Pack Smart to Save Money
Published on - May 5th, 2011 (Modified on - May 9th, 2011) (by April Dykman) This post is from staff writer April Dykman.
Most of us travel with a lot of stuff. Even the evangelists of light packing (like me) usually pack our carry-ons and handbags to the hilt. But what we pack (or don’t pack), and how we pack it, often directly affects our finances, especially now that checking baggage often comes with an added fee on most airlines.
Packing smart to save money doesn’t necessarily mean traveling around the world with no luggage like travel writer Rolf Potts. Obviously, it depends on who is going and where you’re headed. A college kid backpacking around the world has different needs than a family of four going to Disney World. (And some travelers simply don’t want to pack light. I had a coworker who had a thing for shoes, and she would’ve been unhappy traveling to Tuscany with less than five pairs in tow.)
But packing smart does mean really assessing your needs to lighten your load as much as you comfortably can and to still have your necessities for the trip—which avoid added fees and extra expenses.
The golden rule of travel
On one end of the packing spectrum, you have travelers who bring everything and the kitchen sink. On the other end of the spectrum, you have Jonathan Yevin, who hitched rides from Ecuador to Mexico with nothing but the clothes on his back, a passport, a credit card, $50 cash, a toothbrush, a small digital camera with extra battery, a Ziploc bag of vitamins, and a copy of The Kite Runner, “whose chapters I tore off as I read them,” he writes.
Crazy? Maybe. But consider the following:
- Jonathan wouldn’t be as tempting a target for theft, damage, or loss because he didn’t have anything that looked appealing to thieves. No fancy luggage or expensive SLR camera — he probably looked (and he definitely smelled) a lot like a bum. He said this allowed him to hitch rides more easily.
- He didn’t have to pay for bag fees while using public transportation (common in Latin America).
- He didn’t have to tip a bellhop, since he had no bags to carry.
Jonathan admits he was stinky and that he raised suspicion for his lack of luggage. He writes, “An amused agent asked, ‘Vas a recorrer mi tierra desnudo?‘ (You gonna run around my country naked?) A valid point.”
As extreme as it may seem to you and me, it was an interesting experiment that showed how what we carry with us affects our finances. Most of us have seen airlines cut back on weight allowances and added fees for checked bags, so an obvious way that packing light can save you money is simply to not check any bags.
By taking only carry-on luggage, you save money on traveling expenses, reduce time at the airport waiting for your bags, and you won’t have the frustration and possible expense of dealing with lost luggage. After all, unless and until they find your lost bag, you’re going to have to buy basics like clothing, toiletries, and the like.
Collected from the archives of Budget Travel, the following are some of my favorite pack-light tips that can help eliminate the need for checked bags:
- Split the load. When traveling with your significant other, do you both need to pack toothpaste and shampoo? If you can split the load, you’ll each carry less.
- Choose two clothing colors that work together, and mix and match. You’ll need less clothes and shoes if everything goes with everything else.
- Try rolling instead of folding. There seem to be two camps when it comes to packing clothes—the rollers and the folders. I’m a roller. I’ve repacked folded items using the rolling method and was able to fit more in the suitcase. I don’t recommend rolling a suit, but for t-shirts and jeans, it can save space.
- Pack stuff inside of stuff. Small items, like a camera, can be stored in a shoe.
- Look for multi-function products. Most shampoos can double as body wash and laundry detergent if you need to wash clothes in the sink. Moisturizers with sunscreen cover two needs.
- When traveling with kids, the more organized, the better. Check out the app Baby Pack & Go, which supplies packing lists you can customize for each child (as well as reminders to help keep baby on his or her routine as much as possible).
- Ship ahead. Sometimes you just have to have more stuff, for example, when you have a baby. One option to lighten the load is Babiestravellite.com, a service that delivers your baby supplies order to your hotel. For travelers wanting to ship bags domestically (it’s not advisable to ship bags if you’re traveling internationally), Luggage Free Economy will send your up-to-50-pound bag cross-country for about $70 (rate varies depending on the type of bags and itinerary).
Note that if you’re traveling domestically and your bag weighs more than 55 pounds, you’re better off checking it in at the airport.
Avoid the frustration (and expense) of lost luggage
If traveling with just a carry-on doesn’t work in your situation, make every effort to help your bag reach its destination. The following precautions will up your odds:
- Put your name and a copy of your itinerary inside your bag in case the luggage tags are lost.
- Take a picture of your bags and keep it in your carry-on. It’s easier to show the claims rep your luggage than to describe it.
- Keep the bare essentials in a carry-on, so if your checked bags are lost, you won’t have to spend extra cash on things like a change of clothes and basic toiletries.
Also, be especially careful if you’re flying in or out of an airport known for lost luggage, such as Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport and Sydney International.
I’m sure many GRS readers are savvier packers and more seasoned travelers than I, so let’s hear your tips and tricks for packing that save money!
