New Luggage Restrictions Encourage Us All to Travel Light
I don't usually check more than one bag when I travel - in fact, I don't check my bag at all, if I can help it! But now that most U.S. airlines are charging you $25 for your second bag, travelling light is more important than ever.
Though it may seem challenging at first, I have to say that travelling light is actually very liberating - plus, it's better for the environment,
as a lighter plane (or car, for that matter) burns less fuel. Here are a few articles and sites I came across in my search for some good, practical tips on how to pack light:
- Via one of my fave travel tip blogs, Girls Getaway, I found a site called One Bag, which offers fantastic (and scientific) tips on making the most of one bag when travelling. Very informative and helpful!
- Carrying off the art of one carry-on by John Flinn at the San Francisco Chronicle is full of practical points and specific suggestions for eliminating the extra stuff you pack "just in case" and then never use. I particularly enjoyed his take on wrinkle-free clothes: "The catalogs are full of wrinkle-free travel clothes, but you can skip these if you've spent your adult life, as I have, carefully cultivating a rumpled look."
- IndependentTraveler.com has a handy Interactive Packling List you can use while preparing for your next trip. I love this thing. Obviously, you won't need everything on the list - for example, I rarely need malaria tablets when I travel, but I DO often forget my swimsuit...
Naturally, because we carry not only laptop bags, but also stylish women's luggage at CareerBags.com, I have a few suggestions for which one bag you should take next time you fly. These bags all fit the current size regulations for carry-on luggage (of course, it's up to you to make sure they don't go over the weight restriction - maybe leave your rock collection at home).
Baggallini Daytripper Rolling Tote - This bag is one of the lightest carry-on bags out there - depending on what you pack in it, you can put it under your seat OR in the overhead compartment. The Daytripper has three separate interior compartments (including a padded one for your laptop) to help you keep things separate for easy access.
It also comes with a clear, one quart plastic pouch for all of your allowable liquids, which I find particularly cool - no more frantically stuffing your tiny hand lotion and collection of lipsticks into a Ziploc while in line for security.
Casauri Wheeled Mini Carry-on - The Casauri is light and roomy - perfect for a weekend or a week. Its exterior pocket allows for easy access to travel documents or your in-flight reading material (a must for me when I travel - the movies on the plane are always terrible when I fly. Why? Why is that??).
The Casauri comes in a variety of distinctive colours (handy if you decide to check in instead of carrying it on). And it's water-resistant with a protective bottom splash guard, in case you encounter a puddle (or a spilled latte) you just can't dodge.
If rolling bags aren't your cup of tea, I would suggest Baggallini's Hampton Bag as a great carry-on duffle. It's light as air and full of handy pockets, both open and zippered. It fits nicely over your shoulder and - let's face it - looks fantastic. I love this summer green colour, but it also comes in zebra and giraffe prints!
All this talk of travel has me fantasizing about my own summer vacation. Where shall I go? Europe? Thailand? Hawaii? Ah...fantasy is fun. I'm so busy this summer, I think I might have to vacation somewhere closer to home. Maybe a picnic in the backyard!


























