How to pack like a freakin’ pro.
I promised you this, didn’t I? There’s another “how-to” I would like to give to you, involving wavy hair and up-do’s, but I have a humongous wedding cake order to do at home this week, so I don’t really see that happening yet. Maybe next Monday? Yeah, that would be lovely.
This post is about saving you money. It costs a good bit to check bags nowadays. But its also about convenience. Its a helluvalot easier to carry around just two small carry-ons than a massive suitcase, especially if you have a lot of plane rides in one trip and/or train rides. I cannot tell you how much easier it was to travel to three cities in Italy having only a small suitcase and a purse. I can’t imagine getting on and off those trains lugging something heavy and gigantic behind me. Geez! Not to mention the fact that I don’t trust checked luggage to get where I will eventually end up. Its just too risky.
So I have a before picture and an after picture, but I don’t have a during picture. Its cool, because packing for a week in your allowed carry-on luggage is quite simple really. You just need to remember a few basic things:
1) You may take TWO carry-ons. Yes, you read that correctly. Two. One is the small piece of rectangular luggage that can fit in the overhead compartment, and the other is a small bag, such as a purse, or laptop bag, or small duffelbag. I actually put my purse into a dufflebag so really I’ve got three bags but they don’t know and the joke’s on THEM! Ha!
2) If you are not checking bags, you have to be very precise about the liquids you carry onto the plane. All liquids must be in 3oz bottles or smaller and must all fit into a quart-size ziploc bag. This is actually not as difficult as it sounds. Trust me, it costs less to buy little travel size bottles than to check your luggage (right, Booyah?!?!?!).
3) This final thing is the key. This is how you will pack all of your shiz into two small bags: ROLL YOUR CLOTHES! Seriously. Roll them up real good and tight, even your underwear. You think I’m playing, but I’m dead serious.
So here is the before picture, showing all of the stuff that I had to cram into two bags (notice that the suitcase is already full just from my folded pajamas):
And here is the after shot of both mine and The Hubs’ luggage:
I realize that we are overflowing a bit, but it was totes worth not checking our bags. And because I bought lots of souvenirs in Philly, we actually ended up mailing some things back home so that we could close our suitcases, but still….worth it. And a special thanks to my bestie, Billie, for loaning me her adorable luggage, yet again.
P.S. Happy Memorial Day!!!