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I try to strike the right balance between preparation and being overburdened. For example, I do always carry a few basic remedies, such as tums, cold medicine, etc. It’s partially superstition–if I carry it, I wont need to use it, lol–and partially bc if I need it while traveling, the last thing I’ll feel like doing is trucking around to find a pharmacy. OTOH, if I’m going someplace warm I won’t always pack a sweater–I figure I can always find one as a souvenir if it’s unbearable. I am usually not traveling casually enough that I would want to only carry 1-2 outfits, but if I go away for a weekend, I will use just one pair of jeans.
I don’t think I’m that good at packing–I usually have a few things I don’t even touch, but I usually have a good time on my travels, and that’s what is important to me.
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This won’t save money, but it is nice to remember that most place people go to HAVE items for purchase. So if you forget something or just don’t want to pack extra diapers, chances are there’s a drugstore that will carry what you need.
I travel so much for short trips that I have my carry-on bag in a state of half-packedness. I don’t need to repack my toiletries for every trip because they’re still in my carry-on in one of the easy to access pockets.
I tend to wear my bulkier or heavier items on the plane rather than smaller ones. It’s easier on my back if I’m wearing jeans and packing shorts rather than the other way around.
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I totally agree with wearing jeans and other heavier clothes on the plane. Jeans weight a lot and take up so much room in the bag.
When I take longer trips, I pack only a few pants and just keep wearing them until they are really dirty. There are laundry service pretty much every where you can go so don’t pack an outfit for each day.
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Last time we flew, all five of us brought our own carry-on bag and we didn’t check anything in. Saved money, and we didn’t have to worry about lost luggage.
When we travel by car, I admit I do overpack.
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I am a big advocate of rolling clothing-it really does take a ton less space AND it leaves less creases! With the kids when they were small I would roll their clothes together in outfits-shirt,pants, undies & socks. Made my life easier.
Another tip-plan on layering your clothes when you plan your outfits-if I bring a T-shirt, a button down shirt & a sweater that all coordinate I can wear any of them alone or in various combinations, to include t-shirt under the button down shirt w/the sweater on top if it is cold.
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I definitely re-wear stuff and have multi-purpose things. I recently went on a 2 week trip to DC, NYC and Israel (WAY different climates!) and packed a fleece and a vest for layering in NYC and DC, packed almost used up toiletries ( I did have to check one bag, so this was OK; it didn’t save room in the beginning, but it made room at the end for wine and olive oil) and shirts that were made of wicking material.
I also went hiking a lot, so to save clothing I’d wear the same 2-3 outfits to hike in and then change into something clean when I got back to the hostel and showered. That way I didn’t need 16 outfits for Israel (and my jeans got worn at least 8 times. yum!). Next time I plan to go to REI and get the underwear that you can wash in the sink and it dries overnight.
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Lauren, my life saver!
My husband and I are heading to Egypt and Israel in August for work (we’re both journalists).
Can ask about what sort of outfits you packed? Did you find you had to cover up a lot? Any tips would be appreciated!
PS – JD, why does Paris airport get it’s full name but not Sydney?
It’s Kingsford-Smith. 
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Greetings from Israel.
We have the original Mediterranean climate
That means 2 seasons:
Rainy winter with what would be considered “springtime” temps in Europe or North America (coolest nightime temps 5-7C / 45-50F).
Bone-dry summer with very high daytime temps. Depending on where you are it can either remain hot/humid at night (Dead Sea, Galilee, Eilat) or cool off dramatically (Jerusalem, Golan Heights).
My guess is Egypt is similar, if hotter – possibly areas near the Nile/ocean/mountains cool off at night.
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Remember the width of your carry on matters. The last few times I have flown they have checked everyone’s carry on for width as well as length. They are also really enforcing the TWO carry ons (one under the seat and one overhead). I have seen a number of people have to shuffle when they thought “their little purse” did not count when they had both a computer bag, purse and rollaway.
I am looking into the smaller roll aways. Getting myself down to three outfits for a week helps! Grandma in the same outfit for a week is not as acceptable as younger people.
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Don’t use wheeled carry-on if you can help it and you’re flying short haul (at least in Europe). Some airlines will let you take it to the plane, but then take it off you at the gate. They then may or may not put it in the hold, and may or may not tell you. I had to throw away over a hundred pounds worth of meds, as they were in my carry on, which was put in the unheated, unpressurised hold without telling me (why was I carrying them? – because I need them!)
Now I use unwheeled bags, which, even though they’re the same size, are magically not susceptible to this problem…
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My European friends joke about Americans who wear nothing but jeans and sneakers (which, BTW, are also very heavy to pack).
I wear skirts much more when I travel. They’re more culturally acceptable in some places than pants and they usually take up a lot less room and weight. And in hot climates, they’re often more comfortable.
