Carry-On Travel Tips for Businesswomen
/Collaborative Post by: Nicole Kelly
Airline travel can be annoying and uncomfortable, even more so if you have to do much of it. You wait in the airport for hours, you have to check in your bags, pray they don't get lost or damaged, go through the TSA… In short, it can be absolutely exhausting for the unprepared.
However, of all these concerns, lost luggage is the biggest and the most likely to ruin your day. There seems to be more and more lost luggage every year, and the airlines seem not to care.
That's why you need to take matters into your own hands. If you're a businesswoman, traveling often and long distances, you need to consider using only a carry-on.
Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash
But what should you pack? Carry-ons aren't as convenient for storage as suitcases, and you need your essentials, you need your clothes, both for travel, stay, and for conferences, you need your devices, toiletries… How are you going to fit it all in your carry-on?
Don't panic! That's why we're here! If you're looking to travel and only use a carry-on, consider these a few tips that will make the ardor of packing a much more pleasant experience.
Travel Light
This one's a no-brainer: if you're only using a carry-on, consider packing only the essentials.
Look, we know how it is - you want to prepare for every eventuality, so you usually over-prepare. So, you end up with so many clothes and stuff you can barely fit into two suitcases, plus a carry-on! And even if you chose to use luggage storage gare de lyon, that's a lot of luggage that's begging to be misplaced.
Instead, try relaxing and thinking a bit more rationally about your trip. How volatile is the weather where you're going? You surely don't need a jacket if you're traveling toward the equator. Nor do you need shorts if you're traveling north.
Basically, what we're saying here is to not prepare for every eventuality but prepare for the location you're traveling to. This will make the packing process much more streamlined, as it will eliminate a lot of stuff you won't need, and you can say that you actually only brought the essentials!
Choose the Right Bag
When it comes to suitcases, you really can't go wrong (except if you go for the really cheap ones, but even they have an advantage - if they get lost, it's not much of a loss), but, when it comes to a carry-on, that's when you need to pay attention.
The thing is, carry-on technology has improved dramatically over the past decade or so. With new materials and designs, carry-ons can be lighter, smaller, and thinner yet still carry a surprising amount of stuff.
So be deliberate when choosing your carry-on because it will make a world of difference. With the right bag, you'll be able to pack everything that's necessary, plus a little extra, while still remaining within the boundaries of plane and luggage regulations on what's considered a carry-on.
Limit the Number of Footwear
Aah, shoes - you just can't have too many of them! Well, unless you're planning to travel with a carry-on only. Then, yes, you definitely can have too many shoes.
The problem with footwear is that it just takes up so much space. Unless we're talking about slippers, you can't fold them or pack them tightly enough to where they won't take up too much space - they're always going to stick out and make things messy.
So, what's the answer?
Don't bring them. That's it. If you really need to have different footwear than the one you're wearing coming to the place, then pack one extra pair, and leave it at that. Having universal footwear, i.e., footwear that you can wear both when doing groceries, going to a meeting or going out, is a girl's absolute best friend if you travel a lot!
Roll Up Your Clothes
Here's a nifty little trick for ya - roll your clothes up into a bundle!
Yes, we know it sounds ridiculous, but the idea of it really isn't as outlandish as it might seem at first. Rolled-up clothes not only take up less space, but it really doesn't get any more wrinkled and crumpled than if they were folded and stacked normally.
Not only that, but you can use those bundles to store things in them. Bottles, cosmetics, makeup, electronic devices - you can roll all of them up in your clothes. Not only will the item within give the bundle a structure so the clothes don't get wrinkled, but you're also protecting the item in case your carry-on gets knocked around during a turbulent take-off/landing.
Use Travel-Size Containers
This tip speaks for itself - using smaller, more convenient containers for your things is a must if you intend to travel with a carry-on only.
But don't throw them away after your trip! Keep the containers and refill them with your favorite products for the next trip. This way, you're saving money by not purchasing more of the product, you have more space in your carry-on, and you get to take your favorite shampoo/toothpaste/makeup with you!
Pack in Bite-Sized Chunks
Packing can be stressful, even for a seasoned airline veteran. You're constantly looking over your things, thinking if you've forgotten something, adding things, taking things out, rearranging, and overall pumping up your stress to 11.
But, we ask you - why do you need to do it today? Why do you need to do it on the morning of your flight? Why not take it easy, and pack it in bite-sized chunks?
What we mean by this is, instead of packing everything at once, why not open up your carry-on maybe a week beforehand and just throw one thing in at a time?
Instead of rushing to pack immediately, open up your bag and throw in a few essential items you always carry with you a couple of days before the flight.
And each subsequent day, you throw a thing or two in, and by the time your flight rolls around, you'll have already packed a significant amount. All you need to do now is pack a few more things, look everything over, and you're good to go!
Packing this way significantly reduces both stress and the chances you'll have forgotten something because you're turning the process of remembering your forgotten thing into packing the thing.
Layers, Layers, Layers
With the coming of fall and, subsequently, winter, it's the perfect time to start dressing in layers.
Now, dressing in layers has a hidden benefit for those traveling a lot - not only will you be warm while waiting around in the terminal, but it also reduces the number of clothes you need to carry in your bag.
By dressing in layers, you can keep most of your regular clothes on your person and take them off or on depending on the weather, which leaves plenty of space in your carry-on for more official clothes, for a conference, business meetings, a night on the town, etc.
Or an extra pair of shoes!
Choose the Right Airline
In travel, as in life, it is important to set yourself up for success from the very start/
Well, that does sound a bit melodramatic, but it's true! You can really make or break your travel experience with the airline.
Of course, choosing an airline service is never easy - there are many things to consider, like price, bonuses, programs, etc. However, if you choose right the first time, you won't have to rescind your choice and switch.
The largest benefit of choosing the right airline at the start, and sticking with them, are the perks you'll be accumulating. Those perks can be quite useful money-wise, but you can also get perks that will offer you, and, by extension, your luggage, a more luxurious flight experience,
Stay Healthy
Mens sana in corpore sano - a healthy spirit within a healthy body.
In other words, stay healthy. Drink a healthy amount of water, eat good food, and maybe have a checkup before your trip. The last thing you want to do is get sick on your flight and, then have to scramble for medication once you land.
After all, preparedness is the best prevention, so make sure you're healthy before your flight, or you're going to have a very bad time on the plane. Stay safe out there!
Final Words
And, there you go, 9 small but life-saving tips for frequent and long-distance travelers.
As we said in the beginning, frequent flights can be very annoying and exhausting. It's not easy to travel halfway across the country to do your job and then return only to take another flight elsewhere.
But, there is a bright side to all of it. If you're prepared enough, and if you've got a good routine, you'll find frequent flying much easier to handle.
So, be prepared, travel as lightly as you can, stay healthy and hydrated, and remember - it's much easier to keep your eyes on your stuff in a carry-on. Cheers!