I just returned from an overseas trip to Sicily and Ireland. I think earlier in the blog I shared some packing tips and I just wanted to share them again.
I never use luggage larger than a carry-on size. I try to stay at or under the standard of 22 inches. I always choose luggage that has a zipper compartment on the side that opens. See example below.
When you use larger luggage you tend to pack more and that increases the weight. Most budget airlines only allow 44 pounds on checked luggage and 22 pounds on cabin luggage.
I always use freshener sheets. They keep my clothes and luggage smelling fresh. I also save the clear zipper bags from when I purchase sheet sets. I roll my clothes by type and place them in the clear zipper bags. You can buy packing cubes on Amazon but the clear zipper bags work really well and are a good size. Rolling clothes saves a ton of space. I do a zipper bag for each type of item like shirts, dresses, shorts, and skirts. I use gallon baggies for the small items like delicates, swimsuits, undies, socks, etc. The only items I normally do not place in the zipper bags are my long pants, jeans, or jackets. Then I place the full zipper bags in the luggage and they stack very nicely. As I use my clothes I start to consolidate and move the dirty clothes together in the zipper bags and then the clean clothes together. I also use one side of the luggage for dirty clothes and the other side for clean. Referring to the picture above - if you had more clean clothes the clean clothes would go in the main compartment and the dirty clothes would go in the zipped top compartment. Then as the dirty clothes grow I swap. I find this keeps my clean clothes smelling fresh.
If I am staying in one place for any length of time or traveling by car I always bring a large shopping bag for dirty laundry. I can always use the bag going home for any souvenirs I purchased that won't fit in my luggage.
I always recommend a good smaller cabin bag. One that your purse can easily drop into and can hold items such as earbuds, medicine, IPad or tablet, book or kindle, paperwork, socks, etc. Anything you want easy access to and then keep it at your feet. Note - if you checked all bags you might want to throw a change of clothes in the small bag in case the checked luggage gets lost. We have a small TUMI bag that works great and slides right onto the luggage. Backpacks or totes are very popular also. Normally the airline will let you take a small bag as a personal item so keep it small enough that they do not consider it a cabin bag.
I prefer luggage with 4 wheels. I always buy expandable luggage but hate when I expand the suit case and then it falls over. When you have 4 wheels you do not have to worry about the suit case falling over when overfilled.
In closing I just want to say - buy a luggage scale. You can find them on Amazon for under $10. They are VERY much worth the investment. Airlines are getting stricter and stricter with weight restrictions. They use to make you pay a little extra if the bag was overweight. Now they refuse the luggage and you find yourself at the counter taking out items. It can be very embarrassing. Always know what your luggage weighs! And yes - that has been me in the past.
See everyone in 213 Days. :)
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