Traveling on a 15 day-er Internationally... without checking luggage. Am I Crazy ?
The keys to my success, MINIMIZE!
Travel size everything . Think versitle, convertible, multi-use, expandable, shriinkable, sizeable, reverseable.
The keys to my success, MINIMIZE!
Travel size everything . Think versitle, convertible, multi-use, expandable, shriinkable, sizeable, reverseable.
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What's in my bag ?
Tip: ~ start with a light weight suitcase : Heyes luggage
Call your airline to find out the maximum size and weight for your carry-on luggage.
Here are the Items I was able to come across and purchase to help with my down packing:
Tip: Shop online ! Find your favorite stores and shop their clearance online. Google promotional codes for extra discounts and free shipping.
Tip: ~ start with a light weight suitcase : Heyes luggage
Call your airline to find out the maximum size and weight for your carry-on luggage.
Here are the Items I was able to come across and purchase to help with my down packing:
Tip: Shop online ! Find your favorite stores and shop their clearance online. Google promotional codes for extra discounts and free shipping.
| | Perfume Pen Loehmans Pill baggies Cosmetic containers Mini polish Polish pads Space bags |
More tips:
-Prescriptions; Be sure to peel labels off of bottle containers and stick to pill pouches (per pharmacist directions)
-Technology; down-size. from Macbook to Ipad, smaller cord and chargers.
-Photo copy your passport, 1 for your home and one to take with you. Keep your passport in the hotel safe.
-Call your resort about water sport equipment comped rentals or all-inclusive perks, this will save you space in your luggage.
-Stuff dryer sheets in your gym shoes and suitcase for fresh smelling clothes and luggage.
-Wear your heaviest clothing and shoes onto the airplane.
-Bring moisturizer, toothbrush, perfume, wipes, small comb/brush, socks.
-Bring a pen, you will have to fill out customs forms if traveling internationally.
-Call your credit card companies to let them know that you will be out of the country, they will ask for dates.
-Check-in and pre-print boarding passes online, and/or take advantage of curbside check-in, these save you time.
-Always wipe your in-room safe keypad clean before you punch in your code. (thieves are very creative)
-Roll your clothing, don't fold for wrinkle free clothes.
-Be sure to take advantage of your inside shoe space.
-Downsize your cosmetics, buy travel kits.
-Bring lots of reading materials and games, music, download to your computer/laptop/ipad for long hauls.
-Upgrade whenever possible, a little leg room goes a long way.
-Smile and be friendly to your airline staff, you'll be surprised how far a little friendliness will get you !
-Pack protein bars, protein powders or your favorite tea bags.
-Drink lots of water when flying, you get more dehydrated then you know with the air-co blowing on you, plus it gives you a reason to get up (bathroom runs) avoid blood clots, keep your blood flowing, stretch. Pick an aisle seat and this will ensure that you have to get up more often to let others out to use the restroom.
-Bring a water bottle, ask the flight attendant to fill it up at the beginning of the flight, that way you don't have to keep waiting for the drink service small bottle or glasses.
-Airlines don't take cash, so be sure to have a credit card handy for in-flight purchases.
-Be sure to let your resort know if you are celebrating any birthdays/anniversary's, this will get you a little something special.
-Always ask if an upgrade is available at check-in, you never know what a simple question might do for you.
-Use Frequent flyer and hotel credit/cards and programs... those miles and points DO add up to free things and upgrades before you know it. This can save you a lot of money for meals as well. Be sure to double check that your #'s are applied to your flights and room stays.
-Take advantage of reading up on threads and travel blogs for tips, you will be amazed at how much you learn from travelers that you won't know from your hotel/airline website. Important things, info and tips !
-Word is, the best time to shop airline tickets is two weeks before your trip.
-It's okay to move your airplane seat if the plane is not full. Be sure to pre-ask your attendant to lock it in.
-Use the FourSquare travel app on your smart phone, Check-ins can get you free food and gifts.
-When in the airplane (especially for long hauls) keep your money/credit cards on you, not in your luggage (sleeping time is a thiefs opportunity to go through your luggage)
-Bring a water bottle for filing up water
-Bring your favorite tea bags
-Put your electronics like cords, spare batteries, micro chips in zip locks/pill packets (keeps moisture out)
-Bring small and large bills for exchange, tips, cab rides.
-Some credit cards charge 3% for charges out of the country some don't, check your companies. AX does. Capital one does not. The hotels can do it for you, but sometimes it ends up costing more so ask.
-Let your credit card companies know when you are leaving the country ahead of time so that they don't put a hold on your credit cards when you are there.
-Bring an ipad/tablets instead of large macbook/laptops, less cords, accessories and takes up smaller space.
-Use Icloud for backing up on ipad, ipad does not allow for uploading more than 1 photo at a time to social apps.
Ipad does make a storage drive search online.
-Be sure to turn off push/notifications and roaming on your cellular devices when traveling internationally. Call your carrier for info on how to get a sims card.
-Bring a compact umbrella for all weather trips. (although hotels usually provide)
-Bring a pen. (customs forms to fill out)
-You might want to detox/flush before a long flight, see my post about a great tea.
-Our airline let me bring my carry on even though it was over the weight limit (because I had no other checked luggage) call to see if you're airline will do the same.
*Click on images for stores and pricing. Animal prints were all the rage at New York Fashion week for fall !
-Prescriptions; Be sure to peel labels off of bottle containers and stick to pill pouches (per pharmacist directions)
-Technology; down-size. from Macbook to Ipad, smaller cord and chargers.
-Photo copy your passport, 1 for your home and one to take with you. Keep your passport in the hotel safe.