Sorry I don’t have any advice for the guys. Sarong, anyone?
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I can get by with one pair of sneakers, and sometimes one pair of jeans. Since they are larger than the slacks, or dress shoes I bring, I will usually wear them on the plane. That’s for business trips.
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Heh, this article was exactly the opposite from what I was expecting. I have a friend who’s travelled all over the world and he never brings anything that doesn’t fit in his little shoulder bag, which is basically a mini-laptop, his passport, a notebook, and a change of underwear.
Whenever he gets where he’s going, he just buys whatever he needs, including new clothes or toiletries.
I thought “pack smart” was going to be about being able to get enough into your bags so that you wouldn’t find yourself buying a lot of replacement items at your destination. I guess that’s not how most of the world travels.
Ever since I’ve known that aforementioned friend, I’ve never checked any baggage, and that includes going on trips to Greece and India, each for three weeks. I carry my laptop bag (sometimes without a laptop, depending on the trip), and a small duffel bag, and the duffel bag is usually not really that full. The reason this is never a problem for me is that *I do laundry on vacation*. I bring enough clothing for one week, and at the end of the week, I wash it, or pay someone to wash it. That is the biggest packing trick that nobody seems to know — wash your clothes.
Edit: Oops, I misremembered what I took on my three week trip to Greece. It was This backpack and camera bag, which is actually probably smaller than the duffel and laptop bag.
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My husband used to tease me about packing everything but the kitchen sink, however, he also asks me to pack because he believes my “rolling” is more efficient than his folding. (Either that or he just wants to get out of the packing deal, LOL.)
When traveling domestically, we try to keep it to one or two carry-ons and purchase trial size liquid toiletries upon arrival. We can usually find travel size or one time packets of sun screen also-less chance of a mess in our bags, too. We just budget the cost of the usually 99 cent items into our travel fund.
International travel we do check one larger bag that we pack both our clothes into. We use the shoes to hold socks and belts.
We also bring a mini-check/debit card register that we get for free from our bank to track all of our expenses as we go. This way we know exactly how much we are spending, do not go over our budget and can more easily project the budget we need to save for our next trip.
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Pack what you need, and a little of what you want. If you can’t afford to travel… don’t.
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You might want to check this out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/business/06PACK.html?scp=3&sq=flight%20attendant%20packing&st=cse&gwh=5A61743912D9B0BE18F855FF1FF1DD9D
A NY Times article on how flight attendants pack. Not on the frugal tip, but how a pro does it.
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An accepted practice among our family and friends flying domestically to visit each other is to not take toiletries that will be available at the destination household – shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc., unless one has a special need for something such as medicated shampoo. This simple practice can really cut down on the amount of toiletries one carries.
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I am always so confused by the whole “buy what you need when you get there” and the ” do not check luggage”.
Doesn’t anyone wear CONTACTS?
I have been all over the world and believe me, it is very difficult to find contact solution, cleaners and saline in foreign countries.
I spent 3 hours in brussels on a sunday going from store to store in search of contact stuff I had brought but lost along the way,
and Poland, Korea, China and lithunia?
forget it.
And contact stuff does not come in 4 oz bottles.
yes, you can buy that “soak stuff” for contract in 4 oz bottles, but I cannot use that stuff, I need the peroxide style.
What do people do with their required “liquids”? I would love to see tips on that.
yup, I can hear it now– I could wear glasses for weeks on a trip- with the head pain from the heavy glasses and the poor vision I get from them compared to contacts- no thanks. And I look like a idiot in glasses.
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I wear contacts too. I bought a few 3-4 oz. plastic bottles that I fill with solution I think I’ll need. I hate carrying the big bottles!
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But, this only works for very short trips. What about ones that last several months?
I too use the peroxide solutions and when in Europe last year for 4 months, the 12 oz bottle was approximately $26.
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Amazon.com delivers to Europe last time I checked. And they have must have warehouses in Europe cause the shipping is cheap/free.
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Maybe this is naive, since I don’t wear contacts myself, but if you are very concerned about the cost of solution and you will be traveling for several months, couldn’t you just wear glasses on the trip?
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This is more of a reply to 35 than to you, but I can’t see the “reply” button on his/her comment.
I have the UGLIEST glasses! They are crooked, slightly broken, and are barely even close to my prescription. Why do I keep these stupid things? Because my insurance will pay for contacts or glasses, not both.
When I wear my glasses, I *feel* gross, and I don’t look that great either. If I were on a business trip, I’d check a bag if my only other option was to wear my glasses!
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honestly this seems pretty risky in the way of sterility of the contact solution.
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For contacts, if you can, I would invest in a month’s worth of disposable contacts. I have those now and they save you the trouble of carrying liquid cleaner.
If that’s not your bag, then split your peroxide style cleanser up into separate bottles and try to convert from using liquids for all your other needs to creams or bars. It takes some looking and some flexibility in what you use but I do think it’s possible.
