Giving an airline your bag makes you a prisoner. Carry-on frees you, and you don’t need nearly as much “stuff” as you think you do.
I MENTIONED TO someone the other day that I’ll be going to Italy and Greece – Italy for a 10-day Rick Steves tour and Greece for a couple of days to see my youngest grandson who goes to college in Athens.
During the conversation packing came up and I said I was doing carry-on. The person said, “how can you do that for 10 days?”
It’s not hard so I decided to share some thoughts on traveling light. That’s both a mental concept and a physical one.
My primary impetus for doing carry-on isn’t because I am worried about losing a checked bag. With well over a million air miles logged that’s never happened, but several times I have had luggage delayed. I once made an important presentation to a client wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt. They understood, fortunately. I like to avoid those possibilities. But, my primary reason is I don’t want to be held prisoner by an airline.
Fact: If there are flight cancellations delays, changes in plans and you have checked your bag, you lose a lot of flexibility. I can’t tell you now many times I’ve run into flight problems and been able to change flights, even airlines, because I had my carry-on bag. I play the road warrior game pretty well, but it’s hard to play when you have your hands tied behind your back. Consider a checked bag the handcuffs.
Doing carry-on does require a certain mindset and changes in perspectives. I’ve been doing carry-on for at least 30 years. I’ve come to realize:
- You don’t need most of the stuff you think you need. You are not moving, you are travelling.
- I pack five days of clothing plus the clothing I am wearing on the plane and I wash things out in the hotel and hang-dry it.
- If you can’t wash and dry as you planned, it is perfectly fine to wear underwear and socks for more than one day, unless you’ve been in some serious heat and sweat a lot.
- I don’t pack for contingencies. I pack for what experience has shown me I will need.
- I use checklists. I no longer trust my memory no matter how many miles I have travelled.
- If you are walking over cobblestone streets and walks, going some distance with your luggage you don’t want massive stuff you will end up cussing.
SO, WITH THAT overview, how do I pack?
Let’s start with the luggage itself. I have a Rick Steves backpack suitcase. (See photo) Steves designed it after years of travel and using various kinds of luggage. The backpack has belly and chest straps so when you put it on you can carry a lot more weight than you think you can. I turn 80 the day before I embark and I can handle the weight of this backpack just fine.
The backpack meets airline carry-on requirements (though if you are doing a commuter airline type hop in Europe you may have to check it. No problem if it’s a direct, non-stop flight.) It is expandable to you can make it smaller or larger depending on what you are packing.
It also has a nice “hide-out” feature that you and stash valuables in then cover them with unattractive clothing like your underwear.
That is Bag One. Bag Two is a smaller day bag, also purchased from Rick Steves. (See photo) This is not a Rick Steves commercial by the way. It’s just that his stuff is time and travel tested and I trust it. If you look at the pictures you will see that bags similar to this also exist. Just remember, size and carrying comfort are critical.
In Bag Two I have my iPad and iPad keyboard. I don’t take my laptop on these trips anymore. I have an empty water bottle in it (you can take empty bottles through TSA checkpoints) along with a pouch that has things I may need on the plane – aspirin, sleep mask, toothbrush, antacids. Small stuff. (See photo) I also have a charger cord. When I get to my destination the iPad stuff and plane accessories can come out and I can use it for walking around town. But, I also have a much smaller “man purse” I put in my backpack that holds my water bottle, sunglasses, tour guide book. I may not want to carry the day bag.
A word about day bags and purses: If you sit down in a café or restaurant, particularly out on the street, do not hang these bags from the back of your chair. Put them between your feet. More on security later.
NOW FOR PACKING. I pack for five days – five days’ worth of tops, five days’ worth of undies, five days’ worth of socks. Remember, I also have whatever I wore on the plane so that is six days. I will be in each hotel at least two nights so I will wash out dirty clothing in the sink or tub. I carry laundry detergent sheets with me designed for a sink or bathtub. (I have used shampoo. Works fine.) I wring things out hard after I’ve thoroughly rinsed them. You will see in one of the photos I have a clothesline I can string up.
I buy travel clothes based on knowing I will wash them out. My shirts are incredibly lightweight so they are easy to wring out, and they will dry in a few hours. Back-up plans: If I find myself in a situation where I can’t wash things out I have used hotel laundries. I don’t find the cost prohibitive in the big scheme of things. When my wife and I traveled around by car we’d build in “laundromat” days. In a lot of places in Europe you can drop your clothing off and they will do them for you. Just go have lunch, tour wherever you are. Even if you must do your own laundry, you can see the area while things are in the washer and dryer.
I have two pairs of pants. One I wear on the plane, the other I pack. I do not wear shorts in Europe, just long pants. Shorts are not appropriate in all places so I don’t take them.
I do not pack shoes. I take one pair and wear them. In my case they are Brooks walking shoes that are solid, comfy shoes and look decent enough to pass as business casual. Since September is warm where I am going, I won’t take a jacket. I have a cotton LLBean-type long-sleeve, button-down shirt I toss in to use as a jacket if I encounter a chilly evening. Worst case if you hit a chilly stretch, just buy a lightweight jacket.
I also pass on pajamas. I take one pair of very light sleep pants that can be sink washed. I sleep in whatever top I wore that day.
Keep in mind trips like this are to cities. There are clothing stores, drug stores. If you run short on toothpaste or some other toiletry, just go buy some.
So, that’s packing. Next time, some thoughts on other accessories, security and I answer your question “is it safe for Americans to go abroad and do foreigners like Americans?”
Rich Heiland is a retired journalist and semi-retired consultant, trainer and public speaker. During his journalism career he was a reporter, editor, publisher, college instructor, part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team and a National Newspaper Association Columnist of the Year honoree. He lives in West Chester, PA and can be reached at [email protected].