 2 skirts/dresses, 2 pair of shoes no laundry. For the back trip we shared a checked luggage, although it was mostly my friends gifts. I only needed to pack my candy for MNSSHP inside xD
5 days? Piece of cake! Pack 4 (assuming it’s a 4-night trip - otherwise pack 5) 2-piece outfits plus an extra top, swimwear, a sleep shirt, and a pair of sturdy sandals (wear your sneakers, hoodie, hat if any, and bulkiest bottoms on the plane). Choose lightweight, non-wrinkle tech/athleisure fabrics where possible.
Add toiletries, meds, sunscreen and makeup (subject to 3-1-1 rules) decanted into small containers or travel sized, plus a laundry detergent sheet/fabric softener sheet in a baggie in case of a laundry emergency. Use flexible pouches or a flat toiletry kit rather than a giant brick-shaped Dopp kit, because the latter takes up a ton of space and invites overpacking.
Don’t bring anything the hotel will provide (e.g., hair dryer, soap, shampoo, coffee). If you want in-room breakfasts, add some Pop Tarts or granola bars. Put your wallet, phone, rain poncho, tiny First Aid kit (Band-Aids and a few Tylenol in a sandwich bag), sunglasses or spare eyeglasses and charger in your park bag, which will be your personal item if you’re flying. Add anything you need that is park-specific (e.g., MagicBands and waist pack for WDW, lanyards/wand/for Universal).
That’s it. I bring nothing else because I won’t need anything else. Everything I’ve described fits easily into a 21" rolling bag with room to spare for a souvenir (I use packing cubes to keep things organized but not for compression) and my small Eddie Bauer Stowaway backpack, which is my go-to personal item. Ditto for my whole family of 4.
Late to the party here.
In May, my daughter and I flew from SC to SoCal for a 6-night DLR trip. We each only had a carry on and one of the “Spirit approved” under seat bags (that counted as our personal item). We had more than enough room. We wore our biggest shoes (sneakers) and packed sandals. We wore jeans and hoodies and had to pack other jeans as it was chilly in May in SoCal. I also had my hair elements (Dyson wrap and curling iron).
I am an unapologetic overpacker and it worked out ok. I believe I lamented on the forum and was reassured by many and it worked out ok.
This, this, this.
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I used to fly stand-by almost exclusively, so I had to go carry-on only. I think I’ve taken longer than 5 day trips, but I think 5 days is do-able. You do have to make some tough decisions when it comes to Loungeflys and ears (if you’re me). I also will sometimes Instacart or Amazon order toiletries that I know I’m going to need more than 3 oz.! You can do it! But you’ll need a large-ish, under-seat bag in addition to your overhead bin bag. It’s also much easier in warm weather if you’re not packing bulky jeans.