I Survived 10 days in Europe with Carry-on Luggage.
Aug 17th, 2010, 06:10 AM
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I Survived 10 days in Europe with Carry-on Luggage.
I am a great follower of this forum, always reading the posts about traveling to Europe with carry-on luggage only. We are planning a 3 week trip in late September and have numerous flights and I dreaded the possibility of misplaced luggage or carting large suitcases around on public transportation.
When my DH and I found out we would be traveling to Paris and London for 10 days in August I reread posts and started making lists, packed and unpacked numerous times and finally decided this shorter trip would be a fantastic way to see if it could be done with carry-on only!!!
I am a habitual overpacker, so it was difficult for me to pack my 19" roll-on without stuffing it to the brim with clothes and shoes I may or may not wear. I left behind the blowdryer, straightening iron, multiple hair products, extra "just in case" outfits and went with the basics. I knew we would need to do some laundry along the way so I took lightweight tops and bottoms that I knew would dry overnight. My DH also had a 20" carry-on and the problem he has is that size 12 shoes always take up so much room. He packed sandals and wore his heavier shoes on the flight.
We each carried a backpack with cameras, computer, travel info, books, ipods, and rain gear. I left my purse at home and only took a small travel purse that fit in my backpack.
It was a fantastic way to get in and out of the airports quickly, no long lines and people pushing and shoving as they waited for the luggage to arrive and we were able to move through the subways and underground equally as fast.
I want to thank all the fellow forum posters who convinced me it was worth a try. Now on to the next challenge: 21 days in Turkey, Croatia and Italy with no checked luggage !!!!
When my DH and I found out we would be traveling to Paris and London for 10 days in August I reread posts and started making lists, packed and unpacked numerous times and finally decided this shorter trip would be a fantastic way to see if it could be done with carry-on only!!!
I am a habitual overpacker, so it was difficult for me to pack my 19" roll-on without stuffing it to the brim with clothes and shoes I may or may not wear. I left behind the blowdryer, straightening iron, multiple hair products, extra "just in case" outfits and went with the basics. I knew we would need to do some laundry along the way so I took lightweight tops and bottoms that I knew would dry overnight. My DH also had a 20" carry-on and the problem he has is that size 12 shoes always take up so much room. He packed sandals and wore his heavier shoes on the flight.
We each carried a backpack with cameras, computer, travel info, books, ipods, and rain gear. I left my purse at home and only took a small travel purse that fit in my backpack.
It was a fantastic way to get in and out of the airports quickly, no long lines and people pushing and shoving as they waited for the luggage to arrive and we were able to move through the subways and underground equally as fast.
I want to thank all the fellow forum posters who convinced me it was worth a try. Now on to the next challenge: 21 days in Turkey, Croatia and Italy with no checked luggage !!!!
Aug 17th, 2010, 06:34 AM
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Nice to see another convert to carry on only. It is hard to go back once you have experienced the ease of traveling without checking baggage. Think of 21 days as 10 x 2 and pack much the same way, planning to have a few things laundered as needed.
Happy travels.
Happy travels.
Aug 17th, 2010, 06:46 AM
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I converted to a "carry-on only" gal about 10 years ago and I'd never go back. From breezing by the luggage carousel (and the angst it produces as I wait) at the airport on arrival to stowing my gear at the hotel or apartment to less time making choices about what to wear each day... Just a great way to travel. It helps that I stay in apartments and make sure there's a washing machine, but I've done it with hotels, as well (there are laundromats everywhere and most let you drop off your laundry in the morning, they'll wash it, fold it and have it ready for you in late afternoon).
Since traveling with only a carry-on doesn't leave room for goodies I pick up on my travels, I also pack a fold-up canvas bag that I can use on the return flight (when I'm not so concerned about luggage not showing up with me). I put old/dirty clothes in it and pack things I've purchased in the carry-on. I then check the canvas bag.
Since traveling with only a carry-on doesn't leave room for goodies I pick up on my travels, I also pack a fold-up canvas bag that I can use on the return flight (when I'm not so concerned about luggage not showing up with me). I put old/dirty clothes in it and pack things I've purchased in the carry-on. I then check the canvas bag.
Aug 17th, 2010, 06:54 AM
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Congrats on your conversion!
In 50 years of European travel I've only checked bags once and,
you guessed it, they arrived late and smashed. So I follow the
same 'system' as MelJ for up to seven weeks.
The clothes/shoes in my carry-on go to hand-me-down heaven when
I get home but they've done their life's work well so I do not
begrudge them their eternal rest.
