Luggage & Packing
WHAT TYPE OF LUGGAGE DO I NEED?
The case for a carry-on and “shoulder bag” only:
If you will make several stops, island hop or change hotels a few times during your trip then minimizing your luggage will be well worth the effort it takes to hone down the packing. If you are headed to a destination where you may need your luggage toted up or down hills, stairs or narrow medieval streets that won’t allow taxi access, again limiting your luggage will pay off. Additionally, every time you change flights there is a risk that checked bags get lost or banged around. Keeping your packing to a carry-on minimizes the risks greatly. Your “shoulder bag” can actually be a decent sized backpack. This can stay with you at all times to protect electronics, documents and things you don’t want to be stuck without for a day.
The case for checking luggage and bringing multiple pieces:
If you will be glamming it up city style, attending some events, and staying in only one or two locations it makes sense to fully accessorize, pack for multiple occasions, bring your suite of perfect-for-that-one-outfit shoes and bring those styling tools.
If this is a family trip then you can likely combine excess needs into one large check in bag or mix and match carry on and check in bags to save money depending on your airline’s specific luggage fees.
The case for just a duffle bag or giant “travelers” backpack:
Don’t do it. These will kill your back where a roller case would have saved it. You will be lugging this giant ugly thing around everywhere with sweat dripping down your back like a peasant and people who are more experienced travelers will be briskly rolling past you with their elegantly condensed bags deftly flying on wheels over the long airport walk ways. Roller cases can be thrown in the trunk or sit next to you or even on your lap on a bus the same as a duffle. If you have visions of adventure travel that won’t involve cars or trains or buses, you’re not living in this time period. In Bali motorcycle taxis will just lodge your carry on between you and them on the bike and off you go. Even in Morocco if you have camel transportation into the Sahara, the guides will bring your luggage to your camp on a bike, dune buggy or off-road vehicle via another way while you take the scenic route. There is not, that I have yet discovered, any excuse for bringing a duffle or giant travelers backpack on a real trip and killing your back.
THE ESSENTIALS:
Always AirTag your luggage if you can. This will give you peace of mind and options to act quickly if something “disappears” wether on a flight, in a taxi, hotel or bus.
Pack a small ziplock bag of simple but essential first aid: bandaids, disinfectant, pain reducers, antihistamines. You can obviously find and restock in other countries so don’t go crazy but these are things that if needed should be with you already.
Spread out your money. Travel with a travel card like WISE where you can load up digitally from an attached bank account and change your own money, spend in local currency and avoid fees. Always bring a few minor cards as options, have one hidden in your carry on with some cash and one hidden in your shoulder-bag/backpack with some cash. If one bag gets stolen you want to have an extra emergency access to funds. Some countries don’t support certain credit cards, some rural areas may not even support cards at all if the wifi is shoddy or they just prefer cash. Having some reserve cash tucked away can be a lifesaver. Your bank and other financial institutions may block login access from some countries. One workaround this is a good VPN for your mobile phone.
TIPS FOR PACKING A CARRY-ON ONLY TRIP:
Shoes: Wear your bulkier shoes on the plane so they don’t take up space in your suitcase. Bring one pair of “goes with everything” dress shoes and then leave your glamorous ideas behind and pack your most comfortable worn-in “walk for miles” shoes. Usually you need a pair of flip flops for the pool/beach but these are flat so they won’t take up much space.
You probably don’t need ten completely different outfits, select mix and match options that you wear frequently in real life. It is easy to imagine yourself wearing glamorous outfits in far away destinations but in reality you will most often wish for the things that are comfortable, stylish and work anywhere. What you will wish you did NOT do it bring a ton of stuff you won’t actually wind up needing.
A velvety jewelry “wrap” saves space, protects items tidily and still allows you to accessorize with style.
Don’t be afraid to whittle it down: If you don’t have something, they will have it at your location, and if you pack light you can always use the excuse to shop. For instance, never pack more then two sunglasses, you can buy another nice pair on location if needed and the cases take up room.