Good luck!
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Contact solution does come in 4 oz. bottles, but maybe not widely around the country? I’ve always been able to find it in the US — have not looked in other counries since I brought mine with me. Also, if you go to the eye doctor every year, ask for a free sample size solution. Those are 4 oz., too.
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I’ve been living in Europe for over 20 years and have been “importing” contact lens solution that whole time! 5-6 bottles at Xmas, another 5-6 from visitors throughout the year…so I sympathise! On 2wk vacations, you can get by with two small bottles (AOSept sells them) – otherwise, I check in a small suitcase if I’m on a longer trip…and I also splurged on a decent set of glasses – better for long-haul flights and just not good for your eyes to wear contacts ALL the time
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Ask your eye doctor- mine gives me a free sample size of the brand I normally use every time I go. I also refill the bottle, but since it started out its life as a sterile contact solution bottle, I doubt it could get much dirtier by refilling it with clean solution from another bottle.
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I know it’s possible to buy things at the destination, but they can often be found cheaper at home depending on the exchange rate. I was in Australia last Fall, and found myself buying cold medicine, new shoes when mine broke, an umbrella for the rainstorms, etc. Ended up spending a LOT more than I intended for incidentals, and when I got home, I wondered where it all went.
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This is exactly how I feel. I always bring my toiletries for two reasons.
1. At home I buy them in discount stores and where they are certainly cheaper than in tourists drugstores.
2. There is no way I would spend precious travel time tracking down toiletries. Seriously? You’re in a foreign country and you want to spend your time looking for shampoo and toothpaste that you could have brought?
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I like to visit grocery and department stores in other countries. In fact, if you’re on a budget you’ll find yourself in the local grocery stores anyway buying food for your meals. I don’t look at that as a wasting time or money.
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I agree with both of you. It’s fun to go to grocery stores and see what they have and see how different the relative pricing is. It’s not at all fun to have to go to stores to look for specific things that you need.
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Other than diapers and wipes, I don’t think babies require all that much stuff. Bigger kids require a lot more thoughtful planning if you want to travel cheaply. You need to make sure you’ve got enough stuff to keep them entertained so they don’t get whiney. Also, if they’re picky eaters you may need to have food stashes.
We have found the best way to travel with an infant is to wear him. Our go to travel stroller for a child who can sit up is a $20 umbrella stroller. If it gets lost or stolen, it’s cheaply replaced and it’s so easily folded, you’re not fumbling around while the whole world waits for you at security checkpoints.
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100% agree on baby-wearing.
And renting a carseat at your destination if you’re going to be renting a car makes getting through the airport way easier.
Once our child was a certain age, we found it to be a good thing to get him a small carry-on wheeled luggage of his own so he would stop trying to take charge of ours (which was disastrous).
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Renting a car seat isn’t a very safe idea, since you have no way to be sure that the seat will be appropriate for your child, that it isn’t expired, hasn’t been in an accident, and has been properly cared for (ie the harness straps have never been submerged in water). I love being frugal but I’m not willing to risk my child’s safety. If you’re looking for an option that’s easier for traveling, you could look into something like the Ride Safer Travel Vest or the EZ On Travel Vest.
I completely agree with you on babywearing though-wonderful way to keep baby happy and mom’s (or dad’s) hands free!
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I have to agree with you Kim and thanks for bringing this up. As a former car rental employee, my advice is to NEVER EVER rent the carseats. Our company was good about destroying any that had been in an accident, so I’m fairly sure they were safe, but they were kept in a shed outside and were dirty…and finding appropriate sizes for the children was always a nightmare. Just bring your own if you’re renting a car, or buy a new extra one to keep at Grandma’s house. It’ll be worth it, trust me.
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Remember car seats can be checked for free & don’t count against your free bag allowance on the airlines that still offer those.
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On my last trip (10 days in Spain) I carried on my luggage. Some things I did that aren’t mentioned: packed bar soap that doubled as laundry soap (Dr. Bronner’s, unscented), packed shampoo bar and not liquid shampoo plus conditioner, use a backpack suitcase. The latter is something I wish was acceptable for me to use during business travel, too. Those wheeled bags may be convenient for tooling around the airport but you are very often forced to check them at the gate. A soft-sided bag is much easier to fit into any configuration of an overhead bin.
I bought a bottle of body lotion once I reached my destination and left it behind for someone else to use. On a trip a couple years ago, I stayed a hostel that had a basket set aside for things just like this. I was able to “borrow” a bottle of body lotion and return it the basket on last night.
I got by just fine with two pairs of pants: one pair jeans and one pair nice looking yoga pants. I washed shirts frequently so I got by with only four of them. It’s so freeing to not be stuck with lots of heavy luggage!
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Great article April! I’ve been a 1 bag traveler for almost 15 years. I’ve successfully taken 1 month long business and pleasure trips with a single bag.
