Travel without checking a bag

It must sound daunting to think about packing only a carryon when traveling internationally (especially for more than a few days). Trust me I know! But after years of travel, I've learned to pack light for long getaways and it has saved me hours of hassle at the airport and peace of mind knowing all my belongings are with me. I even managed to go for a month to Costa Rica with only 2 carry-ons.

Some years back, I was gifted the Away Large carry-on one year as a gift and have since purchased the  Everywhere  bag. Between these two - I hardly need to check in a bag anywhere I travel.

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1. Bring what you love - you can likely wear things more than once. So think of ways you can mix and match your outfits to make them "last longer." And if you need to do a quick wash, I found these great  eco laundry sheets on amazon that you can pack easily with you when you travel.

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2. Bring what you will discard - bring your older clothes that you don't mind leaving behind to make room in your suitcase for gifts and new items.

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3. Shop while you're there - your souvenir doesn't need to be a magnet or a shot glass - how about a new dress or a new pair of leather loafers? I'm still wearing the touristy bottoms I bought in Thailand around the house like pajamas.

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4. Remember your itinerary - if you need some dressy items, try to pack things that look good dressed up and down like a pair of black pants. And when it comes to shoes (at least for women), they tend to take up the most space in our luggage. So, remember to bring your most versatile shoes which you can wear more than once (they take up the most space).  

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And check out my LATEST BLOG POST with the links to my favorite things that you can find on Amazon.