Once a vacationer learns to travel with only a carry-on bag, they will never check luggage at the airport again. No more waiting on long lines at the baggage carousel or dealing with the headache of lost luggage - no more lugging heavy bags through the airport, train terminal, or crowded city streets.
With these tips anyone can pack for a two-week vacation without checking any luggage. One carry-on bag, and one purse, will hold everything you need.

* First, contact your airline for the bag dimension limits for carry-on bags. The permitted size may be larger than you think.

* To begin packing, a good rule of thumb to remember is that 75% of clothing should be neutral colors; black, white, and khaki, with the remainder in brighter colors that match the neutral tones.

* Choose three pair of pants; one black, one beige, and one pair of jeans. Bring five shirts - three casual and two dressy. One black skirt or basic black dress for women: one tie and sport jacket for men.

* Depending on the climate at your destination, choose a suitable dressy sweater and jacket. You need just two pair of shoes, one for comfort and one for dress, and a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt for downtime in your hotel room. Forget the pajamas - sleep in underwear or the sweatpants and t-shirt. This combination will allow you fifteen different outfits, more than enough for two weeks.

* Ladies, bring one large, lightweight purse. Inside the large bag carry a small purse for going to dinner. Put your jewelry, toiletries and all paperwork in your purse.

* Choose the heaviest items to wear on the plane: jeans, shirt, sweater, and jacket.

* Buy toiletry containers small enough to meet the limits for air travel, typically 3 ounces. In the months preceding your trip, take advantage of give-away promotions at cosmetic counters in department stores. These trial sizes are perfect for travel.

* Before you leave for your trip, buy small packets of laundry detergent and a plastic laundry line. Every three days, wash dirty clothes in the hotel sink at night and by morning they will be ready to wear. Also, many hotels have overnight laundry service, though they can be pricey this is a good option for the dressier clothes.

Simplify your vacation by taking just one bag. With some careful planning, everything you need for your vacation will stay with you on your carry-on bag.

Copyright © 2008, Ian White Housecarers.com

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Ian White Moderator Housecarers
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Hello, Everyone,
Thanks for the tips. I have dreamed of achieving this but, always seem to pack more than I end up using (you know the "just in case things". I often am traveling from one climate extreme to the others. One idea is to buy what what one needs at a good thrift store...use it until you leave and then donate it back. lol
Happy traveling to all.
Ronnie

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R&R~~

Hi There
While the advice is good, it is not practical. Like most women, my cosmetics fail to pass the quantity test. I recently flew to Brisbane for a week and packed everything into a day pack but it still had to go as checked luggage due to the cosmetics.

And don't even suggest that I can go without them, as that is not going to happen

Happy travels.

Elwynn

Some of this is mentioned in another thread under:
House Sitting>What do you take to a housesit

still travelling with only one small suitcase.

Mal

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Mal & Lea

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Many thanks for all the useful info Ian!

One thing I enjoy doing in some places I travel too...
Is *Pack just the Basics*... Then go shopping at "Charity Shops" for needed clothing.... when ready to return home I return them (Re-cycle) washed & ironed!

I'm a lover of just *Carry On* It can be done with a bit of creativity!! :^)
Cheers! : ^) Brenda

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View My Profile- ImpeccableReferences

Ditto to all below.
Travelling Light on flights has some great advantages like:

Being first in the queue at Immigration, that process can be long and tiring.

First to get to cab or bus.

Being in control of your own luggage and not having to rely on the honesty/integrity of Baggage Handlers and Ground Crew.

Another great reason to go Shopping for necessities.

Implies a sense of efficiency and no-nonsense on arrival.

Less time spent guarding cumbersome luggage in Airport Terminals.

For those who can abide this type of travel know it is the only way to go.

Others need a sense of continuity to be comfortable, efficient sitters in their new surroundings.

Whatever makes your task fulfilling is best for you.

Mal

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2 or 1 the choice is yours.
Mal & Lea

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Edited: 03/06/2009 at 06:32 PM by mallane16

I throw in a couple of coated wire coat hangers to easily each night wash out underwear and socks (not cotton), wring out the articles in a towel or bathmat, even stand on them inside the towel to get out as much water as possible, and do it around 5-6 p.m., then hang them to dry in the bathroom, and they are dry by 6:00 a.m. I sometimes even leave the light on in the bathroom to make my own dryer.