Travel companions stare in disbelief when I show up, but are begging for tips after schlepping through multiple airports, train stations, and hotels.
I use a combination of rolling and bundling (http://bit.ly/OwtvP) in order to minimize space while keeping dressy clothes neat and crease free. BTW, the link above is to the One Bag website which is a great resource.
My favorite bags are the MEI Voyageur (http://bit.ly/mUvgIB) and the Rick Steves Convertible (http://amzn.to/ld6bXW). The Voyageur has a better hip belt and has lightweight, flexible strips in the corners to help the bag stay open when loading and unloading.
Finally, I recommend packing a second collapsible duffle bag (http://amzn.to/iKQUip). This is great if you need extra space for souvenirs, etc. on your return.
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Learning my lesson about keeping essentials in my carry-on years ago, when a flight was cancelled and I was stranded overnight. On that trip, I ended up having to buy stuff like a toothbrush, etc. because it was all in my luggage that was still on a plane somewhere. Now I always pack basics in my carry-on, because you never know …
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I learned that I could live with only two sets of clothing (one purchased there), a comb, a toothbrush, and my wallet when the airline lost my luggage on a trip to Istanbul Turkey. My luggage arrived home two weeks after I returned.
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I took a 3 week trip to Spain and packed a big backpack with a lot of stuff that I checked in the plane. My only carry on was my wallet, passport, and the clothes on my back. Well – long story short, my luggage never made it to Spain (I got it back when I returned to the States)
Turns out it was much more enjoyable to have almost nothing weighing me down. I do avoid wearing sandals on flights now though!
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If you travel internationally, spending a
little more can save you time. (On vacation
especially, time is money.)
On a combined 2 week work/vacation trip
to Europe, my wife and I took 2 (wheeled) carry-ons and two light backpacks.
I shipped my work materials and dress clothes
home when we started the vacation, which
made the bags even lighter, and left room
for souveniers.
The best advice I got was to purchase
quick-dry clothes at an outdoor store. Though
these are somewhat more expensive, we could
wash these at night in the sink and dry them overnight in the room, so we got by with
three sets of clothes apiece. (We didn’t wash
on nights we were travelling between towns,
so two wasn’t enough.)
Having light rollable luggage made travelling by train (very nice in Europe)
much easier than having a large suitcase.
Given the amount we spent on the trip,
wasting time would have been the most expensive option.
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I am not sure I understand the problem a couple of people here have had with “wheeled” carry-ons.
We’ve been traveling back and forth to Europe (Poland) for 17 years now and never had to check one because it was wheeled.
The problem is when it is too big. And even then they usually let them go, but we now have true “carry-on” sized suitcases with wheels.
Some people try to carry-on a size that should be checked because it is too big to fit into the required space that they allow. There is a sign and frame in our airport in Warsaw that shows you what is allowed and they recommend you put your carry-on into it to make sure it will fit.
I won’t NOT use a wheeled carry-on again if I have a choice. When my daughter carried a sports bag last time, she ended up asking to wheel around my wheeled carry-on just so she could set her sports bag on it and pull them together.
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It depends on the size of the aircraft. I’ve only had the problem the once, when the aircraft was a small commuter-jet sized thing (maybe 50 or so seats).
And yes, my luggage was the appropriate size and weight, and it was a big name carrier (Air France). It was just a low-throughput route (Paris-Genoa), so the overhead lockers are smaller. What annoyed me more is I questioned them about it on the way out (they warn you at check-in that you’ll have to give up your bag at the gate), and they said that it would be in the cabin – and it was, in one of the bigger lockers at the front. So I didn’t ask on the way back, and only found out on arrival, when I asked for my bag as I disembarked, and was told it had been put in the hold, and I’d have to go to baggage reclaim, which incidentally meant that I was late and missed the last train home.
It was hell, on so many levels. I’m never ever travelling with wheels as carry-on again.
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Becky, I think flights to and from Europe on the big-bodied planes may not have a problem accomodating the standard roller bags. The generous amount of overhead bin space plus the fact that on such flights there are still enough passengers who prefer to check their baggage means that there is usually room for a roller bag.
However, with fees for checked bags increasing, many more people are carrying on their bags. If every passenger brought a regulation-sized roller bag on the plane, the bins couldn’t accomodate them all, even on the bigger planes.
This is what happens on domestic flights now, since the planes are usually smaller. Unless you’re in an early boarding group on a domestic flight, forget carrying on your regulation-sized wheeled bag. It *will* be taken from you and checked.
This is why I prefer to travel with a soft-sided, non-wheeled bag if I can do so. Traveling in business attire does make it a challenge to lug the same Rick Steves Convertible Carry on bag I take on pleasure trips, though, so I usually end up with the wheeled bag getting checked routine. *sigh*
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My tip is that when you only have to carry things one way use a box. We have family that lives across the country and this trip they are throwing us a baby shower. To get the stuff back home I plan on checking a big cardboard box on the way home. $25 for an extra 50 lb box is so much cheaper than shipping stuff and I don’t have to pay for checking an empty bag on the way out.
