Check In vs Carry On....?

[Gman]

Are you an overpacker check in or carry it all on kinda person?
Name (1) Unusual thing you pack that's makes people question you about it..like why did you bring that

Carry it all on...no time to wait for luggage if it doesn't fit it don't go...lol
Everytime I mention I bring my "Portable man" folks ask me why! well the answer is obvious!

The (1) unusual item I bring is a roll of Duct tape....you just never know. I carry on ,wife checks a bag.

[Jenn]

Packing now...clearly I'm an overpacker. Good Lord....

[Seamuis]

A checked and a carry on for each of us. Most unusual item, a chrome kitchen faucet and hand sprayer.

[captaind]

A checked and a carry on for each of us. Most unusual item, a chrome kitchen faucet and hand sprayer.

Rookie

Cap

[M&G Montreal]

Read a travel blog that said the starting point was not so much the packing as the unpacking on return. 2016 when I unpacked, I had a huge stack of stuff that was never used. Made my packing list for this year from what I did use, and eliminated a lot! Pared down this year's and STILL came back with a whack of stuff that was never used. We have laundry done at least once at trip, so what's my problem bringing a zillion tops? Cosmetics are a killer!!! Paring that down. (when the longest hair on your head is 1 inch, why do you need a full bottle of shampoo? Like seriously! I do it every time. 1/4-1/2 travel bottle next trip. Gotta go more often so I can get this down to an art! You are my hero and inspiration, ohliz! I want to get to carry-on only. What do you do about beach towels? They take up space.

Anybody got any experience with rolling clothes? I fold, and I hear rolling is better???

[Jenn]

M&G -
I hear you....I'm in the same boat. I put out my clothes, put away half...and still....too many. I'm going to have to repack tonight, as I'm certain I have way too much! Your shampoo comment cracks me up! I am exactly the same! Really?? Short hair and I need a whole bottle? No, no I don't. Yet, it's packed! We do not take beach towels, as the hotel has them. If I really needed one there, I can buy one.

This year we bought "space bags". I think I hate them, but boy do they condense the clothes! The other clothes that didn't go in the bags, I did roll. Everyone says it's better. I don't really see a difference. Sigh....the packing is the worst! I so would like to be a carry on girl. Doesn't look like it will be this year!

[deanna]

I have absolutely no idea how a chick can get along with a carryon........
Shoes..... 3 pairs of sandals
walking shoes (sneakers)
heels /Jungle ...lol
Mosquito spray....lots of it
Sun tan lotion
Sunblock
towels for beach
floaties for beach
snacks
mini cd and dvd player for music and movies
short, dresses, tops and skirts for 10 days
hair product
after sun lotion and lotion
shampoo and conditioner
toothpaste, and all the other sundries
snacks oh,... did I say that already
A couple bottles of Vodka for the room
and last but not least, a birthday gift for my girl !!!!!!!



Shoot, and I'm low maintenance !!!!!

I'm with you lol, I dont think I could ever do just carry on. I use mine and my husbands carry on for our clothing, camera and bose travel speaker and the check in suit case for watersports stuff and toiletries, sunblock, bug spray etc.

[captaind]

Just checked my bag with Southwest 50.2 Lbs. That's the limit again!

Cap

[LivinInThe603]

Anybody got any experience with rolling clothes? I fold, and I hear rolling is better???

I think to roll them you have to roll them TIGHT and really pack stuff in, and I just don't think that's necessary when I take a larger suitcase, so I don't bother.

In fact, for my trips to Jamaica, I set out each outfit I'm going to wear (top, shorts, underwear, or whatever the combo) and put each set in a gallon size Ziploc. Smaller items like swim or single items like a dress get their own quart size baggie.That way, each item has a partner and I don't over-pack a bunch of stuff that I might wear. I reuse the Ziplocs each trip (I do worry about all that plastic, but I'm making the most out of each baggie so I feel mostly ok about it). It's almost like mini space bags, like Jenn mentioned, but being smaller, I can manipulate how I pack them for more flexibility. I also found a really large Ziploc bag that has a zipper. It fits perfectly into my suitcase, so... in go my beach items, my towel, my toiletries, and my little baggies of outfits. Zip it up, clip the cross-straps, zip the suitcase, lock it and done!

I'm trying to be really good this year! I like to have a few options, but at this point, I pretty much know what I'm going to use and what will just take up space.

[Jenn]

The bags are a GREAT idea! Hmm....maybe I need to repack...