I don’t want to sound too annoying, but you really don’t need all those clothes.
When I tell people that I only travel with carry on, they look at me like I’m crazy. And I get it, because I definitely can be a major over packer at times. But I have never actually gotten on a flight with checked luggage in my adult life. And once you make the switch, you’re not going to want to go back either. Especially if you’re a budget flight addict like me.
Travelling with just your carry on saves you time and stress at the airport. But you’ll never know true appreciation for you carry on until you’re skipping around the streets of a new city with a little 7kg backpack, while your friends are dragging around overstuffed 32kg suitcases before your hotel opens for check-in.
What are the Benefits of Carry-On Only Travel?
Travelling with just your carry-on bag is so much easier than bringing checked luggage, and has some amazing benefits.
- Save money by not paying for checked luggage (depending on your airline)
- Not having to wait for baggage claim
- No risk of lost or stolen luggage
- Not having to carry heavy bags around
- More freedom when travelling (e.g. easy to explore the city before heading to your hotel)
Is Travelling with Only Carry-On Worth It?
If you’re travelling to a new destination and planning on travelling flexibly, or visiting different locations, travelling with only carry-on is definitely worth it. I often travel for entire months with only carry-on, because you really don’t need as much luggage as you think.
If you’re travelling with your personal car, or maybe going on a cruise, I would then consider bringing a suitcase or a bigger bag. Basically anywhere that you know you’re never going to be carrying your bag around for more than 20 minutes.
But if you’re travelling to a new country and are going to need to carry your bags around for hours, travelling with only your carry on is going to be so worth it.
What are you really sacrificing? A few extra clothing options that you’re probably never going to wear anyway?
10 Essential Tips for Mastering Carry-On Only Travel:
1. Pick a Lightweight Bag
Bringing a very light bag is really going to be how you set yourself up for success. Suitcases are going to be way too heavy, so look for a bag that’s thin but has a lot of capacity.
2. Remember, Laundry Services are Everywhere
There are plenty of ways to wash your clothes, so I’m sure you’ll be able to find at least one no matter where you go. On my recent (one month) trip to Thailand, I only brought five outfits. I was able to wash and dry them myself at a laundromat for only $4 AUD. We even dropped our clothes off to a laundry service at one stage where they washed, dried, and folded our clothes for less than $8 AUD.
So, don’t worry about bringing enough clothes. You can always just wash them.
3. Half What You Think You’re Going to Need, Then Half It Again
Even though I’ve always travelled very light, I’ve never actually thought that I haven’t packed enough. You’re never going to need every single item in your bag, so you should really only be packing the bare essentials if you want to maximise space in your luggage. I left for my recent trip with my carry-on under 3.5kg. Besides, packing extra light just means more room to bring home goodies.
4. Just Buy Things There
You know how you’re supposed to replace your toothbrush regularly? Well, I’ve never packed one to an overseas holiday. I always stop by a convenience store on my way to my hotel regardless for some snacks and a SIM card, so you may as well throw a toothbrush into your basket while you’re there.
Toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, pretty much all of your toiletries are readily available (and often cheaper) in your destination country. Even clothing or a new pair of shoes, I find myself wanting to buy new outfits whenever I’m on holiday. So if you’re going to buy more clothes anyway, you don’t need to overpack.
5. Keep Your Souvenirs Small
Okay, I know I’m losing some people here. But trust me, I love buying new things when I’m on holiday too. You just don’t need jumbo plushies or massive souvenirs though. Things like notebooks, keychains, jewellery, trinkets, postcards, even clothing and candies are great souvenirs from your trip, that fit comfortably in your carry-on.
6. Keep Everything Matching
I’m never going to tell you to only wear neutrals, because look around at my blog. A bit pink, right? But making sure your clothes all go well with each other will make travelling with only your carry-on so much more fun. I try to make sure every clothing item I bring goes with at least 2 other pieces of clothing. This way, you don’t feel like you’re constantly rewearing the exact same outfits.
7. Essential Shoes Only
Obviously, shoes are a pretty bulky item that can take up a lot of room in your luggage. Try to find one good quality pair of shoes that will go well with all of your outfits. If you’re going to the beach, you might want to bring a pair of thongs too, but these fit much easier in your bag.
8. Stay Organised
It’s important to stay organised when travelling with carry-on, because it’s kind of like putting everything into your purse. Keep essential items like your passport, wallet and phone in a separate, easy to access compartment. Because trust me, I have been the girl digging through her socks and undies on the airport floor. It is not a fun experience.
9. Stop Saying “Just In Case”
Travelling is very exciting, but I know the excitement can get a bit jumbled with anxiety when you’re spending all day thinking about your trip. And that’s when we start to overcomplicate things. If you’re thinking about bringing an item “just in case”, I don’t think you actually need it. Worst case scenario, I’m sure you can buy an alternative in your destination country.
10. You Can Always Wear It
I know, the oldest trick in the book. But if you really do want to bring a particularly heavy clothing item, you could just wear it. Be careful though, if you do want to wear a particularly heavy item, I would recommend this for your returning flight, not departing. Just because you’re going to run into the same issue as your checked baggage, having to carry it around all trip, if you’re bringing an oversized item. Think more along the lines of buying a really nice jacket that just won’t fit in your bag while you’re overseas.
Carry-on only travel can seem ridiculous if you haven’t given it a go yet. But the flexibility and ease of travel makes it so well worth it. Travelling with just your carry-on is a total game changer, give it a try on your next trip. Try out some of these tips and see how you go. Once you’ve got the hang of it, carry-on only travel will be really easy.
Let me know below if you’ve tried travelling with carry-on before, and if you have any tips for making the most of it!