-Call your resort about water sport equipment comped rentals or all-inclusive perks, this will save you space in your luggage.
-Stuff dryer sheets in your gym shoes and suitcase for fresh smelling clothes and luggage.
-Wear your heaviest clothing and shoes onto the airplane.
-Bring moisturizer, toothbrush, perfume, wipes, small comb/brush, socks.
-Bring a pen, you will have to fill out customs forms if traveling internationally.
-Call your credit card companies to let them know that you will be out of the country, they will ask for dates.
-Check-in and pre-print boarding passes online, and/or take advantage of curbside check-in, these save you time.
-Always wipe your in-room safe keypad clean before you punch in your code. (thieves are very creative)
-Roll your clothing, don't fold for wrinkle free clothes.
-Be sure to take advantage of your inside shoe space.
-Downsize your cosmetics, buy travel kits.
-Bring lots of reading materials and games, music, download to your computer/laptop/ipad for long hauls.
-Upgrade whenever possible, a little leg room goes a long way.
-Smile and be friendly to your airline staff, you'll be surprised how far a little friendliness will get you !
-Pack protein bars, protein powders or your favorite tea bags.
-Drink lots of water when flying, you get more dehydrated then you know with the air-co blowing on you, plus it gives you a reason to get up (bathroom runs) avoid blood clots, keep your blood flowing, stretch. Pick an aisle seat and this will ensure that you have to get up more often to let others out to use the restroom.
-Bring a water bottle, ask the flight attendant to fill it up at the beginning of the flight, that way you don't have to keep waiting for the drink service small bottle or glasses.
-Airlines don't take cash, so be sure to have a credit card handy for in-flight purchases.
-Be sure to let your resort know if you are celebrating any birthdays/anniversary's, this will get you a little something special.
-Always ask if an upgrade is available at check-in, you never know what a simple question might do for you.
-Use Frequent flyer and hotel credit/cards and programs... those miles and points DO add up to free things and upgrades before you know it. This can save you a lot of money for meals as well. Be sure to double check that your #'s are applied to your flights and room stays.
-Take advantage of reading up on threads and travel blogs for tips, you will be amazed at how much you learn from travelers that you won't know from your hotel/airline website. Important things, info and tips !
-Word is, the best time to shop airline tickets is two weeks before your trip.
-It's okay to move your airplane seat if the plane is not full. Be sure to pre-ask your attendant to lock it in.
-Use the FourSquare travel app on your smart phone, Check-ins can get you free food and gifts.
-When in the airplane (especially for long hauls) keep your money/credit cards on you, not in your luggage (sleeping time is a thiefs opportunity to go through your luggage)
-Bring a water bottle for filing up water
-Bring your favorite tea bags
-Put your electronics like cords, spare batteries, micro chips in zip locks/pill packets (keeps moisture out)
-Bring small and large bills for exchange, tips, cab rides.
-Some credit cards charge 3% for charges out of the country some don't, check your companies. AX does. Capital one does not. The hotels can do it for you, but sometimes it ends up costing more so ask.
-Let your credit card companies know when you are leaving the country ahead of time so that they don't put a hold on your credit cards when you are there.
-Bring an ipad/tablets instead of large macbook/laptops, less cords, accessories and takes up smaller space.
-Use Icloud for backing up on ipad, ipad does not allow for uploading more than 1 photo at a time to social apps.
Ipad does make a storage drive search online.
-Be sure to turn off push/notifications and roaming on your cellular devices when traveling internationally. Call your carrier for info on how to get a sims card.
-Bring a compact umbrella for all weather trips. (although hotels usually provide)
-Bring a pen. (customs forms to fill out)
-You might want to detox/flush before a long flight, see my post about a great tea.
-Our airline let me bring my carry on even though it was over the weight limit (because I had no other checked luggage) call to see if you're airline will do the same.
*Click on images for stores and pricing. Animal prints were all the rage at New York Fashion week for fall !
Tillys Convertible dress The Elan . Target convertible dress, Mossimo . Convertible bikini Tillys, Vitamin A, Rio
SO DID IT ALL FIT ?
2 maxi dresses, 2 convertible sun dresses, 1 regular sun dress, yoga pants, 2 capri pants, 3 tank tops, 5 bandu tops, 1 maxi skirt, 2 swim cover ups, 5 bathingsuits, 5 socks, undergarments, 1 tube top, 1 T-shirt. 4 pairs of shoes, 1 sweat suit, 1 scarf, jewelry case, 2 cameras and electronics bag with accessories, 1 quart ziplock bag with liquids, beauty bag, 2 hats... and it all fit, with ROOM to spare ! :)
Well turns out my luggage weighed in at over the maximum weight for Emirates. The good news is they allowed me to bring it aboard anyway because I wasn't checking any other luggage (which would have added to the airplane weight) Learned something new !
Tip: Incase you have to check your bag at your hotel bell desk (because of early arrival) or for any reason you get separted from your luggage... Keep your medications, valuables, money, jewelry and1 bathingsuit in your purse.
I'm back and well it turns out, I OVER PACKED !
Didn't need the high heels, nor the leggin's, 1 of the capri pants or the flatiron, didn't wear 1/2 the jewelry or the 2 convertible dresses. Could have skipped on the tooth brushes and toothpaste, supplied by both the airline and hotels. Only needed 2 of the 3 sunglasses. But I could have totally packed more bathing suits !! HA
Didn't need the high heels, nor the leggin's, 1 of the capri pants or the flatiron, didn't wear 1/2 the jewelry or the 2 convertible dresses. Could have skipped on the tooth brushes and toothpaste, supplied by both the airline and hotels. Only needed 2 of the 3 sunglasses. But I could have totally packed more bathing suits !! HA
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