Well, I’m still feeling tough with this cold. A full week after coming back to Canada and about 10 days in since I started feeling symptoms. Enough already! I am becoming so weak from inactivity that I am forcing myself now to log more steps and do more things, no matter how tired I get. Yesterday I pushed myself hit to 5,000 steps (usual for me is 10-15K per day), and I finally started doing my vacation laundry. Those 2 things exhausted me. I have decided that tomorrow I resume my normal life no matter what. This is my last “sick day”. Wish me luck. Anyway…
People are mostly surprised when I tell them I only take carry-on luggage for my annual 2 week vacation in the tropics. I don’t get it because really, how many clothes do you need when it’s 28 degrees Celsius and you’re on the beach for 6-8 hrs/day?
When I worked, I only took a carry-on bag when I had to fly anywhere for business. Work travel was stressful enough without having to wait at the luggage carousel, hoping that your bag shows up.
But I am also a go-with-the-flow kinda person, so if my travel buddy is checking luggage, I’ll probably do the same.
My first trip with CJ to Barbados, I assumed she would be checking a bag as most people do. I will never underestimate her again! Imagine my shock when she showed me the tiny pink bag that she shoved under the seat ahead of her, that contained all her worldly goods for our vacay. Mind blown! She was definitely the Badass Boss of that trip. Meanwhile, I had actually checked my bag for a change, figuring “might as well – no doubt she will.” WRONG. I did not like keeping her waiting as I was impatiently scanning the carousel for my bag to show up. And wouldn’t you know, my bag was the absolute last to be off-loaded after we arrived on the island! I confess I had visions of having to buy myself everything due to my luggage being lost. Never again.
I have been using the typical carry-on size luggage for this vacation ever since – the type that gets stowed in the overhead bin. However, these winter get-away flights are typically very full and sometimes it’s hard to find room above your seat due to inconsiderate souls putting more stuff than their regulation-size carry-on in those compartments. Like their winter gear. So I started looking for something even smaller. And because I love the challenge of seeing how little I can actually pack and still have a great vacation. Enter the underseat carry-on bag.
What did I pack for clothes, you may be wondering? Here’s a list:
- 1 quick dry underwear (I was wearing the only other pair)
- 2 two-piece bathing suits
- 1 Eddie Bauer travel skort
- 1 tank top
- 1 beach cover-up (Land’s End) that can also double as a housecoat or even a dress
- 1 bikini top that also did double duty as a bra
- 1 pair summer-weight pajamas
For the flight down (and back) I wore a pair of light-weight travel pants from Eddie Bauer that could be rolled up and fixed to become capri-length (thanks again to my Badass Boss travel buddy for twigging me onto this and the Eddie Bauer travel skort!), my only other tank top over a stick-on bra, a rash guard that doubles as a full-zip hoodie/jacket, a scarf, my Sash bag (containing all my $$, cell phone, air pods, Canon G7X camera and ID), and a light puffy jacket. With a pair of Vans on my feet. That outfit kept me comfortable enough in either of the climates I was travelling in.
While I was in Barbados I fell in love with a simple dress I saw in the hotel gift shop. I tried it on and couldn’t resist it.
Now I not only had to fit everything I brought to Barbados back into my bag but also this dress. What was I thinking?
Things to note: I did hand-wash some items every day during the trip (hence the laundry soap and the clothes pins). If that takes away from your vacation experience, this type of travel is not for you. It doesn’t bother us. We buy a tube of body lotion to share once we are at our destination (along with some grocery items for our room). I tried solid shampoo and conditioner bars this trip. They were OK, but I think going forward I am fine with whatever toiletries the room provides.
Other things I learned this trip: I much preferred one bathing outfit to the other and wore it almost exclusively. It was one I put together from a swim top I picked up at WalMart, paired with a “swimshort” from Land’s End. I bought a pair of these to test drive on the vacation and I am a convert! I put them on first thing in the morning with a tank top (and bikini top as bra) for my morning walks, and then swapped the tank/bikini top out for the swim top after breakfast, and I was set for the day – until it was time to shower and dress for evening. Easy peasy. Clothes that do double duty make this kind of ultra-light packing work! Another eye-opener: I could blog easily from my new iPad Pro, meaning I could leave the bigger laptop at home. This is old news to some of you, I know – but it was my first-time using an iPad this way, and I was chuffed.
I hope this post was entertaining at least, if not helpful. For me the best vacation is the one with less hassle. And less stuff to lug around = less hassle in my books.
Rock on,
The WB
P.S. I did find room in the overheard compartment for my bag, during this trip. But I knew I could stuff it under the seat ahead of me if I had to – and that, my friends, is EVERYTHING.
