This is for sure not one of those blog posts on minimal packing. Or how to tour Europe in the winter with everything stuffed into a backpack.
No, this is me packing for Hawaii and sneaking as much stuff as I can into the smallest bags I can.
Who wants to pay $40 to check a bag each way? No, neither do I! Who wants to wait at the carousel for your luggage to come down? See? So much hassle checking a bag.
Here are my tips for sneaky ways to pack more and maybe avoid checking a bag.
Wear Your Largest Things on the Plane
Since this is a trip to Hawaii and not to Aspen, we won’t really need heavy clothes. But. Yep, the plane can be freezing.
A warm-up jacket and a jean jacket is all I’m taking for a coat, so I wear both on the plane. No sense in packing those bulky items.
Same goes with shoes. If you’re planning on needing boots or hiking shoes, it’s easiest to wear those on the plane and not filling up precious suitcase space.
Separate Your Bags
The airlines allow two bags onboard and they are pretty strict about that. I separate things into smaller bags that are easy to access in the airport. Then before boarding, everything can be consolidated.
Chargers, earphones, etc. go into a small zipper bag. That goes into my computer bag. Also in that bag are my laptop, iPad and Kindle.
A tote bag carries an emergency outfit, cosmetics, medications and snacks for the plane. If you’ve been here a while, you know we take pretty substantial snacks onboard.
Digging around for my normal purse items is a hassle with a big tote, so I use a belt bag as a purse. For those of you who are not boomers, those were known as “fanny packs” back in the day. Before Lululemon made them so popular 😉.
When I wear my bag around my waist my jacket hides it. If need be, I can quickly place it right inside the tote bag.
My sister Monique gave me an adorable Kate Spade waterproof phone case when I visited her in September. It’s on a lanyard so my phone can be carried around my neck and is handy to access.
Use Compression Bags
Packing cubes have come in very handy. But recently, I saw rave reviews for compression packing cubes from Amazon.
A pack of four different sizes is about $20. The largest was a little too big for my suitcase. I used the two mediums and boy, could I stuff a lot in them. As in way more than I will need, but maybe some things that will be nice to have.
The very smallest cube I used for emergency clothes in my tote.
Also from Amazon, is a new cosmetic bag which hold a lot and opens flat. I was gifted one for Christmas and this will be my first time using it.
I retired my 20-year old cosmetic bag and am looking forward to using a clean, tidy bag.
Wrap Up
Full disclosure: while my suitcase is carryon size, I opt to check it in when I have free bag offers from the airline. It’s less work to cart around and no stress on the joints heaving it overhead.
I am going to have to wait at the carousel. Darn.
But I still want to minimize what I bring on a trip.
And these are some of the sneaky ways I accomplish that.
Aloha, my friends and as always, God bless.