Carry-on only for week-long trip to another country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a very efficient packer, and always only bring a carry on. How many outfits do you really wear? I went to Europe for two weeks this last winter and brought four outfits and two changes of PJs.

It was totally fine.

4 outfits for 14 days? No one wants to wash every few day on a trip.

DP. If there isn’t a washing machine, you can just wash your clothes while having a shower. It can be done.

If you’ve never done it, it is pretty freeing to land in a new city with only a small backpack and not have to worry about where to store your luggage until your room is available.
Then you can just navigate the city like a local, and be completely unencumbered (assuming you can use a map and know a few words).

On the return, can enjoy the last day without having to worry about going back to hotel to get luggage or figuring out where to store luggage.

To each his own, but this is how I like to travel!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not do a carry-on and a backpack?

+1 we did this to Europe a few months ago. We were there for a week.

Packing cubes
rolled up socks, panties into extra pair of shoes
smaller toiletry bottles - I used contact lense cases
layer on the plane with a sweater and coat or whatever outwear you have

OP, here. I will have a backpack as my personal item. I've done all of the above, except packing cubes. How do they help? I have a couple of packing cubes, but I'm not sure how to utilize them in the best way. Thank you, everyone, for your responses!

Packing cubes - with clothes rolled inside the cubes - helps me keep things organized. It doesn't always make more space - sometimes if I'm really struggling to fit things - everything rolled and not in a packing cube I can fit things in weird spaces. However, as I learned recently on a trip - when security wanted to look in my bag - I had to take each and every piece of clothing out and re-pack it. With the cubes - I keep my shirts together, my underwear in another. Then wherever I am its easy to just grab a cube to get dressed.

DP, but this is my issue with packing cubes... You end up having to take out every single cube out, open them all and then repack everything just to get dressed. Otherwise I'd just open my suitcase, select a shirt/pant/socks/underwear and.. its fine.

Or, if you're going for a week, you can just unpack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not do a carry-on and a backpack?

+1 we did this to Europe a few months ago. We were there for a week.

Packing cubes
rolled up socks, panties into extra pair of shoes
smaller toiletry bottles - I used contact lense cases
layer on the plane with a sweater and coat or whatever outwear you have

Packing cubes are additional things to add to luggage. Dumb to use.

DCUM always brings its A game. Its not DUMB if it works for your packing style. DCUM is all about what I do is the only RIGHT way to do things. You do you.

How is it right to add to one’s luggage when this thread is about reducing the luggage? Pack cubes, ice packs, curlers, shampoo, etc all you want but don’t recommend things that add more items to someone who is trying to reduce items.

The packing cubes help limit what you can bring. Eg I travel with a 28 L backpack and know that it can fit 2 pairs of shoes, two medium sized packing cubes and a small packing cube. So all the clothes need to fit into these packing cubes.

BTW, I also bring another 25 L daypack that folds into a pocket for overflow, souvenirs, to use as a daypack that can be considered my personal item.

The packing cubes do not add much weight. I have Sea to Summit packing cubes that weigh a few ounces but even the ones on Amazon don’t weigh much.

Exactly. You fit what you need in the space that you have available. It works well for those of us that want it to work. I don't find the packing cubes are a weight issue and even if they do add a bit - the organizational and spacial aspect of their use is a much bigger benefit. Its a mindset that not everyone wants to have. That's fine if you are a checked-bag only person. I like walking off a plane and getting about my trip without the hassle of heavy luggage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not do a carry-on and a backpack?

+1 we did this to Europe a few months ago. We were there for a week.

Packing cubes
rolled up socks, panties into extra pair of shoes
smaller toiletry bottles - I used contact lense cases
layer on the plane with a sweater and coat or whatever outwear you have

OP, here. I will have a backpack as my personal item. I've done all of the above, except packing cubes. How do they help? I have a couple of packing cubes, but I'm not sure how to utilize them in the best way. Thank you, everyone, for your responses!

Packing cubes - with clothes rolled inside the cubes - helps me keep things organized. It doesn't always make more space - sometimes if I'm really struggling to fit things - everything rolled and not in a packing cube I can fit things in weird spaces. However, as I learned recently on a trip - when security wanted to look in my bag - I had to take each and every piece of clothing out and re-pack it. With the cubes - I keep my shirts together, my underwear in another. Then wherever I am its easy to just grab a cube to get dressed.

