Baggage Logistics
It IS all about the size! No, but really. Soooo many factors can come into play when determining your travel bag size:
- Checked Bag Price – Carry-on vs. checked bag. You’re looking at baggage fees upwards of $60 for a checked bag for most domestic & some international flights. If you pack a “heavy” bag (usually over 50 lbs. depending on the airline), you’ll be paying premium prices (e.g. Delta $100 for 51+ lbs. and it goes up from there when you go over 70 lbs.).
- Wardrobe & Contents – Clothes, shoes and liquids. How creative can you get? TSA has liquid restrictions for carry-on items and airlines have luggage size limits for their overhead compartments.
- Souvenirs – Do you plan on bringing magnets back or little bottles of small batch vodka? I have made this mistake with connecting flights and buying liquids (alcoholic souvenirs) at the airport during connections. Make sure they all fit in that quart-sized bag.
- Accessibility – America is a pretty young country so we don’t normally deal with not having access to escalators, elevators or ramps. In my travels, I’ve had to haul a full ass, grown human sized, checked bag up numerous flights of stairs (mostly in Europe). Let’s just say, there was nothing glamorous about me sweating upon arriving in London.
- Transportation – If you’re using public transportation like, oh I don’t know, the train in Bangkok (during rush hour where the trains are packed like sardines), luggage size might also impact when you can physically fit onboard. This can delay your airport arrival so plan accordingly.
For the 1st time in all of my travels (17 countries), I’m attempting to pack a carry-on sized luggage that I’ll be checking in to allow for some more souvenirs in my carry-on. What can I say? I’m a giver.
So, here’s my plan for my next trip:
Cost: Checked Bag Price = Factored in with plane tickets so it’s not “extra”.
Wardrobe & Contents
My next destination will have an average climate / temp during the spring of 30-50 Degrees Fahrenheit. There aren’t any cultural restrictions to consider for clothing but…. being from California, this is chilllay. SO, I’ll be packing as light as I can to include:
- Thermal top and bottom;
- Weather proof & cute boots;
- Wool socks;
- Cute outfits, clearly.
Souvenirs
I plan to take a backpack and semi-empty duffle bag as my carry-ons so I can shift around my luggage contents to make space for souvenirs.
Accessibility
Having selected Finland and Estonia for my next trip, they are relatively modernized countries with amazing public transportation so I’ll be using trains, metros and ferries so a small carry-on rolling luggage is best in this case since I’ll be mobile.
With all that said, wish me luck and maybe I should start doing some cardio. 🤪
