Travel Tip Tuesday : 7 Reasons Why You Should Go Carry-On
By now you are surely sick of me telling you about Carry-On Travel. But, seriously, it is one of my passions.
I’m so passionate in fact, that I consider it my personal goal, being the Queen of the Carry-On, to convert as many of you to Carry-On Travelers as I possibly can.
I have helped in the past by offering packing tips, how to use products that have double uses and how to pack liquids in your carry-on bag.
But perhaps I haven’t done a good enough job of convincing you WHY you should convert to Carry-On Travel.
Today, that is my mission.
I give you – 7 Reasons Why You Should Go Carry-On.
1. Because you like to avoid back pain. Ever had back pain? Well, then you know it ain’t fun. Not something to look forward to and certainly something that could ruin an otherwise well-planned (read expensive) vacation. Too many heavy bags lugged to and fro, bending and twisting just the wrong way might cause you to pull a muscle. Or at least make it darn uncomfortable while traveling.
2. Because you don’t like to look foolish. Ever see these people- you know the ones; Standing in line with two or three huge bags- struggling to keep it together in the check-in line. Some of them even have one of those carts, with luggage precariously stacked on top like a tiered wedding cake, the top bag teetering back and forth like a see-saw on a windy day. You never know when and where that bag is gonna drop! These same people try to get on a rush-hour bus or train with the same set of bags, not only holding up public transportation and pissing off the driver/conductor, but in the process making themselves look ridiculous. People are pointing. And laughing. And talking about you and how rude you are. Seriously, they are talking.
3. Because your time is precious. Every moment counts. And you can’t get those moments back once you have lost them. Carry -on means no need to wait on line to check your bags. No need to wait at the luggage carousel on either leg of the trip. Getting the picture?
4. Because you like your valuables. Checking bags these days is a crap shoot. Lots of complaints and even arrests surrounding valuable items being pilfered from travelers bags are reported. If your bag is always with you, you’ll have much less chance of any of your precious cargo getting stolen.
5. Because you like your luggage. Good quality luggage is an investment- one that you hope lasts for many years. Bags take enough abuse from normal wear and tear and regular use. Many bags get thrown around and tossed about from check-in, to loading, to off-loading, and on to the carousel. Lots of extra man-handling that need not take place if you were in control of the treatment of your bags.
6. Because you can make better use of your money. It is no secret that airlines keep raising checked bag fees faster than Bruce Wayne can change into Batman and slide down the Batpole. If you can think of other fun things to spend your money on – like meals, entertainment, a bus pass, a hotel upgrade, a splurge bottle of wine or souvenirs – wouldn’t you rather keep your hard earned money for that?
7. Because you may have to run for it! When you only travel with a carry-on, you ensure that you can handle your bags, or load, comfortably by yourself. This is of the utmost importance when having to walk or perhaps run at a high rate of speed if you are running late for a flight, bus or train. There is nothing more grueling or futile then trying to juggle lots of bags or a very heavy load and having to get somewhere, fast. And nothing worse than seeing someone attempt it with an unmanageable load, and miss.
Are you convinced, but don’t know where to begin? Click here to see how I can help you convert!
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You’re only one click away from more tips from Cherrye at My Bella Vita.
Friends & Supporters
August 18th, 2009
All excellent reasons; alas, this doesn’t work if you’re a photographer hand-carrying a case of cameras and lenses and laptop, etc. That ends up being the carry-on and no choice but to check bag for clothes. Sigh. xo
August 18th, 2009
i do not take as much camera gear as tara
but
my small city~pack has my cameras,
and
my clothes are in the carry-on.
i would rather lose my clothes
than my cameras ♥
August 18th, 2009
Yes, the trials and tribulations of a photographer. You can been a carry-on on guru when you NOT photographing
August 18th, 2009
Yes, I would agree- the cameras are harder and more expensive to replace!
August 18th, 2009
I love traveling with just carry on luggage! It saves me a lot of time from touchdown to getting out of the airport. I did, however, check my bag once, when I was finally going home… It was full of souvenirs and stuff I bought in Singapore and Hong Kong… Oh shopping, my biggest “travel light” weakness!
August 18th, 2009
Yeah!! Another carry-on lover!! I have the same weakness- and I think if you are bringing back little treasures from your trip- I’d much rather check a bag on the way back as opposed to the way there. And sometimes, it may pay to ship the items home, as opposed to checking the bag- but again- I’d have to examine the cost on that!
August 18th, 2009
Totally agree. Even with 2 kids, our next trip I plan to just have carry-on for each of them because I can make better use of my money than paying the airlines for checking in my luggages.
