This post was originally published in May 2017 and updated in Sept 2019.
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Think Carry On Travel Isn’t For You?
Carry on only travel is much easier than you might think!
Our family of four has traveled to Texas for ten days, a two week road trip to Utah and Arizona and Utah, and multiple other trips…ALL as carry on only travel!!
You can do this too!!
How To Travel With Only A Carry On
Many airlines allow you to have one carry on suitcase and a “personal item”. The smaller size suitcase must fit in the overhead bin. But, the great news is…your personal item can be a bag or backpack as long as it fits in the floor under the seat in front of you. So really each traveler can take two bags (that’s 8 bags for our family of 4)!! I’ve even taken my small cross body bag and put it inside a larger “personal” bag for extra stuff like an iPad, books, and snacks.
I don’t know about you, but we can fit A LOT in a backpack!
Know Before You Go Tip: Some airlines, especially discount airlines, have recently changed the rules a bit. Most of our family travel allows us to at least have one carry on bag or suitcase and a personal item. But please make sure to check with the specific airline you are flying ahead of time to ensure you only bring what you should, or you will likely end up paying for the bags. Some airlines are now charging you for a carry on and checked luggage.
Tips and Tricks We Use To For Carry On Only Travel
Pack like a minimalist. Even if you don’t subscribe to a minimalist lifestyle day to day, now is the time to embrace it! Pack items that can be worn more than once and that go with other items that you’ve packed. Look into a capsule wardrobe if you’re having trouble. Wear the same thing twice! I’ve worn the same top with leggings one day and jeans another. Nobody but you’re traveling partner will know!
Take travel size toiletry items…you can find anything in travel size now (TSA approved 3.4 ounces or less). You can also buy travel sized containers to refill for each trip. I’ve also found many accomodations provide some toiletries for you…even VRBO and AirBnB! Only take what you absolutely need.
Don’t pack a hair dryer. First, check beforehand to make sure your accommodations provide one, but I’ve found they almost always do. I know a lot of us like to use our own hair dryers, so if you have room when you’re done packing all the other essentials, then throw it in there. Can you take a hair straightener on a plan in your carry on? Yes! I’ve never had any issues.
Only pack two pairs of shoes: Wear one on the plane and pack one in your bag. I know this can be hard, especially in the winter, but shoes take up a lot of room! There are plenty of versatile, comfortable shoes that are perfect for dressing up or down and waking miles in. I’m personally love a pair of boots and Toms because I can walk for miles in them and dress them up or down.
Wear your heavier items on the plane. You can always take your coat or jacket off and store it in the overhead bin once you get on the plane. I also find they are a great substitute for a pillow!
Reduce the number of accessories you take and bags you pack inside your carry on. I take one toiletry bag, my liquid items in my quart sized ziplock bag, and pack everything else in my carry on. I know a lot of people love packing cubes but I haven’t gotten on that train yet! LOL. I
Don’t allow each family member their own suitcase– share! This rule is especially helpful with young children. For years, my two kids each only needed one half of a suitcase. Your personal bag can have your “own” stuff!
Do laundry! My number one trick to packing less is to do laundry during your travels! You may only have to do one load, but it can make a huge difference. Make sure to pack items that can be washed together. Plan ahead of time so that your clothes can all be washed together. Ask friends or family members if you can use their washer and dryer OR choose accommodations that have the ability to do laundry. We chose an apartment in Barcelona, an AirBnB in Paris, and a hotel with facilities in Boston that all had the ability to do laundry. This has also made all the difference if you’re very active and sweating a lot during your particular trip.
Why We Love to Carry On Only Travel
Suitcases cost extra money. Not on every single airline…but many! I don’t know about you but I’m all about saving a dollar! Heck, even when we travel Southwest Airlines and you get two checked bags free, we still choose carry on only travel.
Convenience: you have everything you need with you.
Carry on travel SAVES TIME!! This is the most important benefit to me. Have you ever walked into the airport and saw the line to check your luggage and just had that sense of dread come over you? Traveling carry on only prevents that! Skipping the baggage claim when you arrive means you don’t have to wait forever for your bags, and you can be the first to the uber/ taxi line or rental car shuttle! Woot!!
You never have lost luggage!!
Some awesome carry on travel products:
Check out this review from Thrifty Family Travels if you’re looking for a carry on backpack!
Lighten Your Load!
I used to be an over-packer, but not anymore! We love the convenience of carry on only travel. With a little planning and a bit of organization, anyone can travel carry on only!
Know Before You Go Tip: Check weight and size guidelines BEFORE you travel! Every airline, especially in other countries, is different and you may have one set of guidelines for your first flight versus your connecting flight. Grab one of these handy luggage scales to make sure you don’t exceed any weight limits.
Do you like to travel with only a carry on? If so, tell me your tips!
Do you always check your luggage? If so, do you think you’d be willing to try travel with only carry on?
