Travelling light? Carry-on baggage: overseas travel

[shootingstar]

I already gave my experience/story, Bodhi. Nothing else.

This is all part of participating in any Internet forum. Start a topic and it's up people whether or not they respond.

I also respond to other people's topics that they start up. Which means maybe other people are comparing against others as well? Or just sharing experiences?

Yes, Oak that's what I try to do --just have 3-4 rotations of clothing. Most of it usually casual..the dressest might be "business" casual. It's very rare I bring along a lovely dress/skirt...only if I'm attending a wedding. If I dress up, that means.....HE should dress up. But he dislikes that. Ever since he took early retirement, he abandoned most of his business attire.

[Crankin]

I tend to take way too much on trips. But, the last couple of times, I've done better. As Oak stated, most of my trouble comes from the varying types of exercise apparel and shoes I bring. When we have gone to Europe on cycling tours that included 2-3 days of city relaxing on both ends (2 weeks or so total), we each bring one huge suitcase that is legal size. Then we have one duffel type bag that is for helmets, shoes, saddles, and pedals that we brought for the rental bikes. And, I have a large "purse" type leather bag I use as a carry on. The airlines we use to fly to Europe don't charge for baggage.
However, the last 2 times I went to Phoenix for my in-laws memorial services, we did long weekends (4 days) where I put everything in a carry on. The last time included hiking shoes and clothes for 3 days of hiking. That was a miracle.

[Becky]

*shrugs* I used to really stress about this, but I've recently come to two conclusions: I will always have more luggage than others due to a health concern that requires some gear of its own, and there is no prize for packing the smallest suitcase. If a bigger bag allows me to more fully enjoy my destination, then so be it.

[malkin]

Less luggage is of course an advantage in transit, more is generally an advantage staying comfortable on the trip.

The worst is traveling with someone who is smug about their packing.

[Eden]

I just spent 4 weeks over seas with just carry on..... I do it because I prefer to travel by train and foot, and often go to out of the way places, where a lot of baggage is a serious burden.

The wardrobe I took was relatively casual, easy to move in, but still nice enough to go out in. It was cold where we went, so I took a lot of wool and cashmere which packs well. I took thick wool tights, skirts and wore a pair of Keens that had a very good walking sole, but a fancy enough upper to look fine dressed nicer. I found a packing method online that allowed me to pack 8 sweaters (4 turtle necks and 4 cardigans) 2 base layers, 4 skirts, 4 pairs of tights, a pair of insulated tights, and all my undergear in one carry-on. My outerwear stayed on me - waterproof/windproof jacket, gloves, scarf hat. I was able to do laundry several times during the 4 weeks and thanks to the wonders of the fruit of the sheep was not smelly.

My shoulder bag was stuffed full of my camera gear (and I'm a pro, so it wasn't a little point and shoot...) and Ipad.

Years ago my husband and I did a bike tour in the south of Spain with very, very little - it was a self arranged tour so anything we took we had to carry. It was warmer at that time of the year. We took two sets of biking gear - one to wear one to wash, biking outerwear, one set of town clothing and sandals to wear off the bike. I ended up buying a light casual jacket because I was a little cold one evening, that I still have and still wear sometimes.


worn out sandals at a Buddhist shrine - offerings from pilgrimagers

[Reesha]

It depends on the type of vacation. I often travel alone and to destinations that require a lot of moving about from transit to transit. As such I try to get away with just an internal frame pack (mine is a Gregory Diva) and a tote bag. I've never been denied carry on with the Gregory pack on an international flight and on domestic flights the worst they've done is check it at the gate with that little tag and bring it out when I get off right away. I like the pack because it makes it possible to walk around the city easily. I tried to do that once in NYC with a large rolling duffle and I'm pretty sure I wanted to murder things after 30 minutes. In my case, I prefer not to spend money on taxis though.