August 18th, 2009
Awesome Amy! I love it!! That is just the right attitude- anyone can make it work
And save all that money for a nice dinner or something. And I think it is great to see young children wheelng their own bags. You are teaching them to be such responsible little travelers xox
August 18th, 2009
Excellent post!! For my last trip to Europe (month-long), I took only a carry-on and I lost count of moments where I was SO thankful that I packed lightly. Cobblestone streets, for one, are not condusive to massive luggage on wheels! And then I smuggly watched as people were fined on the smaller airlines for being over the limit. I always read this quote before traveling:
“The ones who recognised that love is enough and that possessions are borrowed pastimes, will float free to the exit sign, their arms ready to hug their friends, their toothbrush in their pocket. The ones who stayed up late, gathering and gathering like demented bees, will find that you can take it with you. The joke is that you have to carry it yourself” –*From Jeanette Winterson’s “The World and Other Places”
August 18th, 2009
Anait, you have provided me with a new favorite quote. Thanks for your valuable insight!! I agree, whole-heartedly about the cobblestones!
Happy *light* travels
August 18th, 2009
Ah! I love traveling with only carry-on luggage. Great advice! I recently returned from two weeks in Europe, using only carry-ons. This sure came in handy when I had to drag my luggage up and down stairs, hills, and through narrow alleys.
The biggest challenge was packing for one week of casual clothing and one week that was dressier. But I managed to do it–and am glad I did!
Thanks for the great tips!
August 19th, 2009
You are so welcome!! And I am so glad you did it!! You are proof it CAN be done, even in those circumstances!! And yes- you only have to lug heavy luggage up and down cobblestone hills to know that you DON’T want to do it anymore!
August 28th, 2009
All great points, Robin… but you didn’t have to convince me! Hope you turned a few heavy-packers around!
August 28th, 2009
Thanks C! You know- I’d be happy if I turned just one
October 29th, 2009
I’m heading to the Carribean in a few weeks then Paris in Jan. for 1 week. I’mm taking only a carryon with my netbook in my purse. I’ve found clothing from Chico’s and Travelsmith that is light enough to roll and pack without wrinkles. I use Dr. Bronner’s for shampoo, body,shaving and to wash my fast-drying microfiber clothes. Saves mucho hassles especially on the Metro.
Denise
October 30th, 2009
Oh, it sounds like you have the carry-on on thang, down pat!! Great job!
January 8th, 2010
So true…it’s the ONLY way to travel!
I’m a reformed over packer who adores the ease & freedom of carry on & we have it down to a science now with all the practice we have gotten on our open ended family world tour since 2006.
Even for several months of travel (using everything from trains, planes, buses & cargo ships etc) in 3 seasons of weather, we just take a small daypack each & that includes at least 1 laptop ( & necessary electronics), cameras and homeschool supplies added to our clothes & necessities!
Our child has been handling her own luggage since she was 5 when we began & we breeze through TSA with ease like a well oiled team.
Less is more & your key to freedom!
.-= soultravelers3´s last blog ..Family Travel Photo – Spain =-.
January 9th, 2010
I have some questions about the carry-on style
1. How do you pack shampoo and liquid soap and facial cleansers, keeping in mind the liquid/bottle limitations? Includes cosmetics stuff which aren’t so easily bought from a foreign drugstore.
2. Does having just a carry-on bag deter you from buying souvenirs when overseas? I know I already don’t buy many souvenirs, but having no space at all is like leaving no option of buying a couple of great souvenirs (maybe they happen to be large?)
3. What happens to your daypack then? Currently I backpack and check that in, and carry a messenger bag as my carryon. So if I carried on a smaller backpack, do I stuff my messenger bag/daypack IN that small backpack?
Thanks for suggestions and advice. Cheers
January 9th, 2010
1. You must adhere to the 3-1-1- rules. Only take what you absolutely need. Mainly- it’s about adopting the mentality that I don’t NEED it. If your mentality is HOW CAN I EVER LIVE WITHOUT IT, than carry-on may not work for you.
2. No. At this point, I generally don’t travel to bring back huge amts of souvenirs anyway, but I keep a large folded tote in the bottom of my wheelie just in case. And while I generally bu small things that can still fit in my case, you can fill up the tote and check a bag on the way back. Or explore shipping your items back. It may be safer and cheaper
3. It depends. If you are travelling with another (especially a man), and you have 2 day packs- give one pack to the other person. If you are alone, and you would be carrying those items, I’d suggest you either find a smaller purse/daypack for the plane and put the larger pack that you wish to use every day once you arrive, empty, into your backpack. Or yes, just put the whole thing in the backpack. Also your current system may not work for optimal carry-on only travel. You may need to buy a larger backpack that still fits the requirements or buy a different style piece of luggage that would be better suited to carry-on travel.