In 50 years of European travel I've only checked bags once and,
you guessed it, they arrived late and smashed. So I follow the
same 'system' as MelJ for up to seven weeks.
The clothes/shoes in my carry-on go to hand-me-down heaven when
I get home but they've done their life's work well so I do not
begrudge them their eternal rest.
Aug 17th, 2010, 08:06 AM
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Yes, welcome to the club! It's taking a leap, but what a leap of freedom, isn't it?
I have to admit to any naysayers that actual PACKING for carry-on can be harder, especially on trips where one has to pack active gear such as biking stuff and/or hiking socks (the hiking boots I've just worn on the plane). It takes time and some thought, even though I have kept all my packing lists for every type of trip on a computer file and even though I have a closet section of basic travel clothes/equipment.
But once on the ground, oh is life easier. If you've never done it, you would be shocked at how easy, how flexible your life on the road becomes.
No waiting in airports for luggage that will never come. While those of you who check are waiting, we are in town.
Want to hop on a train? -- and I do mean HOP -- with a reasonable size backpack and roll-on, you can actually do that. And you have a hand free.
Teeny tiny hotel room? No problem. No luggage taking up the the two centimeters of floor space.
Need to rent a car? Don't have to figure out cubic feet of trunk storage for luggage.
Want to get dressed in the morning on Day 18 in Hotel #10? Your stuff has already had to have been organized neatly into zip-lock bags, etc. You just know where everything is because there simply isn't a pile of mixed junk or multiple suitcases to dive into.
Laundry? Is and never has been a problem. So many ways to function on the road. Done the gamut from "bring old underwear and toss as you go" to "wash your stuff nightly" to "find a laundromat near a bar" to "pay $$ to have it washed" and usually end up with some combination of the above (husband enjoys "laundromat near a bar option"). I have ready-made "kits" in my travel bin for each family member: ziplock bag powdered Tide (no liquid leaks and quite effective in a bathroom sink), twisty "stretch" clothesline, and blow-up hangers).
For those new to the game, I have found it helpful to follow my sister's method of pre-packing for your first time free of check-on: make a solid list, lay everything out as far ahead as you can, and just keep subtracting, subtracting, subtracting every day until you have the packing pile down to a manageable size.
Things I've had to learn to leave behind:
--5 or more travel books (take them apart and bring sections or find data method)
--5 or more novels (Kindle)
--hair dryer (99% of hotels have them)
--hair curler or flat iron (you are not seeing these people again)
--zillion pairs of shoes (you are not seeing these people again)
surprising thing I DO pack:
--thin washclothes (many Europe hotels don't have one; I pack one skinny washcloth per hotel I suspect won't have them, and then I toss when I leave).
Again, congrats and welcome.
I have to admit to any naysayers that actual PACKING for carry-on can be harder, especially on trips where one has to pack active gear such as biking stuff and/or hiking socks (the hiking boots I've just worn on the plane). It takes time and some thought, even though I have kept all my packing lists for every type of trip on a computer file and even though I have a closet section of basic travel clothes/equipment.
But once on the ground, oh is life easier. If you've never done it, you would be shocked at how easy, how flexible your life on the road becomes.
No waiting in airports for luggage that will never come. While those of you who check are waiting, we are in town.
Want to hop on a train? -- and I do mean HOP -- with a reasonable size backpack and roll-on, you can actually do that. And you have a hand free.
Teeny tiny hotel room? No problem. No luggage taking up the the two centimeters of floor space.
Need to rent a car? Don't have to figure out cubic feet of trunk storage for luggage.
Want to get dressed in the morning on Day 18 in Hotel #10? Your stuff has already had to have been organized neatly into zip-lock bags, etc. You just know where everything is because there simply isn't a pile of mixed junk or multiple suitcases to dive into.
Laundry? Is and never has been a problem. So many ways to function on the road. Done the gamut from "bring old underwear and toss as you go" to "wash your stuff nightly" to "find a laundromat near a bar" to "pay $$ to have it washed" and usually end up with some combination of the above (husband enjoys "laundromat near a bar option"). I have ready-made "kits" in my travel bin for each family member: ziplock bag powdered Tide (no liquid leaks and quite effective in a bathroom sink), twisty "stretch" clothesline, and blow-up hangers).
For those new to the game, I have found it helpful to follow my sister's method of pre-packing for your first time free of check-on: make a solid list, lay everything out as far ahead as you can, and just keep subtracting, subtracting, subtracting every day until you have the packing pile down to a manageable size.
