Loved having you pop into Some Happy Scribbles! And did what it's worth, I'm on both team carry on and checked bag: sometimes it's so much easier to pack heavy - saves the mental and emotional stress of choosing! But breezing out of the airport without stopping at baggage claim feels oh so professional! 😉✈️
I did 3 months with a carry-on! AND that trip included a very wide range of weathers - from snowy Hokkaido to sweltering Hue (Vietnam). Pretty proud of myself for that one. When I came home after 3 months I didn’t know what to do with the rest of my wardrobe.
I was always carry-on only, and had never done checked, until I injured my neck/shoulder while on a trip to California. I checked my carry-on sized bag for my return flight, to avoid having to hoist it up or down and even to drag it around behind me in the airport. Y'all... being so unencumbered while in the terminal was a revelation. I felt so free for the entire boarding and de-planing process. An extra ten minutes at the carousel was nothing in comparison to the freedom of movement I had the rest of the time. It DOES come with an assumption of risk so I don't do it as a matter of default, but if my bag is heavy or if I am for any reason in the terminal for a long time, I'm checking it!
That said, I don't want to take more than I need and pack heavy just because I have the option to check the bag, so these are still incredibly useful tips for me!!
Just did 3 weeks around europe only with carry on and had implemented all these tips - 10/10! Also highly recommend following plans from the app TimeShifter to help with jet lag!
Y’all are making me feel very smart with my Away carry-on, SJP book bag that slides on the handle, and packing cubes! 100% agree with all these recs, clearly. 👏🏼
Carry on, all the way! My husband and I famously only brought carry ons to our wedding... everyone was shocked that I fit my wedding dress and outfits inside of mine, but what can I say! I bought a low profile dress knowing it would fit
I am for sure a carry-on girlie but on European flights these can be almost as expensive to add as a checked bag. So for shorter trips here I'm a personal item only girlie haha.
Thank you for this! I've been team carry-on for a while now and only tend to use checked luggage if I'm travelling with family or going long-haul for longer than a week - lost luggage is a serious fear!
I'm going on my first ever solo flight next May for a writer's retreat in Tuscany and would love some budget friendly backpack options if anyone has any? I'm only going for a few days but will be meeting a friend later on the trip and we plan to travel to a few places in Italy via train, so I didn't exactly want to be lugging round a small case as well.
Oh my good ness that is my dream retreat?! Can we get some details!? I recently traveled to Tuscany and Rome with the Dare to Roam backpack (less than $100!), and my husband also loves his Nomatic backpack. I've heard amazing things as well about Dagne Dover, which might have some great Black Friday sales. This one Lauren shared above also looks amazing: https://sjpbysarahjessicaparker.com/products/carried-away-convertible_black-fabric_29269
The retreat sounds incredible, I’m so excited! It’s with Emma Gannon and running through Aweventurer - I think there’s also a few places left if I’m not mistaken.
Oooh, thanks for this. I added the oil and the compression bags to my Amazon Wish List. As for the luggage, my sister showed me an IG reel where the guy was demonstrating how he could get into your zippered suitcase by poking a hole in the zippered folds with a pen. Ever since then, she's been looking for luggage sans zippers. LOL. I saw that Roam's luggage can be locked, which is cool, but ever since I saw that video, she's got me looking for something on par with a briefcase handcuffed to my wrist. LOL
Loved having you pop into Some Happy Scribbles! And did what it's worth, I'm on both team carry on and checked bag: sometimes it's so much easier to pack heavy - saves the mental and emotional stress of choosing! But breezing out of the airport without stopping at baggage claim feels oh so professional! 😉✈️
I just find I'm too impatient to wait at the baggage carousel 🤣
For what it's worth 😉
I'm team do whatever works for you. There are myriad of reasons why people might choose one over the other.
Very true!
I did 3 months with a carry-on! AND that trip included a very wide range of weathers - from snowy Hokkaido to sweltering Hue (Vietnam). Pretty proud of myself for that one. When I came home after 3 months I didn’t know what to do with the rest of my wardrobe.