DP, but this is my issue with packing cubes... You end up having to take out every single cube out, open them all and then repack everything just to get dressed. Otherwise I'd just open my suitcase, select a shirt/pant/socks/underwear and.. its fine.

Or, if you're going for a week, you can just unpack.

I already replied, but I don't unpack. Most of my trips involve multiple stops, so I find it easier to live out of a suitcase. I feel like people who use packing cubes are perhaps just more organized than I!

[Anonymous]

What part of traveling do you want to be a headache? The packing list and preparation then making it fit in a carry-on? Or pack everything you want and check it - only to have to lug it around on trains, buses, up/down stairs and potentially have it get lost. One takes effort and the other is a risk analysis.

[Anonymous]

Couples may do things differently. DH packed more for 1 week than I packed and I was staying a month.

Other trips he has sent things home, mid trip, when he tired of hauling his stuff. Not convenient that we don't do things the same, but it's not a dealbreaker either.

[Anonymous]

"
I’m in the minority on this thread but I’m team checked luggage. I don’t like limiting my shoes in case some get wet or cause blisters, I like to pack my own blow dryer, I like to have lots of OTC meds just in case, I do not like to do laundry in sinks, and I don’t like the stress of finding overhead bin space. I use AirTags / tiles in my checked luggage and that prevented an issue once. Usually no problems."

How does the airtag prevent the bags from being delayed or misdirected? All that does it tell you where they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not do a carry-on and a backpack?

+1 we did this to Europe a few months ago. We were there for a week.

Packing cubes
rolled up socks, panties into extra pair of shoes
smaller toiletry bottles - I used contact lense cases
layer on the plane with a sweater and coat or whatever outwear you have

Packing cubes are additional things to add to luggage. Dumb to use.

DCUM always brings its A game. Its not DUMB if it works for your packing style. DCUM is all about what I do is the only RIGHT way to do things. You do you.

How is it right to add to one’s luggage when this thread is about reducing the luggage? Pack cubes, ice packs, curlers, shampoo, etc all you want but don’t recommend things that add more items to someone who is trying to reduce items.

The packing cubes help limit what you can bring. Eg I travel with a 28 L backpack and know that it can fit 2 pairs of shoes, two medium sized packing cubes and a small packing cube. So all the clothes need to fit into these packing cubes.

BTW, I also bring another 25 L daypack that folds into a pocket for overflow, souvenirs, to use as a daypack that can be considered my personal item.

The packing cubes do not add much weight. I have Sea to Summit packing cubes that weigh a few ounces but even the ones on Amazon don’t weigh much.

Exactly. You fit what you need in the space that you have available. It works well for those of us that want it to work. I don't find the packing cubes are a weight issue and even if they do add a bit - the organizational and spacial aspect of their use is a much bigger benefit. Its a mindset that not everyone wants to have. That's fine if you are a checked-bag only person. I like walking off a plane and getting about my trip without the hassle of heavy luggage.

Organization and special aspect? They’re added items.

[Anonymous]

I never check a bag if I can avoid it, but I’m totally fine doing sink laundry and I’m a pretty simple dresser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never check a bag if I can avoid it, but I’m totally fine doing sink laundry and I’m a pretty simple dresser.

I also think maybe I’m too smelly? I dont want to haul around unwashed clothes for a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not do a carry-on and a backpack?

+1 we did this to Europe a few months ago. We were there for a week.

Packing cubes
rolled up socks, panties into extra pair of shoes
smaller toiletry bottles - I used contact lense cases
layer on the plane with a sweater and coat or whatever outwear you have

Packing cubes are additional things to add to luggage. Dumb to use.

DCUM always brings its A game. Its not DUMB if it works for your packing style. DCUM is all about what I do is the only RIGHT way to do things. You do you.

How is it right to add to one’s luggage when this thread is about reducing the luggage? Pack cubes, ice packs, curlers, shampoo, etc all you want but don’t recommend things that add more items to someone who is trying to reduce items.

The packing cubes help limit what you can bring. Eg I travel with a 28 L backpack and know that it can fit 2 pairs of shoes, two medium sized packing cubes and a small packing cube. So all the clothes need to fit into these packing cubes.

BTW, I also bring another 25 L daypack that folds into a pocket for overflow, souvenirs, to use as a daypack that can be considered my personal item.

The packing cubes do not add much weight. I have Sea to Summit packing cubes that weigh a few ounces but even the ones on Amazon don’t weigh much.