Good move Deb, best to travel with less. That’s what we do. Rinse out clothes at night for the next day.
Hope you’re feeling better. Sounds like a flu to me.
Leslie xoxo
You could be right, Leslie. I’ve been telling myself it’s a cold in the hopes that I won’t feel as bad (uh, not working😜🤧). Thank you 💕
Just take it easy – lots of fluids – it’ll pass….
Totally impressed – I’ll never get there!! I have a love affair with linen dresses, not really the best for reuse on vacation unless I want to spend the whole time ironing. boo. I Just bring one for every day. lol. Compression bags are the bomb and the only way to cram a bunch of stuff into one bag. Get to feeling better will ya?
Thank you Pam💕 I wish this dress was linen but alas it is lowly rayon. Still, it washed up quite nicely. No ironing required either. WINNER!
Oh my word this is inspiring! I’m bookmarking this one for future reference. I usually try to limit mine to one carryon but I can imagine just having the one underseat bag would feel so freeing!
Thank you Susan 💕 It was incredibly freeing.
I’m the person who always checks my luggage. I proudly overpack because if want to be ready for any contingency. I appreciate how you did what you did because it’s cool that you could do that, but not me, baby. I take it all… just in case.
You’re not alone, Ally. People should travel in the way that brings them the most comfort. Because travel is stressful, even for vacation. For you it means bring more stuff. For me it means bring less – I can pretty much always pick something up if I really need it. Thanks💕
YES!! You and me, Ally! At the baggage carousel!!
When we drive to the beach for a week, I take at least 4 pair of shoes and extra underwear and way too many shorts. Flying I’m better but not by a lot. Last trip my husband and I checked one bag between the two of us and I thought that was good.
That is good! I used to always overpack in my younger years, and spend the trip cursing all the stuff I was lugging around AND NOT EVEN USING. Hence my current quest to travel with the absolute minimum required to have a good time. Thank you Kate💕
Car trips are different. You can throw stuff in bags and never take them out of the car unless you need them. I need to take a fleece throw with me because I always get cold. Even in hot weather!
That’s right. And no one is gonna lose your luggage but you! And bring as many liquids as you like!
Yes there is the margaritas! 🙂
😜🍸🍷🍹😋
Way to go, WB. I’ll bet that bag was heavy for its size. But that would make for a badass weapon if anyone gave you trouble on your trip.
Have you considered the trash compactor method of packing?
Hehehe! Not especially heavy, TG. Not trash compactor but I have thought about vacuum packing. Seriously. You know, sucking all the air out. Thanks, TG💕
Wow! I travel quite a bit and have tried to pare down. But to fit it into a bag that fits under the seat. On the other hand, the stress free way to fly is not to worry about overhead compartment stuff. Sometimes I check my carry-on luggage just to avoid having to lift something into the overhead. What’s the brand of the bag?
It’s called a Travelon underseat carry-on bag. Got it…where else…on Amazon. You made a good point about checking your bag to avoid overheard compartment stress. But then I start worrying about if my bag actually made it onto the plane. I can’t win😆. Thanks Dawn💕
Do the compression bags come with it or are those separate?
I bought those separate, also from Amazon.
Hi, Deb – This is totally my way of packing. Way back when (early 2000’s) I OVERPACKED big time. As soon as I did my first Camino and realized that I had to carry everything that I packed, that changed my thinking completely. I now seem to bring less and less each trip realiziing how little is truly needed. Like you, I do handwash but it takes little time at all. Fun post!
Thank you Donna💕
I’m a big proponent of packing light too. If we travel via car, all bets are off, though (multiple pairs of shoes, pillow if I can sneak it by my husband, etc,). Even when we travel for a month plus, I still try to get it all in a small bag. I have discovered that NO ONE cares that you wear a piece of clothing all the time. I’ve never tried packing cubes but I know several people who swear by them. Pro tip: Target has the best, cheapest wash and wear undies.
Thanks Janis💕 We don’t have Target anymore in Canada, otherwise I’d be checking them out!
Two weeks and two pairs of undies??? Come on, 7 pairs will fit in a sandwich baggie! I have that carry on bag and love it. It actually holds a lot of stuff. I could do a week in a tropical destination with it, but more than that and I have to have an additional carry on. My camera and lenses take up a lot of room. Another reason to get a GoPro!
Great, Suzanne! Now you’ve got me washing 7 pairs of undies instead of just 2 🤣. Just think about what I’ll to remove from my bag to be able to fit those extra underwear in! The way I pack it, it’s like a 3D jigsaw puzzle. I’ll stick with my tried and true plan for a 2 week stay, thanks 💕
I’ve gone 6 weeks with just two pair of wash n’ wear undies. When backpacking long distances every fraction of weight counts! 😀
So true!
