To #carryon, or not to #carryon

When traveling by AIR, one of the first dilemmas that you might face when beginning to pack is this: should I check in a bag or should I just stick with my carry on?

It's incredibly important to take these three things into consideration when you're thinking about whether or not you want to pay to check in a bag:

Will you have access to laundry facilities as you travel?

Here's the thing. In just about every place that you travel, there is SOME WAY to wash clothing. I bring this up because many of the packing lists that I see online include WAY too many articles of clothing, and this makes a larger, checked-in bag a necessity. If you'll be unable to do laundry and need the 14 different outfits for each day of your trip (and don't want to smell like a dirty gym sock), you need some extra space.

Are you planning to get lots of souvenirs on your trip?

This is pretty obvious, but if you're planning on getting some expensive crystal at Waterford Crystal Factory on your trip to Ireland (and don't want to pay for shipping), you're going to need the space in your luggage. For some, souvenirs and shopping are a huge part of a trip, so if that sounds like you, you'll want to spend the extra cash for a checked-in bag.

Will you/How will you be traveling once you've landed?

In my experience, traveling by rental car from place to place makes having a checked bag MUCH EASIER. Imagine hopping from train to bus to ferry and having to lug around a massive bag (along with your carry on). Remember that whatever you pack, you'll have to lug around.

IN MY HUMBLE OPINION...

I say DITCH THE FREAKIN' CHECKED BAG. Hear me out, I guess it's important to make clear the distinction that I make between a vacation and traveling. If you're planning on vacationing to a resort in Cancun and not planning on leaving the complex (save for day trips), go ahead and check in a bag if it'll allow you to have a more comfortable stay and you're willing to fork over the dough.

In all of my experiences, I've TRAVELED, and if you're trying to have the smoothest experience while moving from place to place, I always opt for a carry on. It allows for less time in the airport retrieving your belongings, and much easier travel when using things such as trains and buses. It's always been easy to book an AirBnB that has a washer/dryer or just find one in town/city.

PRO TIP: I highly suggest finding an AirBnB that allows for this, as it makes it much easier to throw things in and not have to spend time hovering. Traveling halfway across the world to watch the street from inside a laundromat is a major buzzkill, in my opinion.

Anything that you might need and wish you could've packed YOU WILL FIND, whether you're overseas or not, so it's not necessary to load yourself down with things that you think you MIGHT need. If they don't have the exact brand of mousse that you use, you will get by with whatever is available. I promise. As far as souvenirs go, the older I've gotten the more I really only focus on the photos that I come home with. Small items will fit among your clothing in a carry on, so it doesn't completely mean that souvenirs are a no go.

I hope this helped your decision making process! Happy packing!