While traveling is fun, flying can be a headache. One of the hardest things is figuring out what to pack, especially when there are so many restrictions when it comes to flying with luggage. The worse part is putting your luggage on the scale and being told you have to pay an exorbitant amount of fees because your luggage is overweight. Then you find yourself in the middle of the airport trying to rearrange items between your different bags so that they're all under the weight limit.
I happily avoid all this by just bringing a carry-on. I've traveled quite extensively over these past couple of years and have only needed to check a bag once (only because I bought a bottle of wine as a souvenir). It's taken me many trips to perfect the art of fitting everything I need in just one carry-on, but I now feel freer not having so much stuff with me. If you want to avoid high airline fees, take a look at these tips to pack light and only travel with a carry-on.
Start with the Essentials
Don't just dump anything and everything into your bag and then try to scale back right from the get-go. That's the wrong approach. Instead, start with the essentials first. Pack your undergarments, a change of clothes for each day you're away (or less if you will have access to a washer/dryer), a couple pairs of shoes, and necessary toiletries. Then gauge how much room you have left and what 'nice to haves' you can bring. When you start with the essentials, you realize that you might not need as much as you thought.
Choose Versatile & Light Pieces
How much you bring has a lot to do with where you are going. While warmer climates allow for minimal clothing, it's much more difficult to pack for colder weather. Instead of bringing large bulky coats, opt for light pieces you can layer for warmth. Also take with you versatile pieces in neutral colors that you easily take from day to night and wear multiple times. For example the Aurora cover up by éclipse, which can be used as a shawl, a warm layer in the evening or a cover up on the beach. https://eclipseglove.com/collections/cover-ups/products/aurora-beach-cover-ups
Use Packing Cubes
Packing a suitcase correctly is an art. You waste a lot of space if you're just throwing items in. Be sure to fold every piece of clothing. You should also invest in a good set of packing cubes. These bags will help you organize and pack everything neatly). It will help you save a lot of space and make packing much easier.
Take Advantage of Your 'Personal Item'
Aside from your carry-on luggage, airlines will also allow you to bring one additional personal item. This could be a purse, laptop bag, or backpack. Most personal items have to be around 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches. That's actually a lot of space. Take advantage of your personal item by bringing a large purse or backpack.
Be Realistic
Lastly, be realistic. While it may be nice to have 5 pairs of shoes with you, do you really need it? Only bring what you will actually use. Plan out your outfits ahead of time so that you know what you need to bring.