You only need to perform an online search for “international travel” to see just how many sales and deals there are on flights, hotels, and travel experiences. However, one of the most common conditions of these prices is that you are restricted to carry-on luggage only. While this deters many travelers, if you know how and what to pack into your carry-on bag, an economic international travel experience is well within your grasp.
What You Can Take
The best place to start is to remember that carry-on baggage actually means two items. You are allowed to take a small cabin suitcase type item along with one ‘personal item.’ The small suitcase item needs to fit within around 18 inches high, 13 inches wide, 9 inches deep, and weigh no more than 17 pounds. Your allowable personal item is usually a handbag or a small backpack which can fit under the seat..
Clothes
Given that these sales are regularly used for short adventures, we will work the idea of a five-day vacation. For this, you can limit your packing to:
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 dress/slacks
- 3 blouses/shirts
- 1 bathing suit
- 1pair track/sports pants
- 1 pair shoes
- 6 pairs of socks
- 6 pairs of underwear
What to Wear
If the above items are far less than you would like, remember that you need to get dressed for the flight. This provides you with another set of pants, shirt/blouse, and shoes. Despite your destination, take an all-season jacket on the plane with you. The Groupon Coupons page for Coldwater Creek has some options for jackets which can keep you warm in a cold climate but are also appropriate for warmer weather.
Toiletries
The items in a toiletries bag are usually what prevent people from taking advantage of these flights, as they feel they need to bring their entire morning routine with them. Instead, a small clear plastic bag (no bigger than 7 inches by 7 inches) filled with the following items are realistically all that is needed:
- 1 toothbrush
- Small bottle of toothpaste
- 1 small roll-on deodorant (no more than 100ml)
- 1 chapstick
- 1 small bottle of sunscreen (if needed – no more than 100ml)
- 1 small bottle of foundation (no more than 100ml)
- 1 small bottle of general moisturizer (no more than 100ml)
- 1 small stick of foundation
- 1 small container of powder
Personal Item
Your personal item bag is best kept for items such as your passport, wallet/purse, laptop, and any other entertainment items you require for the plane, along with a scarf in the event the flight is cold.
While it may seem like this above lists are restrictive, it’s because they are. However, if you can follow them closely, a weekend sitting at home with your routine can turn in an economic last-minute international vacation.