Exactly. You fit what you need in the space that you have available. It works well for those of us that want it to work. I don't find the packing cubes are a weight issue and even if they do add a bit - the organizational and spacial aspect of their use is a much bigger benefit. Its a mindset that not everyone wants to have. That's fine if you are a checked-bag only person. I like walking off a plane and getting about my trip without the hassle of heavy luggage.

Organization and special aspect? They’re added items.

The great thing about traveling and packing for traveling is everyone can do their own thing. I prefer packing cubes and carry-on luggage. You prefer no packing cubes. Neither one of us needs to change how we pack. You won't convince me to change how I pack and I won't convince you to try something new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not do a carry-on and a backpack?

+1 we did this to Europe a few months ago. We were there for a week.

Packing cubes
rolled up socks, panties into extra pair of shoes
smaller toiletry bottles - I used contact lense cases
layer on the plane with a sweater and coat or whatever outwear you have

Packing cubes are additional things to add to luggage. Dumb to use.

DCUM always brings its A game. Its not DUMB if it works for your packing style. DCUM is all about what I do is the only RIGHT way to do things. You do you.

How is it right to add to one’s luggage when this thread is about reducing the luggage? Pack cubes, ice packs, curlers, shampoo, etc all you want but don’t recommend things that add more items to someone who is trying to reduce items.

The packing cubes help limit what you can bring. Eg I travel with a 28 L backpack and know that it can fit 2 pairs of shoes, two medium sized packing cubes and a small packing cube. So all the clothes need to fit into these packing cubes.

BTW, I also bring another 25 L daypack that folds into a pocket for overflow, souvenirs, to use as a daypack that can be considered my personal item.

The packing cubes do not add much weight. I have Sea to Summit packing cubes that weigh a few ounces but even the ones on Amazon don’t weigh much.

Exactly. You fit what you need in the space that you have available. It works well for those of us that want it to work. I don't find the packing cubes are a weight issue and even if they do add a bit - the organizational and spacial aspect of their use is a much bigger benefit. Its a mindset that not everyone wants to have. That's fine if you are a checked-bag only person. I like walking off a plane and getting about my trip without the hassle of heavy luggage.

Organization and special aspect? They’re added items.

The great thing about traveling and packing for traveling is everyone can do their own thing. I prefer packing cubes and carry-on luggage. You prefer no packing cubes. Neither one of us needs to change how we pack. You won't convince me to change how I pack and I won't convince you to try something new.

Yeah I find the tone of a number of these posts so funny. I am the same in preferring carry -on only. But I get why people want to check bags- there are multiple valid reasons. Do what you want! I don't get offended or think someone is crazy when I see them walk over the baggage claim area as I leave the airport. It's okay to have different priorities and ways of doing things!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 outfits for 14 days? No one wants to wash every few day on a trip.

I don't mind at all.

AirBnb in a rando European city with a washer/dryer combo unit (not stacked, single drum that is both washer and dryer) that runs a 4-5 hour wash/dry cycle. If it's quiet, you start load in at night and enjoy the clean clothes first thing in the morning. If it's loud, you start a load before you leave in the morning for the day and enjoy the clean clothes when you get back.

Your answer is not relevant as the vast majority or people are not staying in Airbnb’s.

I'm a big fan of European AirBNBs for family. We have a refrigerator, washer (and sometimes dryer) and can have Wifi for everyone's devices (run through a Beryl AX travel router). We have no issue doing laundry while on the trip. Most of our adventures are in the a.m. when it is not too hot outside, and rest of the day we can relax in the AirBnB or scout the city as we want. We are doing 4 weeks abroad in 7 different cities, using carry-on, backpack, packing cubes, and ScotteVest for the heavy battery packs and other heavy electronic items. I don't see why people wouldn't want to do AirBnBs. We sometimes get a price break since some of the units are a couple of floors up without an elevator, but we are healthy and don't mind.

[Anonymous]

We're an "only carry-on" family. We make sure that during the middle of our trip, we're in a place (usually an airbnb) that has laundry.

One tip is to buy clothing that is odor resistant. Patagonia capilene is very helpful here. So is wool.

[Anonymous]

It's summer. A carry on is fine. Whereas in winter you need coat, sweaters, bigger shoes, jeans.

My only beef with traveling with only a carry on is that it's annoying to get my favorite products in 3oz.