Things I've had to learn to leave behind:
--5 or more travel books (take them apart and bring sections or find data method)
--5 or more novels (Kindle)
--hair dryer (99% of hotels have them)
--hair curler or flat iron (you are not seeing these people again)
--zillion pairs of shoes (you are not seeing these people again)
surprising thing I DO pack:
--thin washclothes (many Europe hotels don't have one; I pack one skinny washcloth per hotel I suspect won't have them, and then I toss when I leave).
Again, congrats and welcome.
Aug 17th, 2010, 08:08 AM
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I'm with you about the enjoyment of packing lightly.
DH and I and our two teen-agers did a 3 week European trip a few years ago, all of us only had carry-ons. We stayed in an apartment with a washing machine for part of the trip, so laundry was not an issue.
When DH and I moved to Amsterdam for a year last year, we I will admit we did check luggage - but only two suitcases each (our housing in Amsterdam was furnished, so we only had to bring clothes). And DD did a junior-year-abroad in Paris last year with just two checked suitcases. We each took less for a year than I've seen some people take for two weeks!
To each their own, of course.
DH and I and our two teen-agers did a 3 week European trip a few years ago, all of us only had carry-ons. We stayed in an apartment with a washing machine for part of the trip, so laundry was not an issue.
When DH and I moved to Amsterdam for a year last year, we I will admit we did check luggage - but only two suitcases each (our housing in Amsterdam was furnished, so we only had to bring clothes). And DD did a junior-year-abroad in Paris last year with just two checked suitcases. We each took less for a year than I've seen some people take for two weeks!
To each their own, of course.
Aug 17th, 2010, 08:13 AM
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In June, I went on my 1st overseas trip (father/daughter trip to Ireland, London and Paris). We each had a carry-on and small bag. It worked great. We had laundry done twice, and our apartment in Paris had a washing machine (though very low-capacity). Between the two of us, we spend roughly $50 on laundry for our 18 day trip. That was money well-spent. When booking hotel/apartment/B&B, ask about laundry options. For me, sending it out is worth the cost for the time it saves. To be honest, I was prepared to spend more. I probably would have had to spend more than that on taxis, etc... But, with carry-on, we were able to take the tube/metro instead.
Aug 17th, 2010, 08:28 AM
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I'm with everybody else in terms of the freedom but when I hear this BS about laundry "never being a problem" and then rather vague responses about what was actually DONE about it I get a bit suspicious and my nose starts to twitch, sorry.
Aug 17th, 2010, 08:46 AM
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Dukey, next time I'll keep an exact record of exactly what I wash, when I wash it, and how much time it took me. The lack of detail and "rather vague responses" regarding laundry is precisely because it really isn't a problem. Laundromats? I rarely need to use a washing machine, but if there's one at my hotel/apartment I'll use it.
Aug 17th, 2010, 08:58 AM
#18
It isn't a problem for me either. I do a little washing by hand in the bathroom sink every second or third night when I change for dinner, and aside from my socks it's dry in the morning. (I take one pair of black Chico's pants, a sleeveless black top and a super-light-weight colorful poncho thing for evenings - as someone posted already, I'm not going to see these people again.)
Aug 17th, 2010, 09:04 AM
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Dukey asked about how often we did laundry. Our first 3 nights were in Paris and I rinsed out the t-shirts I had worn that day before going to bed. The hotel had a clothes line installed in the bathtub so I just draped them over the line and they were dry the next morning. We headed to London for 6 nights and I handwashed underwear and socks one evening and my DH's shirts the next evening. I had miscounted our nights away from home (forgot to add in the extra days we needed to travel to and from our departure city) so I ended up washing additional socks and underwear before leaving for home.
I packed 5 tops, 1 sweater, 2 pairs of capris, 2 skirts, and DH packed 5 shirts, 1 pair of jeans and a pair of shorts. We had 5 changes of socks and underwear. I also packed 2 pairs of shoes plus the ones I wore.
I packed 5 tops, 1 sweater, 2 pairs of capris, 2 skirts, and DH packed 5 shirts, 1 pair of jeans and a pair of shorts. We had 5 changes of socks and underwear. I also packed 2 pairs of shoes plus the ones I wore.
Aug 17th, 2010, 09:04 AM
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IME, a stop by the hotel front desk generally results in a recommendation for a nearby laundry quite easily. While we handwash some items, we also have others laundered for us, more in warm weather than in cold.