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41 Comments
We only limit to carry-on only for shorter trips, like a weekend away, especially if we’re flying budget airlines that charge for checked luggage. For longer trips, we tend to take one medium sized case between us plus our carry-on each. These trips are more likely to be long-haul and seldom charge extra for checked luggage. We have done laundry on trips, particularly the ones longer than 2 weeks, but we don’t really want to lose precious holiday time on that so we try and balance how much we take / want to carry around with the preference not to be doing laundry too often!
Good points. I love hearing what other travelers do!!
I like to bring home local wine and food. And carry-ons don’t really help with that these days. Once I’d have been all for carry-on travel, but not since the regulations on liquids.
That’s a good point…We don’t typically buy a lot while we’re traveling…but I understand a lot of people like to. My husband tried to bring home two bottles of wine once and they broke! So we ship them home now!!
Thanks for sharing all your tips! This is great. I don’t know if I’d be able to do carry-on only, unless it was for a shorter trip. I have so much that I NEED to bring that I don’t know if they would let me put it all on the plane with me. It would be nice though, and much more handy, I do agree!
It’s seems impossible…I thought so for a long time! But now I look at it as a challenge! Lol
That’s really incredible that you traveled for such long trips and with family members and had carry-on only!! I struggle with the shoes because I’m fickle and never coordinate outfits ahead of time but I try always to wear my heaviest things to the airport and on the flight because I’m always cold. Thanks so much for sharing this!!
I’m always cold too! In fact, I have a travel outfit I almost always wear on the plane…leggings, tank top, cardigan…and I pack socks in my bag for the flight if I’m not wearing them! My husband always laughs at me:)
This is a very helpful post! I have a tendency to overpack quite a bit haha, so these tips are pretty useful
Glad it was helpful!!
I’ve recently just started only packing my carry on, although I used to check bags often. I managed to minimalise things enough and realized I was only using half the things I was bringing on my trips!
Exactly!! I used to be a chronic over-packer! Thanks for stopping by!
We love the time it saves us at the airport! Thanks for reading!
Thank you! We just have found it saves us so much time!
It can be so hard not to over-I totally understand!!
Yes!! Thank you:)
I am getting better at not overpacking but I have not made it to the only one carry on stage. That is my hope to achieve this one day. I’m still one to take things “just in case”. Thanks for the inspiration.
Absolutely! We love it!!
I usually drive places, but when I do fly, I try to do carry-on only 🙂
We love it!! Saves us so much time!
I definitely second carry-on only travel! I do a small rollerboard and a weekender bag (with my purse inside it). I can typically take a week’s worth of clothes (rolled to utilize every inch of space), 3 pairs of shoes (including boots during the fall/winter), laptop, ipad, even my blow dryer (though I do leave that out if I’m going somewhere that has one). You’re right…it saves money and is COMPLETELY possible!
Exactly!! Glad I’m not the only one?
I always travel carry on and it is funny but I use the same tricks as you do 🙂
Yay!! Works every time!! Thanks:)
I am definitely going to use these tips for my vacay in July! The shoes thing is going to be the hardest for me, maybe I’ll try 3 pairs of shoes 🙂
Summer shoes are easier! You can probably fit three pairs! ?
Awesome!! Thank you! Central America will be amazing!!
I can do carry-on for shorter trips but anything longer than 4 days I just don’t think I can fit it all! Perhaps I’m just high maintenance…curling iron, straightener, dinner shoes, sneakers, walking shoes, etc. It just piles up so easily! Perhaps I could narrow it down if I did a lot of planning beforehand but my procrastination packing is just a whole other issue ?
Best,
Rebecca
Great tips thanks. I could really use them too as I’m a bit of a luggage queen. Like Fiona at London Unattached, I like to bring back food souvenirs and that often includes wine that has to be checked in.GG
Yes!! I can certainly see why checking luggage is necessary sometimes too!
It is great!! Thank you so much!!
Thanks for the tips! We usually bring a carry on when travelling to Europe to cut down costs but also to stop me from overpacking! Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks for the tips! We usually use a carry on when travelling to Europe to cut down costs and to stop me from overpacking! Thanks for sharing.
It is such a money and time saver!
Hope it helps!
Needed This! Flying in a few weeks and wanted to try to do carry on only. Thanks. Pinned!!
It’s not as hard as you might think!! Thanks ??
Thanks!! It just makes sense for us!!
I’m with you. My family also tries to fly carry-on only whenever possible because I hate to pay bag fees and wait for luggage after landing. I’ve found it’s easy to travel light when you are flying to a warm-weather destination but almost impossible when you are traveling somewhere cold. Coats, gloves, and boots take up so much room!
It is definitely more challenging for cold weather destinations!!!
I would love to be able to carry with travel on only, the most we’ve managed is a week. Thanks for the inspiration to try on some of our longer trips!