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Be warned that the airline might not consider a cardboard box to be sufficiently sturdy luggage. I have had to sign a waiver in order to check a box before. It’s always made it through ok, but if it hadn’t, it would have been my problem. I haven’t had to sign any waivers when checking a collapsible duffel bag.
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I’ve flown back from a wedding & baby shower (a few years apart!). I returned everything that had a gift receipt & re-bought it at home. Easier not to deal with it at the airport at all. Baby clothes are pretty easy to pack but many people still bought large items even though they knew I was flying.
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Rick Steeves’ website has great advice about travelling with just one carry on suitcase. Hubby and I spent nearly a month in France and Spain, and didn’t want for anything!
There are backpack style bags now that also have wheels; they’re a great hybrid for travellers.
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We have one of the Rick Steves bags, and they’re fantastic. http://travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=8&id=139 — lightest full-size carry-on available.
Generally use them as backpacks, but the straps tuck away if you need to check them.
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So much depends on the trip. We took carry on luggage only (backpacks) for a week in Paris, but we have a domestic trip coming up for 3 weeks that requires more than one dress outfit for the conference at the start and the weather will turn cold before the rest of the (fun) trip is over. I still haven’t totally figured out how to pack for that. And we spent 3 weeks in French Polynesia where everything is expensive and one of the weeks was spent so far away from everything (1 1/2 hour plane ride from Tahiti, 1 hour car ride to the end of the road and then 1 1/2 hours on a boat to a completely isolated spot where we were the only guests that week). There was nothing available to purchase there at all (3 meals and water were provided).
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I am all for traveling light, but I’m not sure you can cast it as a financial issue. Baggage fees may be annoying but in the grand scheme of things they’re a very small part of the cost of traveling. (Perhaps with the exception of RyanAir and other “small ticket price huge fees” airlines.) If you overdo the traveling light, you might spend more on buying things at your destination than it would have cost to check a bag. And I bet it would be cheaper to check a case of diapers than it would be to use Babiestravellite.com.
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You’re right. It’s $15 a day to diaper through them.
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I hate the chaos at the airport where EVERYONE lines up for pre-boarding just so they can get their free bag in an overhead bin. Ridiculous and stressful.
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My bag (a former Medela PISA bag) fits nicely under the seat in front of me.
Yup, just doing my part to ease congestion. You’re welcome.
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Yes. This. My only issue with “travelling light” is that the already overly stressful process of air travel is increased 10 fold by people who won’t pay the $23 to check a bag so insist on wheeling a mammoth “carry on” wheeler and humoungous tote bag with them as a purse or backback onto the plane. No room to store it, people try to get on the plane before their section so they can get the coveted overhead bin space which is terribly over crowded, people take 10 hours to find their seats because they are lifting 50lb carry on bags over their heads trying to ram them into tiny compartments then moving back into a sea of people to get to their seat which is 30 rows ahead of where they got bin space…fighting with the flight attendants about gate checking, etc.
I wish people would pay the $23 damn dollars and check your bag or just travel with a small carry ons. I hate that airlines are charging for this now as it promotes the WORST behaviour in passengers and rewards them for overpacking carry-ons.
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This does suck and I think if they actually enforced the bag sizes it would be less of a problem. How hard is it to drop the bag into the measuring device. If it doesn’t fit then it gets checked.
Now people like me with a bag in the limits (both size And weight) have to worry about the bag getting space.
And for those interested in one carry-on travel, check out onebag oneworld’s website for tons of tips.
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Amen, sister. I’ve seen people stuff a regulation sized overhead bag with too much stuff, then struggle to get it in the compartment and squeeze it in and then not be able to do it, and then gate check it, and and and…I’m finding that checking my luggage in is an easier option in many ways.
One of my “pack smart” ideas is to leave the jeans at home and wear other pants. I find jeans cumbersome, hard to dry, and not appropriate in all situations. I prefer some wrinkle-resistant black pants that are easy to wash in the sink.
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I have to say, I was really annoyed on my last flight when I paid $25 to check my carry-on-sized roller bag (only other bag was my purse), and when I got to the gate, there were so many people with three carry-ons and oversized bags that the gate agent let them all check their stuff for free. So the obnoxious people who wouldn’t follow the rules got free checking, but I planned ahead and had to pay! Grrr…the incentives are so messed up.
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At this moment, I am spending some time in Dublin (traveled from the US). One of my travel companions (who has limited travel experience) packed normal-sized, full bottles of shampoo and conditioner. Not only does this add weight to the bag, it also takes up a lot of space. She is also buying souvenirs such as clothing and other bulky items to bring home. The souvenirs I am bringing home consist of photos. I am saving money, space, and time by packing light (only carryons).
