Manage Your Life

Saturday, December 5, 2009

7 reasons to travel with one bag

By Aurelio Locsin

You start each trip with organizational hope and precision: bringing everything that you could possibly need away from home and neatly categorizing items into two or more bags. This system quickly annoys once you have to drag your multiple suitcases through long check-in lines or across the cobblestone bumps of a medieval town. The only way to avoid this stress is by traveling with one bag.

7. Security
Carrying a bag with you prevents it from disappearing in the baggage hold of a plane and getting lost among inefficient flight connections. You are also less likely to lose just one piece or accidentally leave it behind. Finally, thieves are deterred from making off with the one thing that you're constantly watching.

6. Compactness
All of your belongings are in one compact place, avoiding a search through several locations when you need something. One bag is also easier to store at your hotel room or front desk, and easier to secure in a locker or while you're waiting to board a vehicle.

5. Accessibility
Need your jacket to keep warm, the magazines you bought to pass the time or a new shirt because your seatmate spilled chocolate syrup on you? Too bad, if you packed these necessities in your other luggage, which is buried in an inaccessible baggage container. Fortunately, because you only have the one bag, you can reach inside and take what you need immediately.

4. Space
You won't have to worry about lacking space for your bag in a cruise ship cabin, hotel room or airport shuttle, as well as at home, since one bag takes up less room. When you ride a vehicle, you can, at the very least, store a bag close by or on the seat next to you. This is more secure than dropping your luggage on an exposed rack near the exit.

3. Economy
The savings continue with porters, bellhops and luggage carts. You won't need them to carry just one bag. You also avoid expensive shuttles and taxis because you can take public transportation to and from departure and arrival ports. Finally, an emergency that forces you to ship your luggage without you is less expensive with one bag than with several.

2. Reduction
Having only one storage option forces you to edit what you bring on a trip, thus reducing the number of belongings you need to pack and track. However, beware of exceeding weight and size limits by squeezing too much into a bag that is too big. Remember that if you forget to bring an essential, you can always buy a replacement, which compels you to mingle with the locals.

1. Flexibility
With one carry-on bag, there is no more dragging a pile of luggage through airport security or waiting around crowded baggage carousels hoping your belongings appear within the hour. Instead, you can quickly board and depart any plane, ship, train or bus. If attendants ask for anyone to give up their seat, you can quickly volunteer, bring your bag and take the next flight, and also likely receive compensation.

7 Reasons to Travel With One Bag originally published on Travels.com

Related packing tips and stories on Travels.com:
Top 10 Packing Tips
Space-Saving Tips for Packing Suitcases
The Best Lightweight Suitcases for Air Travel
How to Pack Cosmetics in Luggage

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From the Community…

Comments 1-4 of 4
  • Ana Caterina's Avatar
    Posted by Ana Caterina Mon Sep 14, 2009 1:48pm PDT

    And how about you write an article on how exactly to pack only one bag?

    Because I already know how much easier it would be with one bag, what I don't know is how to shove everything I need in there.

    Report Abuse
  • Jo's Avatar
    Posted by Jo Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:28pm PDT

    Ana Caterina--You're like my husband. No matter if the trip is weekend only or 3 weeks abroad, his suitcase always bulges out & weighs 2x as much as mine. Some tips: take 1/2 the amount of underwear you would normally & hand wash your dainties in the sink. Pack those nice soft socks instead of slippers. Two pairs of shoes max--I shopped till I found a pair that worked for daytime with all my outfits. I wear the tried & true (if boring) color combo of black and cream/khaki. EVERY top & bottom goes with the others. Lightweight silk dress (rolled up it takes up no space & can shake out any wrinkles). Color comes from jewelry & silk scarves, belts & other accessories. Try pulling out everything you want to take--then start by removing one pair of slacks, one skirt, etc. and keep on going till everything fits in your suitcase. Figure on bringing more tops and fewer bottoms. Then wear any bulky items (coat, jeans, running shoes) while traveling. Finally, packing toiletries is where you can really save space. I love sample sizes from Ulta & buy several of each. Then I toss the containers as I use them freeing up suitcase space to bring back goodies I buy. Plus I always go for the "gift with purchase" cosmetic goodies & save them for trips. Amazing how much space is saved when you have the tiny size of mascara, eye shadow, foundation, etc.

    Report Abuse
  • Travels.com's Avatar
    Posted by Travels.com Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:47pm PDT

    Hi Ana,

    Great advice! We just posted an article on 5 Tips for Packing Light.

    http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/5-tips-for-packing-light-512381/

    Thanks for the feedback,

    The Travels.com Team

    Report Abuse
  • KarenF's Avatar
    Posted by KarenF Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:02am PDT

    I generally go running or make use of the hotel when I travel so I've learned to either wear my running shoes on the plane when I travel since they take up a lot of room, or pack my grubbiest running shoes and throw them away at my last stop, leaving room for souvenirs.

    My other trick is to pack everything I want to take and see if it fits, then unpack and start going through the items and remove some things with the thought, "Do I really want to haul this around?"

    Report Abuse
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