I hopes this helps! I offer specfic personal assistance on exactly this type of thing and would love to help you to convert! I’ll point you to this page on my site. http://mymelange.net/services/.....sultations
Happy Travels!
January 10th, 2010
Interesting, thank you for your reply. I will have to give thought to that HOW CAN I EVER LIVE WITHOUT IT mentality because I have sensitive skin and I don’t want to look blotchy on photos should my skin act up.
January 11th, 2010
Internationally we are often restricted to only one carry-on bag. For a 2-week trip, that is a little unreasonable to expect everything to fit in one small rollaboard, especially when visiting a cold climate.
Domestically, we sometimes fly regional jets, who require gate-checking of even rollaboards that normally can be checked because their overhead bin space is so tiny.
Don’t get me wrong, I think checking can be a pain, but as a frequent flier who is not charged to check bags, I make good use of that perk.
I’ve had my luggage stolen by airport personnel in IAH, so I know from that experience not to check electronics, cosmetics, photos, DVDs/CDs, keys, money, documents, perfume as I won’t be reimbursed for it. I also know to have a pretty good idea of what is in my bag so that I can document the contents for reimbursement.
Then again, I also know how to pack 12 bottles of beer in my luggage and get it home just fine
Always have to weigh the benefits!
January 11th, 2010
Hi Stacey! Thanks for your thoughts. There certainly will be instances where carry-on only will not work (a full blown ski-trip, a professional photo or video shoot). But I feel that the benefits of trying to accomplish this goal are worthwhile, especially for the average traveler going on a vacation (even to a cold locale) with just a small digital camera. With a 2 week trip, laundering at some point is inevitable.
The fact that you have personally had luggage stolen is great motivation for going carry-on! Especially for those of us who don’t have the luxury of checking a bag for free.
And since I have never packed a 12 pack of beer before (only wine), you could teach me that trick
January 20th, 2010
My gf and I have been travelling with carry on only for at least five years now. It really makes things simpler. I’m always amused at the people sitting in the first few rows who jump up practically before the plane has stopped, tear thrugh the terminal … and then stand for 20 minutes at the carousel waiting for their bag to turn up. While we can just take our time and be out of the airport before most other people. Plus the money saved on luggage fees will often cover a taxi instead of a bus, allowing us to reach our destination even quicker.
.-= Mick @ travel size´s last blog ..Another hand luggage liquids detection system proposed =-.
January 21st, 2010
Last year I spent 95 consecutive days in Europe with just a carry-on. Yes, just one bag and no it wasn’t “unreasonable”.
To answer previous questions:
-You ship any souvenirs you buy. It’s much safer and cheaper than checking bags. I mailed back three boxes of souvenirs.
-Use a packable day bag that compacts into a tiny ball (like the Kiva Key-Chain Pack) or can lay flat in your bag.
-I was able to fit toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, facial cleanser, travel wash, soap, Febreeze, and bug spray in a 3-1-1 compliant bag and bottles. I didn’t run out of anything for the entire 95 days, except for toothpaste, because those travel tubes are tiny.
-I have flown Ryanair and EasyJet, the strictest airlines, into Heathrow and Gatwick, the strictest airports. I have never once had to check a bag because it was too big or too heavy.
January 21st, 2010
When visiting a cold climate, just layer up! Thermal underwear, a long sleeve shirt, a fleece jacket, and a windbreaker are all you need for even subzero temperatures. They can be worn together or in combinations to present different outfits and take up less space than a bulky coat.
July 24th, 2011
I am a big fan of the carry on! It’s just really hard for me to pack because I always want more clothing options.
Thanks for being our carry-on cheerleader!
Oh, my pleasure Maggie! I’m happy to give the tought love too
March 16th, 2012
Firstly, great website!
Your style of writing, passion, and overall feel of this site is just great. Second, I agree with you. I’ve experienced traveling with heavy/big travel bags and indeed, it’s truly not convenient. Transferring from plane to train, from train to bus, etc, it’s really better and more efficient if people travel with lights baggages only. It saves time and makes traveling more hassle-free!
Don’t worry, next time I travel, I’ll do my best to travel lightly and in fact, follow some of your tips! Thank you!
March 30th, 2012
I made the mistake to take one checked luggage…ONE ; it was free (part of the ticket i won) but it was a nightmare to deal with. 4 flights later I am the queen of carry on. literally packed for a 2 weeks vacay in 2 countries and stayed within the 8.5 kg limit (10 kg was the weight limit of the carrier) ; i am also the queen of low cost
))
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