I travel quite a bit for work and this year alone will be on a plane more than 50 times. Over the years, I have learned several tricks that will help you travel practically, yet with style, so that you don’t look like a bohemian backpacker. Unless of course, bohemian backpacker is your style of choice, in which case, peace out.
One of the things I can do quite well is travel for two weeks with just the two allotted carry-ons that most airlines allow. For an overnight trip from Phoenix to Houston recently, I took one bag and it included my laptop, all cords and chargers, files, change of clothes, makeup, flat-iron, wallet, etc. Here’s a snapshot of it (and in case you are wondering, the bag is from Marshall’s and the shoes are from DSW):
We’ll cover how to pack clothes in another post, but for this one I want to talk toiletries and personal items, since that is where most people run into trouble with their carry-on. With the TSA’s rule of all carry-on liquids being required to fit in a one quart-size Ziploc and be less than 3 ounces, it can be a challenge to condense everything. Well, no more overpacking excuses, darlings, because I am about to show you how to do just that.
If you’re like me, you probably don’t roll out of bed looking naturally gorgeous all the time. And if you do, then I think I speak for all the rest of us in the blogosphere when I say, we hate you. At any rate, here is a shot of the liquid portion of my daily routine (please note, all photos were taken with my iphone. Don’t be jealous – with a camera phone, harsh lighting and no training whatsoever, you too can produce pictures like this):
Even if I put everything into travel-size containers, it is still not going to all fit into a quart size Ziploc bag. The thing about the standard travel-size containers is that they are still much too large. When you are only supposed to use a dab or dime-sized amount of face moisturizer, then you really don’t need three ounces of it for the entire week. Which is where these little beauties come in (I’ve placed them alongside a standard OPI nail polish bottle and a quarter so you can get an idea of their actual size):
These are sample size containers from Origins, which is where I buy my makeup and skincare products and subsequently fritter away any college fund my future children may have one day hoped of having. Whenever I stop in there to purchase more foundation or anti-wrinkle eye cream, I ask for a few of these containers. They are free and are the perfect size for traveling. Here’s a photo of a standard sized face wash along with the travel size and then with the sample size container. See? The travel size is still too large for our purposes:
After you’ve reduced your daily products to the sample sizes, replace the other products with the travel sizes. Then you end up only having this to pack (toothpaste not shown because I was out of the travel-size at the time of this photo, but rest assured I do brush my teeth):
Now when you go through airport security, you can toss your quart-size bag in the grey bin and put the checked bag fee toward something more satisfying in the long-term, like a new pair of shoes or a date night or your mortgage.
Twitter: @amandabyoung
Love this post! Never thought of using those little guys. Fabulous idea! Now I can’t wait to hear what you have to say about clothes… that’s where I really have a problem.
amanda b. young’s most recent blog post: Dash for the Dress
Twitter: @www.twitter.com/thewhitebox
Ditto about the clothes. Oh boy… I need some serious help, and SOON!
Love your humor, Liene. :-)
Monica Gill’s most recent blog post: The Recessionista attends a wedding
Twitter: @Suzanne_Carvlin
Great tips! I always have too many toiletries with me, but I DO have plenty of small sample containers!
Twitter: @socalnewlywed
Great post! I actually did some similar posts over on my Blog’s Travel Tip Thursday: http://www.newlywedsnextdoor.com/search/label/Travel%20Tip%20Thursday
Twitter: @Pam/Beginnings
Liene,
I can attest to the bag you brought to Houston. I was awed and impressed. I just was teased about the luggage I carried last weekend to New Orleans, so I’m paying attention. Can’t wait for the next part of your article
Twitter: @barbarasbrides
Liene,
You rock. I have done pretty well in the past, but i still needed more help with the toiletries. I will have to apply these tips for my next trip because I am determined to have 2 carry-on bags.
Twitter: @styleish
I love this because I used to be the overpacker and brought everything with me. After I started traveling internationally for work and realized that carry on was the way to go, I became really good at packing. I do the same with my toiletries and I also have travel sized makeup brushes in a brush roll. and instead of carrying a lot of makeup I carry palettes with several eyeshadows and blushes in it.
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Twitter: @wifetacular
great idea about the origins containers. We are traveling around Italy on our honeymoon, and the last thing I need is a big suitcase weighing me down. If I could only bring undies, i would!
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Twitter: @christinebpc
I can’t wait to see your post about packing. The clothes are what always get me. Well, that and the fact that my travels include camera gear, which doesn’t come in travel sizes. ;-)
Christine’s most recent blog post: Sarah & Jose’s Engagement Session at the Pearland Airport
There was a great blog on packing light on glamour.com
http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/slaves-to-fashion/2009/03/a-weeks-worth-of-outfits-from.html
I just went to Europe for 12 days and that’s how I ended up packing. I still took a bigger bag (to bring back all the beer my boyf bought from belgium) but the bag was only 1/2 full with my stuff.
Great post! I’m a corporate meetings & incentives planner, so I travel a lot for work (and person too, with family being back in Michigan). Unfortunately, I never seem to pack lightly because I have to carry so many supplies for on-site operations. But, good tips about the Origins containers because when I am able to carry-on, it’s usually the liquids that prevent me from being able to do so!
I travel a lot. I’m looking forward to the rest of your series. I used to think I traveled light… until I had to lug my bag from the airport, onto the Metro, and to a train station. Rude awakening. I’m not a light packer. Hopefully, you can show me the error of my ways.
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I travel a lot for my job, too and especially hate to wait for luggage at the airport on my way home. Your tipps are a life saver – can’t wait to read the post about packing clothes
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