A Student’s Guide to Pack Everything in a Carry-on
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To Pack Everything in a Carry-on |
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You get to do nothing for one or even two weeks, which is just so valuable for students. Many choose to travel at that time because it’s warm and the ticket prices are low, especially if you buy in advance. Yet, before that, you have a lot of work to do.
Exams, essays, and all the prep that comes with them are incredibly stressful and time-consuming. To get help with at least some of the load, like research paper writing service, address professional services. An experienced writer will help you with preparing an essay sample or take on an editing task if you have a raw paper that needs some tweaking.
Once you have homework figured out, it’s time to choose a destination for your perfect vacation. On a student budget, your possibilities are obviously limited, especially if you want to travel in Spring. Yet, there are many things you can do to cut costs.
- Choose a nearby destination
- Research cheaper airlines
- Travel luggage-free
Traveling with just a carry-on is convenient, easy, and cheap, but there’s one problem. You can’t take as much stuff as you might like to. Believe it or not, some people actually prefer to travel with less stuff as it teaches you minimalism. Moreover, it’s very convenient if you choose to visit multiple cities on your trip. You don’t have to unpack your suitcase a bunch of times and carry it around in between travels. Packing a backpack takes ten minutes tops, and you know every item that’s inside. Now, let’s move on to some tips on how you can pack light and still have everything you need on your trip.
Pack Outfits
This might seem obvious, but it’s a tip that is overlooked by many people. You see, when you just pack a bunch of your favorite clothes, you might have many options. However, not all things match each other, and you might end up with clothes you never wear but just carry around like a dead weight.
Before your trip, check the weather. See the temperature at your destination and pack accordingly. Pack entire outfits, not just separate items. Ideally, ensure that every top can be matched with every bottom. This way, you will have maximum outfits with minimal stuff.
Try to bring just one pair of shoes, the ones you have on. Shoes can eat up a lot of space in your carry-on, so think twice before you pack a pair of fancy heels or running shoes. If you’re going to Europe, consider the fact that most historical cities are paved with cobblestone, so heels are simply not an option.
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Guide to Pack Everything in a Carry-on |
Make a List
Write down everything you need to pack, from clothes to toiletries. Count the days and nights and the exact number of underwear you need. Google packing lists to see if you forget something. Once you have the list, think about the items you can cross out.
If you’re staying in an Airbnb, see if it has a washing machine. This way, you can wash and wear the same outfits several times, hence, pack even less. And you can wash small things, like tops or underwear, with your hands, it’s not that hard, really. Sure, you might get bored wearing the same thing over and over, but who says you can’t take accessories? A scarf can be used as a belt, a headband, and even a top if you’re crafty. At the same time, it can fit in a pocket if folded neatly.
Does your accommodation provide towels? Maybe you can rent one in a hostel? Or you could get a microfiber towel for camping - it takes very little space and dries fast. Do you need to take your entire skincare routine, or will the moisturizer and cleanser do the job? Can you go three days without washing your hair? Consider all these questions and try to cut as much as possible from your list.
Hack It
The airline would not like this advice, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If you’re traveling to a colder country or you just need more stuff to feel comfortable, your backpack might feel too limiting. But there are still some things you can do.
Abuse the Personal Item Rule
When traveling without luggage, you’re allowed a carry-on bag and a personal item. Usually, the personal item is a traveling pillow. You can bend this rule by getting a pillow with a case and taking out the stuffing. No need to perform surgery; most pillows come out easily for you to wash the case. Then, fill the inside with your stuff. If you’re traveling to a warmer place, that pillow can hold a minimum of three tops and maybe a pair of pants, too.
Layer
Get a cargo vest or pants. Most people already have those because they are very trendy right now. If you don’t have one - borrow the vest from your grandpa. It looks ugly, but it gets the job done. You can fit an entire t-shirt in each of those pockets, and you will still have room.
Alternatively, you can just wear a bunch of clothes in the airport toilet right before boarding. No one can tell you how much you should be wearing, even if it’s hot out. Once you take off and the plane toilets open, take it all off and pack it in your tote bag. But that would mean doing all that over and over if you have multiple flights between destinations. Not the best option, but it still works.
Wrapping Up
Traveling light is convenient, easy, and cheap. If it’s your first time traveling without luggage, packing everything can be challenging. But after your first vacation with minimal stuff, you’ll see that you don’t really need an entire suitcase of options to feel comfortable. You just need to pack the right things.
To save space, make a list before your trip to make sure you did any assignment that you had left and took all the necessary toiletries. Pack outfits that match instead of separate clothing items. Even if you like that shirt, it doesn’t make sense to take it if it only matches one pair of pants. Lastly, bend the rules a little and see if you can get away with it. If you do it carefully enough, you won’t have to pay $50 for an additional bag.
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