Traveling Light: How to Travel with Carry-On Luggage Only

Sadly, airline delays seem to be an expected part of travel these days. A friend of mine and her son set off on a 3-week trip that required them to pack for two different seasons. The bad news? Their plane was delayed by 12 hours and all the passengers had to wait in the airport with no access to their checked luggage. The good news? My friend and her son had packed for this big trip in carry-on bags, so they sailed off the plane knowing they had everything they needed with them!

Yes, it’s possible to pack only in carry-on bags, even for long trips.

My family and I always travel only with carry-on bags. I once packed our family of four in two carry-on bags for a 2-month stay in Italy.

With just a carry-on bag:

• Your stuff is always with you and under your control.
• You have less to re-pack when it’s time to head home.
• There’s no chance of lost luggage.
• You pay $0 checked bag fees, which can range from $25 to over $100!

​“But how can I possibly pack everything in a carry-on bag when I need wardrobe options and my 5-part skincare regimen?” you ask. Answer: you can’t.

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