Whoa, that's amazing. Maybe you can be our next guest post 😂
I was always carry-on only, and had never done checked, until I injured my neck/shoulder while on a trip to California. I checked my carry-on sized bag for my return flight, to avoid having to hoist it up or down and even to drag it around behind me in the airport. Y'all... being so unencumbered while in the terminal was a revelation. I felt so free for the entire boarding and de-planing process. An extra ten minutes at the carousel was nothing in comparison to the freedom of movement I had the rest of the time. It DOES come with an assumption of risk so I don't do it as a matter of default, but if my bag is heavy or if I am for any reason in the terminal for a long time, I'm checking it!
That said, I don't want to take more than I need and pack heavy just because I have the option to check the bag, so these are still incredibly useful tips for me!!
I totally get this! Sometimes it's so nice to not have extra luggage, but most of the time I make my husband take the heavier bag 😂.
Waiting around at the carousel is the literal bane of my existence.
RIGHT?
Just did 3 weeks around europe only with carry on and had implemented all these tips - 10/10! Also highly recommend following plans from the app TimeShifter to help with jet lag!
3 weeks is impressive!! Go girl
Y’all are making me feel very smart with my Away carry-on, SJP book bag that slides on the handle, and packing cubes! 100% agree with all these recs, clearly. 👏🏼
omg killin' it. and a SJP book bag you say?? 👀 say more!?
This one!! I love it. https://sjpbysarahjessicaparker.com/products/carried-away-convertible_black-fabric_29269
ahhhh so cute!!!
Carry on lifestyle saves SO much stress!
Agreed!!! Despite the pre-trip stress of wondering if I packed enough/correctly. 😂
Yes front load the stress to deal with less later… hopefully 🤞
Carry on, all the way! My husband and I famously only brought carry ons to our wedding... everyone was shocked that I fit my wedding dress and outfits inside of mine, but what can I say! I bought a low profile dress knowing it would fit
Wow I am impressed 🤣!
I am for sure a carry-on girlie but on European flights these can be almost as expensive to add as a checked bag. So for shorter trips here I'm a personal item only girlie haha.
Truuue — gotta make it work. 😂
Thank you for this! I've been team carry-on for a while now and only tend to use checked luggage if I'm travelling with family or going long-haul for longer than a week - lost luggage is a serious fear!
I'm going on my first ever solo flight next May for a writer's retreat in Tuscany and would love some budget friendly backpack options if anyone has any? I'm only going for a few days but will be meeting a friend later on the trip and we plan to travel to a few places in Italy via train, so I didn't exactly want to be lugging round a small case as well.
Oh my good ness that is my dream retreat?! Can we get some details!? I recently traveled to Tuscany and Rome with the Dare to Roam backpack (less than $100!), and my husband also loves his Nomatic backpack. I've heard amazing things as well about Dagne Dover, which might have some great Black Friday sales. This one Lauren shared above also looks amazing: https://sjpbysarahjessicaparker.com/products/carried-away-convertible_black-fabric_29269
Goodness lol**
Ooh thank you so much, I’ll look into those!
The retreat sounds incredible, I’m so excited! It’s with Emma Gannon and running through Aweventurer - I think there’s also a few places left if I’m not mistaken.
https://www.aweventurer.com/travels/emmatuscany
This...might be my dream. I wish I could go next spring but saving for safe-keeping for 2026!!!
Ahh that’s understandable! Would’ve been lovely to meet you in person.
Oooh, thanks for this. I added the oil and the compression bags to my Amazon Wish List. As for the luggage, my sister showed me an IG reel where the guy was demonstrating how he could get into your zippered suitcase by poking a hole in the zippered folds with a pen. Ever since then, she's been looking for luggage sans zippers. LOL. I saw that Roam's luggage can be locked, which is cool, but ever since I saw that video, she's got me looking for something on par with a briefcase handcuffed to my wrist. LOL