Pro Tips for Traveling With Just One Carry-On Bag
Pro Tips for Traveling With Just One Carry-On Bag
Do I absolutely need four French horns or do I need three?
One packing adage I get the most out of is to arrange all the clothes and money you tend to pack, then take away half the clothes and take double the money. Of course, there are more specific packaging tips than this one, but it is one of the most enduring.
I will gladly dine out of the fact that I once went around the world without checking a bag, and even managed to put a stiff straw boatman’s hat in my carry-on. We all have our reasons for not checking a bag. Sometimes we want to avoid baggage charges, the schlep factor or long waits at baggage claim. While there is a distinct sense of relief and pride that comes from being able to fit your life into a carry-on, don’t push your limits. Sometimes there are good reasons to check baggage, such as carry-on weight limits or fluid restrictions. There are also travelers who, for reasons of accessibility, cannot pack everything in one hand luggage. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to packing – it’s about what’s right for the individual. But if you want to travel with just one piece of hand luggage, here are my top tips.
Let’s talk about the bag
I use the Louis Vuitton bag. It is a handy duffle bag without a shoulder strap, two side pockets and no internal structure apart from a thin side pocket. At 9.4 “x 10.6” x 16.1 “, it fits under the seat on most aircraft (sometimes I have to turn it to its side). It has two zip pulls (so it can be closed with a zipper in the center bag instead of completely on one side) that can be locked together with a small padlock (this can be a deterrent to pickpockets.) Fodor’s has a ton of different priced recommendations for all types of carry-on needs.
Keep reading the article after our video
Recommended Fodor video
The advantage of using small bags
The lack of an internal structure is on purpose, it is for flexibility. Inside, I pack a double compartment day bag with an external pocket and a shoulder strap. If I want a day bag at destination, get out of hand luggage, change items for what I need for the day and I’m ready to go. Most of the time, it provides internal organization for my carry-on. It takes up about 75% of the space in my Carryall, so there’s room on all sides for other items.
Outside of the day bag but inside the carry-on bag, I keep three zippered bags (which are Economy Class courtesy kits repurposed by Emirates). Inside these pouches are medications (at least one pain reliever, one antacid and one laxative, plus any prescriptions or supplements), cosmetic items (toner, moisturizer, sunscreen, nail clippers, tweezers, hand cream) and electronics (earphones, electrical adapters and charging cables, important to avoid “cable clutter”).
My laptop goes on one side of the day bag and a book or magazines on the other. The remaining compartments of the day bag are free for travel debris. Some things I usually carry include:
- A toothbrush (arrive very refreshed after a night flight by entering the basin to brush your teeth at the top of the drop).
- A pen (to fill in customs forms).
- A mobile hotspot (my current one is a Solis Skyroam).
- Treats for the flight crew (individually wrapped in a factory sealed bag).
- A protein snack.
- Lip balm.
- Tea bags (a favorite tea is a comforting reminder of home while traveling and can even be used as an emergency deodorant!).
- A refillable water bottle or bottled drink from the airport (drinks trolley sometimes takes a while).
- A cap (they fold easily and are useful for the umbrella).
- A lightweight scarf (soft, familiar garments are a sensory comfort that can help reduce stress; also useful in cold weather on air-conditioned airplanes or airports).
- Any liquids (you don’t want to fish them out of a bag that is more difficult to open safely).
The big bag
My Arlo Skye Frame carry-on is sturdy with an open clamshell closure, TSA clasps (I dislike hinges), silent wheels, and a built-in, detachable USB charger. The large bag is for clothes: a pair of underwear for every day of travel, a pair of versatile tops and pants, swimwear and packable shoes, which means flat or unbreakable shoes, such as sandals, espadrilles, (not bulky ) sneakers, etc. It’s okay to need multiple pairs of shoes on a trip, but those are checked baggage trips.
Two space savers
The two big luggage space savers are hotel laundry And disposable. On most trips longer than a week, I like to schedule two consecutive nights in a hotel that has a laundry service. Yes, it’s more expensive than local dry cleaners, but it will keep you in clean clothes, with less luggage, and no time spent doing laundry on your travels – it ends up being precious in the end. It’s also a great way to soak up the local nuances – I can still smell the distinctive floral aroma of the new Tahitian laundry detergent from the first time I shipped the laundry on my first trip to French Polynesia.
Another space-saving adage is to pack worn-out clothes (underwear and old T-shirts are typical targets here), wear them on the trip, and then toss them to make room for shopping on the return trip. Use it sparingly, though – some remote destinations already have more visitor-generated junk than they can handle, so if you’re on a remote island or ecologically sensitive area, plan to put aside what you pack.
It’s often more manageable to carry hand luggage, especially when dealing with this summer’s luggage chaos, but there’s no shame in checking. What is best for each traveler depends on their needs. If you don’t need a lot, packing the light could save you a lot of stress.
Related: You’ll Never Want to Check Your Bags Again After Reading These Recent Lost Luggage Stories