Reason #437 why I will never walk the Camino 😉
Hi Deb – yes packing small can be essential at times … great to see how you coped – your dress is lovely. I do hope you recover over the weekend – or at least are on the mend … sounds cold in Canada at the moment. Cheers Hilary
Thank you Hilary💕 Minus 12C out this morning🥶🥶🥶 I am determined to get back to normal!🤧
ooooh yugh … thank goodness I’m here … take care and look after yourself … slow but sure!! Cheers H xo
Oh Poo. You’re still sick 😕 We must fix that!
You already know that I do not travel light. Even for a day trip 😁
🤣🤣🤣Oh yes! I do know that about you. Still coming around, no where near as fast as I’d like unfortunately.
Sadly, we don’t bounce back as quickly as we used to 🙁
You really do travel light! I had to google ‘stick on bras’ to figure that one out. It makes a lot of sense to travel with just carry-on…but also need a pair of magic cargo pants. Love that dress you bought.
Thanks Jean💕 My travel pants and skort are “cargo-pantish” enough for the time being. Lots of secure deep pockets on those clothing items!
First time I have heard about stick on bra too. I will Google.
Deb, One good thing about coming into the conversation later, is I get all of this amazing advice from the comments, too. I have a favourite, Samsonite, squishy overnight bag I have had for many years. My husband wanted to treat me one birthday and he ‘surprised’ me with new luggage. He had to return it. Caused a little kerfuffle around here, although we are still married.
The compression sacks seem to really work. Do you recommend a certain brand? I have yet to try them. It is fun to see how people pack. I really enjoyed all of your photos and fun video with the GoPro. Great post! Helpful and entertaining! Feel better! (Just went upstairs to check my “stuff.” I have the Travelon purse I bought for our 2 month New Zealand trip. It was excellent! I was told they never come on sale because they sell too well)
Thank you Erica💕 Good to know you are still married 😄. Compression sacks – tons available – I think I just bought whatever got good reviews on Amazon. The brand I bought are called Gonex and I am happy with them.
That is amazing packing, Deb!
Love your souvenir dress – the colours are fabulous! I know you look great in it … summer time is coming soon!
Hope you are all better and recovered from the sniffles & aches!
Thank you Ju-Lyn💕 I never thought navy was a good colour on me until my hair started turning silver 😄. Now it works. I actually went outside for a walk today so I am definitely on the mend.
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Hi Deb! Wow! Pretty amazing that you got all that stuff in your carry on…there is NO WAY I could do that. Well, maybe if I was just taking a beach vacation I could manage it. But most of the time we go to climates where the weather can be variable so I try to take hot/cold clothing…and I have a few things I NEVER leave behind like a travel wave machine to mimic noise. I suppose I could use my cell phone but never learned to do that. I don’t travel heavy but I don’t travel light either. AND hopefully you are feeling much better by now. ~Kathy
Thank you Kathy💕 You’re right in that it depends on where you’re going and what you’re doing so far as how light you can travel. I used this bag to travel to BC to visit my daughter last October, but I knew I would access to laundry at her place. If I didn’t it would be another story! I am much better now, thanks!
Mind blown. Wow. I just can’t imagine packing so lightly. But for a beach vacay, you had all the necessities. And picked up a great piece in that darling dress. We went to Phoenix for the weekend and I was proud to be able to take a carry on for those 3 days. I knew the temps would vary, so needed layers. And we would be going to baseball games, and one nice evening out, and hiking. I think it would be delightful to A) go to Barbados B) only need bathing suits and a few cover-up pieces for 2 weeks in the surf and sun.
Thank you💕It is very nice to be able to do this annually although it takes some planning and cutting back throughout the year. I put away a set amount every month in a travel fund so that I don’t have any debt to deal with once I am back home.😁
So glad to read this Deb as I try to pack my carry-on for a month in England. I’m determined to do it!
Compression sacks were my saving grace and I plan to use them for future travel as well! Thanks, Debbie 💕
I like a tankini with shorts. Easier to get out of.
Definitely! I have 2 of these that I just love.
I hate the overhead baggage thing. It is a nightmare. I can’t reach it and the cabin staff seem unwilling to help. Underseat is the best. I figure on buying stuff there and leaving stuff there. That is if I ever go somewhere.
The newer planes have much bigger overhead bins, I noticed on this trip. But they are still really hard for shorter people to access. I did see some passengers helping others in this regard, which was nice to see.