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While I do understand your frustration that she is carrying full size bottles of shampoo, etc., I resent the attitude that people who return from trips with ONLY photos and memories are somehow superior to those who buy clothes or souvenirs.
Hey, to each his own. If she’s willing to lug the baggage and pay the freight, then it’s cool. She likes more tangible memories than you. That’s all.
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I’m picky about my toiletries, e.g. I have certain shampoo and lotion that I like to use. I also like to avoid checking baggage whenever possible. I have a few small plastic bottles (found in the travel-size section of most drugstores) and each time I travel, I just decant enough my beloved lotion, etc. into these little bottles to last the length of the trip. It’s lightweight, doesn’t take up a lot of space, and meets the “safety” criteria for what you can carry on to a plane. This would work for anyone, not just people like me who swear by their favorite face creams!
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If you have a black suitcase, do something to make it unique.
We watched a nice woman in Itally about to walk off with our only bag. Had I not seen it we would have lose the bag for sure.
Now we always have stickers, ribbons, straps or best something painted on the bags.
And no more black bags in the future. travelling light, but
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I’m almost embarrassed to tell this story but when traveling Europe, my wife and I threw away our used underwear and socks at the end of the day.
Because, first of all, who wants to lug that around for two weeks, and secondly, we really appreciated the space it freed up for souvenirs.
Not to mention, the repacking of a suitcase for the return trip is NEVER as good as the first pack! It’s a law of nature!
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I used to think I’d strike it rich by making disposable underwear from paper fiber. Then I found out it already exists.
http://www.onederwear.com/
Still too expensive. I’d make something with material similar to cleaning wipes, 10¢ a piece or so.
Whoever does this, feel free to send me royalty checks to 1 South Pole, Apt. B, Earth.
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I saw disposable underwear in Hong Kong- I forget what it cost- I didn’t buy any but I think it was less than $1 a pair(of course, I can buy Hanes of Fruit of the Loom for less than $1 a pair when it is on sale)
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Don’t be embarrassed! When I was going to France for two weeks (school trip) my teacher told us to bring our “ugly undies.” She said, “You know you need to throw them away anyway, so get some good use out of them!”
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I actually try to pack old, worn out clothing (including underwear) that I plan to toss during vacation. It, of course, depends on the type of vacation, but if I’m hiking, etc., it’s great to be able to toss it at the end of the day and have that much more space in my suitcase on the return trip. After doing this on a couple trips, I’m now out of tossable clothing. ha!
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I just did that on my trip to London and Paris. I sometimes wonder what the maids think.
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I think it absolutely matters what kind of trip you are going on!
For example, if you are going to be bumming around Europe, you do **not** want to “roll your clothing” to get the maximum amount into your backpack. Instead you want to make sure everything fits easily into your backpack because you will be unpacking and repacking your stuff almost every day and you will also probably acquire a few souveniers so you should leave lots of room for those. On the other hand, if you are just taking 1 plane ride cross-country and then you are going to stay in one place for several weeks, packing your suitcase as efficiently as possible might make sense. But not for me because I always end up buying cool stuff I want to take back with me.
In terms of what to take my rules are: 1) no jeans (too bulky, they take forever to dry if you try to wash them in your hotel room, and they’re too casual to wear almost everywhere especially at religious shrines in foreign countries), 2) no running shoes (too bulky, they also take forever to dry, and they really make you look like a tourist), and 3) no pajamas (sleep in t shirt/shorts/leggings that you can also wear as regular clothing if you want to. Instead, I bring accessories: a large colorful cotton or rayon scarf to use as a shawl, belt, or cover-up, and 3 pairs of shoes at least–usually a pair of sports sandals or flip-flops, a pair of light tennies like Keds, and some comfortable but nice looking black high heels. Because (for women) you can really change the look/formality level of your clothes depending on the shoes you are wearing, and if you bring accessories you can keep your clothing simple/identical from day to day and then change things up and look pulled together with a bright scarf (either one you bring along or buy from a street vendor).
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If you are traveling with a baby in diapers, you CANNOT carry too many disposable diapers in your carry-on. You may be stuck on the tarmac or in the airport for hours longer than you thought you would. And surprise! Babies have a tendency to get diarrhea when they travel.
A particular 15 hr plane trip that I took with two 10 month old babies is pretty much etched forever in my memory………Worst. Plane. Trip. Ever!
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When I travel with people it helps to share certain items like shaving cream, toothpaste etc., that way we can split up the good between our bags. Even items like belts can be exchanged from one night to the next.
My girlfriend and I will combine bags at times, this helps cut down on baggage costs.
If we bring dress wear and casual clothes, I may bring my folding bag to put all of the nice clothes in, and exchange my casual clothes for the other person to pack!
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I use a modified-roll approach, works great with 1-3 packed outfits even in a very small bag, little/no folding and very quick pack/unpack.
First, hang your outfits on hangers (if you are going to be anywhere with a closet or doorhandles, it is easier – but for truly casual trips, feel free to skip the hangers). Pick up by all the hangers at once and lay flat.
Then, take anything not hung – spare pair of shoes, pj’s, underwear/socks, scarf, *not* your toiletries – and place in a folded pile on your hanging clothes, a bit to the side of the bottom of the hangers (so that when you start to roll, the hangers rest on top of the pile).
Lift by the hangers and on place the hangers – and the clothes they are holding
– on top of the pile. Then fold the lower portion of the hanging items around the pile from the other side. Unless you have some really long items, your hanging items may not go much further than 1-1/2 times around your folded pile, but will make a surprisingly stable bundle.
drop the whole bundle into your luggage of choice. Place toiletries kit to the side of bundle.
For me, this works for business or pleasure. In addition to what I am wearing, 1 or 2 alternate bottom halves (pants/shorts/skirts) and 1 or 2 alternate tops (ideally that can be layered & worn at once) is plenty for a week. My fave bag is a cotton carry-on slightly bigger than a briefcase, I can even fit my favorite pillow in when packing this way! And it fits under the seat in front of me.
At night, I put whatever I’m not wearing the next day on my hangers & lay out (or use host hangers) for what I am going to wear, makes packing up a 90 second activity in the morning.
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I am a typically carry-on-only traveler with contact lenses, who uses a peroxide solution. I have done all of the following at different times:
(1) bought disposable lenses ($1 per lens per day) and put them in the Ziploc bag with my other liquids
(2) my peroxide solution comes with a new soaking cup every time I buy it; I save those up for trips and fill them with the peroxide solution, one for each night, and put them in the Ziploc bag
(3) this might not always work, but there is supposed to be an exception to the 3-ounce liquids rule for ‘medical’ supplies; I have been allowed through security with a full-sized bottle of peroxide solution and/or a full-sized bottle of saline solution this way all three times I’ve tried it (though I have to admit it’s scary to try it with a $12 bottle of peroxide solution in case it doesn’t work)
For trips longer than a few weeks, though, I usually just plan to use my glasses, or break down and check a bag to put the contacts bottles in.
(The other thing I do is keep using my contacts for about 18 months instead of one year. Then after a couple of years I can use my insurance coverage to get new glasses!)
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doesnt teh “soaking cup” have the solid reaction thing in it, causing it to bubble? If of, the perocide is water when you get around to using it.
I never thought it would be med supplies, I might try that.
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I’m a big believer in not checking luggage, and so I do many of the things listed in the tips above. The few times I have checked a bag, it’s like it had a “lose me!” sign on it or something. Plus I’d rather be off and on my way as soon as I land at an airport, not waiting around by the baggage carousels.
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If you are military, always get a set of orders. If you are on leave, you can use your leave chit. This can often get you out of paying for bags.
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An easy way to escape the fees is to fly Southwest which gives two free bags. It isn’t the best flying experience, but it certainly is the cheapest (or most of the time anyway).
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Microfiber shirts and underwear! Wash them in the sink and they dry in about 4 hours. This is my key to travelling with one bag.
I recently came back from a trip to Taiwan and the customs agent asked me (pointing to my roll on) “Is that all of your luggage for a two week trip?”
Me, “I haven’t checked a bag in 7 years.”
“Smart man.” he said as he stamped my passport.
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If Sydney’s baggage handling could only be half as efficient as their customs – it will be much appreciate by tourists.
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The camera goes in carry-on. Too easy to steal from checked luggage. The spouse and I have different hair and tooth needs; we keep our own toilet kit bags. I think our way is more common.
OTOH< I pack light enough that I traveled through Italy for 2 1/2 weeks (going to business meetings alternating with sightseeing) with 1 garment bag, 1 carry-on, and 1 small check through bag. With a shoulder strap on the carry-on, I managed everything myself.
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Great tip on putting your name and contact information inside your luggage. I hadn’t thought of that before, but makes a ton of sense because I always worry about the tag getting ripped off!
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Depending on your destination (third world country, etc.), there may be people there who would love donations of used (but still wearable) clothing, as well as other items that might not be available or are very expensive, like camping equipment. If you bought something specifically for a trip and don’t think you’ll use it back home, why not declutter abroad, help someone out and make room for souvenirs at the same time?
My two cents on bag type: I’d much rather have a small hiking backpack than a wheeled carryon if I will be travelling a lot on my trip. I spent a week in Europe this way, and had a much easier time than my friend who brought a wheeled suitcase. Imagine dealing with a wheeled bag on cobblestone streets, staircases in/out of the subway, getting on/off the train… And my hands are still free for ticket booths and taking pictures!
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